International Studies

This course addresses how to define and interpret key humanitarian concepts such as human rights, human security and the responsibility to protect. The course also addresses how to define democracy and study trends in democratization over the last 100 years. The class reviews the content of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the UN Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the United Nations Charter in some detail. The class also considers the strengths and weaknesses of the UN Security Council and discuss the possibility of UN reform. 
 

This course examines how nations fight and how others fight back. It covers key academic frameworks used to examine and understand the phenomena of war, as well as looks at several major examples of conflict from the late nineteenth century to the twenty-first century. Through this approach students will gain an understanding of the historical development of war and its impact on society with the idea that by better understanding war we might prevent it from occurring in the future.  

This course explores the effects of globalization and development on education and societies in Asia. It discusses the roles and activities of agencies such as the UN, the World Bank, JICA, and grassroots NGOs and their impact on education in the developed and developing countries of East and Southeast Asia.

This course provides a historical and analytical approach to international relations between Japan, Spain and Latin America.  It reflects on the evolution of international relations, as well as their state of affairs today, and their potential projection in the future.

This course approaches gastronomy as a source of history, social practices, and public diplomacy. This course reflects on the limits and potential partiality of cultural diplomacy initiatives. Taking examples in South America as case studies, the course explores the role of gastronomy as a tool of soft power for the promotion of national images, their limitations and the potential role of gastronomy to raise awareness on history, society and cultural diversity. Thus, this course treats gastronomy as a means of communication and sustainable development that can promote human security.

This course provides a critical analysis of political violence and conflict in contemporary globalized societies. It examines the general theories and concepts of political conflict; the act of questioning power and legitimacy of nation-states; collective action and social movements; political conflict and collective violence in modern political systems and governments.

Students complete an internship with a local organization or company. Each placement includes oversight and regular check-ins with an internship supervisor from the company or organization. The Internship Methodology Seminar accompanies the internship placement and offers a platform for reflection, enhancement of skills, and development of cultural competence. It focuses on practical skill application, cultural understanding, and adaptability within professional environments to provide a bridge between academic learning and real-world experience.

This course unfolds the institutions, treaties, procedures and practices of intergovernmental organizations, providing perspectives on the evolving rules and normative standards defining international human rights, the actors involved, and the processes and means by which they are monitored and their implementation is promoted. Students gain knowledge about institutions and procedures, selected rights and the obligation of states; and analyze challenges and achievements of the international human rights regime through country studies.

This course explores international justice from the perspective of international political philosophy, covering a wide range of topics including peace-building and military intervention. It primarily considers the realization of justice from the perspectives of political ideology and human security, and provides detailed explanations of Syrian and Ukrainian issues. 

This course explores the dynamic interaction between human sciences and globalization. The course investigates the impact of global interconnectedness on human behavior, culture, and society, while gaining interdisciplinary perspectives on historical, ethical, philosophical, and political dimensions.