How is Global Studies similar to the participant observation of anthropology?

Question

How is Global Studies similar to the participant observation of anthropology?

Answer 1

I've not heard of Global Studies either, but I imagine you could approach it in the same way.  Since you're a member of the human race, you're a participant whose life is directly influenced by the global economy, shifts in the world's environment, migration of people, international politics, the worldwide media, sports and entertainment ~ and you can try to step back to take notes as an objective observer and draw a few conclusions about changes or directions on a global scale.  

Trying to be an objective observer is where it gets tricky since as an anthropologist using the participant/observer approach, you need to take into consideration what your own biases are likely to be and either try to overcome them by relying on pure data and quantitative analysis (which could distort conclusions anyway), let others tell their own story without too much analysis of your own creeping in to slant it out of shape, factor them in some way, or use a bit of everything.  If you're a man, it's possible you might not readily appreciate and overlook how women in different parts of the world are effected by the global economy for instance, and if you're a woman who has grown up in a major city and educated in a university, you might have some preconceived ideas about women and the distribution of power, and so not get the fact that women in poverty stricken societies can have different strategies for negotiating their way through life ~ or judge their actions according to what you believe to be an 'enlightened' set of values.  

Oodles of topics to choose from ~ and good luck with it if that's what you choose to do.

Answer 2

Could you perhaps expand on what you mean by Global Studies?  I'm imagining some sort of post-Said anthropology department but I need more information.  Departments end up with the weirdest names some places and don't necessarily describe their field well.