500-level courses

POL S 515 TOPICS IN POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY *3 (0-3s-0)

A variable content course, which may be repeated if topics vary. Prerequisite: One of POL S 211, 212 (or 210) or Department consent.

SEM B1 - The Politics of Culture: Bodies, Borders and the Work of Art - explores urgent questions about 'the work of art' within frameworks developed by different critical theorists to understand political struggles surrounding bodies and borders. These struggles include, but are not restricted to, race, disability, Indigeneity, space, religion, asylum, gender and sexuality and the (post) human. Informed by a developing understanding of Canada's Truth and Reconciliation process, students are equipped over the semester to collaboratively develop creative projects addressing cultural and political aspects of citizenship and belonging on Treaty Six territories.

POL S 517 PHILOSOPHICAL ISSUES OF HUMAN RIGHTS *3 (0-3s-0)

SEM B2 - Human Rights from a Global Perspective - Do all countries and peoples understand human rights the same way? Should we have a standard international term and principles we all have to abide by? How can we be more accommodating to the concerns addressed from various peoples, cultures, and nations? Is there room for relativism? One of the main topics of discussion throughout the course will be to tackle human rights from various geographical and social loci of enunciation. Human rights is not just based on countries' or peoples' perspectives, but also take historical and philosophical forms and explanations. We will explore human rights from various philosophical traditions, including feminist, critical, western, and non-western thought to really bring out the debate and the perspectives addressed around that tradition. It will address both empirical and normative concerns, tackling philosophical traditions, case study perspectives, and human rights declaration from a universal viewpoint and from specific ones.

POL S 520 TOPICS IN CANADIAN POLITICS*3 (0-3s-0)

SEM A1 - Political Economy of Canadian Development - This course examines the relationships between public policy, economic development, and political change in Canada from early phases of European colonialization to the contemporary period. The course is divided into 3 parts: the first part examines the political economy tradition, staples theory, and the formation of Canada's settler-colonial state; the second part focuses on Canada's three major economic development strategies, state forms and the idea of crisis; and the third examines selected issues in today's Canadian political economy, including oil, pipelines and the environment, precarious employment, inequality and social policy, and contemporary settler-indigenous reconciliation politics.

SEM B2 - Prairie Politics in Canada

POL S 526 - SELECTED TOPICS IN URBAN POLITICS *3 (0-3s-0)

SEM B1 - City Politics - The theory and practice of city politics in modern Canada. The course will normally employ as resource persons senior elected and appointed officials from governments.

POL S 540 TOPICS IN PUBLIC POLICY *3(0-3s0)

SEM A2 - Intergovernmental Relations in Canada - This course examines the evolution of Canadian Intergovernmental relations (IGR), both in theory and in practice. The course is designed to expose students to the full range of literature on the topic of IGR in Canada, while engaging them in a term long simulation exercise. The latter will involve students in a series of mock intergovernmental negotiations, requiring them to research a particular actor's interest; develop common briefing materials; prepare and submit formal briefing binders; and negotiate on behalf of their constituencies.

SEM B1 - Metropolitan Government - The comparative study of the political economy of metropolitan government.

SEM B2 - SEM B2 - Governance Innovations in Latin America - Latin America is commonly seen as a global region rife with conflict and political instability. This perspective misses the important contributions that the region has made to governance, in particular every since most Latin American countries have transitioned to democracy.

POL S 542 THE CANADIAN STATE AND IDENTITY POLITICS *3 (0-3s-0)

The relative power, impact and interconnections of both territorial (regional) divisions and other non-territorial divisions (e.g. gender, race, ethnicity, and class).

POL S 544 GLOBAL CRITICAL RACE THEORY *3 (0-3s-0)

SEM B2 - Critical Race Theory and Movement - Politics of race, racialization and anti-racism in international and comparative perspective.

POL S 558 GENDER POLITICS AND MASS MEDIA *3 (0-3s-0)

Ways in which mass media socially construct and politicize gender.

POL S 560 TOPICS IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS *3 (0-3s-0)

Historical and contemporary political issues of global security are examined from various theoretical perspectives.

SEM A2 - CHINESE FOREIGN POLICY IN THE GLOBAL SOUTH - China's increasing role and influence in the Global South (Africa, Asia and Latin America) in recent times have come under greater scrutiny. However, there are different, often conflicting accounts about the nature of Chinese activities, about their consequences, as well as China's intentions in the Global South and beyond. This course comparatively examines empirical evidence and critically reviews divergent perspectives which inform the growing public and intellectual discourse about what China is (said to be) doing in the Global South. It also explores the wider implications of the rise of China from historical and theoretical perspectives by relating the phenomenon to the dynamics of contemporary international relations.

SEM A3 - Modern Terrorism

POL S 561 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONAL OF THE MIDDLE EAST *3 (0-3s-0)

Contemporary international politics of the Middle East.

POL S 565 TOPICS IN FOREIGN POLICY ANALYSIS *3 (0-3s-0)

The contemporary foreign policies of the United States and their causes.

POL S 571 TOPICS IN COMPARATIVE POLITICS: COMPARATIVE DEVELOPMENT *3 (0-3s-0)

SEM B1 - The Politics of Mexico - Mexico's 20^th century, post-revolutionary politics: state-building, nationalism, development project. The controversial transition to democracy in 2000, as a backdrop to discuss that country's current political dynamics. Continental impacts, including NAFTA, the challenges posed by the Trump presidency and consequences for Canada.

This course is a seminar, intended for senior undergraduate and graduate students. They will be expected to produce a research paper on specific contemporary Mexican politics topics by the end of the term.

SEM B2 - Islam, Modernity and Democracy - Political ideas and practice in Islamic countries, including historical and contemporary constructions of Islam. A variable content course, which may be repeated if topics vary.

POL S 580 EUROPEAN POLITICS *3 (0-3s-0)

Current debates in Europe, including the emergence of new radical right parties, green parties and movements, market liberalization and political change in Eastern and Central Europe, and the resurgence of nationalist discourses. A variable content course, which may be repeated if topics vary. Prerequisite: One of POL S 235 (or 230) or Department consent.

SEM A1 - The Politics of Central East Europe - The European Union member states of Central and East Europe have experienced a remarkable political, social and economic transition, first following the fall of communism and then with their accession to the European Union. Today, the durability of these new democracies is called into question with the rise of strongman leaders and challenges to the rule of law.

This seminar course critically examines the political development of East and Central Europe during the post-communist period with the aim of explaining democratic transition, consolidation and erosion. Topics include the impact of institutional design on democratic consolidation, party development and party system change, the role of communist successor parties, the emergence of populist and nationalist politics, the role of civil society, the strategies, successes and costs of economic transition to market economy and how accession to the EU has affected the political development of the region.

SEM B1 - Populist Far-Right Parties - How do we make sense of the electoral successes of the Front National in France? The victory of the "leave" campaign in Britain? The support for Donald Trump's presidential campaign coming from the leaders of Europe's populist far-right parties? The participation in government of these parties in countries such as Austria and Hungary? Populist far-right parties are now established players in the party systems of Europe, and are connected to larger networks that extend to North America. This course reviews the literature that identifies the key characteristics of these parties, and seeks to explain who supports them and why. What political-economic developments, since the end of the Fordist era, have given rise to the emergence of the populist far-right?

Prerequisites: 230 or 235 or consent of instructor.

POL S 596 TOPICS IN GENDER AND POLITICS *3 (0-3s-0)

SEM B2 - Governing Intimate Life in Canada and Anglo-American Democracies - This course invites students to explore the forces that organize and regulate our intimate lives. Among the questions we will consider are: how do we come to understand familial life as private and natural; how do identities (gender, race, sexuality, class) get articulated in laws that regulate the family and intimate relationships; what happens when political struggle and social processes lead to new family functions and configurations; what are the state's interests in regulating family forms and intimate life; and how are intimate relationships bound up with the nation and citizenship.

POL S 599 INTRODUCTION TO THE DISCIPLINE OF POLITICAL SCIENCE *3 (0-3s-0)