Political Science

This course introduces the history of international relations, with an emphasis on the ways in which the Great Powers came to conceive, shape, and dominate the current ‘international system’. Although it follows a broad chronological trajectory, the course goes beyond traditional narratives and explanations of diplomatic relations by considering what French historians have come to refer to as ‘les forces profondes’ (or ‘deeper factors’) affecting international relations (IR), including economic, demographic, geopolitical and cultural factors that shaped the identity and foreign policies of nation-states. An important part of this process of identity formation--and of this course--revolves around the question of how national identities shaped (and were in turn shaped by) the relations of European states both with each other and with non-Europeans, especially Africa, East Asia, and the Pacific.  A central theme of this course is the idea that the Great Powers not only shape the ‘international system’ but are also shaped by it-- by their experiences of colonization. The course also addresses the critical assessment of historiographic sources (and of the question 'what is history'?); the use of theoretical IR tools to make sense of key international events, and the appraisal of the multiple ways in which variables such as actors, structures and processes contributed to shape the current ‘international system.’

Combining history with current affairs, this course examines the rise of the global drug regime and considers its present-day governance lessons. It covers how the anti-narcotics system was constructed in the 19th and 20th centuries through a specific historical process, beginning with the opium wars and culminating in a UN-centered global system; and with what consequences. The course evaluates various historical drug regimes, including the full tolerance once practiced in the United States and United Kingdom, the Asian opium monopolies, and the Portuguese decriminalization of possession. It considers contemporary challenges to prohibition, such as cartel violence, the opioid epidemic, marijuana legalization; and finally, paths for reform.

This course approaches crucial topics such as migration, conflict, and development from a gender perspective. The course explores gender as a framework for socio-political analysis; presents an overview of different theories and concepts relative to gender-differential impact in policies and practices in development, conflicts, and migration; identifies the relationship between gender and power, and between gender and the social order; analyzes how masculinities and femininities are constructed in times of peace, conflict, and war in access to resources, the implementation of development policies, and in migration policies; and assesses the implications of international policies and initiatives aimed at “mainstreaming gender” in peacekeeping, international development, and migration. The course includes interdisciplinary approaches (law, gender studies, anthropology, politics, economics) and analyzes international legal instruments, tools, and specific cases, as well as their implementation at the regional and national level. It also focuses on practical tools and experiences such as gender-sensitive project planning, use of legal instruments as advocacy tools, claiming women's rights in different areas of development (land, water, food security, food sovereignty, education, health), and migration and conflict studies.

This course examines basic philosophical and theoretical problems about law in constitutional democracies—its origins, its nature, its grounds for legitimacy, and its scope and force. The course introduces theories of law from the natural rights tradition, social contract theory, legal positivism, and legal realism. It concludes by examining theories of law influenced by interpretive theories (hermeneutics), by various schools of critical theory, including critical race theory and feminist theory, and by scholars working in law and society. The course examines several influential theorists and philosophers from the Western legal tradition, although it pays some attention to contemporary Korean legal theorists and philosophers. Students read important works by Thomas Aquinas, John Locke, Thomas Hobbes, John Stuart Mill, Karl Marx, H.L.A. Hart, John Rawls, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Hannah Arendt, Brian Tamahana, Jurgen Habermas, Jeremy Waldron, Roberto Unger, Mari Matsuda, Derrick Bell, and Mark Tushnet. 

This course examines the concept of ideology and contemporary political ideologies. Topics include: origin and ideological justification of the modern state; ideologies of the enlightenment; conservative ideology; nationalism; socialist ideology; anarchism and anarcho-syndicalism; fascism and national socialism; science as ideology; new theories of liberal democracy.

This course analyzes corruption in the United States. It highlights how abuse of position for personal gain has long been a political and social issue with minimal impact because of significant economic growth. It focuses on scandals throughout United States history that have exposed official venality and the U.S. political authorities that have passed laws and regulations to respond to corruption.

The course provides students with tools for evaluating policy impact and effectiveness. Students learn about the tradeoffs involved in the design of policies and institutions, and the influence of factors like partisanship, lobbying, and globalization. They also examine the effectiveness of reforms that attempt to improve government efficiency and representation, accelerate transitions to sustainability, and govern rapidly emerging technologies. 

This course addresses the historical depth and most recent cases of terrorism in Europe and in other regions of the world with a combined traditional and critical view. It offers a complete overview of terrorism, the diversity of its direct and indirect use, as well as its most contemporary trends.