English

This course provides an introduction to game theory, a framework for studying situations of strategic interdependence. Students are shown how to describe such situations formally, how to analyze them using concepts of dominance and equilibrium, and how the theory can be applied to questions arising in various social sciences. Concepts and techniques to be studied include: games in extensive and strategic form, backward induction, strategic dominance, imperfect information, choice under uncertainty, pure and mixed strategy Nash equilibrium, coordination and outguessing games, the prisoners' dilemma, subgame perfection, iterative dominance, commitment and credibility, and repeated games.

The course introduces Geo-Information Science and its scientific and societal interests. The starting point of the introduction is the geo-information cycle. This cycle frames geo-data-based actions like acquisition and storage, processing, and visualization. It is explained that these actions can be used to describe, analyze, design, and realize real-world phenomena. Thus geo data is always acquired, processed, and visualized with a specific purpose. This is illustrated via the conceptual, formal, and technical modeling steps. Important in these modeling steps are the roles of geographical data attributes (thematic, geometric, temporal). Because the acquisition and processing of geo data are purposive, metadata plays an important role in finding geo data and geo data processing steps. It is also important to evaluate the (re)usability of geo data and geo data processing steps. Metadata explains important geo data characteristics like (geo)reference, map projection, and available attributes. Geo-visualization, especially cartography concepts, is introduced to show how geo data ought to be communicated. After the introduction of the geo data-related concepts, the course offers geo data processing options. The latter is done by the introduction of three data handling classes (query, transform, and alter) and the data-action model. Basic concepts of Remote Sensing (spectral signature, sensor types, and visual and quantitative processing) are also introduced. The application of all concepts is practiced during a practical and a small project using professional software and data.

Economics of Development explores the principles and issues of economic development. In this course we will ask: (1) How does a developing country break the poverty trap and evolve to a modern economy with a higher living standard? (2) What are the processes and conditions of economic development? and (3) Is there a scope for policy? What policies and strategies should be tried out?

This course consists of four parts (ten chapters): 

Part 1 “Introduction” includes two chapters. Topics to be covered are: (1) the object of Development Economics and the purpose of this course, (2) characteristics of developing countries and (3) a comparison between economic development and economic growth. 

Part 2 “Development Models in a Dual Economy” includes three chapters. Topics to be covered are: (1) the transfer and employment of rural surplus labors in a dual economy, (2) the relationship between industrialization and the development of the rural sector and (3) China’s transition from a dual economy to a modern economy and the challenges associated with this process. 

Part 3 “Modern Economic Growth Theory” includes three chapters. Topics to be covered are: (1) the accumulation of physical capital, (2) the accumulation of labor and human capital, (3) the relationship between technological progress and economic growth and (4) the characteristics and trends of China’s economic growth. 

Part 4 “Structural Theories of Economic Development” includes two chapters. Topic to be covered are: (1) Structural Theories of the Latin school, (2) balanced and unbalanced growth strategies in economic development, (3) relationship between industrial structure change and economic development and (4) issues about the industrial structure in China’s industrialization process. 

This course aims to help students have a comprehensive understanding of the basic principles and issues of economic development. Students are not only required to have a well understanding of the general theories, but also are required to apply theories to practical problems and carry out empirical research in areas of China’s economic development.

This course offers students the methodological foundations to undertake research related to the study of political elites or any other relevant group using secondary data. The course also allows the student to get acquainted with the production of primary data. The approach is multimethodological, and it focuses on the study of political elites. All the sessions include a lecture, but they can also include practical sessions using computers. The first part of the course is devoted to qualitative methodologies, while the remaining part deals with more quantitative approaches to research in political science. The sessions are designed for students who have no prior knowledge and/or background in data analysis or research methods.

This course focuses on the performativity of engaged citizenship through an array of practices that includes theoretical discussion and experiential learning, especially through the lens of creative activism and decolonial practice. The first part of the course is acquainted with a historical and theoretical framework in which debates on engaged citizenship will be raised, especially touching on issues regarding rights and democracy (sovereignty and subjectivity, non/territorial and psychological citizenship), Western and non-Western conceptions of citizenship (indigenous movements, migration, decolonial politics) as well as issues of inclusion and exclusion (feminist and queer critique, racial politics, planetary citizenship, civil disobedience). The theoretical part of the course develops activist, relational, and post-national accounts of citizenship. The second half is taught from a media and performance studies lens, centering on decolonial theory and experience-based learning. Students learn how to sketch, plan, and enact “micro-actions” - on and off campus, live or mediated - and thereby probe concepts of engaged citizenship. The practice-based exercises (such as live-action prompts, improvisation, visual projection, culture jamming, and tactical media) are oriented towards a plural, diverse, and open society, earth justice, and planetary citizenship.

This course introduces students to the foundations of macroeconomics with an emphasis on the tools used in economic analysis. The course instructs on how macroeconomic data is constructed and how to interpret it. Students will also use graphical tools to understand some basic macroeconomic theories and analyze how policy changes impact the macroeconomy. A final group project involves using the skills and tools learned in the class to analyze the macroeconomy of a selected country. 

This course is a "Foundation" course required for all ICU Economics majors and is prerequisite for most 200-level and 300-level courses in Economics.

The notion of ‘elite’ entails hierarchy, and may be perceived on related, interacting and conflicting levels: not only familial, gender, social and political, but moral and intellectual. To what extent does ‘elite’ connote power or wisdom, exploitation or benevolence, privilege or responsibility, and in what blend of relative proportions? Clues to such questions depend on variants of time, space, culture and context. Using key texts in English translation, this course examines various senses of and perspectives on the elites in classical Chinese literature.

This course covers the history of racial inequality in the United States from the arrival of the first African slaves in Virginia in 1619 to the recent emergence of the Black Lives Matter movement. Throughout, it considers how unequal the United States is; where racial inequality comes from; and why it has proved so enduring; how it has changed over time; what role the U.S. government played in this process; how racial inequality influences U.S. politics, economics, and culture; and what solutions have been proposed. The course introduces the multiple facets of racial inequality in the United States today, considers the history of racial inequality in the United States, and develops critical reading and writing skills in assessing and crafting complex arguments.

This course examines sexuality and gender in Asia, where there are evidences that in pre-colonial societies, gender pluralism and societal inclusivity persisted and celebrated those within and beyond today's ideas of sexualities and genders. From the matriarchal practices in ancient and pre-colonial societies, to promised marriages, to the prohibition of women in artistic and political spaces, to the binding of feet and being leftover women, as well as the various cultural queer realities such as the Bissu, Maknyah, Asog, Sao Praphet sang, Hijra, among others; this course investigates these phenomena and realities. It also explores migration and diasporic narratives as well as how sexualities and gender are practiced and performed in media and culture.

This course introduces students to the study of film genres by focusing on historical, theoretical, and technical aspects. Through lectures, seminars, and screenings, students learn how to approach and discuss film genres analytically and acquire an awareness of the history and development of different types of film narratives and of key concepts that can be used to discuss and write about them. Students study elements that are at the basis of genre theory, such as contexts, recurring themes and patterns, locations and characters, while developing an appropriate technical vocabulary to be used in class discussions and in their assessments.