Political Science

The course consists of two themes that are derived from connected dimensions of the relations between the exercise of state power and various identities and forms of organization in society in different regions in the global south: i) democracy, ii) political identities. The course discusses both these themes in relation to economic and social development. The first theme discusses forms of political rule and introduces different explanations of democracy and authoritarian rule. The theme also discusses theories of how these forms of political rule are related to levels of development. The second theme discusses how different political identities are connected to the organization of political institutions. This theme pays special attention to the question of how national identities are linked to other political identities based on gender, class, ethnicity, and religion, how identities affect and are affected by the organization of state institutions, and how this in turn is linked to issues of conflict and stability.

This course introduces the politics, history and international relations of modern South Asia (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka). The course emphasizes communal (i.e., ethno-religious) conflict. The course covers colonialism and the independence struggle; partition; development; communalism and secularism, and the international politics of South Asia since independence. 

This course explores the relations between international politics and international relations; perspectives on international political/economic relations; the post-war economic order and its impact on African countries; globalization and the developing world.

This course provides an analysis of key EU policies as well as contemporary issues in the EU, including the Common Agricultural Policy, Environmental Policy, Security and Defense policies, the Democratic Deficit and Euroscepticism.