London's Global Connections V18.9634.002

Credits: 4

Professor(s): Dr Y Evans

Syllabus: Download

This course explores various interconnected processes that shaped London through the centuries, particularly socio-economic, political, cultural processes. It examines their spatial manifestations, the implications for different social actors, as well as their articulations with the wider political economy. The course adopts a multidisciplinary approach for a critical understanding of these processes, examining key theories and concepts from disciplines such as history, sociology, anthropology, economy and geography. It also draws on a range of illustrative material from literature, film, and the arts. The course thus examines the changing roles of London as an outpost of the Roman Empire in early history, as the politico-administrative heart of British Empire in the 19th and mid-20th centuries, and as a powerhouse of the global economy in the 21st century, linking these to wider developments in the evolving world political economy. Key concepts to be examined include colonialism, imperialism and postcolonialism, modernity and postmodernity, globalisation, transnationalism, and multiculturalism..