Political Science

This course examines the issue of human rights in relation the idea that multicultural coexistence is accepted as a political and social fact, and, through this process of examination, aims to design institutional conditions that can respect special cultural experiences on the one hand and secure universal humanity on the other. 

Course topics explore diverging opinions on human rights in theory and practice: universality and relativity of human rights; development of human rights toward social and cultural rights; freedom of expression and antidiscrimination law; abortion, euthanasia, and human rights of women; immigration, refugee and border control; humanitarian intervention and sovereignty. 

This course explores the evolution of the American image from its colonial foundation to the contemporary setting of globalized media, infotainment and branding. The course examines the American image from three perspectives. The first is the country's "self-image," or how elites and the public perceive themselves, their government, the world and the role of the United States in it. The second is its "projected image," or how America crafts foreign policy and how, along with media and corporations, it engages in public diplomacy. The last is America's "perceived image," how publics around the world see and feel about the United States and the reasons for pro- and anti-American sentiments. By the end of the course, students will not only have a better sense of how the US sees itself, and how it is seen in the world, but will be equipped for further study in psychological approaches to international relations.

This course looks at the interface of community involvement and (effective) governmental approaches to public health. By studying how actors in this sphere collaborate in order to identify public health needs, select appropriate responses, and implement large-scale projects, students gain understanding of the different public health issues facing communities in the host environment, and the varied approaches to public health across the globe. The course pays special attention to identifying and understanding the main actors in public health systems, how such systems and their policies are influenced, and how the implementation of public health tools are affected by cultural and religious traditions.

This course is meant for anyone interested in alternative forms of organizing in a constantly changing world. The course takes a political perspective on the phenomenon of organizing in order to make sense of both dominant bureaucratic organizations traditionally based on rationality, control and efficiency, and emerging alternative organizations that emphasize participation, democracy and autonomy. Applying a critical management approach, the course examines the contextual forces (e.g. globalization) and societal challenges (e.g. climate change) facing organizations today; the assumptions underlying current logics of organizing, taking the case of the sharing economy and questioning to what extent it can be considered an alternative are explored. Lastly, the course elaborates on the principles and practices associated with other forms of ‘alternative’ organizations and organizing, from social enterprises to cooperatives and social movements. In the second part of the course, students perform a small-scale field study with a subgroup, engaging with a so called ‘alternative’ organization/grassroots’ community/social movement to better explore their organizational functioning. This is a high intensity level 3 course. Active participation forms the backbone of this course.

In this course, students address the question of how political institutions affect economic development.  Students examine three core sets of institutions - state, nation, and regime – examining their character and development in both historical and contemporary perspective.  Students look at how democratic nation states emerged in the West, comparing this to the experiences of contemporary developing countries. They consider the major theories on how these institutions impact on development and what empirical evidence they have about this relationship.

This course provides an overview of key issues in the triangular intersection of gender, religion, and colonialism. While aiming to bring together the literature Western and non-Western contexts on these debates, the course introduces the students the key texts in feminist theory, feminist religious studies, masculinities and religion, and postcolonial and decolonial feminism from a critical interdisciplinary perspective.

This course focuses on sustainability and its impact as the most important global transformation project of the current time. It primarily discusses theories of change and human planning and design, but also topics such as justice, freedom, progress, growth, capitalism, and inequality.

Penology involves the study of how the state punishes those who have been convicted of offences. The subject covers the interlocking issues of sentencing, prison, and non-custodial punishments. Students to an in-depth look at the penal system and evaluate why, when, and how it is legitimate for the state to punish its citizens. The course also takes a practical look at the administration of punishment, with a particular focus on prisons. Students examine the contemporary issues and problems concerning these institutions and evaluate possibilities for reform. Analysis of penal policy and how it is formed is also involved. Penology involves a broad multi-disciplinary approach which includes aspects of sociology, political theory, and philosophy as well as law and human rights. It is closely related to criminology. Students are not required to take the course in criminology, however, penology and criminology are natural partner-courses and students who study both will find that they inform one another.

This course traces the main historical contexts in which democracy has emerged as an idea, practice, and set of institution. Main thinkers on democracy are read and discussed on the basis of primary sources. Their ideas are interpreted in the historical context of transforming practices and institutional change. Historical explanations and philosophical interpretations of democratization and de-democratization are analyzed in their interaction.