Political Science

The seminar examines the present situation of migration policies and refugees in the European Union and in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Essential theories and the historical development of international refugee conventions are discussed. The respective political situation in the refugees' countries of origin, the paths of migration, and present politics in Europe and in ASEAN are furthermore examined and exemplified with essential case studies. Furthermore, the situation in refugee camps as well as opportunities and challenges for the integration of refugees is discussed.

This course provides a comprehensive survey of international relations from WWI to the war on terror. Students address the major developments in international relations since 1914 including the two world wars, the Bolshevik Revolution, fascism, the origins and evolution of the Cold War (and its impacts), decolonization and North-South economic relations, and the origins of the war on terror.

Spain and Portugal experienced the longest lasting dictatorships of the 20th century in Western Europe. This course adopts a thematic and comparative approach to the histories of Portugal and Spain under the Franco and Salazar regimes. The approach is comparative and the Iberian experience is framed with reference to both the European contexts of interwar and post-war Europe, and to the global politics of international fascism, empire, and the Cold War from the 1930s to the mid 1970s. Social and political life in the period is explored through a diverse range of contemporary sources and perspectives. The course also considers current historiographical, political, and social science literatures and debates.

This course represents additional work for the course INTERNATIONAL LAW AND MIGRATION. This course introduces basic principles of international human rights law, international criminal law, and international refugee law through the study of the migration crisis in the Mediterranean. Approximately 258 million people, or roughly 3% of the world's population, live outside their country of origin or habitual residence – the highest number ever recorded. Of these, approximately 10%, or about 25 million people, have fled their country as refugees – the largest number since WWII. Millions of civilians have fled or are fleeing their homes, escaping from war and terror, hunger and persecutions, ecological disasters and poverty. The course critically presents the different positions on the matter by examining the situation from several international law perspectives and instruments: the laws of the sea, human rights law, and the legal institution of asylum. After the legal framework is established, the course further examines what legal venues are available to hold states, non-State actors, and individuals accountable for any human rights violations. Finally, the course explores cutting-edge legal questions, such as whether migration policies based on deterrence, arrival/departure prevention, and refoulement may bear international criminal liability.

This course takes a fresh look at European integration and recent developments in the European Union (EU). It focuses on the following: recent dynamics of European integration and the EU's response to various crises; changes in the European Union's institutions after the ratification of the Lisbon treaty (2009); the Union's policies and their (potential) impact; public opinion and support for future integration. At the beginning of the course, insights from several major streams of academic studies of European integration, EU institutions and policies, are introduced. The main features of EU institutions post Lisbon are discussed. Next, the course focuses on policies and policy outputs to understand what impact the EU might have on the lives of citizens. The course explores a range of policy areas such as the internal market, recent developments in European economic and financial governance, developments in security and the global role of the EU. The course also analyzes and discusses the responses of the EU's member states to challenges such as the post 2008 financial and economic crisis. The third part of the course, addresses the key challenges for the EU today: Brexit, the effects of enlargement, citizen responses to European integration, scenarios for future development.

This course offers an exploration of the derivation, development, and practice of Irish foreign, security, and defense policies, with a particular focus on contemporary challenges. Students gain a detailed insight into Ireland's place in the contemporary world order, the transformation of Irish national foreign, security, and defense policy through its membership of the European Union, and the efforts of Irish policy makers to pursue Irish interests and values within an evolving global order. This includes an analysis of Irish foreign policy strategy, policy making, and economic, political, and military engagement. This course provides a solid theoretical and empirical grounding for further advanced study, and encourages students to compare and to evaluate critically competing understandings of Ireland in the world.

This course examines theories about war and peace from early modern to modern times. War and the discourse about its legitimacy is one of the major features of human civilization, or indeed the starkest sign of the lack of civilization. The course not only provides access to the main theories, but also looks into current debates about the legitimacy of war.

This course discusses education and educational public policy at both the Chilean and international levels and analyzes their impact in a quantitative manner.