“I developed this class because I love issues involving international trade, particularly the politics of trade. There are many controversial topics surrounding globalization, such as its impact on the environment and developing nations, that lead to engaged discussions.
“In this class, we hold debates on difficult questions that challenge students to consider the benefits and hazards of an increasingly integrated economy. Does globalization harm or help the environment? Should the United States forcefully encourage other countries to become democracies? Should our nation allow more or fewer immigrants into the country? Students read arguments on both sides of an issue, and a few write opinion papers advocating for one point of view. The writers lead group discussions, then the entire class comes together for a debate.
“We also play games to illustrate concepts, including guessing a number between one and 100, then trying to figure out a random number I’ve generated. Inevitably, the guesses quickly coalesce around 50 and 51. The activity illustrates the concept of an equilibrium — a stable outcome where you can predict players’ behavior if you make assumptions about their goals, in this case to maximize their chances of winning. In another game, students assume the roles of political leaders from different countries and bid against one another, offering tax breaks to attract a multinational investor. The outcome usually reveals the ‘winner’s curse,’ meaning the winning bid is so generous that the successful country pays more to the firm than it gains in benefits from the foreign investment.
“I hope students gain an understanding of why they hold certain beliefs and the ability to defend their positions against counterarguments. It’s also important that they recognize there are often multiple conflicting viewpoints on a topic that can be justified depending on a person’s priorities and worldview. I hope they complete the class with a willingness to listen to others and respect the right to hold different opinions.”
– Christopher Magee
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