1.7: Game time!

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This page is a draft and is under active development.

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This is where the big ideas get a little messy. Big ideas don't come into play alone. As we think about how these ideas play out in our lives, consider the following seven case study mash ups as food for thought. How would you answer the prompts below?

1. World-Systems Theory → The Global Supply Chain of a T-Shirt

Case: "The Life of a $5 T-Shirt"
From cotton fields in Uzbekistan (periphery), to textile factories in Bangladesh (semi-periphery), to fashion retailers in New York or London (core). Trace how the global clothing industry reflects structural inequalities in labor, profit, and environmental burden.

Discussion prompt: Who gets paid the least, and who profits the most? What would a more “ethical” system look like?

2. Globalization Theories → BTS and the Netflix Effect

Case: How K-pop and K-dramas conquered the world
Is this cultural globalization or localization? While Korean content has exploded globally, it often rides on platforms like YouTube, Spotify, and Netflix—mostly Western-owned.

Debate prompt: Is this hyperglobalism or cultural hybridity? Who’s exporting culture, and who’s packaging it?

3. Dependency Theory → Ghana’s E-Waste Dumps

Case: Agbogbloshie, Ghana – the world’s digital dumping ground
Western countries ship used electronics to Africa under the label “second-hand donations.” Many end up in toxic waste sites like Agbogbloshie, where locals dismantle devices for scraps.

Discussion prompt: How does this reflect modern economic dependence? Who’s really “recycling” here?

4. Cultural Imperialism → The Disneyfication of Global Cities

Case: Times Square vs. Tokyo Disney vs. Dubai Malls
Cities around the world increasingly adopt U.S.-style entertainment, branding, and consumer culture. Critics say it flattens local uniqueness; others argue it’s just good business.

Think piece: Is global branding just culture-sharing, or does it erase local identities?

5. Critical Global Political Economy → Fast Fashion and Shein

Case: Shein’s 3-day fashion cycle
Shein ships thousands of new styles every day, often made under questionable labor conditions. Its ultra-cheap prices and rapid turnover reveal the global cost of “affordable fashion.”

Mini-project: What are the hidden costs in a $6 crop top? Who pays them—and who profits?

6. Postcolonial Theory → France in Francophone Africa Today

Case: CFA franc and military bases
Even decades after independence, France maintains military bases and currency control in West African countries. Critics call this “neocolonialism in disguise.”

Discussion prompt: Where does influence end and control begin? Is it cooperation or coercion?

7. Global Systems Theory → Climate Change and the Pacific Islands

Case: Rising seas in Tuvalu and Kiribati
These small island nations contribute almost nothing to climate change but face existential threats from rising sea levels. They now negotiate climate policy with the same urgency as superpowers.

Debate prompt: Who’s responsible for protecting these countries? What does “shared global responsibility” really mean?

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