POL 321 - Bitcoin in Global Politics

Prerequisite: POL 105
FDR: Social Sciences (SS2) - Group 2 Distribution
Credits: 3

This course introduces students to bitcoin and its roles in global politics. Since 2008, bitcoin has evolved from an idea posted to an online chat forum to a digital asset that has caught the attention of sovereign states. Along the way, it has been used by human rights activists with frozen bank accounts, refugees crossing boarders, immigrants sending remittances, environmentalists fighting climate change, and others. The four parts of the course explore 1) what money is and how it has evolved over time, 2) what bitcoin is and what problems it is trying to solve, 3) bitcoin’s myriad political and economic use cases, and 4) possible futures for bitcoin’s role in international politics and political economy.

Note(s): Not open to those who have already taken POL 280 and precludes future enrollment in POL 280.