Inventing the Future

Global Trends and the Transformation of Society

Autumn, 2001

Instructor: Dr. David Hodge

Office Hours: Monday, 12:30-1:00, and by appointment

http://faculty.washington.edu/hodge/gs197.html

Classroom: Communications 065

Mondays, 11:30-12:20

Web Discussion: http://catalyst.washington.edu/webtools/epost/register.cgi?owner=hodge&id=1206

Textbook: Michael J. Mazarr, Global Trends 2005: An Owner’s Manual for the Next Decade, 1999

Schedule of Topics and Assigned Reading:

Date	Topic	Reading
October 1	Introduction
October 8	A Transformation of Society	1-24
October 15	The Foundations	25-70
October 22	Engines of History	71-114
October 29	A Human Resources Economy	115-156
November 5	An Era of Global Tribes	157-194
November 12	Veterans Day
November 19	A Transformation of Authority	195-236
November 26	A Test of Human Psychology	237-278
December 3	Toward a New Society	279-296
December 10	No class

Student Responsibilities:

Students are expected to participate fully in weekly discussions focused on the assigned topics. Each week two students will lead the discussion in a form to be determined by them. All other students will post on the class website (no later than the day before the class) a paragraph reflecting on the connection between the theme of that week’s readings and a news item.

Learning Objectives:

To become more familiar with major trends affecting the future
To gain a better understanding of the connections between specific events of seemingly different nature in different parts of the world
To improve ability to think critically about complex subjects
To improve communications skills