Political Science

This course analyzes multiculturalism through a philosophical-political and historical lens. It explores contemporary political claims and struggles, focusing on the concepts of tolerance and diversity, their political implications and their translation in the juridical realm. The course examines the different connotations of multiculturalism, explores the critique on its potential Eurocentrism, and discusses its potential challenges and benefits on societal cohesion and citizenship. Learning outcomes include understanding the key political concepts and theories of multiculturalism; exploring the relationship between collective and individual rights within human rights language and debates; and critically engaging with the concepts of tolerance, diversity, and integration.

This course examines the complex interplay between politics and the media. This interplay shapes public discourse and political outcomes as political actors strategically leverage media platforms to influence public opinion, while the media frames and reports on political events. Students will focus on examining theories of political communication, the media’s influential role in agenda-setting, and the critical examination of phenomena such as misinformation, fake news, censorship, propaganda, the rise of celebrity politicians, political advertising, satire, citizen journalism, and permanent campaigning. 

Since Tocqueville's pioneering research in the 1830s, comparisons between France and the United States have proliferated, often accompanied by certain myths and oversimplifications. This course builds on these comparative studies by offering an in-depth examination of the national institutions and political systems of the two countries. Through the lens of political sociology, this course delves into the roles, characteristics, and expertise of political professionals who live “for” and “off” politics: elected officials, top civil servants, political staffers, etc. By integrating interdisciplinary perspectives and employing diverse methodological approaches, the course takes a close look at the diversity of political work, focusing on the key similarities and differences between the two nations.

This course examines the study of international relations in an era of globalization. It covers the historical background, key concepts and theories, case studies, and contemporary developments in the study of world politics.

This course offers an in-depth exploration of the sociology of radical left parties, analyzing their historical trajectory, the evolution of their organizational strategies, and their impact on the contemporary political landscape. It examines how these often marginalized parties have managed to gain power in various socio-historical contexts, as well as the dynamics that led them to occupy dominant political positions, only to often return to more marginal roles. Throughout the different sessions, the course addresses the social, organizational, and ideological foundations of the radical left, studying their relationships with protest movements as well as with extreme and moderate left, centrist, and right-wing political parties. The course also covers the contemporary challenges faced by the radical left, including the environmental crisis and the management of national economies that are deeply integrated into international financial markets. By examining concrete examples of parties that gained power in the early 21st century in Europe and Latin America, the course considers the reasons for their rise, and, in many cases, their return to the margins of power.

This course investigates the relationship between business and government and the role and influence of corporations as political actors in a globalized world. Corporations have emerged as political actors deeply involved in domestic and international policy-making processes, beyond being mere economic entities. This shifting role of the corporate requires the ability to theoretically and empirically analyze the dynamics of business-government relations, and a critical understanding of corporate status and responsibility in global governance is essential.  

Particularly in the current reality where corporate political influence is increasing in various aspects such as lobbying activities, social responsibility, and tax policy responses, systematically analyzing and understanding these phenomena is an important task in modern political science research.  

This course fosters in-depth understanding of corporate roles and influence in the global era; cultivation of analytical perspectives and research capabilities on corporate-government relations; developing critical and practical insights into corporate political activities; acquiring cutting-edge research methodologies and data analysis techniques; and application of useful theoretical and methodological foundations for students interested in corporate politics and global governance, thereby offering practical assistance for future research and practice in related fields.   

In today's world, challenges are incredibly complex, multifaceted, and often intersectoral. Given the complexities and interdependencies of the 21st century, scientific disciplines and their siloed knowledge production practices are no longer sufficient to fully grasp global problems and find solutions to them. Yet they remain the dominant knowledge structures through which the world is analyzed and explained. This course first explains the structuring and evolution of scientific disciplines. Then it addresses the notion of interdisciplinarity and the tools it offers for a more holistic understanding of international relations.

This course examines the comparative study of political systems. It covers relevant concepts and theories, and  applies these learnings to case studies from around the world.

This course introduces students to the grand challenges of today’s world (for example planetary boundaries) and the necessity for a “Great Transformation” toward a sustainable development of our societies. Students examine the systemic characters and the complex dynamics in today’s societies, including the individual, organizational, community, regional, national and international levels and their relations and interactions.

One of the major questions explored in the course is which social actors contribute to a transformation towards sustainable development and how - and in what way this happens, which inertias and obstacles stand in the way and could be overcome? What has the German government done, what is the German parliament doing, what is the function of business, sciences or civil society organizations – what happens in Berlin? The course considers the broadest possible spectrum of approaches, strategies and actors for a reflected change towards a Great Transformation in an exemplary manner, as well as thinking theory and practice together (in the sense of transformative science and shaping the future). Students examine the different national, regional and cultural systems and backgrounds for all this. Specific examples which are part of the pathway to sustainability are green taxes, renewable energy projects, cooperative housing, car-free streets and places, urban farming, or even eco-villages.

Additional topics include concepts like path dependency (path management), Multi-Level Perspective – MLP, social innovation, models of change, change agents, MAP – movement action plan. The course includes relevant sociological theories, i.e. social systems theory, practice theory and real utopias. These will give insights into societal factors for stability as well as for change.