GEOGRAPHY OF REVOLUTION -- GEOG 425/525 SPRING 2001

Class meets MWF 12:20-1:10 pm EST 338

Instructor: David J. Keeling Office EST 431, Phone 745-5986

Office Hours: MWF 0800-0900, 1430-1700, or by appointment.

EMAIL: DAVID.KEELING@WKU.EDU

COURSE PURPOSE:

** In this course, we conduct a systematic thematic and regional analysis of the geographies of revolution and resistance, both within a historical context and within the context of contemporary globalization. Combining textbook readings, videos, slides, and discussions, students gain an appreciation of the political, social, economic, and cultural complexities of revolutionary change in societies, an understanding of the spatial dynamics of revolutionary change, and the role of revolutions (both violent and non-violent) in the emerging global socioeconomic system. You will sharpen your critical thinking skills by applying general theories and models to a variety of revolutionary movements extant in the global system. This is an exciting and stimulating course that will broaden your knowledge and understanding of your individual role in the world and of relationships between different societies and countries in the region.

** Required textbooks available at the College Bookstores: (1) Steve Pile and Michael Keith (eds.) (1997) Geographies of Resistance. New York: Routledge. ISBN: 0415154979 (paperback).
(2) Assigned readings distributed in class.

** Student Assessment: 2 midterm reviews (20% each), a final review (20%), a Research Paper and Paper Discussion (30%), Attendance, Quizzes, and Participation (10%). Grades are allocated as follows: A = 90-100%, B = 80-89.9%; C = 70-79.9%; D = 60-69.9%; F = <60%.
** Graduate students (GEOG525), in addition to the above requirements, are required to do EITHER a book review OR a detailed analysis of two research articles.

*** Students are strongly encouraged to use the research material generated in this course as part of their Senior Assessment Portfolio. Part of the University's Academic Improvement strategy requires that Seniors be assessed before graduation on the general principles gained from their major program of study. The Department REQUIRES that you develop a portfolio containing your research papers, skill course outputs, and other material relevant to your program of study. See your advisor for more information about Senior Assessment.

** NOTE: The Department of Geography & Geology strictly adheres to the course drop policy found in the Undergraduate and Graduate catalogs. It is the sole responsibility of individual students to meet the cited deadlines for dropping a course. In exceptional cases the deadline for schedule changes (dropping a course) may be waived. The successful waiver will require a written description of extenuating circumstances and relevant documentation. Poor academic performance, general malaise, or undocumented general stress factors are NOT considered legitimate extenuating circumstances. Since the granting of such waivers is rare, we urge you to follow the established guidelines.

** This course requires a commitment of 2.5 hours class time plus 5 hours of outside reading and research each week.
** Please make every effort to come to class on time. The class begins at 12:20 pm sharp and ends at 1:10 pm, so do not begin packing up materials until the appropriate time as it disturbs other students and is rude behavior. Those students who attend regularly generally get more from the course than students who miss class. Unexcused absences will affect the final grade negatively. Unexcused absences are those that are not related to University/academic activities. Missing more than 10 percent of the scheduled classes unexcused will result in the loss of one letter grade. Any student who misses more than eight scheduled classes will receive an automatic "F" for the course. Attendance policies for scheduled Fridays are no different than for other scheduled meetings. All papers, assignments, and other materials must be completed ON TIME (unless you have an exceptional reason) in order to pass the course.

** I have a zero tolerance for cheating of any kind. Any type of academically and ethically dishonest work (plagiarism, copying someone else's work, etc.) will result in an automatic "F" for the course and notification of the appropriate academic authority. Students are expected to conduct themselves in a manner appropriate for an academic setting. Please respect your fellow students' views, opinions, and desire to learn.

Course Outline and Reading Assignments for GEOG 425/525 ---------- Spring 2001

PART I: REVOLUTIONARY SOCIAL RESTRUCTURING: LARGE-SCALE PATTERNS OF CHANGE

Week One: MWF January 8/10/12:
What is revolution? Geographies of resistance and change. Plate Tectonic Theory approach to radical change Long-term "subsurface" changes versus short-term "earthquakes and volcanoes."
Readings: Introduction, pp. 1-32, Geographies of Resistance.
Week Two: WF January 17/19:
Key revolutions in history the Long-term Forces of Change.
Readings: Identity, Authenticity.....pp. 219-235, Geographies of Resistance.
Week Three: MWF January 22/24/26:
Industrial Revolution and the creation of a New World Order. The rise of Imperial Powers and Resistance to Imperialism.
Readings: Black Gold, White Heat, pp. 33-67, Geographies of Resistance.
Week Four: MWF Jan/Feb 29/31/2:
Technological Revolutions The Vision of Terminator I/II. Time-space Reorganization and the rise of global resistance.
Readings: Remapping Resistance, pp. 87-106, Geographies of Resistance.
Week Five: MWF February 5/67/9:
Resistance to Globalization and the six fundamental forces of long-term change. Environmental revolution and challenges to the New World Order.
Readings: Review the first four readings.
F 2/9 ** FIRST REVIEW Friday February 9, 2001 **

PART II: REVOLUTION!! THE EARTHQUAKES AND VOLCANOES

Week Six: MWF February 12/14/16:
Communist Revolutions Russia 1917; China 1949; Cuba 1959.
Readings: Resisting Reconciliation, pp. 203-218, Geographies of Resistance.
Week Seven: MWF February 19/21/23:
Latin American Revolutions The Empire Strikes Back. U.S. support of right-wing dictatorships.
Readings: The Still Point, pp. 124-151, Geographies of Resistance.
Week Eight: MWF Feb/March 26/28/2:
NO CLASS Annual Conference of the AAG. Students work on their research projects and will have a first rough draft of their paper ready before Spring Break.
Readings: Review.
Week Nine: MWF March 5/7/9:
Sex, Drugs, Rock n' Roll and the Cultural Revolution. The Revolution of 1968.
Readings: Dancing on the Bar, pp. 107-123, Geographies of Resistance.
Week Ten: MWF 12/14/16:
Non-violent Protest, Sexual Identity, and the restructuring of social resistance.
Readings: Rings, Circles..., pp. 168-183, Geographies of Resistance.

F 3/16 *** Second Midterm Review Friday March 16, 2001 ***

Week Eleven: MWF March 19/21/23 :
NO CLASS Spring Break.

PART III: GLOBAL-LOCAL, LOCAL-GLOBAL: CONTEMPORARY REVOLUTIONS

Week Twelve: MWF March 26/28/30:
Bottom Up versus Top Down Resistance. How do individuals effect change in society? Non-violent revolution.
Readings: A Spatiality of Resistances, pp. 68-86, Geographies of Resistance.
Week Thirteen: MWF April 2/4/6:
Revolutionary Thinking, Radical Politics.
Readings: Radical Politics, pp. 152-167, and Performing Inoperative...pp. 184-202, Geographies of Resistance.
Week Fourteen: MWF April 9/11/13:
Local Cultures and Urban protests. Changing the local within the framework of the global.
Readings: Local Cultures, pp. 236-257, Geographies of Resistance.
Week Fifteen: MWF April 16/18/20:
Borders, Resistance, and the changing faces of revolution and change.
Readings: Spatial Politics, pp. 258-276, Geographies of Resistance.

*** Research Papers Due Friday April 20, 2001 *** NO LATE PAPERS ACCEPTED

Week Sixteen: MWF April 23/25/27:
Student debates on resistance, revolution, and social change.
Readings: Conclusion, pp. 277-286, Geographies of Resistance.

Week Seventeen *** FINAL EXAM Thursday May 3, 2001, 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm **
NOTE: No Makeups or Alternative Times are Available for the Final Exam.

Additional information about Global Problems and the Culture of Capitalism, along with a great web list of Antisystemic Protest sites.
Dr. Keeling's Article on Globalization and Latin America.

To find out about more exciting Geography courses, visit the Geography Department Homepage.

You can email the instructor directly about this course. Just click on: david.keeling@wku.edu
Return to David J. Keeling's Homepage
Last updated on 2/8/01.