| "Orientalism" is a concept made famous by Edward Said's book of the same name. What exactly the concept refers to is, however, less clear. This course starts by looking at the debate initiated by Said's work, but goes quickly on to consider a long series of cases of European encounters wiht, and interpretations, of "the East." A particular emphasis is given to European encounters with China.
This course provides a broad introduction to global political economy from a historical perspective. We will cover three separate historical periods: the early modern period, the 19th century, and the contemporary world. For all three periods we will discuss the development of trade, industry and finance and discuss political implications such as global shifts in wealth and power. The emphasis is on the global system rather than an on individual countries. The course is taught in English and a good commands of that language is required. You will be asked to actively participate in class discussions and presentations. Freedom of speech was always one of the basic pillars of modern, Western, society. At the same time, speech was never actually "free." In order to speak freely you always needed access to a newspaper, a radio or a TV station. Such access was always severely restricted. Today, thanks to the internet, we can for the first time speak freely in public. We all have free access to the public sphere. What does freedom of speech mean under these conditions? Are we still in favor of it? For whom and under what conditions? In this course we will discuss these questions both as they pertain to democracies and to non-democracies. Particular attention will be paid to blogs, social networking sites and bullentin boards and to the implication for work-places, universities and for public life.  This course for PhD students and advanced Master students surveys the multifaceted implications of the idea of transgression, understood in its literal sense as a 'movement across boundaries or thresholds.' Depending on how the border in question is defined, the problem of transgression can be understood in geographical, cultural, psychological or religious terms. As we will discover, transgression is a common theme within European philosophy, literature and art from the ancient Greeks onward, and the idea can be used to analyze many contemporary political and social problems. Particular attention will be given to European imperialism in East Asia in the nineteenth century ? as an example of geographical and cultural transgression ? and to the creation of a European image of the 'Oriental.' Readings include Aeschylus, The Oresteia; Euripides, The Bacchae; Friedrich Nietzsche, The Birth of Tragedy; Daniel Defoe, Robinson Crusoe; Joseph Conrad, The Heart of Darkness; Edward Said, Orientalism; Erik Ringmar, The Fury of the Europeans.
The aim of this course is to introduce you to the history and politics of financial institutions. This is not a course in economics or finance, and you need no formal background in either of these subjects. The focus is instead on the political, social and cultural impact of the emergence of, and changes in, particular financial institutions. We begin by a brief introduction to the history of money and the role of financial institutions. Starting our historical overview in the 17th century, we look at the origin of the Bank of England and the financing of wars; the impact of fiscal crises on political legitimacy; and the role of financial institutions in the American revolution. Taking our survey into the 19th century we study the role of stock markets in the creation of corporations and trusts, and the part assigned to banks in political discussions regarding wars and imperialism. In week three we explore contemporary events with a focus on the social and cultural consequences of the financial innovations of the 1980s, issues of globalisation, and the transformation of the financial architecture. We conclude by looking at the role of venture capital, central banks and the politics of the euro. The aim of this course is to analyze and compare the various ways in which individuals, groups and societies have acted in order to defend themselves against superior military, social, economic or cultural power. A large range of different cases will be considered, including resistance against imperialism (Roman, British, French) and neo-imperialism (anti-globalization protesters), but also struggles for human dignity conducted by slaves in the American south, working class and social movements in Europe, as well as resistance movements during wars. The question is which strategies that have been used, how successful they have been, and what happens when resistance fails.
The aim of this course is to introduce you to discussions regarding the role of the state in the economy, to give a survey of different theoretical approaches to state intervention, and to provide a comparison of the economic role played by the state in a few select countries. In the first weeks of the course we will focus on the nature and role of the market and on the way in which markets were discussed by the ancient Greeks. We will look at market failures, externalities, and the role the state plays in fostering economic growth. In the second part of the course we will study individual ?models of capitalism? ? mercantilism, laissez-faire states, welfare states and developmental states. The course is concluded by a discussion of the impact of globalisation on individual economic models.
The aim of this course is to introduce you to a number of significant books which have made important theoretical and/or methodological contributions to the comparative study of politics. The general themes are those of democracy and democratisation, political institutions and party systems, ethnic conflict, political resistance and nationalism. The course is mandatory for all students in the mainstream comparative politics MSc. Other students may take the course with permission. The aim of the course is to study the historical development of various types of states and empires, both inside and outside Europe, the ideas and institutions that support them and the challenges they face. Particular attention will be paid to the development of nationalism and the relationship between states, nations and empires.
The material is roughly organised in chronological order, starting with the ancient Greeks and ending with globalisation and the EU. The emphasis is on historical methods and approaches rather than scientific. You don't have to have a background in history, but it helps. A general interest in the subject is essential.
| |
Guest User