Focus on the Global South International Course 2008
“Globalization and Social Transformation”

November 3 - 21
Chulalongkorn University
Bangkok, Thailand

Application Deadline: Sept. 15, 2008

Course Description
This course examines globalization and its socio-economic consequences. It offers an analytical interpretation of the ongoing debates concerning the dynamics, institutional structures, and central processes of globalization and the organized resistances of civil society groups and networks worldwide. Inherent in this examination is a critical understanding of the role and nature of hegemony in the relations between countries in the institutions of global governance.

The course will look at the political, social and cultural aspects of social movement building and other forms of counter-hegemonic activities. Case studies presenting the political, social and cultural aspects of social movement building as well as campaign initiatives for social justice, sustainability and human rights will be discussed by practitioners and activist researchers.
The course will bring together practitioners (staff and members of social movements/civil society organizations and networks, including the media) from within and beyond the Asian region. Through this course, Focus and Chulalongkorn University wish to contribute to the development and strengthening of links between organizations and networks as well as provide a space for deepening understanding about global issues and the role of civil society organizations in social transformation.

Course Design
The course will comprise a combination of inputs from an international pool of lecturers, public seminars, small group workshops, debates and mutual teaching and learning among participants. The participants will also be encouraged to prepare presentations and share their experiences of campaigning, public education and mobilization. The topics for presentations will be agreed between the lecturers and the participants. Some sessions will also be allocated for campaign and/or mobilization strategy sharing and other practical exercises.
The course will run for 15 days (Monday to Friday, with 3-hour morning and afternoon sessions) at the Chulalongkorn University campus in Bangkok, Thailand from October 15 to November 2, 2007.

The course organizers will ensure a well balanced participation in terms of gender, sector, and level of engagement (local, regional, global). The course is designed for those who have at least 2 years of involvement in any social movement and volunteer work or work experience in NGOs.

Admission
Participants will be charged a US$ 1,000 course fee, which will also cover in-campus accommodations, reading materials and short field trips in Bangkok. Participants are expected to shoulder their own travel expenses to Thailand.
There will be 20 full scholarship placements for travel and course attendance (competitive) for participants that are coming from the social movements and strategic advocacy organizations from the South.

Due to cost considerations, all lectures and public events will be presented in English. It is expected that participants have a good command of the language. For successful applicants from China, the language requirement could be waived and simultaneous translation will be available during lectures and public events.

As a component of Focus on the Global South’s China Project, course participants from China will be offered a 10-day field exposure or Study Tour to the rural areas in Thailand by the Focus Thailand Country Programme.
Please visit Focus on the Global South website (www.focusweb.org ) for more information and to down load the application form.