France

As the main and most comprehensive undergraduate course on economic elites, this class is an introduction to several streams of cutting-edge sociological research on the latter. It presents and discusses the definition of economic elites in terms of organizational positions, wealth, multiple forms of capital and/or class. It explores the different quantitative approaches to describe and study national and transnational business elites, as well as their relations with other fractions of a larger power elite, using – among other methods – network and correspondence analyses. It also draws upon the many contributions of cultural sociology to the understanding of the meaning-making processes and the symbolic economy underlying the professional habitus, the morals, the consumption patterns and the philanthropic practices of these elites.

Why is it so difficult for the international community to agree on the governance of shared global domains? Why do efforts to address climate change constantly fall short? And why do Global Commons provide States with an opportunity to exploit finite resources, but impose few obligations to clean up the mess? The answers to some of those questions lie in the international frameworks established since WWII to govern "Global Commons" including Antarctica, Outer Space, the Deep Sea Bed, the High Seas, and the atmosphere, which provide freedom of access and use to all States, but few mechanisms for precaution and sustainability. These global commons are protected from claims of national sovereignty, and generally prohibit use of nuclear weapons in these spaces, serving a critical role in disarmament. This course examines contemporary issues in these five Global Commons at the intersection of international law, science, mining, telecommunications, security, and defense. Students learn how to navigate and apply the treaties governing each of the domains to contemporary issues while considering economic and political theory, such as Hardin's "Tragedy of the Commons," intergenerational equity and sustainability. By studying the governance of all five domains in the one semester, students gain high-level insight into what governance models work best and where regulatory gaps remain. Solutions are to be found in some domains that might be applied to others. Students have the opportunity to research one specific domain of their choosing for their written paper, and propose new regulation and policy in order to address international challenges. This equips students with the ability to advocate for change and support the global community in realizing the benefits of shared international spaces. Students develop an understanding of: the geopolitical history of the Antarctic Treaty (1959), the Outer Space Treaty (1967), the Sea Bed Treaty (1971) aka the Sea Bed Arms Control Treaty, the High Seas Treaty (2023) aka The Agreement on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ), and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (FCCC); the international framework governing activities in each of these five Global Commons; the application of ethics and theory to the governance of Global Commons; the application of principles in the relevant treaties to real-life case studies; the political forces shaping EU and international policy in these domains; the risk to global peace and security from arms races and over exploitation in these domains.

Over the course of the last four years societies have witnessed one of the most dramatic returns of state interventionism since the Second World War. Governments have sought to mitigate the consequences of multiple crises – be that the 2008 financial crash, the COVID-19 pandemic, or the inflationary shock post the Ukrainian war – through a raft of new policy measures be that financial regulation, price controls, lockdowns, furlough programs, basic income packages, and infrastructure initiatives. However, it is often very hard to say with confidence what the consequences of these polices were. Using this crisis context as an overarching frame, this course introduces quantitative methods employed in evaluating the efficacy of public policy. The course begins with a focus on the basics of working with data, emphasizing the importance of how data is designed (longitudinal or cross-section) as well as the level of data collection (ecological or individual). Then, the focus turns to empirical methodology: how researchers design natural experiments to estimate the average treatment effect of a policy. Beginning with simple OLS regression, the course advances to studying three basic approaches: difference-in-differences, regression discontinuity design, and instrumental-variables regression. Finally, the course concentrates on examples of applied research and examines how researchers connect these methods with important debates in public policy and social theory. Throughout the course there is a strong emphasis on adopting a hands on approach, using the R programming language. This course develops the basic tools to be able to: manipulate and clean data, perform simple analyses both descriptive and analytical, as well as visualize their results in an aesthetically pleasing way. But more than that, this course builds the confidence to explore R on one's own, understanding that programming is a skill which scholars develop over many years through persistent practice. This class expects students to have a certain mathematical confidence but does not expect students to know anything about econometrics.

From international monetary system issues to climate challenges, crypto-assets, the fight against financial crime, international sanctions, sovereign debt restructuring, and the role of the shareholder state, this course examines the major monetary and financial issues of the 21st century. It explores strategies for adapting central banks and the financial system to these new challenges, whether they relate to monetary policy, financial stability, or the financing of the economy. This course has three key objectives: to equip students with an in-depth mastery of the fundamentals of monetary and financial economics for a better understanding of current economic events, to shed light on the changing role of central banks and international financial institutions, and to offer the opportunity to meet experts to guide students in their career choices.

This course explores the concept of democratic representation in multi-level systems, examining both theoretical foundations and practical case studies. It begins with an overview of key theories on democratic representation, exploring both the demand for representation by the public and the supply of representation by elected officials and institutions. In the latter half, case studies from various multi-level political systems illustrate how these theories apply in practice and how representation is shaped by institutional design.

The 20th century was marked by the clash of ideologies—fascism, Nazism, communism—and unprecedented violence. Its literary history, in turn, was shaped by bold formal experimentation (modernism) and the emergence of voices from regions and groups previously underrepresented. Through literature, particularly the novel, the course examines how writers grappled with this apocalyptic century. The novel, with its focus on individual experience and narrative complexity, provides a unique, non-ideological lens to engage with reality and history. It studies it through works by Dostoevsky, Conrad, Virginia Woolf, Kafka, Kundera, Garcia Marquez, Achebe and others.

Sport is no longer simply a physical activity or a game; it has become an economic sector in its own right, now accounting for 2% of global GDP. With its evolution and the development of its business have come new challenges and new players competing to ensure their growth and assert their rights. Formerly organized around rules and largely through associations, sport has become economically emancipated. It is governed by a set of rights (commercial, property, image, etc.) and businesses defended by players as diverse as companies, the media, athletes, clubs, events, etc. The economics of sport enables us to take a different look at what is above all for the general public a subject of passion and for others a stake in growth or power. A few months after the success of the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, this course offers an overview of the players and issues involved in the sports economy. It focuses particularly on understanding the strategies of the various players and deciphering business mechanisms.

This course analyzes multiculturalism through a philosophical-political and historical lens. It explores contemporary political claims and struggles, focusing on the concepts of tolerance and diversity, their political implications and their translation in the juridical realm. The course examines the different connotations of multiculturalism, explores the critique on its potential Eurocentrism, and discusses its potential challenges and benefits on societal cohesion and citizenship. Learning outcomes include understanding the key political concepts and theories of multiculturalism; exploring the relationship between collective and individual rights within human rights language and debates; and critically engaging with the concepts of tolerance, diversity, and integration.

Since Tocqueville's pioneering research in the 1830s, comparisons between France and the United States have proliferated, often accompanied by certain myths and oversimplifications. This course builds on these comparative studies by offering an in-depth examination of the national institutions and political systems of the two countries. Through the lens of political sociology, this course delves into the roles, characteristics, and expertise of political professionals who live “for” and “off” politics: elected officials, top civil servants, political staffers, etc. By integrating interdisciplinary perspectives and employing diverse methodological approaches, the course takes a close look at the diversity of political work, focusing on the key similarities and differences between the two nations.

This course offers a survey of the rise and fall of successive French imperial systems, from the creation of an American New France in the seventeenth century until the crisis in France's African sphere of influence today. Adopting a global perspective, it focuses on the role of external and local constraints – from rivalry with the British Empire to various types of indigenous resistance – rather than internal expansionist impulses in shaping the course of French imperial history. Special attention is paid to the role of racial distinctions, in a comparative perspective with other European empires. Topics covered include the collapse of the early modern and Napoleonic empires, the liberal reinvention of empire, colonial governance, and decolonization.