Political Science

This course provides the conceptual keys and analytical frameworks essential to better understand the main contemporary international issues. It explores, from a political sciences perspective, three classic themes of international relations: the diversity of actors on the international scene; the transformation of conflict and security; and the challenges posed by globalization. This is not an introductory course, as the approach is firmly focused on a selection of topical issues and the scientific debates they raise.

This course explores different perspectives of contemporary democracy. The original investigations and categories of political science, those developed by Greek civilization, are proposed as a category of analysis. The course then reviews the construction of democracy; its corruption, and its demagogic implementation in contemporary regime. 

This course examines the changing public sphere over time, from its early-modern emergence to the challenges of tabloid news and online fragmentation in contemporary media culture.

This course examines the role of media in cases of modern conflict, genocide, and peace processes. It covers media structure, content, framing and psychological responses during times of conflict and peace-making, and how media informs audiences and either foments or quells conflict.

This course examines some of the leading theories of justice in contemporary political thought and their implications for designing political institutions and public policies. Questions include: What is a fair distribution of society’s resources? Should parents be entitled to pass on their wealth to their children? Should offensive speech be regulated? Should our public policies treat every citizen the same or allow for gender and cultural differences? Can historical injustices be rectified? What does environmental justice look like? Are animals entitled to justice? In pursuing these questions, students explore topics such as rights, distributive justice, gender equality and multiculturalism, historical injustice and reconciliation, and pluralism and the clash of values. 

This course explores the concept of democratic representation in multi-level systems, examining both theoretical foundations and practical case studies. It begins with an overview of key theories on democratic representation, exploring both the demand for representation by the public and the supply of representation by elected officials and institutions. In the latter half, case studies from various multi-level political systems illustrate how these theories apply in practice and how representation is shaped by institutional design.

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.