GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES: EQUITY AND JUSTICE

CRN: 21818
MEETING TIME: TR 9-10:45am
MEETING LOCATION: Napier Hall
CREDIT HOURS: 3
PREREQUISITE: None
INSTRUCTOR: Brooke Rudow
OFFICE LOCATION: Beeson 357
CONTACT INFORMATION: brooke.rudow@gcsu.edu, 478.445.8543
OFFICE HOURS: MW: 12-1:15pm, TR 11:00am-12:15pm
*Monday Office Hours held at Blackbird Café*

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course aims to cultivate a critical comprehension of important ethical and political issues
from a global perspective. Students will develop their capacity for ethical and critical reasoning
as well as basic skills in writing, presentation and debates.

INSTRUCTIONAL OBJECTIVES:
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

 Have a richer conception of the principles of justice and ethics.

 Have a better understanding of how such principles can be applied to global issues.
 Be able to recognize and analyze philosophical arguments.
 Be able to construct and defend their own philosophical arguments.

Required Texts:

1) The Global Justice Reader, edited by Thom Brooks (available on GA View)

2) Other required readings will be provided in class or online

GRADING PROCESS AND CRITERIA:

On all assignments you will receive either a Pass/Fail grade or a letter grade (1-5). Within each
grade category, the items will be averaged. The value of each category is below. **Notice that an
89.9 is a B. I do not round up, so do not ask me. You will ask me, but know in advance that the
answer is no.

Letters to Numbers Numbers to Letters

A: 95 90-100 A
B: 85 80-89.9 B
C: 75 70-79.9 C
D: 65 (Passing) 60-69.9 D
F: 0 (Failing) < 59.9 F

Prior to mid-semester, you will receive feedback on your academic performance in this
course. (Approved by Academic Council, January 2003; modified by Academic Affairs in
consultation with the Executive Committee of the University Senate, February 2009).

1. Attendance
You are permitted 4 absences in this class without penalty. It does not matter if they are excused
or unexcused, so plan accordingly. I cannot emphasize this enough: it does not matter if your
absence is excused. It still counts as an absence, but absences 1-4 will not harm your grade.
Starting at absence 5, you will lose 3 points off your final grade for each absence in the class.
For example, if you have a 95 in the class, but you miss 7 days of class, your final grade will be
an 86.

2. Participation and Professionalism (20%):

Class participation and professionalism are crucial parts of this class. You should be able to
demonstrate your understanding of the assigned readings by formulating questions about the
readings and articulating key points. Participation is not just talking a lot; be mindful of
participating well. That is, you should respond to other students, ask relevant questions, and
listen. Refrain from talking to classmates when others are speaking. During discussion I expect
many of you to disagree from time to time, but I require a high level of respect for and from all
students.

Professionalism is a skill you desperately need in college and in your life beyond college. For the
purposes of this class, demonstrating professionalism includes (but is not limited to):

 arriving to class on time and prepared

 quieting down when I begin taking attendance
 refraining from using or gazing at your phone in class
 having your reading assignment with you and out when class begins
 having your reading journal with you and out when class begins
 knowing the syllabus and syllabus supplement/FAQ and referring to them prior to asking
me questions (I cannot emphasize this enough)
 generally showing respect for me, your classmates, and for the learning environment

3. Reading Journals (30%)

Each student will keep a journal with notes from readings and ideas for the course. You must
complete your journals for the week ahead prior to class Monday. This means that you must
complete all reading for the week before class Monday. You must bring your journal each day so
that we can talk about them. I will randomly take these up and check them, so make sure you
have them with you each day. If you do not have your journal, you will receive a 0 if I check
them, and you will lose professionalism points. In these journals, you will:
 summarize key points in the reading (required)
 raise critical questions or discussion questions for the class. (required)
 in class: write down and complete any assignments given during the class (required)
 write down and words you don’t know, look them up, and write down the definitions
(recommended)
 record favorite quotes, stating why you like the quotes (recommended)
 record quotes of things you disagree with, stating why you disagree (recommended)
 offer related reflections on personal experience, beliefs, current events, or examples from
the media (recommended)
 connect reading material for this week with previous material studied in the course
(recommended)

Journals will be letter-graded, with grades depending on exhibited comprehension of the

material, depth of engagement, and stylistic clarity. Doing the required elements alone is the
absolute minimum of engagement for a passing grade. You should go beyond the requirements
if you want a higher grade. I will post a grading rubric on GA View. Each entry should be
around 1-3 pages. It is imperative that these entries exhibit not a merely superficial reading of the
text, but a high level of engagement.

4. Global Issue Project and Paper (25%)

You will be assigned to a group of 4. As a group you will decide upon and research a global or
non-US based issue within one of the themes discussed in class or in the text. As a group you
will present the issue and an analysis (using the text) of the issue to the class. For example, you
might research and discuss child soldiers in Liberia. You analyze this as a human rights issue or
an issue of justice or a violation of democratic principles, etc. It must be clear which concept(s)
you are using for your analysis. Your group should consider and present ways that we as
individuals and as a community could address the issue or help. Discuss also what efforts or
policy solutions already exist. Your grade will be based on:
 Your group’s preparedness, presentation, cooperation as a group, ability to handle
questions from me and your classmates, quality of the research, analysis, and solutions.
 Peer evaluations by your groupmates
 Your individual Global Issues Paper based on the project

5. Two Global Issues Papers (25%)

You are responsible for two additional Global Issues Papers. Just as in the group project, you
will research an issue, perform an analysis, and discuss solutions/propose solutions. Your paper
should be 700-900 words. 700 words is the absolute minimum. You cannot receive full credit
for the paper if you are below this word count. Going over 900 is much more acceptable but keep
it under control. Quotations should be minimal.

6. Extra Credit
You will have two extra credit opportunities that correspond to each Global Issues Paper. You
may turn in a detailed outline no later than one week prior (Tuesday, 11:30pm) to the paper due
date for up to an additional 5 points on the paper. For example, if you receive a B (85 points) on
your paper, completing a detailed outline and turning it in online can give you up to 90 points.
There may be other extra credit opportunities as the semester goes on, but I make no promises.

COURSE SCHEDULE
**Readings for the week should be completed prior to class each Monday**
Jan 6 Readings: “The Nature of Rights” Leif Wenar
In Class: Syllabus, Introductions, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
On your own: Start Reading Journal, order/print texts

Jan 13: Readings: Beitz, “Human Rights as Common Concern” and Jones, “Group Rights
and Group Oppression”
In Class: E-Team

Jan 20 Readings: Rawls, “The Law of Peoples” and Pogge, “An Egalitarian Law of
Peoples”
In Class: 5 Broken Cameras (kanopy.com)

Jan 27 Readings: Readings: Margalit and Raz, “National Self-Determination” and

Buchanan, “Theories of Succession”
In Class: Group 1, Abundant Land

Feb 3 Readings: Goodin, “What is so Special?” and Nussbaum, “Patriotism and

Cosmopolitanism”
In Class: Schooling the World

Feb 10 Readings: Kant, “Perpetual Peace” and Pogge, “Moral Universalism”

In Class: Group 2, Life and Debt

Feb 17 Readings: Singer, “Famine, Affluence, and Morality” and Wenar, “What we Owe
to Distant Others”
In Class: Paper 1 due (Tuesday), Machines

Feb 24 Readings: Nagel, “The Problem of Global Justice” and Fuller, “Poverty Relief”
 In Class: Group 3, Poverty, Inc.

Mar 2 Readings: JSM, “A Few Words” and Nagel, “War and Massacre”
In Class: Pray the Devil Back to Hell

Mar 9 Readings: Walzer, “Just War” and McMahan, “Just Cause for War”
In Class: Group 4, Naila and The Uprising or God Went Surfing with the Devil

Mar 16-20: Spring Break

Mar 23 Readings: Walzer, “Terrorism,” Rodin, “Terrorism without Intention” and

Smilansky, “Terrorism, Justification, and Illusion”
In Class: (T)ERROR

Mar 30 Readings: Okin, “Is Multiculturalism Bad for Women?” and Herr, “Defense of
Multiculturalism”
In Class: Group 5, The Shape of Water

Apr 6 Readings: Machado, “The Unnamed Woman” and Nanko “Justice Crosses the
Border”
In Class: Human Flow

Apr 13 Readings: TBA

In Class: Paper 2 Due (Tuesday)

Apr 20 Readings: Singer, “One Atmosphere” and Caney, “Justice, Responsibility,

Climate Change”
In Class: Group 6, Fall and Winter

The course syllabus and schedule are general plans for the course; deviations announced to
the class by the instructor may be necessary.

UNIVERSITY POLICIES:

STATEMENT ON ACADEMIC FREEDOM:

As a public, liberal arts university, Georgia College is committed to protecting the First
Amendment rights of students, faculty and staff. These rights include the right to free speech,
free expression, free exercise of religion, and the right to assemble peaceably. In order to protect
campus safety and ensure the proper functioning of academic and institutional activities, the
university has established a Code of Conduct. The following prohibitions specifically relate to
student conduct in and out of the classroom:
1. Conduct that constitutes a danger to the personal safety of other members of the university
community. This may include assault, attempted assault, or the threat of assault.
2. Conduct that obstructs, seriously impairs, attempts to obstruct or seriously impair university-
run or university-authorized activities or business on any university property, indoors or out.
3. Intentional harassment of another person. Harassment includes, but is not limited to,
threatening, intimidating, verbally abusing, impeding, telephoning, communicating
electronically, following or persistently bothering or annoying. Harassment may represent
but is not limited to acts based on sex, race, religion, national origin, handicap or sexual
orientation.

Other than acts that violate the Code of Conduct, the free expression rights of students, faculty,
and staff will be respected.

RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCE POLICY

Students are permitted to miss class in observance of religious holidays and other activities
observed by a religious group of which the student is a member without academic penalty. 
Exercising of one’s rights under this policy is subject to the GC Honor Code.  Students who miss
class in observance of a religious holiday or event are required to make up the coursework
missed as a result from the absence.  The nature of the make-up assignments and the deadline for
completion of such assignments are at the sole discretion of the instructor.  Failure to follow the
prescribed procedures voids all student rights under this policy. 

ASSISTANCE FOR STUDENT NEEDS RELATED TO DISABILITY

If you have a disability as described by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504, you may be eligible to receive accommodations to assist
in programmatic and physical accessibility.  Disability Services, a unit of the GCSU Office of
Institutional Equity and Diversity, can assist you in formulating a reasonable accommodation
plan and in providing support in developing appropriate accommodations to ensure equal access
to all GCSU programs and facilities. Course requirements will not be waived, but
accommodations may assist you in meeting the requirements.  For documentation requirements
and for additional information, we recommend that you contact Disability Services located in
Maxwell Student Union at 478-445-5931 or 478-445-4233.

STUDENT OPINION SURVEYS STATEMENT

Given the technological sophistication of Georgia College students, the student opinion survey is
being delivered through an online process. Your constructive feedback plays an indispensable
role in shaping quality education at Georgia College. All responses are completely confidential
and your name is not stored with your responses in any way. In addition, instructors will not see
any results of the opinion survey until after final grades are submitted to the University. An
invitation to complete the online opinion survey is distributed to students near the end of the
semester. Your participation in this very important process is greatly appreciated.

ACADEMIC HONESTY 
The integrity of students and their written and oral work is a critical component of the academic
process.  The submission of another’s work as one’s own is plagiarism and will be dealt with
using the procedures outlined in the following link http://catalog.gcsu.edu/ugrad/student-
academic-dishonesty.htm.  Remember that allowing another student to copy one’s own work
violates standards of academic integrity.  Also see the student Honor Code at the website:
http://www.gcsu.edu/studentlife/handbook/code.htm

I take plagiarism very seriously. If you are caught plagiarizing, you will receive a grade of F on
the assignment and may receive a grade of F in the course. Furthermore, you may not submit
any work from other classes to this class without prior permission from me. Repeated use of
your own work is considered plagiarism!

FIRE DRILLS
Fire drills will be conducted annually. In the event of a fire alarm, students will exit the building
in a quick and orderly manner through the nearest hallway exit. Learn the floor plan and exits of
the building. Do not use elevators. If you encounter heavy smoke, crawl on the floor so as to gain
fresh air. Assist disabled persons and others if possible without endangering your own life.
Assemble for a head count on the front lawn of main campus or other designated assembly area.
For more information on other emergencies, please visit
http://www.gcsu.edu/emergency/actionplanmain.htm  

ELECTRONIC RECORDING POLICY

Electronic video and/or audio recording is not permitted during any class unless the student
obtains permission from the instructor and every student present. If permission is granted, any
distribution of the recording is prohibited. Violation of this policy is grounds for removal from
the class and referral for disciplinary action. Students granted specific electronic recording
accommodations from Disability Services do not require special permission; however, the
instructor must be notified. Any distribution is prohibited.

ACADEMIC GRIEVANCES OR APPEALS

An academic grievance or appeal is an allegation by a student of substantial and/or unjustified
deviation, to the student’s detriment, from policies, procedures and/or requirements regarding
admission, grading policies, special agreements, instructor’s requirements and academic
requirements of the University. Students shall have the right to file academic grievances or
appeals according to the procedures approved by the University and outlined in the University
Catalog.