Artists, Genres, and Movements, Movements and Thinkers, Philosophy and Society
Spring 2023
Mon, 15:45-19:00
Programs: Academy Year, BA in Economics, Politics, and Social Thought, BA in Humanities, the Arts, and Social Thought, Study Abroad Concentrations: Art and Aesthetics, Ethics and Politics, Politics Modules: Artists, Genres, and Movements, Movements and Thinkers, Philosophy and Society
AR295 Politics of Modern Middle Eastern Art
Spring 2023
Level: Advanced
Day/Time: Mon, 15:45-19:00
Credits: Credits: 8 ECTS, 4 U.S. credits
In this course, we survey the political underpinnings of Arab art in the 20th century, and the socio-political conditions that shaped cultural production in the region. Whether it is under the Baathist regimes of Syria and Iraq or under Egypt’s pan-Arabism championed by Gamal Abdel Nasser, painting and sculpture in addition to film and performance have been employed by various governments as a tool of soft power to propagate their policies to the public not only in their respective states but throughout the region and beyond. Despite this widespread government patronage of the arts, many artists have chosen to challenge the authorities through subversive movements and practices, which we will address at different moments in the semester. This course, through its focus on creative practices and strategic use of the arts, will attempt to shed light on an often neglected dimension of the modern history of the Arab World and other parts of the Middle East. Syllabus
Media, Practices, and Techniques, Movements and Thinkers, Philosophy and Society
Spring 2023
Fri, 14:00-17:15
Programs: Academy Year, BA in Economics, Politics, and Social Thought, BA in Humanities, the Arts, and Social Thought, Study Abroad Concentrations: Art and Aesthetics, Ethics and Politics, Politics Modules: Media, Practices, and Techniques, Movements and Thinkers, Philosophy and Society
FA292 Animism. Nature as Self.
Spring 2023
Level: Advanced
Day/Time: Fri, 14:00-17:15
Credits: Credits: 8 ECTS, 4 U.S. credits
Our worldviews are undergoing fundamental change. In the “Anthropocene,” boundaries between the human sphere and animals and plants, stones and waters, the atmosphere and the whole “earth system” are dissolving. There are many emerging work hypotheses trying to come to terms with this. One which is gaining particular traction in both humanities and the natural sciences is animism, the cosmology of indigenous cultures which believe the world is made of persons, not things, with whom humans must act in togetherness. The seminar will explore the prominent position of animism in anthropology, philosophy, biology and the arts. Students will engage with these viewpoints on theoretical, practical and artistic levels. We will discuss, among others, ideas of Claude Lévi-Strauss, Philippe Descola, Edoardo Kohn, Freya Mathews, Bayo Akomolafe, Robin Wall Kimmerer, Bruno Latour, Francisco Varela and Karen Barad. In practical terms, we will experiment with animistic processes through guided embodied experiences and reflection, also in outdoor settings and in direct contact with the non-human living world. As for animistic cultures the human participation in the broader “society of being” needs to be expressed and enhanced through painting, sculpture, dance and song (all of which from a western perspective are called “art”), the participants will develop their own artistic ways of reflecting on the experiences and the content of the seminar. For mid-term and end-of-term grades, students can choose to either write an academic essay or devise open-media artistic projects (e.g. fiction and non-fiction narratives, paintings, videos, podcasts or visual essays). This course is cross-listed with Art and Aesthetics
Programs: Academy Year, BA in Economics, Politics, and Social Thought, BA in Humanities, the Arts, and Social Thought, Core Concentration: Core Module: Medieval Literatures and Cultures
AY/BA1/Begin in Berlin Core Course "Love" is a word whose meanings seem to be known to all of us. It names a feeling, an experience, and a value whose importance appears incontestable. But did "love" always mean what we might consider it to mean today? How recent are ideals of romantic or sexual love? What kinds of prototypes did they have in earlier historical periods? To what extent is our word "love" equivalent to the terms used for it in the languages and cultures that have shaped European and so-called "Western" culture? This course explores the other meanings for the word "love" that contributed to our contemporary perspective or apparently diverge markedly from it. We focus on texts and ideas from the place and time that was foundational for the development of European societies, and yet seems distant and strange now: medieval Christendom. We look at the change that took place in the use of Ancient philosophical terms for love in Christian texts, and at the consequences (literary and doctrinal) of the condemnatory view of sexual and erotic love taken by Christian theology. Above all, we examine the ramifications of the primacy of the category of love in Christendom: how could this category become so all-important, and yet at the same time express such a hostility to the erotic and the sensual? The course looks at the norms, rituals and rhetoric that organized the idea of love in the medieval world, attending also to the relationship between Christianity, Judaism and Islam. Syllabus
Programs: Academy Year, BA in Economics, Politics, and Social Thought, BA in Humanities, the Arts, and Social Thought, Core Concentration: Core Module: Senior Core Colloquium
IS123 Academic Research in the Humanities and Social Sciences
Spring 2023
Day/Time: Mon, 9:00-12:15
Credits: Credits: 8 ECTS, 4 U.S. credits
This seminar is a training in the methods of academic research. Focusing on representative contemporary research in the humanities and the social sciences, it supports students in their own individual research projects by focusing on the essential elements of independent scholarly work: the choice of a topic or object of study; the outline of the main components of an article or scholarly paper; finding, gathering, collating and interpreting the sources needed for the project; correct citation, attribution, and bibliographical documentation, and finally, the effective presentation of the final work in structure and style, as well as peer review and constructive feedback. Including the participation of thesis supervisors and other faculty members, this course accompanies the first semester of preparation for the thesis project. Syllabus
Group A: Tue & Thu, 15:45-17:15
Groups C+D: Mon & Thu, 15:45-17:15
Groups B+E: Tue & Thu, 10:45-12:15
Programs: Academy Year, BA in Economics, Politics, and Social Thought, BA in Humanities, the Arts, and Social Thought, Core Concentration: Core Module: Early Modern Science
IS212 Early Modern Science (a cooperation with the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science) BA2 Core Course
Spring 2023
Day/Time: Group A: Tue & Thu, 15:45-17:15
Groups C+D: Mon & Thu, 15:45-17:15
Groups B+E: Tue & Thu, 10:45-12:15
Credits: Credits: 8 ECTS, 4 U.S. credits
The course seeks to introduce the scientific advances of the early modern period (with particular focus on the seventeenth century): the developments that defined the principles, methods and frameworks of modern natural science as it exists today. We not only explore the philosophical basis and conclusions of this historical development, but its experimental procedures, and come to an understanding of their practical form and the meaning of their results. In the first section, we concentrate on the new understanding of space, matter and motion deriving from the cosmologies and mechanical theories of this era (the basis of modern physics). In the second, we consider the remarkable advances in the life sciences at this period (examining anatomical and medical texts), and finally, attend to the emergence of what came to be called "chemistry" out of the mystical practice of alchemy. Included in the course are visits to exhibitions and collections in Berlin, which will help us to reflect on the way in which scientific practices and their discoveries have been historicized, and why we ought to enhance our critical awareness of such historicizing. Syllabus
Groups A+B: Tue & Thu, 10:45-12:15
Group C: Tue & Thu, 14:00-15:30
Programs: Academy Year, BA in Economics, Politics, and Social Thought, BA in Humanities, the Arts, and Social Thought, Core Concentration: Core Module: Modernism
IS322 211 Core course - Global Modernisms
Spring 2023
Day/Time: Groups A+B: Tue & Thu, 10:45-12:15
Group C: Tue & Thu, 14:00-15:30
Credits: Credits: 8 ECTS, 4 U.S. credits
211 is generally thought of as a period characterized in literature and art by radical experimentation, by the invention and re-invention of new forms, and by an aesthetic that privileged the present, the modern, the new. As such, it also reacted to and reflected on the process of modernization and different notions of modernity. 211 was, in fact, a complex constellation of phenomena that saw close interaction between the arts, literature, politics, philosophy, science and economics, and that questioned the most basic categories of aesthetic, political and philosophical thought. The course will focus on three related topics, which will be investigated in relation to each other through a variety of philosophical and theoretical texts, literature, artworks and architecture from across the globe: 1) theories of 211, modernity and modernization; 2) the role played by cities as increasingly dominant cultural centers, hegemonic forces and the subject matter of modernist literature and the arts; 3) the increasing expansion of industry, colonization and global commerce, with a particular focus on literary responses to the perceived dehumanization brought about by technological advancement, bureaucracy and exploitation of the environment. Syllabus
Microeconomics is the study of how individual economic units (households and firms) interact to determine outcomes (allocation of goods and services) in a market setting. This course further develops principles and analytical methods introduced by the “Principles of Economics” and the “Mathematics for Economics” courses. The first part of the course deals with the consumer side. We will study the underlying assumptions about consumer preferences and behavior that lead to the creation of individual and market demands. The second part of the course deals with the theory of the firm (i.e., how production and costs create individual and market supply). The third part of the course deals with the market as a whole, combining consumer-based demand with producer-based supply. Here we also study issues related to the efficiency of markets and the workings of welfare economics. Finally, we will learn positive and normative characteristics of alternative market structures: perfect competition, monopoly, monopolistic competition, and oligopoly. Prerequisites: Principles of Economics and Mathematics for Economics. Syllabus
This course familiarizes students with the main models that macroeconomists use to analyze the way economies behave. The module begins by examining theories that seek to explain long-term economic growth. We then focus our attention on investigating economic theories that explain short run business cycles, the periods of recession and boom that occur on a regular basis. An important part of the course is to investigate the role of governments and central banks in stabilizing the economy. After an analysis of investment and inflation, we connect the building blocks to an integrated macroeconomic consensus model to explain the development of inflation, interest rates and GDP. We apply this theoretical knowledge to a range of current economic issues. Prerequisite: Principles of Economics Syllabus
This course aims at highlighting how economics and ethics intersect in various ways: Is it legitimate to dump our trash in lesser-developed countries because it is, economically speaking, “efficient”? Should a company be allowed to bribe officials in foreign countries in order to do business there? Should we encourage markets for organs or blood if they are efficiently allocating “resources''? The course will discuss experimental studies from psychology and economics on the importance of morality for human behavior. These include intuition in moral judgments, diffusion of responsibility, self-serving bias, crowding-out, diffusion of responsibility, self-serving bias, crowding-out, replacement logic, pivotality, and others. Students learn how to deal with terminology and literature relevant to ethics and economics, as well as how to engage in independent, argumentation-based discussion. They reproduce experimental findings in class to allow for an experience-based, in-depth discussion of the results. Syllabus
Programs: Academy Year, BA in Economics, Politics, and Social Thought, Study Abroad Concentration: Economics Module: Choice, Resources, and Development
EC312 Cost Benefit Analysis
Spring 2023
Level: Advanced
Day/Time: Tue, 15:45-19:00
Credits: Credits: 8 ECTS, 4 U.S. credits
Did you ever ask yourself how economists make practical use of their studies in making real-life choices? Or how microeconomics is related to actual business and government decisions? This course deals with an important application of microeconomics theory to real-life decision making. Cost-benefit Analysis (CBA) is a practical tool used by governments, regulatory bodies and other agencies as an aid in devising 201. CBA is a policy assessment method that quantifies the value of policy to all members of society in monetary terms. It is related to financial analysis or capital budgeting as done by private firms, but is distinct in that the goal is not to maximize profits but rather to seek the most beneficial course of action from a larger social perspective. Cost-benefit analysis is a legal prerequisite in several countries, including the U.S.A., U.K., Canada and Australia, before decisions are taken on projects related to the environment, health, transportation, etc. For instance, the question of whether or not to ban smoking in public places, or whether to build a new terminal in Heathrow airport. The goal of this course is to introduce students to cost-benefit analysis. We first study the microeconomic foundations of CBA. Then, we study particular issues in CBA (such as identification of costs and benefits, discounting, dealing with uncertainty, valuing intangible goods, shadow prices etc.). Prerequisites: Mathematics for Economics and Microeconomics. Syllabus
Programs: Academy Year, BA in Economics, Politics, and Social Thought, Study Abroad Concentration: Economics Modules: Mathematics, Mathematics and Science Requirement
This course also fulfills the mathematics and science requirement for humanities students. This course focuses on the (basic) tools important for the study of political science and economics: analytic geometry, functions of a single variable, and calculus. The course will also be of interest for any student with a general interest in mathematics, or who does not intend advanced specialization in economics. This course is highly recommended for students who want to specialize in economics, but do not have a strong background in mathematics. In case of a strong math background, students can test out of this course at the beginning of the spring semester. After successfully completing this course (or testing out) they will take (the more advanced) Mathematics for Economics course in the fall semester. Syllabus
Programs: Academy Year, BA in Economics, Politics, and Social Thought, Study Abroad Concentration: Economics Modules: Mathematics and Science Requirement, Statistics
This course also fulfills the mathematics and science requirement for humanities students. The goal of this course is to introduce students to quantitative methods in political science and economics. The course covers the basics of descriptive and inferential statistics, including probability theory, hypothesis testing, and regression analysis. To facilitate students’ ability to understand and critically engage with these methods, examples of quantitative social science research are discussed throughout the course. Classes are complemented with exercises to build students’ skills in applying independently the methods learned. Many of these exercises use data from public opinion surveys, which cover a wide range of social, economic, and political topics. Working with this survey data, students will also have the opportunity to explore research questions of their own. At the end of the course, students will be able to read and engage with the majority of modern quantitative research. They also will be well prepared to pursue a variety of more advanced quantitative research courses. Syllabus
Ethics and Politics, Literature and Rhetoric, Politics
Civic Engagement and Social Justice, Theories of Literature and Culture, Writer and World
Spring 2023
Fri, 9:00-12:15
Programs: Academy Year, BA in Economics, Politics, and Social Thought, BA in Humanities, the Arts, and Social Thought, Civic Engagement Certificate, German Studies, Study Abroad Concentrations: Ethics and Politics, Literature and Rhetoric, Politics Modules: Civic Engagement and Social Justice, Theories of Literature and Culture, Writer and World
GM362 The German Public Sphere
Spring 2023
Level: Advanced
Day/Time: Fri, 9:00-12:15
Credits: Credits: 8 ECTS, 4 U.S. credits
This course engages pressing debates in German media today, asking about the issues and forms of discourse that shape German politics and social life. It is structured around visits to cultural sites, events, and organizations in Berlin, along with topics chosen from current media by the participants in cooperation with the instructor. These may include visits to museums, political parties, NGOs, or media producers. Reflecting the ongoing shift of public life to online venues, we will also examine the virtual presence of these traditionally site-based forms of publicness in relation to old and new media. In addition to the study of current public debates and civic engagement, the purpose of this course is to refine and advance your ability to articulate yourself verbally and in writing through constant vocabulary building. Students taking the class should have a B2 proficiency level in German or higher. This course is cross-listed with Literature and Rhetoric. // (fulfills OSUN Civic Engagement Certificate and Transnational Media and Journalism Certificate requirement)
Ethics and Politics, Literature and Rhetoric, Politics
Ethics and Moral Philosophy, Literary History, Moral and Political Thought
Spring 2023
Tue & Thu, 17:30-19:00
Programs: Academy Year, BA in Economics, Politics, and Social Thought, BA in Humanities, the Arts, and Social Thought, Study Abroad Concentrations: Ethics and Politics, Literature and Rhetoric, Politics Modules: Ethics and Moral Philosophy, Literary History, Moral and Political Thought
This course is an inquiry into the origin, nature, and purpose of play. Questions to be considered will include: How do we know when something is playful? Is play the opposite of what is serious, of what is boring, of what counts as work? Are there important differences between animal and human play, or between the play of children and adults? What is a game? What are sports, and what value do they have? What are the connections between play and art, religion, mental health, love, and culture in general? In this course, special attention will be paid to the connection between play and education (In Greek, “paidia” = play; “paideia” = education). Would the best life be one spent “playing the finest games,” as a character in Plato’s Laws suggests? Or are there darker aspects to play that ought to make us cautious about it? Attention will also be given to what has happened to play in the modern world, “as more and more organizations, practices, products, and services are infused with elements from games and play to make them more engaging” (Walz and Deterding). Is this “gamification” of life a good thing? Can we distinguish such a “gamification” or “ludification” of culture from a play or “deep play” experience? Readings will include some of the major theoretical statements about play (Plato, Schiller, Huizinga, Winnicott), articles in contemporary sociology and philosophy, as well as expressions of play in literature, film, and visual art. This course is cross-listed with Politics. Syllabus
History of Political Thought, Moral and Political Thought
Spring 2023
Mon & Wed, 17:30-19:00
Programs: Academy Year, BA in Economics, Politics, and Social Thought, BA in Humanities, the Arts, and Social Thought, Study Abroad Concentrations: Ethics and Politics, Politics Modules: History of Political Thought, Moral and Political Thought
This course offers an introduction to Marxist and post-Marxist theories as a distinct tradition of political thought and action. Given the breadth of the subject matter, the course is organized around two overarching themes: the relations of state, society, and individual as seen through the lens of the affinity of theory and praxis in this tradition. In the first part, the course provides a brief overview of the conceptual development of Marx’s political theory in light of its encounters with German Idealism, French Revolution, and British political economy. We begin with early influences of Kantian critique, Hegel’s dialectic, and Feuerbach’s humanism in order to trace the philosophical methodology that grounds Marx’s works after 1857 in response to political and industrial revolutions. The second part constitutes the bulk of the course as we explore the diverse traditions of Marxist thought and politics in the twentieth century. We begin by examining the forms and critiques of organized Marxist-Leninist systems by exploring the works of European and non-European Marxists (V. I. Lenin, Rosa Luxemburg, Antonio Gramsci, M. N. Roy, Li Dazhao). Next, we examine the conceptions of society, state, law, ideology, class, and individual in the works of Georg Lukacs, Walter Benjamin, Herbert Marcuse, and Louis Althusser. In the final part of the course, we focus on the post-Marxist critical theories of Jürgen Habermas, Michel Foucault, and Judith Butler. The wide oeuvre of the traditions encountered here are tackled by focusing on critical snippets of original works grounded in the historical backdrop and legacies of the first three internationals, Bolshevik and Maoist revolutions, and post-war Eurocommunism. Syllabus
Ethics and Moral Philosophy, Mathematics and Science Requirement, Moral and Political Thought
Spring 2023
Thu, 10-13:00
Programs: Academy Year, BA in Economics, Politics, and Social Thought, BA in Humanities, the Arts, and Social Thought, Study Abroad Concentrations: Ethics and Politics, Politics Modules: Ethics and Moral Philosophy, Mathematics and Science Requirement, Moral and Political Thought
PL277 Medical Ethics
Spring 2023
Level: Foundational
Day/Time: Thu, 10-13:00
Credits: Credits: 8 ECTS, 4 U.S. credits
This course fulfills the mathematics and science requirement for humanities students. The decisions taken in medical treatment are often the subject of complex philosophical and moral debate, drawing on concepts and principles that long predate new technological developments. This course addresses the ethical basis of medical research and practice, including distinct ideas of autonomy, health, well-being, and disease. We cover some of the most prominent and fraught issues that have arisen in the legal regulation of medical care, such as euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide, cultural and historical differences surrounding questions of reproduction, and issues of information-flow, informed consent, privacy, truth-telling and confidentiality, as well as questions of medical racism, social justice and rights to healthcare, human research, genetic enhancement, and the ethical dilemmas that arise during global pandemics as we experience them today. This course is cross-listed with Politics. Syllabus
Programs: Academy Year, BA in Economics, Politics, and Social Thought, BA in Humanities, the Arts, and Social Thought, Study Abroad Concentrations: Ethics and Politics, Politics Modules: Movements and Thinkers, Philosophy and Society
PL320 Philosophy at the Limit: Friedrich Nietzsche
The influence of Nietzsche’s work upon later continental philosophy is perhaps unparalleled. In this advanced course we will read selections from his major works in order to introduce central themes of his philosophy such as the will to power, the eternal recurrence and the death of God. Reading chronologically, we will trace through the development of Nietzsche’s thought with special attention to Nietzsche’s understanding of metaphysics and his preparations for an alternative future for philosophy. Of particular importance will be the role which Nietzsche’s understanding of genealogy plays in these preparations. In this course we will also chart the history of the reception of Nietzsche’s philosophy and become familiar with seminal works in the secondary literature such as those of Heidegger, Deleuze, Derrida, and Malabou. All texts will be read in translation, however, parallel readings in the original German will be supported and encouraged. Syllabus
Comparative Politics, Political Systems and Structures
Spring 2023
Wed & Fri, 10:45-12:15
Programs: Academy Year, BA in Economics, Politics, and Social Thought, BA in Humanities, the Arts, and Social Thought, Civic Engagement Certificate, Study Abroad Concentrations: Ethics and Politics, Politics Modules: Comparative Politics, Political Systems and Structures
Why and how do political systems differ from one another? Which processes have led to the formation of distinct political regimes? And how do these historical variations affect politics today? In addressing these questions in a wide set of contexts, this course provides an introduction to key theoretical approaches and concepts in the comparative study of politics. The focus will be on core topics in political development such as state and nation-building, the role of the state in the economy, its relationship to civil society and processes of democratization. We will also look at different types of political regimes, electoral and party systems—and the ways in which they affect the structure, functioning, and social role of political institutions. We explore these topics from a comparative perspective in combining theoretical texts with case studies. By the end of the course, students will be able to understand important topics in domestic politics, grasp the diversity of political systems and regimes, and analyze current political developments. (fulfills OSUN Civic Engagement Certificate requirement) Syllabus
Comparative Politics, Political Systems and Structures
Spring 2023
Tue & Thu, 10:45-12:15
Programs: Academy Year, BA in Economics, Politics, and Social Thought, BA in Humanities, the Arts, and Social Thought, Study Abroad Concentrations: Ethics and Politics, Politics Modules: Comparative Politics, Political Systems and Structures
While postcolonial scholars have had enduring impact on disciplines such as anthropology, history, art history and comparative literature, their influence on the study of political structures and political thought from and about the “Global South”, or the non-western world, has been less impactful. This opposition to postcolonialism as a theoretical and conceptual lens in the study of 182 is related to the endurance of Eurocentric perspectives on the Global South and the impact of their colonial histories. Dominant theories of democracy, development, violence and displacement, for instance, continue to be trapped in orientalist frameworks of analysis. Against this backdrop, this course has two central aims and is structured accordingly. The first is to encourage students to question the epistemological foundations of the study of postcolonial societies and politics so they learn to critically question the context in which the scholarly body of knowledge about non-western history, politics and society has been constructed and produced. The second aim of the course is to contextualize such theories by focusing on the region known as the “Middle East” with some cross-reference to Asia, Africa and the Americas in order to uncover the relationship between the political and the postcolonial. The course will run thematically and cover topics such as colonialism and decolonization, indigeneity, the post-colonial state, nationalism(s), the politics of gender and sexuality, the politics of culture, military states, development and humanitarian aid, oil, the “global war on terror”, and displacement and revolutions. Syllabus
Programs: Academy Year, BA in Economics, Politics, and Social Thought, BA in Humanities, the Arts, and Social Thought, Civic Engagement Certificate, Study Abroad Concentrations: Ethics and Politics, Politics Modules: Policy Analysis, Political Systems and Structures
This course introduces students to policy analysis and policy-making. Public policies are courses of action undertaken by governments to solve societal problems by changing behavior. They include laws, regulations, incentives, and providing services, goods and information. It is important to remember that policies not only include what governments choose to do but also what they choose not to do. Policies by individual governments, groups of governments and intergovernmental organizations can impact outcomes for people, communities, industries, and the environment in different parts of the world. As an introductory course, during the first part of the course, we will spend time learning about and discussing what characterizes and defines a 201, and how such policies are formulated, implemented, and evaluated. During the second half, we will apply these foundational concepts by examining and discussing real-world policy case studies addressing current policy problems within a domestic and global context. With this course, students will gain an understanding of a holistic approach to 201 and policy analysis. Students will also learn how to communicate about policy problems, options and recommendations verbally, visually, and in writing. (fulfills OSUN Civic Engagement Certificate requirement) Syllabus
International Studies and Globalization, Political Systems and Structures
Spring 2023
Wed & Fri, 14:00-15:30
Programs: Academy Year, BA in Economics, Politics, and Social Thought, BA in Humanities, the Arts, and Social Thought, Study Abroad Concentrations: Ethics and Politics, Politics Modules: International Studies and Globalization, Political Systems and Structures
This course engages with the topic of ‘globalization,’ understood here as the interconnectedness of economic activity across borders since World War II. We will focus on understanding how powerful thinkers and domestic and global political institutions helped shape policies, practices and outcomes of different patterns of globalization. Organized in three parts, the course begins by chronicling the rise of Keynesianism and its strategy for reconstruction and economic development after World War II. Next, we turn to the shift towards neoliberal market economies during the 1980s, examining ideology and policies which became a cornerstone of the Thatcher and Reagan years and which were spread globally, in particular to the Global South, by the Bretton Woods institutions throughout the 1990s. Finally, we will focus on the rise of globalized industries which emerged as part of foreign investment practices by multinational corporations supported by liberalization-friendly regulations and the more recent shift, since the early 2000s, towards global outsourcing comprising global production networks. (fulfills Transnational Media and Journalism Certificate requirement) Syllabus
Advanced Topics in Global and Comparative Politics, Law, Politics, and Society, Public Policy
Spring 2023
Wed, 15:45-19:00
Programs: Academy Year, BA in Economics, Politics, and Social Thought, BA in Humanities, the Arts, and Social Thought, Civic Engagement Certificate, Study Abroad Concentrations: Ethics and Politics, Politics Modules: Advanced Topics in Global and Comparative Politics, Law, Politics, and Society, Public Policy
PS306 The European Union: Its Institutions, Laws, and Citizens
Spring 2023
Level: Advanced
Day/Time: Wed, 15:45-19:00
Credits: Credits: 8 ECTS, 4 U.S. credits
Brexit, the war in Ukraine, the rise of populist movements, and a growing suspicion towards international organizations do not seem to offer a promising future for the European Union. Nevertheless, the concept of the European Union’s supranationality offers a unique history of international collaboration that was developed with clear goals by founding members. This course will examine this early context of the former European Community for Steel and Coal —the forerunner of the Union—and the bloc’s painstaking integration. It will also analyze the institutions that have developed over the more than 70-year history and major cases tried in the European Court of Justice (CJEU) that have shaped the Union’s political advancements. We will discuss the European Union’s “democracy deficit”, the debate about European public sphere, and look at political processes, including the European electoral-law reform and the reform of the judicial system in Poland, which sheds new light on the way the EU deals with gender and the rule of law. Court cases will lend insight into how the European Union’s citizens used—or tried to use—established mechanisms to advocate for their interests. We will also engage with original EU policy documents to provide with the skills of analyzing and interpreting them. Finally, the course will provide an understanding of the Union’s supranational characteristics in comparison with those of the nation-state and of traditional international organizations, enabling a clearer judgement regarding the future of the European project as well as a keener evaluation of broader political processes. The importance of civic engagement as a component of politics will be key in thinking about our own future and about how to shape our lives. (fulfills OSUN Civic Engagement Certificate requirement) Syllabus
Programs: Academy Year, BA in Economics, Politics, and Social Thought, BA in Humanities, the Arts, and Social Thought, Civic Engagement Certificate, Study Abroad Concentrations: Ethics and Politics, Politics Modules: Law, Politics, and Society, Public Policy
PS335 Poverty, Inequality and Social Policy in the United States
Spring 2023
Level: Advanced
Day/Time: Wed, 9:00-12:15
Credits: Credits: 8 ECTS, 4 U.S. credits
How does the state ensure the welfare of its citizens? Who decides who gets what, and under what conditions? How are resources redistributed fairly to alleviate inequality? What can the state demand of its citizens in exchange for social welfare? These questions are at the heart of decisions about social policy and the welfare state. Social policy directly affects how individuals and groups fare, and how they perceive the role of governments, and their own role, in society. In considering these questions, this course will introduce students to the politics of social policy and inequality in the United States, and examine concepts of social control and poverty governance. The first part of the course provides an overview of U.S. social policy: we consider what policies fall under this umbrella, the role of the state in providing welfare to its citizens, as well as contestations over social rights and the provision of benefits. Further, we will engage critically with constructions of target populations, including (racialized) narratives of deservingness, concepts of paternalism and social control, and the role of spatial inequality. The second part considers three major social policy domains: housing and homelessness, healthcare, and cash assistance/poverty relief. We will explore what policies exist to respond to pressing social issues and how they have developed, and how the respective target groups and their perceived deservingness affects policy design and eligibility requirements. By the end of the course, students will be able understand important concepts in social policy and political science research, understand and discuss the political, economic, socio-cultural, and institutional factors shaping the development and the design of social policy in the United States, and critique coverage of social policy developments and narratives about poverty. (fulfills OSUN Civic Engagement Certificate requirement) Syllabus
Programs: Academy Year, BA in Economics, Politics, and Social Thought, BA in Humanities, the Arts, and Social Thought, Civic Engagement Certificate, Study Abroad Concentrations: Ethics and Politics, Politics Modules: Law, Politics, and Society, Public Policy
How and why do violent conflicts erupt and how are they resolved? Why do some states help in resolving conflicts? When are conflict and war amenable to the possibility of being ‘managed’? When is intervention essential or a mediation by third parties merited? Why do attempts at conflict resolution have a mixed record of success? Why do contexts with peace agreements relapse into violent conflict? This course covers the basic concepts in conflict life cycles from prevention to reconciliation. The course also exposes students to theoretical and empirical conceptualizations of conflict management and mediation, featuring a combination of scholarly, policy and practitioner perspectives on international relations in conflict management contexts. Moreover, we will also explore how local civic engagement and mediation by civil society are becoming more prominent in intra-state conflict management processes. In doing so, we pay attention to issues in contemporary debates on the various post-conflict processes—such as disarmament and reintegration (DDR) and security sector reform (SSR)—analyzing their relevance to creating sustainable and durable peace. // (fulfills Civic Engagement Certificate and OSUN Human Rights Certificate requirements) Syllabus
Global Social Theory, Law, Politics, and Society, Philosophy and Society
Spring 2023
Tue, 15:45-19:00
Programs: Academy Year, BA in Economics, Politics, and Social Thought, BA in Humanities, the Arts, and Social Thought, Civic Engagement Certificate, Study Abroad Concentrations: Ethics and Politics, Politics Modules: Global Social Theory, Law, Politics, and Society, Philosophy and Society
PT328 When the People Rule: Popular Sovereignty in Theory and Practice
Spring 2023
Level: Advanced
Day/Time: Tue, 15:45-19:00
Credits: Credits: 8 ECTS, 4 U.S. credits
Democracy, a Greek word, means the rule of the people. Yet what does it mean for the people to rule? This question is at the heart of many contemporary geopolitical battles, not least, the ideological and material war between Vladimir Putin’s Russia and the Western liberal alliance led by the United States. This question also has a long and complex history. Our aim in this course will be to interrogate popular sovereignty as a principle, examining its origins in antiquity; the philosophical arguments, both ancient and modern that have been advanced for and against it; and the relationship between this principle and the practice of self-governance in two particular cases: the early American republic, and modern Russia. This course will be taught simultaneously at Bard College Berlin and Smolny Beyond Borders, with occasional joint meetings and student collaboration across campuses. We will also host several guest speakers. (fulfills OSUN Civic Engagement Certificate requirement) Syllabus
Programs: Academy Year, BA in Economics, Politics, and Social Thought, BA in Humanities, the Arts, and Social Thought, Civic Engagement Certificate, Study Abroad Concentrations: Ethics and Politics, Politics Module: Civic Engagement and Social Justice
Professor(s): Kerry Bystrom, Faiza zu Lynar, Galina Yarmanova
Over the semester we will explore historical, philosophical and practical elements of civic engagement while also investigating the underlying question of what it means to be an engaged citizen in the early 21st century. Together, students will address issues related to political participation, civil society, associational life, social justice, and personal responsibility, particularly in relation to the liberal democratic order (and its rupture). The class reflects a balance between theory and practice, exploring notions of civic life while supporting students to be active and thoughtful participants in the communities in which they are situated. More specifically, we will begin to map the local community engagement landscape in Berlin (with all its fault lines) and connect this into theories of civil society and histories of citizen activism in Europe and globally. This work will feed into engaged student research, participation in local and global initiatives, hand-on project development trainings, and the crafting by each student of a project proposal aimed at improving their local communities (however defined). The course will feature seminar discussions, workshops on interviewing and organizing, and field trips to relevant sites, as well as guest lectures by scholars, activists, members of local NGOs, government officials and foundation representatives. (fulfills OSUN Civic Engagement Certificate requirement) Syllabus
Ethics and Moral Philosophy, Mathematics and Science Requirement, Moral and Political Thought
Spring 2023
Tue, 9:00-12:15
Programs: Academy Year, BA in Economics, Politics, and Social Thought, BA in Humanities, the Arts, and Social Thought, Study Abroad Concentrations: Ethics and Politics, Politics Modules: Ethics and Moral Philosophy, Mathematics and Science Requirement, Moral and Political Thought
SC204 Introduction to Feminist Science and Technology Studies
Spring 2023
Level: Foundational
Day/Time: Tue, 9:00-12:15
Credits: Credits: 8 ECTS, 4 U.S. credits
This course fulfills the mathematics and science requirement for humanities students. This course explores feminist science and technology studies (STS) as closely related to the disciplines of history and sociology of science, as well as to scientific practices in natural sciences and interdisciplinary approaches in social sciences. The explicit aim of this course is to give a comprehensive and historically contextualized overview of the key themes and debates within feminist STS scholarship and related disciplines like the actor-network-theory, postcolonial theory, and new materialism. Through readings, class discussions, and practical assignments we will explore feminist engagements with science through the lenses of gender, sexuality, race, and class. The course is structured in three parts. The first part grapples with feminist epistemologies and introduces key methodologies. The second part maps out the spaces and places of scientific practices from laboratories and fieldwork to the issues of colonial legacy of Western scientific endeavor. The third part focuses on the body and medicine, introducing the gendered themes of materiality. Students do not need to have backgrounds in feminist theory or scientific practice; the course is designed to work across disciplines. Syllabus
Civic Engagement and Social Justice, Global Social Theory
Spring 2023
Mon, 10:45-13:45
Programs: Academy Year, BA in Economics, Politics, and Social Thought, BA in Humanities, the Arts, and Social Thought, Civic Engagement Certificate, Study Abroad Concentrations: Ethics and Politics, Politics Modules: Civic Engagement and Social Justice, Global Social Theory
SE294 Social Justice & Transnational Feminism
Spring 2023
Level: Advanced
Day/Time: Mon, 10:45-13:45
Credits: Credits: 8 ECTS, 4 U.S. credits
This course acknowledges the importance of transnational feminism as a toolkit for social-justice activism. Transnationalism has been a key element of socialist and intersectional feminist movements from their very inception. In the early twentieth century, Clara Zetkin and Alexandra Kollontai worked closely together to advocate for the rights of women workers everywhere. African-American poet, teacher, and activist Audre Lorde connected with her peers across the world – including Black women in Germany – to jointly develop strategies for survival and battle sexual, racial, and class oppression. More recently, scholars and activists Cinzia Arruzza, Tithi Bhattacharya, and Nancy Fraser, in their Feminism for 99%, have built on the accomplishments of the International Women’s Strike (2017) and mobilized for feminist solidarity across borders. Sudents will critically evaluate the subject of feminist inquiry and analyze case studies with focus on social justice. Students will also engage with the histories and uses of transnational feminism, identify some of the challenges for transnational feminism and develop tactics to overcome them. Designed jointly by scholars and educators from across the Open Society University Network (AlQuds Bard College in Palestine, American University of Central Asia in Kyrgyzstan, Bard College in the United States, Bard College Berlin in Germany, and University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa) and scholars affiliated with Off-University, the course is part of the Transnational Feminism, Solidarity, and Social Justice project. Through a series of shared readings and assignments, students will have a unique opportunity to engage with their peers and professors from OSUN campuses, build alliances locally and internationally, and experiment with forms of expression. (fulfills OSUN Civic Engagement Certificate requirement) Syllabus
Advanced Topics in Global and Comparative Politics, Global Social Theory, Law, Politics, and Society
Spring 2023
Mon & Wed, 14:00-15:30
Programs: Academy Year, BA in Economics, Politics, and Social Thought, BA in Humanities, the Arts, and Social Thought, Civic Engagement Certificate, Study Abroad Concentrations: Ethics and Politics, Politics Modules: Advanced Topics in Global and Comparative Politics, Global Social Theory, Law, Politics, and Society
As one of the most important features of today's globalized world, migration remains highly debated on local, national, and international levels. Migration is assigned various meanings and statuses (high-skilled and low-skilled, legal and illegal, documented and undocumented, forced and voluntary, restricted and unrestricted), which are, in turn, contested in multiple ways through grassroots activism, academic and artistic interventions, as well as the work of local and international NGOs. Today, migration affects everyone regardless of their own migratory status, and many contemporary societies – especially but not exclusively their urban centers – have been described as postmigrant or superdiverse. The course critically explores migration from global and local perspectives, emphasizing the postcolonial and neocolonial power geometries that produce specific forms of mobility. Drawing on a range of primary texts (UN documents, first-person narratives, poetry) and secondary texts from migration studies, cultural studies, anthropology, urban sociology, human geography, and philosophy, students will examine diverse social experiences of migration, as well as a range of related concepts such as belonging, border, citizenship, and solidarity, among others. The in-class discussions, guest lectures, off-campus visits, as well as group and individual assignments aim at deepening students’ understanding of migration regimes, migration discourses, and migrant infrastructures in various geographical and historical contexts. Designed by scholars and educators from across the Bard International Network (AlQuds University in Palestine, American University of Central Asia in Kyrgyzstan, Bard College in the United States, Bard College Berlin in Germany), as well as faculty and students from the Mellon-funded Consortium on Forced Migration, Displacement, and Education (Vassar College, Sarah Lawrence College, Bennington College, Bard College, and Bard College Berlin), the course aims at advancing students’ understanding of migration both in the specific local contexts in which they study, as well as from international perspectives. Through a series of joint assignments, students will have a unique opportunity to engage with their peers and professors from other campuses. (fulfills OSUN Civic Engagement Certificate and OSUN Human Rights Certificate requirement) Syllabus
Advanced Topics in Global and Comparative Politics, Global Social Theory, Law, Politics, and Society
Spring 2023
Mon & Wed, 9:00-10:30
Programs: Academy Year, BA in Economics, Politics, and Social Thought, BA in Humanities, the Arts, and Social Thought, Civic Engagement Certificate, Study Abroad Concentrations: Ethics and Politics, Politics Modules: Advanced Topics in Global and Comparative Politics, Global Social Theory, Law, Politics, and Society
This course is an invitation to radically rethink migration with the help of two exceptional scholars, teachers, and activists: Rosa Luxemburg and Doreen Massey. Both Luxemburg and Massey were economic thinkers who made long-lasting contributions to their respective disciplines, shaped the political movements they supported, and inspired new generations of scholars and activists. Both were staunch supporters of internationalism and critics of global capitalism. Both conducted research on and advocated for workers’ rights, and both left behind incisive reflections on the potential of solidarity. Rejecting neat, linear theories of development, both also repudiated binary models that juxtaposed the west and the rest, reform and revolution, global and local. Last but not least, both were women in spaces coded masculine – women who refused to conform to the heteropatriarchal gender norms of their social worlds. Considering that “there is no capitalism without migration” (Casas-Cortes et al. 2015), Luxemburg’s and Massey’s critiques of capitalism yield inspiring insights on migration because they engage with political and economic dependencies, colonial legacies, and what Massey called power geometry: the uneven positioning of different individuals and different groups within the global interconnectedness. In dialog with Massey’s notion of a global sense of place, Luxemburg’s theory of the accumulation of capital can help us reframe the sticky connections between migration and capitalism in its current neoliberal guise. Following Massey’s observation that “mobility, and control over mobility, both reflects and reinforces power” and Luxemburg’s insistence that we consider inequality globally and not just locally, we will examine the wide-reaching consequences of capitalism’s expansion into social activities hitherto unclaimed by the market as well as its enduring impact on both lived realities and popular perceptions of migration. In addition to selected texts by Luxemburg and Massey, we will also read a range of complimentary writings on migration, space, and power by Gargi Bhattacharyya, Avtar Brah, Stuart Hall, Katherine McKittrick, Walter Rodney, Edward Said, Harsha Walia, and Lea Ypi, among others. (fulfills Civic Engagement Certificate and OSUN Human Rights Certifcate requirements) Syllabus
Group A: Mon, 15:45-19:00
Group B: Thu, 9:00-12:15
Programs: Academy Year, BA in Economics, Politics, and Social Thought, BA in Humanities, the Arts, and Social Thought, Electives, Study Abroad Module: Elective
FA107 Ceramics I
Spring 2023
Day/Time: Group A: Mon, 15:45-19:00
Group B: Thu, 9:00-12:15
This studio course covers the broad ceramics-making techniques at the foundational level. It explores a variety of ceramic materials and methods for the production of functional ware and ceramic art objects. Students learn basic skills of clay preparation, clay recycling, wheel-throwing, hand-building, slip casting, glazing, and applying decorations. The selected works will be glazed and fired in collaboration with the Ceramic Kingdom in Neukoelln. Please note there is a fee of €50 for participation in this course to cover material expenses and firing processes. For registration, please send a brief statement of interest to Joon Park ([email protected]). Syllabus
Programs: Academy Year, BA in Economics, Politics, and Social Thought, BA in Humanities, the Arts, and Social Thought, Civic Engagement Certificate, Electives, Study Abroad Module: Elective
FA157 Dance & Community Building—Utopian Practice in the 21st Century
What makes a more perfect society? Plato and Socrates began the discussion—and went so far as to provide detailed plans for a utopian community that included a specific number of sheep, liberating women to do soldiering, finance rules, and insisted that dance (‘beautiful movement’) was absolutely necessary. Here, the history of Community Dance begins. In the last 25 years, Community Dance has become a major force in education and European arts. It removes the ‘elite’ from modern dance without compromising artistic integrity while helping, by offering purpose and support, to establish and even redefine ‘community’ for populations in migration, prisons, inner city schools, and conflict zones. From Addis Ababa to Berlin, from Ireland to Iran, Community Dance practice includes performance, film, and other mediums. In this course, the ‘Everyone Can Dance’ idea becomes lived information as classes are divided between hands-on movement workshops and academic lectures providing historical context. Students will be given time, space, and mentoring to create their own Community Dance work presented at the end of the semester. The lectures draw a timeline from the first utopian communities in the early 1900s through Nazi Germany, East Germany to many examples of the expanding notion of Community Dance – including hip-hop – today. No dance experience necessary. (fulfills OSUN Civic Engagement Certificate requirement) Syllabus
Programs: Academy Year, BA in Economics, Politics, and Social Thought, BA in Humanities, the Arts, and Social Thought, Electives, Study Abroad Module: Elective
This beginners’ introduction course teaches the technical foundations of video making. You will be introduced to different kinds of cameras, learn all about your camera and how to use its manual settings, work with natural and studio lighting, record and design your own sound and learn how to edit in Adobe Premiere. We will look at feature films, documentaries, as well as experimental video art and vlogging to examine a range of different creative shooting styles and will use that for inspiration in hands-on workshops and small assignments throughout the semester. We will work on individual as well as group projects and will create a body of work ranging from short sound pieces to full videos. The goal of this course is to give you an understanding of the various creative choices within the art of making a video and the technical knowledge to help realize your visions. Fulfills Transnational Media and Journalism Certificate requirement Syllabus
Programs: Academy Year, BA in Economics, Politics, and Social Thought, BA in Humanities, the Arts, and Social Thought, German Studies, Study Abroad Module: German Language
Programs: Academy Year, BA in Economics, Politics, and Social Thought, BA in Humanities, the Arts, and Social Thought, German Studies, Study Abroad Module: German Language
Programs: Academy Year, BA in Economics, Politics, and Social Thought, BA in Humanities, the Arts, and Social Thought, German Studies, Study Abroad Module: German Language
Programs: Academy Year, BA in Economics, Politics, and Social Thought, BA in Humanities, the Arts, and Social Thought, German Studies, Study Abroad Module: German Language
The course is designed to help students boost their speaking skills and communicate in German with ease and confidence. Understanding and responding to what people speak on the street and in everyday situations poses challenges for many language learners; the course will tackle these challenges hands-on and from multiple angles, always with an eye toward what is most useful for students stepping beyond the “English language bubble” on campus. Classes will be structured around topics of student interest and combine vocabulary building and pronunciation exercises with the creation of various speaking scenarios where students practice expressing themselves spontaneously and explore dialects, accents and modes of intonation. The course is open to students who have completed A1 or have at least a basic understanding of the German language; the objective of the course is to create a comfortable speaking environment for beginners to advanced learners. Syllabus
Programs: Academy Year, BA in Economics, Politics, and Social Thought, BA in Humanities, the Arts, and Social Thought, German Studies, Study Abroad Module: German Language
The course is designed to help students boost their speaking skills and communicate in German with ease and confidence. Understanding and responding to what people speak on the street and in everyday situations poses challenges for many language learners; the course will tackle these challenges hands-on and from multiple angles, always with an eye toward what is most useful for students stepping beyond the “English language bubble” on campus. Classes will be structured around topics of student interest and combine vocabulary building and pronunciation exercises with the creation of various speaking scenarios where students practice expressing themselves spontaneously and explore dialects, accents and modes of intonation. The course is open to students who have completed A1 or have at least a basic understanding of the German language; the objective of the course is to create a comfortable speaking environment for beginners to advanced learners.
Programs: Academy Year, BA in Economics, Politics, and Social Thought, BA in Humanities, the Arts, and Social Thought, German Studies, Study Abroad Module: German Language
Programs: Academy Year, BA in Economics, Politics, and Social Thought, BA in Humanities, the Arts, and Social Thought, German Studies, Study Abroad Module: German Language
Programs: Academy Year, BA in Economics, Politics, and Social Thought, BA in Humanities, the Arts, and Social Thought, German Studies, Study Abroad Module: German Language
Programs: Academy Year, BA in Economics, Politics, and Social Thought, BA in Humanities, the Arts, and Social Thought, German Studies, Study Abroad Module: German Language
Programs: Academy Year, BA in Economics, Politics, and Social Thought, BA in Humanities, the Arts, and Social Thought, German Studies, Study Abroad Module: German Language
Programs: Academy Year, BA in Economics, Politics, and Social Thought, BA in Humanities, the Arts, and Social Thought, German Studies, Study Abroad Module: German Language
Programs: Academy Year, BA in Economics, Politics, and Social Thought, BA in Humanities, the Arts, and Social Thought, German Studies, Study Abroad Module: German Language
Programs: Academy Year, BA in Economics, Politics, and Social Thought, BA in Humanities, the Arts, and Social Thought, German Studies, Study Abroad Module: German Language
Programs: Academy Year, BA in Economics, Politics, and Social Thought, BA in Humanities, the Arts, and Social Thought, German Studies, Study Abroad Module: German Language
Programs: Academy Year, BA in Economics, Politics, and Social Thought, BA in Humanities, the Arts, and Social Thought, German Studies, Study Abroad Module: German Language
GM251 German Intermediate B2: Über die Kunst zur Sprache: Talking and Writing about Art
This course is designed for students who are interested in developing their German language skills through building a vocabulary and a wide range of expressions for talking and writing about art. This B2-oriented course centers on a variety of artistic media and forms of representation that capture our Zeitgeist. We will analyze and discuss images, video installations, films, and theater productions with the aim of developing language tools students can use confidently and independently in art contexts. The course will thereby broaden and deepen the grammar and vocabulary introduced in a typical B2-level language class. Throughout the semester, we will take the topic of art beyond campus and visit galleries, museums, and artists in their studios. As in regular Bard College Berlin classes, students take bi-weekly tests and a final exam on materials covered in class and in a course reader designed by the instructor for teaching B2 through the lens of art.
Programs: Academy Year, BA in Economics, Politics, and Social Thought, BA in Humanities, the Arts, and Social Thought, German Studies, Study Abroad Module: German Language
Programs: Academy Year, BA in Economics, Politics, and Social Thought, BA in Humanities, the Arts, and Social Thought, German Studies, Study Abroad Module: German Language
Programs: Academy Year, BA in Economics, Politics, and Social Thought, BA in Humanities, the Arts, and Social Thought, Civic Engagement Certificate, Electives, Study Abroad Module: Elective
IS331 Berlin Internship Seminar: Working Cultures, Urban Cultures
Spring 2023
Day/Time: Course time: Thu, 14:00-15:30
Credits: Credits: 8 ECTS, 4 U.S. credits (in combination with an internship)
Students enrolled in the Bard College Berlin Internship Program are required to complete the Berlin Internship Seminar, an interdisciplinary course designed to accompany the internship experience. We will meet on a weekly basis and discuss contemporary ways of living and working in Berlin and beyond: What do we mean when we talk about work? Do we need to love what we do? What renders work in/visible? How is work gendered and classed? How is work organized temporally and spatially and how does it, in turn, affect the city and its residents? What distinguishes the spaces in which we live and work today? Which new forms of work have recently emerged in Berlin? Which of them seem to thrive? How do Berlin’s art institutions and citizen-activist organizations operate? Besides in-class discussions, invited lectures, and off-campus visits, the seminar offers a platform for the exchange of observations, reflections, and comments on individual internships. Students must already be in the process of arranging an internship with the Careers Office before registering. If a student has arranged their own internship, they should contact [email protected] to register your internship before enrolling in the course. Fulfills OSUN Civic Engagement Certificate and OSUN Human Rights Certificate requirements Syllabus
Advanced Topics in Global and Comparative Politics
Spring 2023
Wed & Fri, 14:00-15:30
Programs: Academy Year, BA in Economics, Politics, and Social Thought, Study Abroad Concentration: Politics Module: Advanced Topics in Global and Comparative Politics
As a field of study, geopolitics examines the spatial dimensions of interstate power relations. Modern thinking about geopolitics emerged at the turn to the 20th century, as the British Empire unraveled and new colonial and hegemonial disputes erupted. After World War II, geopolitics lost much of its analytical lure, due to the fact that the Nazi regime had built many of its political claims on such geostrategic considerations (Lebensraum). After the fall of the Iron Curtain, new transportation and communication technologies seemed to make distance and space irrelevant categories for political thinking and action, given the plummeting of transaction costs and globalization processes. Climate change and depleting resources, renationalization tendencies, large-scale infrastructural development projects and resurfacing territorial conflicts have all led to a reinvigoration of geopolitical thinking and practice in the very recent past. What potential futures does this imply for cooperation and for conflict? This course critically engages conceptual and theoretical texts in geopolitics, examines historical examples, and explores three of today’s most pertinent geopolitical relationships: China’s one-belt-one road initiative, Russia’s territorial ambitions, and the reinvention of transatlantic relations. Syllabus
Programs: Academy Year, BA in Economics, Politics, and Social Thought, Study Abroad Concentration: Politics Module: Quantitative Methods in Social Sciences
Why do people vote the way they do? Why does violence erupt in some states while in other states it does not? Can development aid improve democratization and development? One way of answering these questions is through effective analysis of quantitative data. This course focuses on the different strategies of quantitative statistical analysis. We explore how to read, understand, and critically assess quantitative research. Students will engage in quantitative research design, testing hypotheses, unpacking causal mechanisms, and applying probability and regression analysis tools. Finally, students will learn how to present the interpreted data logically and systematically in research output. In this course, students will also learn the basics of R software to conduct statistical analysis. Towards the end of the course, we will also briefly explore social network analysis (SNA) and qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) as alternative quantitative social science methods. Syllabus
To view courses offered prior to Spring 2023, please visit the course archive.