The main purpose of the first-year Political Studies course is to familiarize students with the central concepts of politics and the main fields of political studies. While the course will provide students with the foundations of studying politics, it will also allow students to understand and analyze the everyday role that politics plays in their lives.
POST 1001H (Fall) Politics and Power in the Global Age: Introduction
A comparative and historical introduction to the basic ideas in political studies focusing on power and democracy in the global era. Topics including economic inequality, the environment, consumerism, and surveillance are discussed within the context of intensifying twenty-first-century globalization.
Instructor: Dr. Hasmet Uluorta
POST 1002H (Winter) Politics and Power in the Global Age: Issues
Explores some pressing issues in contemporary politics and challenges students to think about how best to address them. Topics may include political participation, electoral reform, new media, taxation, the politics of resource development, and multiculturalism.
Instructor: Dr. Devin Penner
Course Format
Weekly lectures and tutorials; optional weekly workshop with the instructors. The purpose of the workshops is to allow interested students to interact with the instructor in a small group setting and to have the opportunity to discuss the course material. There will be an in-depth discussion of specific discussion questions and informal discussion of course materials or current events, depending on student preferences.
Topics
Part 1 - Ideas and concepts of power, politics and democracy
- What is Politics?
- Where is power in politics and resistance?
- Do you believe what you see? Power and ideology in democracy
- Hobbes and liberalism: Does society exist beyond individual interest?
- Rousseau and politics of community: Can the individual exist without society?
- Marx and socialism: Is politics simply class struggle?
Part II - Politics of international affairs
- What is international politics?
- Globalization of international politics
- Political economy of global politics
- Culture and global politics
More Information
Course notes, assignments, and other details are available to enrolled students via the Blackboard system. For more information regarding this course or if you have any other questions, please contact the Political Studies department.