PSCI Course Descriptions

Political Science (2009-2010)

In this course, students are introduced to a number of concepts which have a bearing on how we respond to our political environment, including liberalism, conservatism, Marxism, feminism, equality, liberty, rights and justice. Some of the constraints that affect the application of these concepts to public policy are also examined.

This course provides a broad introduction to the study of contemporary politics, including issues of citizenship, governance and global politics.

An introduction to the use of quantitative methods in Political Science. Only a rudimentary understanding of mathematics is required.

A selection of some of the most influential texts in the canon of political thought from ancient to modern times.

An examination of some of the most important themes in political thought in the modern period including contemporary debates. Examples include political obligation, human rights, economic justice, and the extent of personal liberty.

This course examines the broad international and theoretical context of government-business relations and explores various countries' approaches to business-government relations including national and sub-national government policies relating to the promotion of competitiveness, productivity, international trade, foreign investment and commercial innovation.

An introduction to various approaches in the study of comparative politics. Emphasis is placed on political development, institutions and processes. Case studies include Britain, France, Germany, Japan, Russia, China, India, Mexico and Nigeria.

An introductory analysis of politics and development in the global South. Topics include colonialism, economic growth, democracy, population, gender, education, environmental issues, working children, and health.

A comparative examination of political processes, institutions, and reforms in the post-communist states of the former Soviet Union, with a focus on Russia.

A systematic introduction to comparing the politics of industrialized countries including electoral and government institutions, parties, ideologies and values, and political economy.

An introduction to modern Middle East political history and the important role this strategic region has played in world affairs. The course examines Middle Eastern states, their domestic political challenges, geopolitical complexities and relations with the international political community.

An introduction to Canada's political culture, constitution (including the Charter), federal system, central political institutions (primarily Parliament and Cabinet) and national political processes (the party system, interest groups, the electoral system and voting behaviour).

The theory and practice of the American political system as revealed by the institutions and operations of American national government.

Millions of people live together in various degrees of disharmony in the anarchy - 'an', without, 'archos', governor - of world politics. The course considers the what, where, when and why of the patterns of power, of peace and war, of cooperation and conflict about the globe.

An introduction to the analytical models and tools used to explain and understand foreign policy. The course considers foreign policy as a two-level game at the intersection of the domestic and international spheres and examine the constraints on decision makers at the individual, domestic and systems levels of analysis.

An introduction to the politics of the world economy with special reference to the politics of international trade, multinational corporations, international monetary relations, global finance, comparative capitalisms, and regional economic integration.

A survey course intended to provide a general introduction to the fundamental principles of the Canadian legal system in English-speaking Canada, its common law origins, and an overview of some of the broader substantive areas of Canadian Law, including: public vs. private law, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, dispute resolution processes, the role of lawyers and judges, general principles of Criminal, Tort and Family law, and methods of accessing the Canadian legal system.

Rational principles and concepts applicable to current emotional criminal issues are analysed, for example, abortion, euthanasia, pornography, seat belts, marijuana, police power, civil rights, criminal trials, capital punishment, prisons, etc.

Introduction to the logic and limitations of experimental and non-experimental research designs. Selected studies of politics are examined to demonstrate how plausible threats to validity are made less plausible with appropriate design and data analysis.

A basic introduction to the political and social thought of Karl Marx from the early writings to Das Kapital.

This course analyses some of the central concepts and issues in contemporary political philosophy.

This course provides an introduction to, and critical assessment of, the major schools of thought which dominate contemporary debates in political philosophy. Ideals of justice, freedom and community will be examined.

An introduction to the principles and practices of public administration including a consideration of the fit between various forms of bureaucratic organization and democratic political institutions in Canada.

The course examines the nature of the policy process in liberal democratic societies, and evaluates the tools employed by policy analysts to understand that process.

A critical examination of development problems in the global South, with the focus on North-South relations. Topics include trade, investment, aid, industrialization, agribusiness, development assistance, education, health, and food production.

Examination of conflict within societies and various ways in which conflict is eased or worsened through the sharing of power. Emphasis will be on pluralism, corporatism, consociationalism, and federalism.

This course will examine the consequences of the collapse of the Soviet Union, and analyse the evolving relationships among the Soviet Union's successor states.

An introduction to the increasing role of international organizations in influencing contemporary world politics. This course surveys several international institutions with an emphasis on traditional and contemporary theories used to better understand their function and place in international governance.

An examination of the government and politics of Greater China, including mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau. Topics include their historical traditions, the transformation of political parties, state institutions, political leadership, the military, democracy movements, economic reforms and foreign relations.

A comparative perspective on the government and politics of Asia. Topics include colonial experience, industrialization, political leadership and succession, the transition from authoritarianism to democracy, the role of the middle class, and the influence of external forces.

An analysis of topics related to the Canadian federal system, parliamentary government and national political processes.

An introduction to the nature and basic principles of constitutional law. This course will deal especially with the distribution of powers in the Canadian federation, and its evolution, notably by judicial decision. Leading cases will be examined.

The course examines the politics of ethnicity and inter-ethnic relations in Canada. The course will focus on a range of subjects, including the Quebec question, the issue of native self-government, multiculturalism, and immigration to Canada.

An analysis of topics related to the American system of government and politics.

Russian literature and politics often seem inseparable, and this course illustrates this phenomenon by employing twentieth-century Russian literature to examine Soviet society. Representative works by writers such as Zalygin, Rasputin, Grekova, and Aitmatov will shed light on Soviet agricultural, educational, religious, and environmental policies.

This course examines the break-up of empires in the mid/late 20th century and assesses how the colonial experience has shaped relations between and among former imperial polities to the present. Focus is given to questions of political identity in colonial and post-colonial societies and how these identities shape current political challenges.

An analysis of the theoretical basis for women's exclusion from formal political life. The course studies patterns of women's participation in both Western and non-Western societies, and examines the specific claims and forms of organization employed by women in the political process.

Examination of the role of political parties, the dynamics of voting behaviour, and the nature of electoral competition in both the established and emerging democracies.

The course (1) defines the central issues in each country's foreign policy; (2) discusses the factors which shape the decision making processes; and (3) evaluates the impact of these policies on regional and international thinking.

An examination of issues and the foreign policy-making process in Canada. Special attention is paid to the domestic context of foreign policy.

This course studies the relations between the countries of Europe and North America. Drawing on examples from the historical and contemporary contexts, we discuss history, institutions, politics, security, trade and the environment.

An examination of the relationship between globalization and changing forms of political authority, with particular attention to contemporary debates concerning the erosion of the territorial nation-state in world politics.

The course focuses on global governance, defined as governing beyond the state. It examines diverse problems such as global warming, international human rights, terrorism, property rights disputes, and health crises which transcend borders and demand cooperative global solutions. The course examines networks of global governance, from international organizations to grassroots actors, in a select number of these policy fields.

From time to time courses of special study may be added to the program at the third-year level.

From time to time courses of special study may be added to the program at the third-year level. Students wishing to take such courses should consult the Department's Undergraduate Officer.

Theories of justice are concerned with the distribution of the basic goods of society -- money, power, status, leisure, and so on. One would expect that they would be of particular interest to feminist theory, which is also concerned with the distribution of these goods. This course will consider how the gender system fares from the standpoint of liberal justice, and to what extent the promises of liberal justice can be used to overturn the unequal treatment of women. The issues of equality and difference will also be explored.

An examination of the justification and limitations of democratic government, as well as more practical applications of democratic theory to the workplace, judicial review, legal obligations, etc. The focus will be on problems of democratic theory and practice.

A selective treatment of basic themes in political philosophy in the modern and pre-modern times.

A selective examination of basic problems in political philosophy in the modern and pre-modern periods.

An examination of the evolution of competing ideological traditions interpreting the relationship between the state and economic life within the global system from the 19th century to the current day.

The course is designed to explore the different challenges society faces as a consequence of human genetic research. This course examines key developments in the field of human genetics, and demonstrates why and how current theories of justice may require revision in light of these changes. Issues addressed include insurance and privacy, the therapy/enhancement distinction, the morality of inclusion, future generations, reproductive freedom and gene patents.

An examination of major trends in Canadian public policy in selected issue areas with a primary focus on the federal level.

Examination of the ways in which world society is striving to address environmental challenges by means of 'global governance' - that is, international organizations and institutions intended to deal with these challenges. The history of international environmental politics will be reviewed, specific organizations and other actors involved in global environmental governance will be examined and the management of particular global environmental challenges investigated.

Selected issues in public administration with particular reference to recent developments in Canada.

A comparative survey of public administration in both developed and developing areas. The focus is on the rise of the administrative state in a variety of cultural and political contexts.

An examination of major trends in public policy in western industrialized countries with a focus on selected policy areas and issues such as the effects of globalization and regional integration.

This course examines three interrelated aspects of global social policy: the global social issues resulting from increased economic integration, the role of international governmental and non-governmental actors in fashioning cross-national responses to these issues, and the effects of global and regional economic and political integration on domestic social policy.

A comparative examination of political institutions and processes in the states of Eastern Europe.

With a primary focus on advanced industrialized countries, this course examines the origin and function of parties, party organization, their social and economic basis, the party system and its evolution, radical left and right parties, and the decline or adaptation of parties.

A study of political democratization in Latin America, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. The focus is on alternative interpretations of democracy, the roles of domestic and external actors, and the challenges of democratic consolidation.

An examination of social and political change in developing countries with the focus on rural structures and processes. The course examines the problems of poverty and migration, the growth of secular and religious revolutionary ideologies, and the rise of guerrilla movements.

Focusing especially on advanced industrialized countries, this course surveys the key topics in political economy including the influence of politics on social and economic policies in relation to welfare states, labour markets, training, corporate governance and technological innovation. The course also explores the social and economic consequences of politics such as poverty, inequality, growth and decline.

This course examines the causes of ethnic conflict but focuses in particular on the strategies which states use to manage or resolve such conflicts. The review of state strategies is comprehensive in nature, and includes approaches which are morally unacceptable as well as approaches which many consider morally desirable.

A detailed examination of ethnic conflict resolution in a number of important case studies. The cases will vary depending on topicality.

Critical assessments of selected explanations of political authority, political organization, political conflict and political violence in terms of cultural values.

This course examines the relationships between organized crime and politics, focussing on how governments cope with transnational organized crime. Topics include the definitions of organized crime, triads and mafia, money laundering, drug trafficking, human smuggling, syndicate corruption, and terrorism.

Selected aspects of Canadian national politics.

An examination of public policy from the perspective of women's experiences and needs. The course reviews policy developments in Canada and elsewhere, and reflects on the significance of feminist approaches to public policy.

An examination of research on the causes and consequences of interstate warfare.

This course reviews critical analytical models for the study of security and covers a range of issues which might be considered non-traditional including environmental security, public safety, cyber security, and counter-terrorism.

This theory course examines the evolution of the international system; the capacity of the system of states to cope with the demands on it; meanings of international and regional power and order. There is an emphasis on the international politics of regions.

The course examines strategic studies and their premises, the evolution of strategic thinking, the role of national policies of military power. Strategic concepts are studied with specific reference to military policies of regional powers.

Contemporary perspectives and issues in international political economy, with particular attention to advanced industrial countries. Topics include political/economic cooperation, the politics of trade, and the politics of adjustment.

This course will deal with contemporary perspectives and issues in diplomacy. Topics include public diplomacy, the use of technological innovation such as cyber-diplomacy, the widening of the definition of diplomats, multilateral diplomacy, and 'niche' diplomacy.

This course examines the major schools of international relations theory with attention paid to both positivist and post-positivist approaches.

Examines the global nature of food systems from production to consumption, including both industrial and alternative models. Specific themes covered in the course include technological change in agriculture, corporate concentration, international agricultural trade, food aid, fair trade, and organic production in the Global North and South.

From time to time courses of special study may be added to the program at the fourth-year level.

From time to time courses of special study may be added to the program at the fourth-year level.

From time to time courses of special study may be added to the program at the fourth-year level. Students wishing to add such courses should consult the Department's Undergraduate Officer.

Honours Political Science students wishing to undertake a senior honours essay in their fourth year should consult the Department's Undergraduate Officer.

Honours Political Science students wishing to undertake a senior honours essay in their fourth year should consult the Department's Undergraduate Officer.