Seventeenth Global Studies Conference

Abstract

As the perception of the world shifted from being thought of as a collection distinct, separate areas to constituting one global whole in the mid-1990’s, American universities adapted to the globalizing world by way of creating Global Studies institutional spaces. In academic traditions, universities operate at the center of the academic universe by defining valid fields of study, and maintaining knowledge production, critical discussion, and solutions to world issues. The introduction of Global Studies to such institutions validated the value of pursuing it as a formal area of study, with official academic recognition, and indicated the realities of a then-new world that required the creation of a new program. Through the collection and analysis of empirical evidence about Global Studies institutional spaces at American universities, this paper contributes insights into how designated programs, initiatives, and networks indicate the necessity of a valid, formal interdisciplinary education on globalization and provides a curated dataset that allows further exploration of the relationships between academic structures and knowledge about world order. Moreover, this paper considers how the current political climate poses challenges to the integrity of a Global Studies program that considers the world as a global whole. Instances of reverting back to separate corners of the world and solidifying nation-state boundaries point towards a reckoning with “de-globalization.” If de-globalization continues and realizes new meaning in the future, it raises the critical question of if the next stage for Global Studies and discards the original core idea of a global whole.