POL409H1S L0101

Graduate Course Code: POL2307H1S L0101

Political Economy of Technology: From the Auto-Industrial to the Information Age

Themes

Survey of a broad range of issues related to the relationship between technological change and social and political development from a theoretical, historical and comparative perspective. The principal objectives will be to explore the growing centrality of science and technology in political affairs generally and its current significance for public policy in particular; to examine the conceptual tools that political economy has to offer which facilitate an analysis of the nature of technological change in the industrial democracies since the late nineteenth century; and to assess the social and political consequences of technological innovation in the current period and the influence of public policy on these developments.

Texts

Manuel Castells, The Rise of the Network Society, New Edition and course readings.

Format and Requirements

Course work consists of 3 components: an essay, and seminar presentations and participation.

Prerequisites

CSC300H1 or ECO360Y1 or GGR431H1 or HPS201H1 or HPS202H1 or HPS431H1 or POL218Y5 or a POL 300- or 400-level course in Comparative Politics (See department' s website for POL courses by area group) / SOC 356Y1