Luis LM Aguiar, PhD Department ofSociology, Art 262 Tel.: 807.

9346 x79346;
Office hours: after class or Thursday mornings
Email: luis.aguiar@ubc.ca

UBCO Barber School: Sociology 430: Globalization, Neoliberalism and Labour

Organizing across Borders Winter 2011 Rm 396 SCI bldg; Weds: 9:30 -12:30

"In their various incarnations, and their various constituents, the antiglobalization movement,
anti-capitalist, and social-justice movements deserve more credit than they have taken for
blunting the forward progress of neoliberalism. The urgent issue now is the reconstitution and
expansion of that movement and the political work that will make 'nee-liberalism' a cliche in .
practice as well as in concept, and will point the way to a different future."— Neil Smith

If we take Neil Smith seriously, than 'what political work is being done by antiglobalization, anti-
capitalist and social justice movements to make neoliberalism history both in ideology and
practice? How is the 'reconstitution and expansion' of this movement taking political shape to
achieve the goal of a better-society beyond neoliberalism? What role are trade unions playing
in the anti neoliberal/globalization movement? What political work, campaigns and organizing
are trade unions doing to make neoliberalism a cliché in ideological.and.materialist terms?
Does this political work point the way to a different future, or does it simply demonstrate an
accommodation to the neoliberal model? And, if indeed neoliberalism is currently in ideological
and economic crises, what challenges and opportunities does this offer trade unionstodotheir
organizing for a more just future? This course seeks to indicate ways by which these questions
are being addressed practically and organizationally for a different and better future. Our focus
is largely on trade unions because less has been written about the ways they are organizing
to mount challenges to corporations at the global scale. These challenges relate to improving
global workers' living conditions, standards oflivingand brighter future freer of exploitation and
abuse. Therefore,ifthe nature of our course is on the economic processes of globalization,
neoliberalism and governance of the global economy, then what are the labour movements'
responses to these largely anti-worker processes? Cross border organizing and coalition
building offer an important strategy to resist and push back economic globalization's negative
aspects? But what is cross-border organizing? Hos is it organized? What challenges and
opportunities does it offer to workers, unions and the Labour Movement?

Our goal is to explore theoretically and empirically capitalist globalization, especially as it

impacts theglobal working classes through the the restructuring of labour processes in the
global capitalist mode ofproduction. Having done this, we seek to understand the ways in which
labour movements are organizing transnationally to resist this form of

neoliberal globalization. We examine campaigns of cross-border organizing to ascertain their

results in stemming neoliberalism and exploitation. I approach these issues from my research
interests in the global janitorial workforce and cross border organizing initiatives and coalitions
to organize these workers. T he latter will be pursued by focusing on a specific union and the
ways by which this union is developing cross border structures and mechanism to achieve
coherent organizing strategies and aims with global union partnerships. Humanitarianism,
ethical global citizenship, consumer boycotts, students against sweatshops, etc are other
examples of transnational organizing. What are the strengths and weaknesses of these
models? What do they offer -and in what ways -workers in the global economy? Students
are encouraged, in their research papers for this course, to investigate the work of these
organizations or that of trade union campaigns to bring workers from the globe closer together
for a better collective future.

Organization and responsibilities

Students are expected to attend all classes and be prepared to discuss the assigned
material. To facilitate discussion, students are required to produce a two-page precis on
each ofthereadings and submitthese to the instructorat least 24<hourspriortoclass time. This
assignment will be graded in addition to being a springboard to class discussions. Each
precis should contain: 1. a summary of the argument in the reading; 2. a summary of how the
argument is developed; 3. the methodology by which data was gathered for the argument; 4<.
your reactions to the readings; and 5. two questions you want to raise about the contents of
the argument to pose to the class for discussion. Each week a different group of students' que-
stions will be posed to the class for discussion in small group format.

The first period of class time (1.5hr) will be lecture time and the second seminar discussion led
by students ' questions and interventions. In addition to assigned readings, students are also
responsible for audio visual materials presented and discussed in class. Course requirements
also include a mid-term and final exam. A research paper will be required and will be presented
to the class and then submitted to the instructor at a later date. In other words, students will
use their presentations as a way to dissemination knowledge about their subject matter and
to gain feedback from the class to use to improve their paper before handing it in for grading.
This final version of the paper will be submitted to the instructor at the end of the semester. We
will devote the last three weeks to student paper presentations. I expect you to do your paper
in groups of no more than two partners. T his means more research, more ideas and a better
paper. More details on the paper will be handed out to students next meeting.

Objectives:

1. To understand the role of labour and trade unions (the Labour Movement) in improving
working conditions for the lives ofthe global working class;
2. To understand how groups are organizing transnationally and the various shapes this is
taking;
3. To familiarize ourselves with the emergmg literature on global labour organizing
strategies;
4. To encourage students to work collaboratively and collegially; and
5. To develop students presentation, communication and writing skills.
Finally: please put your cell phone on vibrate while in class.

Evaluation:

1. Precis: 10%
2. Mid-term exam: 25%
3. Presentation: 5%
4. Final paper: 30%
5. Final exam 30%

Required Texts: (1) David Harvey, The Enigma of Capital and the Crises of Capitalism. New
York: Oxford University Press, 20 10. (2) Dimitris Stevis and Terry Boswell, Globalization &
Labor: Democratizing Global Governance. Lanham, MD: Rowman and Littlefield Publishers,
2008. NB: Other required readings can be found in various journals accessible-via the library's
electronic journals page or in the reserve section of the library:

Recommended Texts: (1) Jennifer Jihye Chun, Organizing at the Margins. Ithaca NY: Cornell
University Press, 2009; (2) Amanda Tattersall, Power in Coalitions. Philadelphia: Temple
University Press, 2010; and Ruth Milkman, LA Model.

WEEKLY TOPICS AND READINGS

Week One (jan 5): Introduction to course: Neo(lie)beralism: Defining our terms/narrowing our
focus: How can we begin to conceptualize the contemporary era of capitalism? What is the new
language of crisizing neoliberalism?

Globalization; Neoliberalism; Keynesianism; the welfare state; the nation-state; post-

neoliberalisrn, after-neoliberalism; organizing; trade unions; cross border; transnationalism;
historical subj ect; modern prince; postmodern prince; working class; NGOs; ethical citizenship;
austerity; agency; etc

Required Readings: none

Recommended Readings: Andrew Herod and Luis LM Aguiar, Introduction to Cleaners in the
Global Economy. Malden: Blackwell, 2006.

Week Two (jan 12): Crisis of Neoliberalism and/or Crises of Capitalism: Is this crisis different
and if so, what implications does it have for how we understand our current economic
restructuring? How do we organize within the crisis of neoliberalism?

Required Readings: David Harvey, chapters 1-4(1-118) in The Enigma of Capital

Video:Endof Poverty? Think Again (2010)- Economic issues but not the just the current crisis
http://resolve.1ibrary.ubc.ca/cgi-bin/catsearch?bid=4412037
Recommended Readings: (1) Hendriske P Reiger and James Sidaway, "Neoliberalism 3.0."
E nvironment and P lanning A 4·2 (2010): 2024·-2037; and (2) Susan Watkins, Editorial:
Shifting Sands." New Left Review 61(Jan/Feb 20 10): 5-27; (3) Shaun French and Andrew
Leyshon, "These f@#king guys': The Terrible Waste of a Good Crisis." Environment and
Planning A 42 (2010): 2549-2559.

Film: It's a Free World (un monde sans frontiers) or

Video: http://en.maquilasolidarity.org/en/resources/video/ Inside Your Threads

Week Three (jan 19): Guest Lecture: Crisis of Neoliberalism; Crises of Capitalism, continued...

Required Readings: DavidHarvey, chapters 5-7(pp.119-214) in The Enigma of Capital

Video: 'The Take"

Recommended Readings: Ronald Munck, "Globalisation, Crisis and Social Transformation: A

View from the South." Globaltzations 7 (1) (2010): 235-246.

Week Four (jan 26): Organizing in a (post)neoliberal globe: the Postmodern Prince?

Required Readings:
(1) Harvey, chapter 8 (pp.215-260) in The Enigma of Capital;
(2) Stephen Gill, "Towards a Postmodern Prince? The Battle of Seattle as a Moment in the New
Politics of Globalisation." Millennium 29 (1)(2000): 131-140; and
(3) Andreas Bieler, Ingemar Lindberg and Devan Pillay, "What Future Strategy for the Global
Working Class? The Need for a New Historical Subject." In Andreas Bieler et al (eds.), Labour
and the Challenges of Globalization: What Prospects for Transnational Solidarity? London:
Pluto Press, 2008, pp.264-285.

Recommended Readings: (1) M. Stephen, "Alter-globalism as Counterhegemony: Evaluating

the 'Postmodern Prince" Globalizations 6 (4) (2009): 4·83498; (2) AK Thompson, Black Bloc,
White Riot. Oakland, CA: AK Press, 2010.

Week Five (feb 2): Workers of the Globe Unite?

Globalizing Capital, Globalizing Labour, and Globalizing Organizing: What does it mean to
organize at the global scale? How can trade unions organize at the scale of the globe?

Required Readings: (1) Andrew Herod, "Globalizing Labor." In his book Geographies of
Globalization. Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell, 2009. Pp, 198-227; (2) Peter Evans, "Is it Labor's
Turn to Globalize? Twenty-first Century Opportunities and Strategic Responses." Global Labour
Journal 1 (3) (2010): 352379; and (3) Ronald Munck, "Globalization and the Labour Movement:
Challenges and Responses." Global Labour Journal 1 (2) (2010): 218-23 2.
Recommended Readings: (1) Harold Meyerson,"Can the Workers of the World Unite?" The
American Prospect (Dec) 20 10; (2) Stephen Lerner, "Global Unions: A Solution to Labor's
Worldwide Decline." New Labor Forum 16 (1) (2007): 2337; (3) Michael Burawoy, "From Polanyi
to Pollyanna: The False Optimism of Global Labor Studies." Global Labour Journal 1 (2) (2010);
and (4) reactions to Burawoy from Webster, Lambert, Caspersz and Clawson in Global Labour
Journal 1 (3) (2010).

Week Six (feb 9): The Institutional road(s) to global organizing: reforming the old,
creating the new

Required Readings: Dimitris Stevis and Terry Boswell, chapters 3-5 (pp. 45-141) in
Globalization & Labor:Democratizing Global Governance. Lanhma, MD: Rowman and Littlefield,
2008.

Recommended Readings: (1) Guy Standing, "The International Labour Organization." New
Political Economy 15 (2) (2010): 307-318; (2) Richard Peet et al. Unholy Trinity: The IMF, World
Bank and wro. London: Zed Books, 2003; and (3) James D. Wolfensohn, A Global Life: My
Journey among Rich and Poor: From Sydneyto WallStreettotheWorldBank. New York: Public
Affairs, 2010.

Week Seven (feb 23): Mid-term exam (No precis today!)

Broadening the Agent of Change: NGOs, Ethical Citizenship; Consumer Boycotts, Codes of
Conduct and all that jazz

Required Readings: (1) Malcolm Gladwell, "Small Change: Why the Revolution will not be
Tweeted." The New Yorker, 14 October 20 10; (2) response to Gladwell in Global Labor
Strategies, "Social Networking..." at www.1aborstrategies.globs.com under "recent posts"; and
(3) Don Wells, 'TooWeak to do the Job." Global Social Policy 2008;

Video: sweating at-shirt

Recommended Readings: (1) Ronaldo Munck, 'The New Internationalism." In his book,
Globalisation and Labour (Zed Books, 2002); (2) Noel Castree, "Geographic Scale and Grass-
Roots Internationalism: The Liverpool Dock Disputes, 1995-1998." Economic Geography 76
(3) (2000): 272-292; and (S) Amanda Tattersall, Power in Coalition. Ronald Munck and Peter
Waterman, "The Architecture ofLabour OrganizingintheEarly 21st Century: Social and Spatial
Aspects."In A. Rainnieand, S. McGrath-Champ (eds.) H and book of Employment and Society:
Working Space. London: Edward Elgar, 2010;

Week Eight (mar 2): Global North/Global South partnerships

Required Readings: (1) Ashwin Sukthankar and Kevin Kolben, "Indian Labor Legislation and
Cross-Border Solidarity in Historical Context." In Kate Bronfenbrenner (ed) Global Unions.
Ithaca: Cornell University press, 2007, pp. 57-77; and (2) Hermes Augusto Costa, 'T he Old and
the New iin the New Laboir Internatioanlisrn." IN B dos Santos Sousa (ed.), Another Production
is Possible.London:Verso, 2007, pp. 24<3-278.

Video: tba "Dirty Pretty Things"

Recommended Readings: (1) Rob Lambert and Eddie Webster, "Southern Unionism and the
New Labour Internationalism." In.Peter Waterman and Jane Wills (eds.), Place, Space and the
New Labour Internationalisms. Malden, Mass.: Blackwell, 2001. Pp. 33-58;

Week Nine (mar 9): Casestudy: The SEIU: A Globalizing Union

Required Readings: (1) David Moberg, "Translating Solidarity." American Prospect Magazine
(Dec 2010): 10-12; (2) Aguiar and Ryan, "Geographies of the Justice for Janitors." Gecforum
2009 (S) Amanda Tattersall, "Labour-Community Coalitions, Global Union Alliances, and the
Potential of SEID's Global Partnerships." In Kate Bronfenbrenner (ed.), Global Unions. Ithaca:
Cornell University press, 2007, pp. 155-173; and (4) Michael Crosby, "CleanStart Fighting for
a Fair Deal for Cleaners." In Gregor Gall (ed), The Future of Union Organizing: Building for
Tomorrow. London: Palgrave, 2009, pp. 131-149.

Video: Bread & Roses

Recommended Readings: Stephen Lerner, "Global Unions: A Solution to Labor's Worldwide

Decline." New Labor Forum 16 (1) (2007): 23-37; (2)

Week Nine (mar 16): Class Presentations 1

Week Ten (mar 23): Class Presentations 2

Week Eleven (mar 30): Class Presentations & Take-home exam distributed

Week Twelve (apr 6): Summary and Conclusions Take home exam due Final Paper due:
april 12

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY The academic enterprise is founded on honesty, civility, and integrity.
As members of this enterprise, all students are expected to know, understand, and follow the
codes of conduct regarding academic integrity. At the most basic level, this mean submitting
only original work done by you and acknowledging all sources of information or ideas and
attributing them to others as required. This also means you should not cheat, copy, or mislead
others about what is your work. Violations of academic integrity (i.e., misconduct) lead to the
break down of the academic enterprise, and therefore serious consequences arise and harsh
sanctions are imposed. For example, incidences of plagiarism or cheating usually result in a
failing grade or mark of zero on the assignment or in the course. Careful records are kept in
order to monitor and prevent recidivism.
Amoredetaileddescription ofacademicintegrity,including thepoliciesand procedures, may be
found at http-:/ /web.ubc.ca/okanagan/faculties/resources/academicintegrity.html
If you have any questions about how academic integrity applies to this course, please consult
with your professor.

DISABILITY
If you require disability related accommodations to meet the course objectives please contact
the Coordinator ofDisability Resources located in the Student development and Advising area
of the student services building. For more information about Disability Resources or about
academic accommodations please visit the web site at: http://okanagan.students.ubc.ca/
current/disres.cfm