Political Science

This course facilitates an understanding of the dynamics of the political environment through which public policy is formulated, adopted and implemented.  The course introduces key concepts, theories and analytical approaches in public policy studies.  At the end of this course, students will examine contemporary challenges to public policy and the role of government.

This course is divided into two parts. In part one, it provides an overview of Latin American history from pre-Columbian America to today. In part two, it discusses the politics of the region including construction of the state, globalization, international markets, political institutions, and elections.

This course examines the history of France from the Old Regime to the present day through a constitutional lens to provide a better understanding of current political events.

Drawing on the rich social science literature on the government and politics of contemporary Africa, the course addresses a set of critical questions that have important implications for the well-being of the people of the continent and the world in the 21st century. What have been the sources of political and economic crises in Africa? What has been the net impact of the regional and international interventions in the continent in response to these crises? What explains the revival of democracy and economic growth in some parts of the continent? Will it last?

This course presents key aspects of contemporary French culture and civilization. The course examines topics including those pertinent to the functions of French society, such as political parties and unions, the idea of public service (teaching, health, transportation, etc.), the French population and culture, French values, and French media.

This course interrogates issues from the perspective of Political Theory and examines the extent to which we are moving to a post-liberal world. Primarily, the course explores whether the claim that we are moving towards a post-liberal world is true. Encompassed within this interrogation, the course looks at real-world political problems and trends that make this trajectory possible, as well as what form a post-liberal world might take, and whether this is desirable. Students are encouraged to argue critically as to whether a post-liberal world is desirable or not and explore the ways through which this might be prevented. This culminates in a critical analysis of how liberal theory could be re-imagined or justified to respond to modern world issues.

Recent decades have witnessed China’s rapid growth and its massive infrastructure finance in the developing world. This brought a new round of discussion on what development is. How should we understand development policy in the context of a changing world order? This course provides students with the historical, political, economic, and institutional context to understand international development policy. The course aims to give students exposure to on- going policy debates on international development as well as the conceptual and theoretical framework to understand development issues. The course allows students to discuss and explore China’s changing role in international development and its impact on regional and international orders. Topics to be covered include (but not limited to): history of development, industrialization, poverty reduction, aid and development finance, energy and environment, international development institutions, South-South cooperation, and China and global development order.

In this course, students develop a wide and deep understanding of contemporary Africa, drawing on the multi-disciplinary approach of African Studies. Students learn about the historical roots of modern phenomenon on the continent and situate these within a wider global context. They develop expertise about particular countries and regions as well as on particular themes, depending on the focus of the course for the year. The substantive content of the course changes each year depending on topical issues and is taught by experts on the issue itself or on particular approaches/methods from amongst permanent and postdoctoral staff. 

This course discusses the problems and challenges inherent in the analytical framework of studying social movements and transnational actors (TNAs). It examines contemporary struggles covering diverse social mobilizations based in different parts of the world. This course explores differences and commonalities in selected fields of social justic struggles.

This course provides a comprehensive introduction to analytic political theory from the 1970s to the present day, with a focus on leading liberal theorists and their critics. It does so via a discussion of normative theorising around key topics and themes, and shows how these theories bear on various applied questions.