Germany

This course studies the unique federal cultural landscape of Germany and, more specifically, the international cultural metropolis of Berlin which is home to world-class cultural institutions (such as the Staatliche Museen, Museumsinsel, or the Berliner Philharmoniker), traditional theaters, artistic avant-garde, a diverse music and literary scene, sites of the Remembrance, as well as events and clubs. The course considers how the cultural business is structured, how it is funded, the actors involved, and the role that culture plays in Berlin's development. Students get to know cultural institutions from different areas: museums, orchestras, theaters, cultural-political highlights (such as the Humboldt Forum or private initiatives), music labels, and socio-cultural projects. With the help of current and historical texts, through research and field research (individually or in small groups), students develop an overview of what "culture in Berlin" means in concrete terms. Excursions are also planned in Berlin to see and experience the culture as well.

Affective polarization has grown dramatically. Partisans increasingly avoid, distrust, and hate one another to the point where they even condone violence against the other side. Affective polarization is widely seen as a destabilizing force that erodes democracy, but what explains this phenomenon? This course grapples with different definitions of polarization, alternative approaches to explaining its causes, political and non-political consequences of affective polarization, how to compare different countries in regard to their polarization, and mitigating factors. In group work sessions students apply this knowledge by analyzing real world data.

Indigenous people have inhabited the North American continent for thousands of years. Using primary sources from both Indigenous and non-Indigenous authors, this course examines the experiences of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples in what is now termed Canada and places particular focus on the construction of Indigenous identity in settler colonial society. Foregrounding Indigenous resistance and agency, the course explores societal structures, Indigenous economies, and interactions between First Nations and settlers, beginning with the period before contact with European settlers and continuing through Canadian Confederation. Themes include treaty-making, theories of settler colonialism, the Indian Act, Indian Status and its impact on Indigenous women, and the movement for Truth and Reconciliation (TRC).

The course introduces the basics of the European Union and describes and explains the processes of widening and deepening of this unique political entity. An overview of European Union history, its evolution in economic and political terms, as well as of its institutional structure up to today is provided. Internal politics and policies, for example the decision-making process, the balance of power, identity and democratic questions in this new system of governance, are discussed. Likewise in the realm of external affairs, the Common Foreign and Security Policy, relations with neighbors and with developing countries is a main focus of the course. Particularly important aspects include the discussion on future expansion as well as the consequences of the financial crisis and the Lisbon Treaty. The morning sessions consist of lectures, literature-based discussions, and oral presentations from working groups. Students visit various institutions in Germany`s political center as a component of this course. Students have the chance to discuss the topics from the morning sessions with international experts from political institutions, embassies, and think tanks.

This course addresses the complex relationship between citizenship and sexuality by focusing on the historical debates of sexual citizenship studies with an emphasis on LGBTQ migrants. By incorporating the recent debates on borders and bordering, the course aims to develop a critical perspective on citizenship and the study of noncitizens. Students who finish this course have a theoretical understanding of specific readings in the literature of citizenship, migration, border studies with a focus on sexuality and gender.