POL 380 - Global Politics Seminar

FDR: SS2
Credits: 3

Fall 2015, POL 380-01: Fighting Faiths: Law, Science and Religion in Global Perspective (3). Prerequisites: At least three credits at the 200-level in politics or instructor consent. This course examines the intersection of three of the principle belief systems that organize our lives, our politics and our conscience. All three frequently clash because they are premised on incompatible beliefs. The clashes transcend culture and invariably become legal or political matters. Accordingly, we study conflicts such as conscientious objections to vaccinations, conflicts between religious pluralism and women’s rights, legal and scientific notions of proof and certainty, legal definitions of ‘religion’ and so forth. Our approach is international and cross-cultural. Students undertake research projects on a topic of their choice and present their findings and their seminar papers to the class. (SS2) Rush. Fall 2015

Fall 2015, POL 380A-01: Global Politics Seminar: Food, Shelter, Space, Voice: Movements for Democratic Renewal (3). Prerequisite: Three credits in politics or instructor consent. This seminar studies grassroots efforts to re-vision liberal democracy in the midst of prolonged economic crisis. Students examine the political critique embedded in international movements to rethink how and what we eat; investigate the reworking of the relationship between community belonging and housing practices following the global mortgage crisis; and dig into the challenges to the demarcation of the public and private posed by movements such as Occupy, the Puerto del Sol protests in Madrid, and the recent conflict that emerged from government plans to redevelop Taksim Gezi Park in Istanbul. (SS2) Le Blanc. Fall 2015

  Planned Offering: Offered when interest is expressed and departmental resources permit.