Political Science

This course offers a broad survey on Modern European political, intellectual, social, and cultural history, from the end of the 18th century to the aftermath of the Cold War. The topics covered include the age of Revolutions (the French Revolution and its consequences, the Napoleonic era, the Industrial Revolution), the age of Nationalism, the age of Imperialism and Colonialism, World War I and II and the Cold War.

This course is designed to provide a thorough overview of Critical Security Studies. It introduces and discusses theoretical perspectives and research objects at the heart of this burgeoning academic field. In doing so, the course supports a reflexive approach to the transformation of security, its related concepts and their empirical applications in close connection with key issues such as development, environment, migration, citizenship, and finance. It is organized in two main sections: the first section looks at the variety of theoretical perspectives in critical security studies; the second section introduces students to ongoing critical security research objects.

At the age of global ecological crisis, this course looks at the environment in its historical dimension in order to understand not how we got here, but rather, where exactly we stand. By examining this history over a long 20th century and in various geographical areas, from North America to Asia, this course examines the environment for what it has become today: the most political issue in the contemporary world.

In this course, students explore the timeless art of disagreement, offering a singular learning experience for students to discover what it means to foster civil discourse on key political, civic, and social controversies. The course examines the theoretical and conceptual foundations for effective communication in polarized environments, and probes the cognitive, psychological, and sociological factors that shape our opinions and views. Using an intensive, discussion-based seminar format, students immerse themselves in state-of-the-art research, evidence, data, and best-practices bearing on disagreement. Practically, students gain applied skills in critical thinking and persuasion, and learn how to disagree well about contentious topics. Students learn the value of disagreement, why it is essential to human flourishing, and how to persuade and learn from others with deftness, rigor, and compassion.  

This course explores international conflicts; their causes and consequences, as well as actors' interests, positions, and strategic decisions. It provides opportunities for students to analyze causes of conflicts; perform simulated international negotiations, and solve cases to develop their capacity for negotiation strategy design and international agreement implementation. 

The course requires prior knowledge of the evolution of the international system and international relations theories. 

This course is an introduction to the study of state-building and state-formation dynamics in Africa since precolonial times, and to the broader question of politics in Africa. It introduces multidisciplinarity into the study of politics: it is indeed one of the major contributions of African studies to combine political science with history, anthropology, and development studies. Two main approaches are combined. First, the historical approach, which evokes pre-colonial, colonial, and post-colonial Africa. Archives, maps and documentary film extracts are used to illustrate the ways in which power is exercised and criticized on the longue durée. Second, the sociological approach considers the modalities of policymaking in Africa, to which a plurality of actors take part – in partnership but also often in competition with state bodies.

This course explores the various concepts, dynamics, debates, and challenges of cultural globalization. Most chapters start with a review of key writings and concepts that describe the process of globalization through a cultural lens. Guided by this understanding of culture, it questions the notion of globalization as largely the product of Western culture, modernity, and capitalism resulting in a worldwide, homogenized, consumer culture – a scenario often referred to as “McDonaldization.” The course focuses on diverse case studies to explore and discuss that possibility and also take into account emergent issues in relation to cultural globalization in the world we live in right now.

This course is an introduction to political communication. After an overview of the history of media effects theories, the lecture addresses the major issues of political communication in contemporary politics. The lecture not only introduces students to U.S.-based political communication research, but also develops an academic perspective on real-life political communication by connecting it to current issues in East Asia. In addition, the class will practice using the theories and models introduced in the sessions to analyze political phenomena. 

The course examines the social theories of modernity or the role of the post-Enlightenment Scientific Revolution in the formation of the theory of the subject. Against this backdrop, examine how Descartes goes about establishing the existence of the subject and then examine some of the POLITICAL STUDIES 373 different forms assumed by the new subject (including colonial, democratic, fascist, and totalitarian forms). When it comes to colonial modernity, consider the effects of the modern episteme in the history of colonialism and the modes of resistance assumed by the anti-colonial subject and the 'post'-colonial subject. DP requirements: Tutorial attendance is compulsory and students who attend fewer than 85% of the tutorials will not be allowed to write the final examination. In addition, completion of all written assignments, essays and tests are a requirement for a DP. Should students fail to hand in written assignments by due date, they will be penalized according to the grading formula of the Department. All required work for DP purposes MUST be submitted by the last day of the course. Assessment: Coursework counts 50%; final two-hour examination counts 50%. Course entry requirements: POL1004F and POL1005S or with special permission from the Head of Department. 

This course introduces the analysis of public policy. The course starts by exploring public institutions in which policy is analyzed, developed and implemented, including the cabinet system, treasury, and the presidency. Then some models that scholars have used to make sense of complex policy processes are considered. The course then explores specific public policy challenges in areas such as energy security, school system reform, and HIV/AIDS policy. This course is especially useful for students wanting to understand contemporary government in SA, and the relationships between public policy and politics. DP requirements: Tutorial attendance is compulsory and students who attend fewer than 85% of the tutorials will not be allowed to write the final examination. In addition, completion of all written assignments, essays and tests are a requirement for a DP. Should students fail to hand in written assignments by due date, they will be penalized according to the grading formula of the Department. All required work for DP purposes MUST be submitted by the last day of the course. Assessment: Coursework counts 50%; final two-hour examination counts 50%. Course entry requirements: Any 2000-level POL course or with special permission from the Head of Department.