Fall 2016 Special Topics Courses

ASIAN STUDIES SPECIAL TOPICS

AS 150 (Yamanaka) – (MWF, 10-11)
"Immigration and Multiculturalism In Asia" - With an influx of global migrants since the 1980s, East Asian nations of Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong, have transformed from relatively homogenous into relatively heterogeneous societies. China, in the meantime, has incorporated rural migrants into its urban work force. At the same time, the Southeast Asian nations of Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, which have long been multiethnic, face a new challenge as a result of an increasingly diverse foreign labor force. These changes are having a profound impact on the region’s democratic governance, economic development, ethnic minority relations, civil society, legal codes, human rights and gender equality. This course analyzes the nature and consequences of these demographic and cultural changes in Asia’s labor importing countries from comparative and interdisciplinary perspectives.

AS 150.2 (Davey) – (TTh, 11-1230)
"Origins of the Korean Nation(s)" - When does the Korean nation emerge and what is the nature of Korean identity in modern times? This course will explore this fundamental but deceptively complex question by charting the development of Korea from the aftermath of the Imjin War in the late Chosôn period through to the formation of contrasting North and South Korean nation states in the twentieth century. Major topics include the pre-modern origins of shared culture and kinship on the Korean peninsula, the significance of Japanese colonialism for the formation of Korean ethnicity, the devastating impact of war and poverty on the psyche of everyday people, and the contrasting claims of legitimacy by North and South Korea since 1950.

DEVELOPMENT STUDIES SPECIAL TOPICS

DS 150.2 (Talwalker) – (M, 2-5)
"Globalization of India" - This course uses the analytic of globalization and an interdisciplinary approach to provide an overview of contemporary India, focusing mainly, though not exclusively, on urban India. Students will be introduced to the debates surrounding colonial modernity, as an earlier globalizing era, this serving as background for considering contemporary India. Topics covered include: the Indian middle class, urban life, Hindu nationalism and other social movements, the postcolonial public, expressive culture, the changing nature and role of casts. No background on India is required. (Cross-listed with IAS 150.7)

DS 150.3 (Page) – (MWF, 10-11)
"Development and the Environment" - We will examine the social, economic and environmental impact of the way countries are pursuing economic development, including the expansion of mining in certain countries, oil and natural gas extraction, export agriculture, agro-fuel production, hydroelectric energy, eco-tourism, and the fishing industry. We will also consider the development challenges produced by climate change and how communities and countries are responding and adapting. We will examine what has and has not been accomplished in the various international summits that have occurred around the environment, as well as the regulatory framework that has emerged to address environmental concerns. And, finally, we will examine the sustainable development discourse, as well as the various ideas about what is sustainable development.. (Cross-listed with IAS 150.8)

IAS SPECIAL TOPICS COURSES

IAS 150.2 (Staff) – (W 2-5)
“Social Innovator On Ramp” - This course guides students in jump-starting their own projects for social impact. Students learn theory, best practices and get outside expert perspectives, and apply these lessons to their own social initiatives. Students must apply to the course with a brief summary of their project or idea, and are encouraged to enroll in teams of two or more. All ideas that are driven by a mission of social good, local or global, are welcome. Application and more information is at http://tinyurl.com/OnRamp2016

IAS 150.4 (Ballenger) – (MW, 5-6:30)
"Latin American History in Literature and Film" - This class is devoted to the relationship between fact and fiction in Latin American and Caribbean history. We will discuss novels, short stories and films that attempt to represent life in the region, from early encounters in the sixteenth century to social change and revolution in the twentieth century, including the advent of neoliberal policies and the consequences of recurring debt crises. (Cross-listed with LAS 150.2)

IAS 150.5 (Newsome) – (MW, 5-6:30)
"Global Security Risks" - Security risks are the uncertain effects of malicious activities (including sabotage, espionage, war, insurgency, and terrorism). Students will learn how to manage security risks from their root causes. For instance, students will learn not only how to defend against political violence but also how to co-opt political spoilers. Students will learn how to control risks like political instability, maritime piracy, and improvised explosives. Students will learn from lectures and practical exercises in class, a turn-based simulation, and written responses to topical risk assessment and management challenges.

IAS 150.6 (Zoughbie) – (M, 6-9)
"U.S. Foreign Policy In the Middle East" - This course covers the foreign policy of the U.S. in the Middle East with an emphasis on the last two decades. It consists of three main elements: the role of ideas and interests in shaping U.S. foreign policy; the content of the policies; and the consequences of those policies. We will also examine regional security, international development, the role of religion, technology and the Arab revolutions. The material covered will be of relevance to those looking to pursue future careers in a range of sectors including non-governmental organizations, international institutions, governmental agencies and research. (Cross-listed with MES 150.1)

IAS 150.7 (Talwalker) – (M, 2-5)
"Globalization of India" - This course uses the analytic of globalization and an interdisciplinary approach to provide an overview of contemporary India, focusing mainly, though not exclusively, on urban India. Students will be introduced to the debates surrounding colonial modernity, as an earlier globalizing era, this serving as background for considering contemporary India. Topics covered include: the Indian middle class, urban life, Hindu nationalism and other social movements, the postcolonial public, expressive culture, the changing nature and role of casts. No background on India is required. (Cross-listed with DS 150.2)

IAS 150.8 (Page) – (MWF, 10-11)
"Development and the Environment" - We will examine the social, economic and environmental impact of the way countries are pursuing economic development, including the expansion of mining in certain countries, oil and natural gas extraction, export agriculture, agro-fuel production, hydroelectric energy, eco-tourism, and the fishing industry. We will also consider the development challenges produced by climate change and how communities and countries are responding and adapting. We will examine what has and has not been accomplished in the various international summits that have occurred around the environment, as well as the regulatory framework that has emerged to address environmental concerns. And, finally, we will examine the sustainable development discourse, as well as the various ideas about what is sustainable development. (Cross-listed with DS 150.3)

IAS 150.9 (Talwalker) – (TuTh, 11-12:30)
"Cultures and Capitalisms" - In a seminar format, this course surveys the classical scholarship of economic anthropology and explores how and whether its insights inform contemporary writings about economic alternatives for today. This course brings an anthropological perspective to the most taken-for granted aspects of our everyday lives – how we get by, make livelihoods and survive, our use of money, our participation in long distance trade routes, our experience and conceptions of wage labor, our exchange of objects, and the social fabric that coheres around all such phenomena. This is a course that focuses as much on the past as on the present and future. Indeed, an important goal of this course will be to cultivate our interest in understanding ongoing diverse economic experiments that challenge the dominant market economy.

IAS 150.10 (Reynolds) – (TuTh, 5-6:30)
"Development Economics" - Students will become familiar with concepts and theories (some graphical) used to discuss poverty and evaluate economic development. They will also analyze a variety of development topics related to both macro and microeconomics. In a final paper, students will evaluate a specific policy using the frameworks developed in class.

*IAS 150.11 (Newsome) – (Th, 12:30-2)
"International Conflict Theory and Evidence" - Learn the arguments and evidence for: why conflicts start, how to differentiate types of conflict, how conflicts progress, how to measure conflict, how conflicts proceed, how conflicts end, how to stabilize post-conflict areas, how to keep the peace, how democracy affects peace, how alliances affect conflict, how threats are deterred, how conflicts are conducted, and how conflict will change in the future.

IAS SENIOR SEMINARS

IAS 194.1 (Ballenger) – (W, 10-12)
"Commodities, Trade and Global Labor Regimes" - From silver to cocaine, sugar and tobacco, to cotton, oil and electronics, the nature of work has been shaped by expanding global demand for products whose origins - whether in the soil or the factory - remain mysterious. This course will explore the worlds of production and consumption and ask how global demand for specific commodities has shaped local, national and global politics. We will examine legal and illegal products, the cultural context in which products are made and acquire value, and the tangled relationship between production, ownership, labor discipline and human rights.

LATIN AMERICAN STUDIES SPECIAL TOPICS

LAS 150.1 (Nicholls) – (W, 4-7)
"Perspectives for Sustainable Rural Development in Latin America" - This course analyzes the ecological, socio-economic and policy challenges and opportunities facing rural populations of Latin America in today’s globalized economy. After a critique of the impacts of conventional, agro-export development models of agricultural development (green revolution, non-traditional export crops, biotechnology, biofuels etc) the elements of a sustainable agroecological development path is discussed, a path that emphasizes: farmers empowerment, local production for food sovereignty, poverty reduction, cultural identity and natural resource and biodiversity conservation. Technical, institutional, policy and market requirements for a sustainable agriculture are also analyzed in detail.

LAS 150.2 (Ballenger) – (MW, 5-6:30)
"Latin American History in Literature and Film" - This class is devoted to the relationship between fact and fiction in Latin American and Caribbean history. We will discuss novels, short stories and films that attempt to represent life in the region, from early encounters in the sixteenth century to social change and revolution in the twentieth century, including the advent of neoliberal policies and the consequences of recurring debt crises.(Cross-listed with IAS 150.4)

MIDDLE EASTERN STUDIES SPECIAL TOPICS

MES 150.1 (Zoughbie) – (M, 6-9)
"U.S. Foreign Policy In the Middle East" - This course covers the foreign policy of the U.S. in the Middle East with an emphasis on the last two decades. It consists of three main elements: the role of ideas and interests in shaping U.S. foreign policy; the content of the policies; and the consequences of those policies. We will also examine regional security, international development, the role of religion, technology and the Arab revolutions. The material covered will be of relevance to those looking to pursue future careers in a range of sectors including non-governmental organizations, international institutions, governmental agencies and research. (Cross-listed with IAS 150.6)

MES 150.2 (Bartu) – (TuTh, 3:30-5)
"The Gulf States and the Arab Spring: Vive La Revolution or Vive La Counter-Revolution?" - The Gulf States seemed impermeable to the 2011 Arab uprisings but behind the scenes saw regional developments as both threat and opportunity. This course examines the Gulf States and Saudi Arabia and Qatar in particular and their roles in an ongoing struggle for the heart and soul of a region.

PEACE & CONFLICT STUDIES SPECIAL TOPICS

PACS 119.1 (Travaglianti) – (MW, 5-6:30)
“Post-Conflict, Peace-Building” - This course examines the process of rebuilding states and societies that have experienced civil conflicts. Having outlined the causes of civil wars, the course will provide an overview of how international peace-building missions evolved in past decades to address an increasing number of factors in the war-to-peace transition. It will then focus on the main components of state reconstruction, including economic development, social reconciliation, governance and democratic practices. The course will discuss lessons learned from case studies and from cross-national analyses and experimental project evaluations.

PACS 119.2 (Ogata) – (Th, 2-3:30)
"Prevention of Genocide and Mass Atrocities" - The course examines episodes of genocide and mass atrocities in the 20th and 21st centuries and analyzes theoretical, legal, political, and sociocultural underpinnings of genocide prevention. Today we see a growing body of scholarship, early warning and risk assessments, legal doctrines and practices, the responsibility to protect debate, and state and non-state institutions devoted to preventing genocide and mass atrocities. Through integrating these resources, we will deepen our understanding of "genocidal" processes and explore ways to prevent them.

PACS 119.4 (Patent) – (M, 2-5)
"Global Citizen: Culture and Collaboration in the 21st Century" - More than ever the future of humanity and of the planet depends on successful collaboration among people from different cultural backgrounds. Such collaboration rarely comes naturally. Why is that? And what can we do about it? In this course we will use the concept of the “global citizen” as an ideal, or a foil, against which to investigate such questions as: What is it about human beings that make intercultural communication so challenging? What tools and models exist so that we might better understand our own biases and the biases of others, making mutual understanding more readily possible? Using these tools, how can we look at specific cultures of the world in ways that enable us to connect more effectively with people from those cultures? The first half of the course provides theoretical and practical tools from several disciplines — psychology, linguistics, anthropology, sociology, neuroscience — gradually building a repertoire for understanding culture and cultural difference. The second half of the course explores various cultures of the world using these conceptual tools. A key part of this course is each student’s focus on your own intercultural development. To that end, class sessions will include many exercises designed to help you reflect on how you can apply the course readings and lectures to your own lives.

POLITICAL ECONOMY IN HISTORICAL CONTEXT

PE 160 (Beecher) – (Th, 3:30-5)
"Russia and Europe Since 1848: From the Making of the Soviet Union to the Crisis of the European Union" - The identities of Russia and Europe have emerged in conflict and conversation with each other. Encounters and exchanges on the frontier between them gave expression to the utopian dreams, dystopian fears, and interpretive languages of the modern world. From the Revolutions of 1848 and the Crimean War to the ongoing crises in Greece and Ukraine, this course invites students to think comparatively about the development of the two most powerful multinational political and economic unions of the last hundred years, Soviet and European.