Political Science

This course covers the history of war from as far back as the 13th century right up to the height of large-scale, industrialized warfare in World War Two and the global, colonial violence of the 20th century. It does not strive to provide what would end up inevitably being a superficial coverage of all wars in all regions of the world. Rather, different, select periods or conflicts are considered as illustrations to help us explore the central theme of escalation over time and the emergence globally of modern war and violence. This is the spring-only version of the course.

This course provides students with an understanding of the most important challenges that war poses for international order. It draws on ideas from international relations, sociology, political geography, and anthropology to equip students with conceptual and analytical insights to understand the relations between international order and war. Are wars an unavoidable threat to international order? Or are they necessary at times to preserve international order? What have the Cold War, the "war on terror," and the war on poverty in common? How can we understand the relations between war and revolution, war and security, war and human rights, war and risk? What alternatives to war are possible today? How have wars and conflicts been transformed by changes in the international order?

This course examines open macroeconomics with particular focus on its application. It covers the main theories of exchange rate determination and how well they match the data; the role of the exchange rate in the macroeconomy and implications for policymakers; the choice of exchange rate regimes, the European Monetary Union; international financial crises; policy issues facing China and other emerging economies; and issues related to capital flows and the reform of the international financial system.

This seminar looks at political engagements of Southeast Asian diasporas as a lens to interrogate colonialism, postcolonial violence, power, contemporary politics, transnational processes, neoliberalism, as well as globalization. Southeast Asian diasporas have been shaped by diverse historical, cultural, and political economic contexts, flows, obstructions, and entanglements. And indeed the term "diaspora" itself should be carefully considered in non-essentialist and non-homogenizing ways. Nonetheless, various Southeast Asian diasporas share certain similarities. Beyond reductionist and essentialist portrayals of victimhood, this seminar looks instead at the formation of diasporas and delves into diasporic experiences and politics of survival, solidarity, and resistance as well as dwelling and world-making as individuals and communities carve lives amid the challenges and multiple and multi-directional attachments of living outside the "homeland" while remaining connected to it.

The Internship Workforce course provides students with an overview of working in the United Kingdom. The course looks at the changing organizational structures of work in Britain. It examines the social and economic changes that affect the workplace in the UK. Topics covered include: sociology of work, trade unions, 0ppression at work, generational changes at work, and the future of work. An internship while studying in London provides an opportunity to experience a “hands on” working situation and a different perspective on the workplace and working practises, while developing professional skills.
 

This course provides an overview of international law and its approach to several burning security issues of global scope, including terrorism, forced displacement, cyberwarfare, pandemics, and disinformation. This thematic overview imparts a basic understanding of the international legal landscape surrounding current security policy conversations, while reflecting on the strengths and weaknesses of international law. In the process, the course also exposes most branches of international law, including the law regulating armed conflict and the use of force, human rights law, refugee law, and international criminal law.

This course examines the political economy of South Africa; how it evolved into a dominant player in the Southern African region, and a significant actor in world politics. Beginning with a historical account of the emergence of racism and its institutionalization through the creation of the apartheid state in 1948, the course proceeds to discuss the rise of African nationalism, the advent of liberation politics, and the mass democratic movement leading to the first all-race elections in 1994. The central feature of the course is to deepen the understanding of the post­-apartheid state in South Africa by discussing key topics such as nation-building in a racially divided society, a transition to a non-racial democratic society, democratization in a dominant party system, black economic empowerment, redistribution of wealth, and economic development. The course concludes with an examination of South Africa's role in SADC, AU, and BRICS.