Global Citizenship Civic Intelligence for a Changing World The Evergreen State College Fall, 2005 / Winter, 2006 / Spring, 2006 http://www.scn.org/edu/tesc-ds/2005-2006/ Lori Blewett, blewettl@evergreen.edu Doug Schuler, douglas@cpsr.org

8 & 12 credit students:

Winter Quarter Meetings: Every Wednesday (except Jan 25) (6:00 PM - 9:30 PM)

& four Saturdays (9:00 AM - 4:30 PM); Jan 14, Feb 4, 25, Mar 1

4 & 12 credit students (Students registered for 4 or 12 credits can attend the World Social Forum in Venezuela for additional costs.):

Planning: Wed, Jan 11 and 18, (8:00 PM - 10 PM)

Trip to Venezuela, Jan 20–30, 2006

Is another world possible? The Global Citizenship program will explore global forces and local responses through the lenses of citizenship and collective intelligence. Students will develop a variety of individual citizenship skills. They will also work in teams to explore issues and ideas, characterize knowledge, and develop communication, leadership and computer skills. In addition to increasing theoretical understanding of global citizenship, students will develop relationships with organizations engaged in social change. Credit will be awarded in social and computer studies.

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In this program we will explore the concept and practice of world citizenship in the context of globalization and social change. We will develop and improve a wide array of citizenship skills ranging from public speaking to new media.

We will consider the forces that are acting upon the world and how people can participate in shaping the future.

WINTER QUARTER OVERVIEW

Although the program began fall quarter, students can join winter quarter. We will build on themes introduced in the fall including (1) global activism for global problem-solving (2) emerging concepts of citizenship; (3) role of contemporary communication technology in changing patterns of civic participation and decision-making; (4) Civic intelligence — what do we need to know to become global citizens? and (5) economic and cultural globalization. We will continue developing citizen skills such as: (1) analysis of local and global dimensions of social problems; (2) web design and computer mediated communication; and (3) public speaking and intercultural communication. Students will gather information about social change projects during winter and develop concepts for collaboration between Evergreen and social change organizations around the world. Students winter quarter will have the option of taking the program for four additional credits and attending the World Social Forum in Caracas, Venezuela (described in more detail below). There is also a four credit option that is focused almost exclusively on attending the WSF (also described in more detail below).

TEXTS:

• Community Practice in the Network Society: Local Actions/Global Interaction. Edited by Peter Day and Doug Schuler

• Global Citizenship: A Critical Introduction; John Williams

• Reading handouts on globalization, social movements, communication, and technology issues.

ROUGH SCHEDULE OF COURSE THEMES

Week 1-3 Taking a Global View of Social Problems:

What are some of the key issues facing citizens of the world? Do individuals within nation states have rights and responsibilities in relation to global problems? What are various citizen groups/movements doing to address global issues? What computer skills can help us address international social problems? What intercultural communication skills are needed to address these problems?

Week 4-6 Sharing Information & Acting as Advocates:

What can we do to contribute to social change projects or movements? How can we best share what we have learned about social problems and groups addressing those problems? How can we motivate other citizens to get involved? How can we facilitate citizen action through technology?

Week 7-10 Another World is Possible:

What would a desirable society look like? Is there a better alternative to the nation-state? How do world governance institutions currently work? How might alternative world governing institutions/structures better address current social problems? What might a world constitution look like? Do individuals have rights and responsibilities to participate in (or create) world governance institutions?

TENTATIVE ASSIGNMENTS

1) Students will analyze a social problem, local connections to the problem, and an international or local organization responding to the problem. As part of this project students will develop concepts for collaboration between Evergreen and the social change organization. Students will also write a short newspaper article (possibly for the CPJ) and give a short advocacy speech about the social problem and related organization.

2) Students will design a website or other software development project that helps raise awareness of transnational social problems and advocacy networks (support for this project will accommodate students with no web design knowledge as well as those who would like to develop more advance information technology skills).

3) Students will give serious thought to the kind of society they would like to live in, and then, working in teams, envision and “design” alternative global institutions to support the development of such a society. These designs will, of necessity, be sketchy and tentative, but they will reflect the kind of thinking that many theorists consider the ultimate responsibility of global citizens. Sample projects might be: a recommendation for reform of an existing international institution, a proposal for a new international decision making process, an outline for a world government constitution, a proposed treaty for collaboratively solving a particular world problem.

4) Occasional short response questions and comments on readings.

Spring Preview In spring quarter we will continue to develop the themes and skills from fall and winter. Students will have increasing opportunities to focus on particular global problems and global social movements of interest to them. During spring quarter, in addition to developing citizenship knowledge and skills, students will work with a social change organization in various ways (such as public advocacy campaigns or web application development).

Optional Participation in the World Social Forum (4 credit or 12 credit option)

The World Social Forum which takes place annually in the last week of January is a historically unprecedented forum for citizens and citizen movements. From the WSF website: "The World Social Forum is an open meeting place where social movements, networks, NGOs and other civil society organizations opposed to neo-liberalism and a world dominated by capital or by any form of imperialism come together to pursue their thinking, to debate ideas democratically, to formulate proposals, share their experiences freely and network for effective action. Since the first world encounter in 2001, it has taken the form of a permanent world process seeking and building alternatives to neo-liberal policies."

As part of the 4 credit and the 12 credit option, students will attend the WSF in Caracas, Venezuela from January 20, 2006 to January 30. While attending the Forum, students will keep journals and attend regular discussions. Although financial aid may be available, students are responsible for their own trip expenses. We estimate (roughly) $2,300 for the 11 day trip ($850 airfare, $250 for visa and incidentals, and $1,200 for in-country travel package, which includes room, meals, transportation, guides, translators, reading materials, and honoraria to host speakers, organizations and communities). Students must arrange their own transportation to and from Caracas.

The four credit option is for students who will joining us at the WSF and participating in our discussions, etc. in Caracas but not attending the program on the Olympia campus (except for two planning sessions noted above). Students will be expected to attend one program meeting per day during the WSF and produce a report based on their experiences at the WSF.

Important Dates

• December 1, 7:00 - 8:30 pm. Information and planning session. Sem II, A1107

• December 7. Requests for standard (non-expedited) delivery passports should be received.

• December 9. $150 deposit (non-refundable) due to Cashier's office (deposit to ORG 29035, Acct 52504)

• December 21, Deadline for remainder of travel package cost ($1,050) due to Cashier's office.

• January 4, 2006. Requests for expedited passports should be received by this date.