This online course will explore the legacy of the expansion of the capitalist
world system over the past half century. Our basic premise will be that the driving force
behind the spread of the contemporary world system was industrial, corporate, and consumer
capitalism, and that the spread of the world system is related in some way to the
resulting division of the world into wealthy nations and poor nations. Our intent is to
explore the consequences of that division for all peoples of the world.
Online instruction is still in its infancy. The hope is that by connecting
people and resources we can establish a learning community that overcomes the limitations
of traditional classroom culture. In an online community the traditional roles of
instructor and student change, at least to some extent, and all members of the community
become responsible for what others learn.
