Political Science

This course provides an introduction to classical and recent models of international trade and their predictions of trade patterns, with some consideration of empirical studies and policy issues. More precisely, it introduces students to the remarkable growth of international trade in recent decades; the Gravity model, classic models of trade theory, such as the theory of comparative advantage; the Specific Factor model and the Heckscher–Ohlin model, always focusing on the empirical relevance and usefulness of the theories. It also covers new trade theory, i.e. trade models incorporating economies of scale, imperfect competition, and product differentiation. Finally, it provides tools to analyze the economic effects of various trade policies.

This course introduces students to the social policy that is characteristic of European welfare states. In light of the recent economic crisis and developments in the European Union (EU), characterized by rise in poverty and unemployment (among youth in particular) along with the rise of popularities of the right-wing parties, the framework for policy has become quite challenging for policy makers and citizens alike. Throughout the course, the students learn about various ways and degrees to which citizens get involved in social problems (e.g. poverty, unemployment, exclusion on various grounds) in their communities and country. The course begins with students brainstorming on social policy concepts they have heard and are or familiar with. The aim of this class is to bring to a common learning ground the diverse backgrounds (geographical and knowledge wise) students have. The course covers welfare state regimes, classification of the European welfare states, Esping-Andersen typology of welfare state, US social security system, and China's social policy regime. The course provides an historical perspective of European social policy, beginning with the time period before the First World War when poverty was on rise in Europe. Students discuss the first attempts of creating social policy, the case of Beveridge and Law of the Poor in the United Kingdom and the case of Bismarck and unemployment insurance of miners in Germany. The shift from incipient forms of social policy to advanced forms of welfare state is the focus of this class. Students are introduced to the stages of welfare state development. The course then covers an historical perspective of social policy practices across the world including examples from the US, Australia, China, Latin America, and Russia. Students learn how to distinguish between the systems and to analyze the governmental approach in this area. The course then turns to the social policy focused on the following topics: the alleviation of poverty, unemployment, insurance and pension, and gender discrimination and other dimensions. The course ends with a review of the current challenges and trends in social security systems across the world. The course is best suited for economics, political science, sociology, or social work majors, but it can also be attended by students with other background who are interested in the topic.

This course explores the role of the citizen within contemporary democratic processes. It draws on insights from political sociology and comparative politics to answer essential questions regarding continuity and change on issues such as vote choice, political participation, public protest, trust in the political system, ideological orientations, and political attitudes. Special emphasis is placed on the impact of the economic crisis on the changing preferences and behaviors of mass publics across Europe. The course develops the students' analytical skills in comprehending current political events, public opinion, new social movements, and current electoral dynamics from a comparative perspective. Each session of the course draws on theoretical concepts and links them to empirical findings using comparative, time-series survey data. Students are invited to critically combine theoretical tools with empirical evidence in order to comprehend the dynamic link between public opinion and political parties in postmodern Western democracies.

This course studies the global economy from a political perspective. Politics and policy choices have fundamental impact on global economic outcomes, and the course examined such issues as who are the winners, who are the losers, and how are the economic costs and benefits distributed. The course begins by examining the major analytical perspectives used in the study of international political economy (IPE). It then turns to the key substantive topics in IPE: international trade, global capital flows, economic crises, multinational production, and the transnational movement of people. The course also compares the relative performance of different national economies in the global economic system. Thereafter, focus is on two global issues with stark implications for human welfare: environmental degradation and world hunger. The course concludes by reflecting on the ethics and future of globalization.

The course examines major modes of explaining nationalism, and relates nationalism to other key themes in sociology. It begins by examining key concepts, theories, and typologies of nationalism, with particular attention focused on the distinction among ethnic, civic, and civil nationalism. Thereafter the course explores the relationship between nationalism and other social and political processes, such as language, religion, class, gender, conflict regulation, and globalization. The course uses substantive case material to inform an understanding of nationalism.