How does culture matter in the global diffusion of capitalism? How is Japanese capitalism different from American capitalism? How is marketization in post-socialist China different from marketization in post-socialist Russia? Through a number of anthropological and sociological empirical studies, this course examines the relations between culture and globalization of market economy in various respects. It exposes students to different parts of the world and their receptions to the globalizing economic and cultural forces. The course explores these questions through a perusal of different topics, such as work and labor in multi-national corporations, the McDonaldization of social and cultural sphere of life, and the global discourse of media and fashion. Interesting case studies from different localities will be used substantially for classroom discussion.