Political Science Courses
Notes- Courses at the 200 and 300 level are open to all students in other departments and Faculties.
- Courses at the 400 level are taught as seminars and are generally open to students enrolled in a Political Science
program who have successfully completed 60 credits.
program who have successfully completed 60 credits.
Description:
This course seeks to develop a broad basis from which to pursue further political inquiry. It offers an introductory examination of basic ideas regarding the state, power, authority, and systems of government. The course examines the diverse approaches to the specific study of political phenomena and provides a fundamental understanding of political concepts.Component(s):
LectureDescription:
This course introduces students to the main concepts of comparative political analysis. Major topics include different types of governmental systems and institutions, regime types, electoral systems and political parties, state‑society relations, political economy, nationalism, democratization, globalization, and other types of political transformations. By examining several different countries, students gain an understanding of the great diversity of political life and the many ways in which politics affects citizens.Component(s):
LectureDescription:
This course is a basic introduction to the fundamental issues of Canadian public life and the federal political system. It presents an overview of the constitution, institutions, political parties, electoral system, interest groups, and public opinion that represent the essential components of Canada’s political culture and government.Component(s):
LectureDescription:
This course introduces the principal theories, concepts, and debates in the contemporary study of international relations. It provides an overview of issues in international security, international political economy and global governance.Component(s):
LectureDescription:
This course introduces students to the study of Western political theory through a variety of primary source readings. Assigned texts may be drawn from philosophy, history, literature and other forms of political writing.Component(s):
LectureDescription:
This course demonstrates how research is conducted in political science. Students learn how to develop a research design. The course introduces them to various research methodologies and provides several approaches for reporting and presenting research.Component(s):
Lecture; TutorialNotes:
(also listed as LOYC 240)
Description:
This course introduces students to collective action problems faced by governments, international organizations, corporations, advocacy groups, and scientists. Topics may include climate change, biodiversity conservation, hazardous waste disposal, water and food security.Component(s):
LectureNotes:
Description:
This course provides an overview of modern terrorism and its evolution, focusing on terrorist movements, groups, and incidents in many parts of the world over time. Students gain an understanding of the theory behind terrorism, its roots, goals, and ideologies, as well as its relation to governments, the media, and the publicComponent(s):
LectureNotes:
Students who have received credit for this topic under a POLI 298 number may not take this course for credit.
Description:
This course introduces students to the historical origins of the concept of human rights; the international regime and the acceptance of several generations of rights such as civil and political rights, economic rights, group rights, and women’s rights; the critiques of universalism and the problems of implementation of human rights.Component(s):
LectureNotes:
Students who have received credit for this topic under a POLI 298 number may not take this course for credit.
Description:
This course examines the operations and issues of the United Nations organization. It covers the operation of the Security Council and other components of the United Nations. It surveys micro‑issues such as routine operations, the internal bureaucracy, the ethics of its procedures, and its historical background.Component(s):
LectureNotes:
Students who have received credit for this topic under a POLI 298 number may not take this course for credit.
Description:
This course introduces students to the field of comparative politics by examining the institutional structures of established, advanced industrial democracies. Particular emphasis is placed on the study of constitutions; the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government; and electoral and party systems.Component(s):
LectureNotes:
Students who have received credit for this topic under a POLI 298 number may not take this course for credit.
Description:
This course describes and defines organized crime, providing an overview of its history, different theories and models explaining it and the legal processes related to it. The course examines the role played by government agencies, such as the police and the bureaucracy, and the international bodies that combat it. Issues addressed in this course may include drug trafficking, racketeering, human trafficking, extortion, and economic crimes. A number of actual organized crime groups are analyzed.Component(s):
LectureNotes:
Students who have received credit for this topic under a POLI 298 number may not take this course for credit.
Description:
This interdisciplinary course examines the roles law plays in society in Canada and internationally, from the perspectives of history, political science, anthropology, sociology, and philosophy.Component(s):
LectureNotes:
Description:
Specific topics for this course, and prerequisites relevant in each case, are stated in the Undergraduate Class Schedule.Prerequisite/Corequisite:
The following course must be completed previously: POLI 204. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.
Description:
This course introduces students to the legal regimes affecting not‑for‑ profit organizations (NPO). The course covers the legal structures, rules and procedures that govern NPOs, the vast diversity of NPOs, and practical questions such as how to set up an NPO.Component(s):
LectureNotes:
Students who have received credit for this topic under a POLI 316 number may not take this course for credit.
Prerequisite/Corequisite:
The following course must be completed previously: POLI 203 or POLI 205. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.
Description:
This course examines the ideas, organization, and actions of such social movements as environmentalism, peace, human rights, labour, feminism, and antiglobalization. Theories of social movement mobilization, influence across national contexts, and the politics of protest are given particular attention.Component(s):
LecturePrerequisite/Corequisite:
The following course must be completed previously: POLI 205. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.
Description:
This course examines the causes of war and peace in the international system. It studies the impact on war and peace of such influences as cognitive psychology, identity, group decision‑making, bureaucratic processes, regime types, conflict spirals, arms control, arms races, balance of power, hegemonic stability theory, trade interdependence, environment and non‑renewable resources, and international institutions.Component(s):
LectureNotes:
Students who have received credit for this topic under a POLI 298 number may not take this course for credit.
Prerequisite/Corequisite:
The following course must be completed previously: POLI 205. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.
Description:
This course examines the rise of China as a major power, and in particular the implications this has for military aspects of China’s relations. China’s security policy is examined from a theoretical, historical, political, and economic perspective, and the implications of these are examined in the cases of its foreign relations with neighbours and other great powers.Component(s):
LectureNotes:
Students who have received credit for this topic under a POLI 313 number may not take this course for credit.
Prerequisite/Corequisite:
The following course must be completed previously: POLI 205. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.
Description:
This course explores the major international and domestic determinants of foreign policy. Principal topics include the influence on foreign policy of the international system, geography, leadership, regime-type, transnationalism, and non-governmental organizations. This course draws upon the experiences of a variety of Western democratic states.
Component(s):
LectureNotes:
Students who have received credit for POLI 338 or for this topic under a POLI 398 number may not take this course for credit.
Prerequisite/Corequisite:
The following course must be completed previously: POLI 205. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.
Description:
This course examines institutions, processes, and issues in economic relations between states. Topics covered include theories of international political economy (IPE), international trade, global finance, multinational corporations, economic development, globalization, and regional blocs.
Component(s):
LecturePrerequisite/Corequisite:
The following course must be completed previously: POLI 206. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.
Description:
This course focuses on the foundations of Western political thinking in ancient Greece. Through a careful examination of texts by Greek poets, historians and philosophers, concepts such as nature and convention, regime types, and justice and the good life are explored.
Component(s):
LecturePrerequisite/Corequisite:
The following course must be completed previously: POLI 203. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.
Description:
This course provides a broad yet detailed introduction to the U.S. Presidency. Primary topics of study include the constitutional nature of the presidential office, how it has evolved over time, its place in American politics, its relationship with the rest of the federal government, its role in the policy‑making process, and the relationship between individual presidents and the presidency as an institution.Component(s):
LectureNotes:
Prerequisite/Corequisite:
The following course must be completed previously: POLI 203. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.
Description:
This course examines the political and economic development of emerging countries. It addresses questions of autonomy/dependence on external powers, economic models, systems of government, and state‑society relations, looking at historical and contemporary processes.Component(s):
LectureNotes:
Students who have received credit for this topic under a POLI 313 number may not take this course for credit.
Prerequisite/Corequisite:
The following course must be completed previously: POLI 204. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.
Description:
This course examines the role of women in Canadian politics at the federal, provincial, and local level. Historical, theoretical, and legal perspectives are examined and include the politics of racism; sexuality; community organizing; suffrage; and representation within formal political structures. It focuses on the diversity and development of the women’s movement in Canada.Component(s):
LecturePrerequisite/Corequisite:
The following course must be completed previously: POLI 203. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.
Description:
This course surveys the structures and dynamics that inform the contemporary American political process. In addition to studying the traditional governmental institutions, the course aims to provide a foundation for understanding and critically analyzing public opinion, the media and elections, federalism, political parties and interest groups, civil rights and civil liberties, and current issues in public policy.Component(s):
LecturePrerequisite/Corequisite:
The following course must be completed previously: POLI 205. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.
Description:
This course explores the meaning, effectiveness, and potential of interstate law. Among the topics covered are the source and development of international law; the role of the International Court of Justice; sovereignty, territory, and natural resources; human rights violations, the state and war crimes tribunals; and international environmental law.Component(s):
LecturePrerequisite/Corequisite:
The following course must be completed previously: POLI 205. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.
Description:
Specific topics for this course, and prerequisites relevant in each case, are stated in the Undergraduate Class Schedule.Component(s):
LecturePrerequisite/Corequisite:
The following course must be completed previously: POLI 203. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.
Description:
Specific topics for this course, and prerequisites relevant in each case, are stated in the Undergraduate Class Schedule.Component(s):
LecturePrerequisite/Corequisite:
The following course must be completed previously: POLI 204. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.
Description:
Specific topics for this course, and prerequisites relevant in each case, are stated in the Undergraduate Class Schedule.Component(s):
LecturePrerequisite/Corequisite:
The following course must be completed previously: POLI 205. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.
Description:
This course offers an overview of international institutions and global governance. It examines major theoretical perspectives on international organizations, and addresses the role of the United Nations system, regional organizations, and non‑governmental organizations in promoting international co‑operation to address collective problems.Component(s):
LectureDescription:
Specific topics for this course, and prerequisites relevant in each case, are stated in the Undergraduate Class Schedule.Component(s):
LecturePrerequisite/Corequisite:
The following course must be completed previously: POLI 206. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.
Description:
Specific topics for this course, and prerequisites relevant in each case, are stated in the Undergraduate Class Schedule.
Component(s):
LecturePrerequisite/Corequisite:
The following course must be completed previously: POLI 205. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.
Description:
This course is an introductory examination of the theoretical aspects of strategic studies, including the principles of war, as they apply to combat on land, at sea, and in the air.Component(s):
LectureNotes:
Students who have received credit for this topic under a POLI 398 number may not take this course for credit.
Prerequisite/Corequisite:
The following course must be completed previously: POLI 203. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.
Description:
This course is a study of government and politics in selected European countries. It provides an analysis of political institutions, cultures, and processes.Component(s):
LecturePrerequisite/Corequisite:
The following course must be completed previously: POLI 203. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.
Description:
This course is an overview of the major legal systems of the Western world, with special emphasis on the political decisions which influenced their growth and direction. Students study the development of Roman law, Romano‑Germanic law, and English common law.Component(s):
LecturePrerequisite/Corequisite:
The following course must be completed previously: POLI 204. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.
Description:
This course is an introduction to Canadian and Quebec law. Certain areas of criminal law, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and Quebec civil law are emphasized. An analysis is undertaken of criminal court structure and procedure, legal constitutional rights, and civil court structure and procedure.Component(s):
LectureNotes:
Students who have received credit for POLI 350 may not take this course for credit.
Prerequisite/Corequisite:
The following course must be completed previously: POLI 203. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.
Description:
This course introduces students to the study of the emergence and the operation of the Israeli political system and government. Topics may include the formation of the Israeli State; the legislative, the executive, political parties and the electoral process; ethnic divisions; gender and politics; and the issue of the Palestinian territories.Component(s):
LecturePrerequisite/Corequisite:
The following course must be completed previously: POLI 203. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.
Description:
This course studies the political process and institutions of the region, with a special focus on the recent transformation relating to economic problems, social structures, culture, and ethnic conflicts, as well as the role of governmental policies in domestic and foreign affairs.Component(s):
LecturePrerequisite/Corequisite:
The following course must be completed previously: POLI 204. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.
Description:
This course examines the judicial and parliamentary responses to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Particular attention is paid to the judicialization of politics and the emerging dialogue on rights between courts and legislatures in important areas of public policy.Component(s):
LectureNotes:
Students who have received credit for this topic under a POLI 398 number may not take this course for credit.
Prerequisite/Corequisite:
The following course must be completed previously: POLI 204. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.
Description:
This course covers the purpose and nature of administrative law in the Canadian context. It examines how administrative law regulates the activities of government agencies, boards, commissions, and other departments or offices. It also covers the role of appeals processes and judicial review of administrative action.Component(s):
LectureNotes:
Students who have received credit for this topic under a POLI 314 number may not take this course for credit.
Prerequisite/Corequisite:
The following course must be completed previously: POLI 203. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.
Description:
This course discusses the nature of democracy and the challenges of democratization, drawing on experiences with democratization in Southern Europe, Latin America, Eastern Europe, and Africa. Students assess prospects for democratization and consider how other countries might encourage greater democracy in countries currently experiencing regime change.Component(s):
LectureNotes:
Students who have received credit for this topic under a POLI 398 number may not take this course for credit.
Description:
This course reviews theoretical debates about the role of the state and the individual, collective and individual rights, integration, and the role of cultural diversity and identity. It examines selected policy demands of women, the poor, refugees, and other constituencies.Component(s):
LecturePrerequisite/Corequisite:
The following course must be completed previously: POLI 205. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.
Description:
This course covers the sources and significance of American foreign policy, including the U.S. foreign policy‑making process, the political and historical context of U.S. foreign policy decision making, and the nature and dimensions of contemporary American power. Major theoretical and policy debates are considered.Component(s):
LectureDescription:
This course examines the theory and practice of public administration in Canada. The nature of accountability in public sector environments is reviewed in order to study how policy is developed, implemented, and evaluated by bureaucracies, central agencies, and the legislative branches of government.Component(s):
LecturePrerequisite/Corequisite:
The following course must be completed previously: POLI 203. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.
Description:
This course introduces students to the academic study of political parties and party systems. It examines the determinants of party behaviour from a number of theoretical perspectives, including historical, sociological and institutional. The topics covered include, but are not limited to, the number of parties, electoral systems, party finance, leadership selection, and government formation and stability. Specific case studies are selected both from established and new democracies.Component(s):
LectureNotes:
Students who have received credit for this topic under a POLI 398 number may not take this course for credit.
Prerequisite/Corequisite:
The following course must be completed previously: POLI 205. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.
Description:
This course provides an introduction to international relations theory, covering the major debates between realism, liberalism, constructivism, and critical theory, as well as competing epistemological and methodological orientations.Component(s):
LecturePrerequisite/Corequisite:
The following course must be completed previously: POLI 204. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.
Description:
This course examines the various approaches to understanding the participation of the public in politics, primarily electoral but also non‑electoral activities, in Canada and from a comparative perspective.Component(s):
LectureNotes:
Students who have received credit for this topic under a POLI 398 number may not take this course for credit.
Prerequisite/Corequisite:
The following course must be completed previously: POLI 203. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.
Description:
This course focuses on the political development of the People’s Republic of China. Topics include political mobilization, economic development, nationalism, and the policy process.Component(s):
Lecture(also listed as SCPA 339)
Prerequisite/Corequisite:
The following course must be completed previously: POLI 204. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.
Description:
This course is a study of the changing party structure and political issues in Quebec and their relationship to constitutional, cultural, and economic factors. On étudiera dans ce cours l’évolution structurelle des partis et des questions politiques au Québec en fonction de facteurs d’ordre constitutionnel, culturel et économique.Component(s):
LectureNotes:
- The course will be offered in both English and French on a rotational basis. Please consult the Undergraduate Class Schedule for details.
Students who have received credit for POLI 211, SCPA 211, or SCPA 339 may not take this course for credit.
Prerequisite/Corequisite:
The following course must be completed previously: POLI 204. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.
Description:
This course approaches Canadian politics from a societal perspective. The objective is to develop a better understanding of Canada’s political culture through a cross‑time and cross‑national analysis.Component(s):
LecturePrerequisite/Corequisite:
The following course must be completed previously: POLI 204. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.
Description:
This course analyzes regional political cultures in Canada including the development of provincial political parties and public administrations, the rise of third parties, provincial and territorial constitutional positions, electoral behaviour, and institutional reform in the northern Territories.Component(s):
LecturePrerequisite/Corequisite:
The following course must be completed previously: POLI 206. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.
Description:
This course examines the character of contemporary political theory when viewed from both a modernist and an anti‑modernist understanding of political life. The course also involves an examination into what it means to be modern and whether the critique of modernity is itself a very modern activity.Component(s):
LectureNotes:
Students who have received credit for this topic under a POLI 398 number may not take this course for credit.
Prerequisite/Corequisite:
The following course must be completed previously: POLI 206. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.
Description:
This course examines the theoretical and ideological aspects of city government in historical and normative perspective.Component(s):
LecturePrerequisite/Corequisite:
The following course must be completed previously: POLI 204. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.
Description:
This course is a critical and analytical study of the theory of federalism, its principles, and techniques, and the response of Canadian federal systems to the demands of cultural dualism and regional pressures.Component(s):
LecturePrerequisite/Corequisite:
The following course must be completed previously: POLI 203 or POLI 204. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.
Description:
This course deals with politics and government in selected Canadian cities, with comparative reference to cities elsewhere in the world.Component(s):
LectureDescription:
This course examines the concepts, theories and approaches to the study of public policy. It also explores the major actors, processes and institutions involved in the development of public policy from a Canadian and/or comparative perspective. Topics include the role of the bureaucracy, globalization and internationalization, and state‑society relations in policy‑making.Component(s):
Lecture(also listed as SCPA 315)
Prerequisite/Corequisite:
The following course must be completed previously: POLI 204 . If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.Description:
This course focuses on immigration and policies as well as the social consequences of immigration and multiculturalism in Canadian and Quebec contexts. Students learn about the evolution of policy in these areas as well as covering topics such as public opinion and reactions toward immigration, advantages and challenges of multiculturalism vs. integration, and the theoretical debates surrounding immigration and models of integration (assimilation, civic integration, multiculturalism).Component(s):
LectureNotes:
Prerequisite/Corequisite:
The following course must be completed previously: POLI 204. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.
Description:
This course provides a comprehensive examination of the origins and development of political parties in Canada at both the federal and provincial levels. Theories about party development, including one party dominance, brokerage politics and third party development, are examined in order to determine the efficacy of political parties.Component(s):
LecturePrerequisite/Corequisite:
The following courses must be completed previously: POLI 203, POLI 204, POLI 205 or POLI 206. Permission of the undergraduate program director is required.Description:
This special reading course is designed in conjunction with a faculty member to explore topics and themes in a specific research area of interest to the student and faculty member.Component(s):
ReadingNotes:
- This course may not be taken more than once for credit.
Description:
Students examine the broad social, economic, political, and cultural forces shaping governmental decisions and policies. Particular attention is paid to the conflict between private and public concerns.Component(s):
LecturePrerequisite/Corequisite:
The following course must be completed previously: POLI 204. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.
Description:
The course examines alternative public policies in selected areas at the federal, provincial, and municipal levels in Canada. Policies analyzed vary from year to year and include such areas as social welfare, culture, education, language, environmental protection, energy conservation, urban renewal, and economic policy.Component(s):
LecturePrerequisite/Corequisite:
The following course must be completed previously: POLI 206. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.
Description:
This course examines the political teachings of the Hellenistic schools such as the Academics, the Stoics, the Epicureans and the Skeptics, the political writings from the Roman Republic and Empire, and the political problematics posed by early Christianity.Component(s):
LecturePrerequisite/Corequisite:
The following course must be completed previously: POLI 204. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.
Description:
This course examines the organization and composition of the federal bureaucracy, the role of the bureaucracy in the making and implementation of public policy, patterns of recruitment, and the mechanisms of accountability and control.Component(s):
LecturePrerequisite/Corequisite:
The following course must be completed previously: POLI 203. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.
Description:
This course explores contemporary politics in sub-Saharan Africa within its historical context. It covers political regimes and contention, economic development, and a variety of contemporary political issues in a selection of countries from a comparative perspective.
Component(s):
LecturePrerequisite/Corequisite:
The following course must be completed previously: POLI 204. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.
Description:
This course examines the organization and composition of Quebec bureaucracy, the role of civil servants and the making and implementation of public policy, patterns of recruitment, and the mechanisms of accountability and control.Component(s):
LecturePrerequisite/Corequisite:
The following course must be completed previously: POLI 206. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.
Description:
This course examines the impact upon politics of changes in technology and the media. Students discuss a diverse range of contemporary thinkers and their understanding of the digital future. Particular attention is paid to the age of electronic politics and its effect upon the actual practice of political power.Component(s):
LecturePrerequisite/Corequisite:
The following course must be completed previously: POLI 206. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.
Description:
Students are introduced to the origins of modern political thought from the Renaissance and the Reformation through to the mid‑18th century.Component(s):
LecturePrerequisite/Corequisite:
The following course must be completed previously: POLI 206. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.
Description:
This course examines the progression and criticism of modern political thought from the mid‑18th century through to the early‑20th century.Component(s):
LectureDescription:
This course focuses on the political evolution of Northern Ireland over three distinct periods: the Stormont Parliament (1921‑1972); direct rule by Westminster (1972‑1998); and devolved government after the 1998 Good Friday Agreement. Topics may include constitutional politics and partition, religion and politics, political parties, sectarianism, the “Troubles,” the Good Friday Agreement, and the post‑1998 power‑sharing institutions.Component(s):
LectureNotes:
Students who have received credit for this topic under an IRST 398 number may not take this course for credit.
Prerequisite/Corequisite:
The following course must be completed previously: POLI 203. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.
Description:
This course explores Latin American politics, economics, society, and culture from a multidimensional perspective. It emphasizes the common elements and diverging factors that characterize the contemporary evolution of Latin American countries.Component(s):
LecturePrerequisite/Corequisite:
The following course must be completed previously: POLI 206. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.
Description:
This course is an intensive study of a basic work by a major thinker such as Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli, Hobbes or Hegel. It examines a major text such as Plato’s Laws or Hegel’s Phenomenology as well as commentaries on it, while attempting to explore systematically the issues and problems raised by the text and the interpretative traditions that follow from it.Component(s):
LecturePrerequisite/Corequisite:
The following course must be completed previously: POLI 206. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.
Description:
This course examines recent developments in the theory and practice of liberalism, as well as criticisms of liberal principles and the liberal way of life from a range of contemporary perspectives.Component(s):
LecturePrerequisite/Corequisite:
The following course must be completed previously: POLI 203 . If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.Description:
This course examines the basic sources and methodologies that constitute legal traditions, legal practices, and legal strategies in Islam. The course explores themes such as war and treaty-making, science and technology, economic systems including capitalism, gender and kinship structures, legal pluralism, Muslim life in diaspora, and minorities in Muslim-majority settings.Component(s):
LectureNotes:
- Students who received credit for this topic under POLI 313 may not take this course for credit.
Prerequisite/Corequisite:
The following course must be completed previously: POLI 205. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.
Description:
This course surveys normative questions comprising human rights discourse, with an emphasis on international efforts to promote human rights standards. Topics include the role of the United Nations, the North‑South debate, environmental security, the obligation of individuals and states, women’s rights and the work of non‑governmental organizations. Special consideration is given to the controversy between the universal and particular applications of human rights.Component(s):
Lecture(also listed as THEO 343)
Description:
Focusing on the relationship between church, state, and democracy, this course examines the intersection of religion and politics by studying the connections between moral values and political beliefs in different settings around the world. It explores how religious beliefs have shaped politics and have impacted democratization, education, and citizenship. At the same time, it reflects on the way in which politics has affected religious life and religious organizations.Component(s):
LectureNotes:
Students who have received credit for THEO 343 or for this topic under a POLI 398 number may not take this course for credit.
Description:
This course raises theoretical and practical questions regarding the limits, purposes, and presuppositions of modern political science through an examination of criticisms of and alternatives to prevailing modes of inquiry.Component(s):
LectureNotes:
Students who have received credit for POLI 372 may not take this course for credit.
Prerequisite/Corequisite:
The following course must be completed previously: POLI 205. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.
Description:
This course is a study of the Middle East in transition, conflict and ideology in a global context of changing regional alliances. Topics include regional conflicts such as the Arab‑Israeli conflict, the Iraq‑Iran war, the Gulf crisis, foreign policy process, and the end of the cold war and its impact in the new millennium.Component(s):
LectureDescription:
This course introduces students to a variety of approaches to social scientific inquiry, focusing on their underlying logics. The course covers variable‑based research of the qualitative and quantitative variety and alternatives to this approach such as critical theory, process‑tracing, modelling, ethnography, interpretivist analysis, and conceptual analysis.Component(s):
LectureDescription:
In this course, students learn how to define, operationalize, and measure variables and how to statistically describe the relationship between variables with the help of statistical software.Component(s):
LecturePrerequisite/Corequisite:
The following course must be completed previously: POLI 205. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.
Description:
This course is an introduction to the emerging field of global environmental politics. It surveys the present environmental crisis and the roles of states, international organizations, and civil society. Various case studies dealing with oceans, forests, fisheries, biodiversity, global warming, and others are used to illustrate the inherent complexity of transnational ecological issues in the era of globalization.Component(s):
LecturePrerequisite/Corequisite:
The following course must be completed previously: POLI 203. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.
Description:
This course is a comparative study of politics and society in the modern Middle East and North Africa. Topics include the end of empires and the emergence of nation‑states after World War I, political economy, regional conflicts, the question of democracy, the rise of religious movements, and the dynamics of revolutions and regime change.Component(s):
LecturePrerequisite/Corequisite:
Enrolment in the Honours (Thesis) in Political Science and permission of the Department is required.Description:
This course requires students to conduct a literature review in a topic to be chosen for their thesis, complete a bibliography, and work on their methodological approaches.Component(s):
ReadingPrerequisite/Corequisite:
Permission of the Department.
Description:
The internship is a one‑term apprenticeship in some aspect of public affairs and policy analysis. Placements may be drawn from all areas of possible employment outside the university, including private sector, government and community organizations. Students are required to submit a written report which summarizes and evaluates their work experience.Component(s):
Practicum/Internship/Work TermNotes:
Eligible students should have completed 27 credits in Political Science and must have an excellent academic record with a minimum GPA of 3.3. The undergraduate program director of the Department, acting on behalf of the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee, determines the eligibility of the student and approves the internship. Students should consult the Department for further information.
Students who have received credit for POLI 497 may not take this course for credit.
Prerequisite/Corequisite:
Courses at the 400 level are taught as seminars and are generally open to students enrolled in a Political Science program who have successfully completed 60 credits and POLI 205. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.
Description:
This course addresses central questions of international relations theory, such as the causes of war, the paths to peace and co‑operation, and the relationship between power and wealth. Students consider major paradigmatic approaches to these questions from realist, liberal and constructivist perspectives, as well as the utility of eclectic or cross‑paradigmatic approaches.Component(s):
SeminarNotes:
Students who have received credit for this topic under a POLI 486 number may not take this course for credit.
Prerequisite/Corequisite:
Courses at the 400 level are taught as seminars and are generally open to students enrolled in a Political Science program who have successfully completed 60 credits and POLI 206. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.
Description:
This seminar examines texts articulating the theoretical foundations and historical development of the American regime, with attention to the relationship between the institutions, processes, individuals and ideas shaping the American way of life.Component(s):
SeminarPrerequisite/Corequisite:
Courses at the 400 level are taught as seminars and are generally open to students enrolled in a Political Science program who have successfully completed 60 credits and POLI 205. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.Description:
This course covers both the major theoretical approaches in International Political Economy (IPE) and the practical efforts of states to shape, control, and adapt to the international economic system. Students develop and continually practise the skills of logically coherent analysis, discussion, and presentation.Component(s):
SeminarNotes:
- Students who have received credit for this topic under a POLI 486 number may not take this course for credit.
Prerequisite/Corequisite:
Courses at the 400 level are taught as seminars and are generally open to students enrolled in a Political Science program who have successfully completed 60 credits and POLI 205. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.Description:
This seminar course contextualizes contemporary ecological problems and global governance efforts to mitigate them. Students analyze multilateral environmental agreements in depth and explore various policy options that promise to anticipate future international ecopolitical issues.Component(s):
SeminarNotes:
Students who have received credit for this topic under a POLI 486 number may not take this course for credit.
Prerequisite/Corequisite:
Courses at the 400 level are taught as seminars and are generally open to students enrolled in a Political Science program who have successfully completed 60 credits and POLI 205. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.Description:
This course is an advanced seminar covering major theoretical perspectives on the significance in world politics of international institutions and regimes, and of inter‑governmental and non‑governmental organizations.Component(s):
SeminarNotes:
Students who have received credit for this topic under a POLI 498 number may not take this course for credit.
Prerequisite/Corequisite:
Courses at the 400 level are taught as seminars and are generally open to students enrolled in a Political Science program who have successfully completed 60 credits and POLI 203. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.Description:
This course focuses on the various political and policy impacts that electoral laws have on party competition in both advanced industrialized and less developed democracies. The course introduces students to the detailed study of both the structure and the consequences of the main electoral systems.Component(s):
SeminarPrerequisite/Corequisite:
Courses at the 400 level are taught as seminars and are generally open to students enrolled in a Political Science program who have successfully completed 60 credits and POLI 203. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.Description:
This course begins by examining the theories of political integration, federalism and nationalism, and the various policy instruments available to the modern state to achieve integration, before moving to an analysis of the current situation in a range of modern federal states as well as the emerging confederal system of the European Union.Component(s):
SeminarNotes:
Students who have received credit for this topic under a POLI 498 number may not take this course for credit.
Prerequisite/Corequisite:
Courses at the 400 level are taught as seminars and are generally open to students enrolled in a Political Science program who have successfully completed 60 credits and POLI 204. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.Description:
This seminar explores the political origins and functioning of bills of rights in selected parliamentary democracies. Particular attention is paid to the “judicialization of politics” and the attempts to promote institutional dialogue between judicial and parliamentary actors in Westminister systems such as Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.Component(s):
SeminarNotes:
Students who have received credit for this topic under a POLI 488 number may not take this course for credit.
Prerequisite/Corequisite:
Courses at the 400 level are taught as seminars and are generally open to students enrolled in a Political Science program who have successfully completed 60 credits and POLI 204. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.Description:
By relying on examples from Quebec and Canada, this seminar focuses on the role of public opinion in shaping public policy. It offers an overview of scholarly debate and research on public opinion and political communication.Component(s):
SeminarNotes:
Students who have received credit for this topic under a POLI 498 number may not take this course for credit.
Prerequisite/Corequisite:
Courses at the 400 level are taught as seminars and are generally open to students enrolled in a Political Science program who have successfully completed 60 credits and POLI 204. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.Description:
The current research associated with the perception of a growing sense of democratic malaise and political discontent has prompted several academics to assess the current state of Canadian democracy. Students examine and discuss the current research and critically analyze the implications for Canada’s state‑society relations.Component(s):
SeminarNotes:
Students who have received credit for this topic under a POLI 488 number may not take this course for credit.
Prerequisite/Corequisite:
Courses at the 400 level are taught as seminars and are generally open to students enrolled in a Political Science program who have successfully completed 60 credits and POLI 203. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.Description:
This course surveys the interactions between development strategies and the environment. Topics may include the environmental ramifications of large development projects, different systems of property rights, decentralization, international debt, foreign aid, and the challenges associated with managing highly valuable natural resources.Component(s):
SeminarNotes:
Students who have received credit for this topic under a POLI 487 number may not take this course for credit.
Prerequisite/Corequisite:
Courses at the 400 level are taught as seminars and are generally open to students enrolled in a Political Science program who have successfully completed 60 credits and POLI 203 or POLI 204. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.
Description:
This course fosters an understanding of the theoretical and practical issues surrounding the study of gender and public policy and introduces them to recent scholarship in this area. Students examine a number of themes and debates, including gender and policy studies, gender and the welfare state, women’s groups in the policy process, and feminist perspectives on the bureaucracy.Component(s):
SeminarNotes:
Students who have received credit for this topic under a POLI 498 number may not take this course for credit.
Prerequisite/Corequisite:
Courses at the 400 level are taught as seminars and are generally open to students enrolled in a Political Science program who have successfully completed 60 credits and POLI 203. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.
Description:
This seminar examines various explanations for the development and retrenchment of the welfare state in different countries. It analyzes typologies developed to conceptualize welfare‑state regimes and examines, in a comparative fashion, key social policies such as health, pensions, and employment.Component(s):
SeminarNotes:
Students who have received credit for POLI 461 may not take this course for credit.
Prerequisite/Corequisite:
Courses at the 400 level are taught as seminars and are generally open to students enrolled in a Political Science program who have successfully completed 60 credits and POLI 206. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.Description:
This seminar considers the political impact of contingent narrative approaches to shifts in an individual’s political imagination as opposed to purely rational or universally applicable philosophical arguments. The political potential of a broad range of literary styles, such as poetry, drama and the short story, is discussed alongside texts from the fields of philosophy, neuroscience and rhetoric so that their respective impacts can be assessed.Component(s):
SeminarNotes:
Students who have received credit for this topic under a POLI 490 number may not take this course for credit.
Prerequisite/Corequisite:
Courses at the 400 level are taught as seminars and are generally open to students enrolled in a Political Science program who have successfully completed 60 credits and POLI 206. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.Description:
This seminar explores the use and abuse of religious ideas, texts and traditions in the theoretical foundations of modernity such as ethical priorities and orientations, political and social institutions, and the purposes and status of science, found at the core of modern life.Component(s):
SeminarNotes:
Students who have received credit for this topic under a POLI 490 number may not take this course for credit.
Prerequisite/Corequisite:
Courses at the 400 level are taught as seminars and are generally open to students enrolled in a Political Science program who have successfully completed 60 credits and POLI 206. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.Description:
This seminar explores, by careful reading of philosophic, poetic, or historical texts, the ancient political conceptualizations that frame and contribute to Western political ideas, issues and goals.Component(s):
SeminarNotes:
Students who have received credit for this topic under a POLI 490 number may not take this course for credit.
Prerequisite/Corequisite:
Courses at the 400 level are taught as seminars and are generally open to students enrolled in a Political Science program who have successfully completed 60 credits and POLI 206. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.Description:
This seminar investigates how the efforts of governments to control the lives, thoughts and thought processes of the members of society are central to the modern governmental process and how they have been part of the agenda since the beginning of the late modern era.Component(s):
SeminarNotes:
Students who have received credit for this topic under a POLI 490 number may not take this course for credit.
Prerequisite/Corequisite:
Courses at the 400 level are taught as seminars and are generally open to students enrolled in a Political Science program who have successfully completed 60 credits and POLI 206. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.Description:
This seminar acquaints students with the arguments surrounding Machiavellian scholarship in particular and Renaissance political issues in general. Students study two of Machiavelli’s canonical texts (The Prince and The Discourses) in addition to his less well known but essential contribution to Florentine historiography (Florentine Histories). The political and literary context of Machiavelli’s writings, and how it colours contemporary criticism, is discussed.Component(s):
SeminarNotes:
Students who have received credit for this topic under a POLI 490 number may not take this course for credit.
Prerequisite/Corequisite:
Courses at the 400 level are taught as seminars and are generally open to students enrolled in a Political Science program who have successfully completed 60 credits and POLI 205. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.Description:
This seminar covers the theory and application of nuclear weapons as a means of deterrence to warfare. It surveys issues in nuclear control, missile defense, and deterrence design. Through simulations, special attention is given to contrasting theories on the utility of nuclear force.Component(s):
SeminarPrerequisite/Corequisite:
Courses at the 400 level are taught as seminars and are generally open to students enrolled in a Political Science program who have successfully completed 60 credits and POLI 205. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.Description:
This course challenges students to analyze the complexities of wildlife conservation strategies at the local, national, and international levels. Students engage in teamwork and write individual papers on both specific endangered species and related concepts such as trade, development, corruption, conflict, public relations, and adaptive governance.Component(s):
SeminarNotes:
Students who have received credit for this topic under a POLI 486 or 498 number may not take this course for credit.
Prerequisite/Corequisite:
Courses at the 400 level are taught as seminars and are generally open to students enrolled in a Political Science program who have successfully completed 60 credits and POLI 205. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.Description:
This seminar examines the activities of non‑state actors, including NGOs, social movements, corporations, and individuals, and their roles in creating global society, building international institutions, and shaping foreign policy. Emphasis is placed on theories which seek to explain the relative influence of these actors in the international political system.Component(s):
SeminarPrerequisite/Corequisite:
Courses at the 400 level are taught as seminars and are generally open to students enrolled in a Political Science program who have successfully completed 60 credits and POLI 205. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.Description:
This course examines Canada’s foreign policy. In this seminar, particular emphasis is given to the decision‑making process by which foreign policy is formulated and implemented, with particular reference to Canadian relations vis‑à‑vis the United States, the Commonwealth, and the developing countries.Component(s):
SeminarPrerequisite/Corequisite:
Courses at the 400 level are taught as seminars and are generally open to students enrolled in a Political Science program who have successfully completed 60 credits and POLI 205. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.Description:
This seminar focuses on the theory and practice of peace amongst nations. The course begins with a survey of analyses explaining the causes of aggression, war and peace, including theories of structural violence and revolution; nationalism and cosmopolitanism. It then examines the roles played by the state, international organizations, and peace movements, focusing on global and regional disarmament initiatives and peace‑keeping.Component(s):
SeminarPrerequisite/Corequisite:
Courses at the 400 level are taught as seminars and are generally open to students enrolled in a Political Science program who have successfully completed 60 credits and POLI 203. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.Description:
This seminar deals with the corruption, patronage, and clientelism that characterize politics in much of the world. Case studies are used to explore the structures and processes leading to the use of informal channels and personal connections for doing politics.Component(s):
SeminarNotes:
Students who have received credit for this topic under a POLI 487 or 498 number may not take this course for credit.
Prerequisite/Corequisite:
Courses at the 400 level are taught as seminars and are generally open to students enrolled in a Political Science program who have successfully completed 60 credits and POLI 206. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.Description:
This seminar examines the genesis, principles and purposes of classical liberalism as it is articulated by early modern authors. This involves investigating conceptions of and arguments for personal freedom, natural equality, private property, individual rights and limited government, among other topics. It then explores the subsequent development and distortion of liberal ideas by later theorists in the tradition.Component(s):
SeminarNotes:
Students who have received credit for this topic under a POLI 490 number may not take this course for credit.
Prerequisite/Corequisite:
The following course must be completed previously: POLI 206. Courses at the 400 level are taught as seminars and are generally open to students enrolled in a Political Science program who have successfully completed 60 credits. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.
Description:
This seminar is devoted to an exploration of the philosophical teaching of Friedrich Nietzsche and the subsequent influence of this teaching on the political and spiritual developments of Western culture. Nietzsche’s influence on such movements as deconstruction, nihilism, and postmodernism is explored.Component(s):
SeminarNotes:
Students who have received credit for this topic under a POLI 498 number may not take this course for credit.
Prerequisite/Corequisite:
Courses at the 400 level are taught as seminars and are generally open to students enrolled in a Political Science program who have successfully completed 60 credits and POLI 206. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.Description:
This course examines the impact of Enlightenment thinking in Europe, especially Scotland and the reformed parts of Northern France, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and the German states.Component(s):
SeminarNotes:
Students who have received credit for this topic under a POLI 498 number may not take this course for credit.
Prerequisite/Corequisite:
Courses at the 400 level are taught as seminars and are generally open to students enrolled in a Political Science program who have successfully completed 60 credits and POLI 204. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.Description:
This seminar considers the emergence of “mega constitutional politics” in the 1960‑1995 period involving state and societal actors. Topics include the Victoria Charter, Patriation, Meech Lake Accord, Charlottetown Accord, the 1980 and 1995 Quebec referenda, and attempts at non‑constitutional reform since 1995.Component(s):
SeminarNotes:
Students who have received credit for this topic under a POLI 488 number may not take this course for credit.
Prerequisite/Corequisite:
Courses at the 400 level are taught as seminars and are generally open to students enrolled in a Political Science program who have successfully completed 60 credits and POLI 203 or POLI 204. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.
Description:
This course aims at understanding the social origins of political opinions, attitudes and values, under what conditions they change, and how they affect political dynamics in Canada and in a comparative perspective.Component(s):
SeminarNotes:
Students who have received credit for this topic under a POLI 487 number may not take this course for credit.
Prerequisite/Corequisite:
Courses at the 400 level are taught as seminars and are generally open to students enrolled in a Political Science program who have successfully completed 60 credits and POLI 203. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.
Description:
This course explores different approaches to the study of state‑society relations in the People’s Republic of China. Specifically, the course considers the applicability of concepts such as neo‑traditionalism, state reach, corporatism, civil society, and rightful resistance during both the Maoist and reform eras.Component(s):
SeminarNotes:
Students who have received credit for this topic under a POLI 487 number may not take this course for credit.
Prerequisite/Corequisite:
Courses at the 400 level are taught as seminars and are generally open to students enrolled in a Political Science program who have successfully completed 60 credits and POLI 206. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.Description:
This seminar studies selected writings by major critics of modernity during the 20th century. The authors studied may include Hannah Arendt, Albert Camus, Fyodor Dostoevsky, George Grant, Bertrand de Jouvenel, Alasdair MacIntyre, Jacques Maritain, Richard Niebuhr, Michael Oakeshott, Leo Strauss, Charles Taylor, and Eric Voegelin.Component(s):
SeminarPrerequisite/Corequisite:
Courses at the 400 level are taught as seminars and are generally open to students enrolled in a Political Science program who have successfully completed 60 credits and POLI 203. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.Description:
This course provides an overview of Latin American history and development, beginning with conquest, through the lens of violence. Latin America is one of the most violent regions of the world. Gang wars, drug trafficking, kidnappings, and femicides are the regular fodder of the news media, but the class focuses on the structural violence — the marginalization and oppression of the poor masses inherent to local societies — that underlies the more spectacular forms of violence.Component(s):
SeminarNotes:
Students who have received credit for this topic under a POLI 487 number may not take this course for credit.
Prerequisite/Corequisite:
Courses at the 400 level are taught as seminars and are generally open to students enrolled in a Political Science program who have successfully completed 60 credits and POLI 203. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.Description:
This course examines specific substantive or thematic topics in U.S. government and politics, such as the U.S. Congress and the legislative process, U.S. constitutional law, U.S. law and society, and American political development.Component(s):
SeminarNotes:
Students who have received credit for this topic under a POLI 487 number may not take this course for credit.
Prerequisite/Corequisite:
Courses at the 400 level are taught as seminars and are generally open to students enrolled in a Political Science program who have successfully completed 60 credits and POLI 203. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.Description:
This seminar explores patterns of authority and protest in the Middle East. The topics include the institutional and ideological sources of authoritarianism, the role of the military in politics, the tension between religion and secularism in the formation of national identities, and the various social movements, including religious and ethnic movements, that challenge prevailing structures of power.Component(s):
SeminarNotes:
Students who have received credit for this topic under a POLI 487 number may not take this course for credit.
Prerequisite/Corequisite:
Courses at the 400 level are taught as seminars and are generally open to students enrolled in a Political Science program who have successfully completed 60 credits and POLI 203. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.Description:
This course surveys debates concerning development with a special focus on sub‑Saharan Africa. Topics include the role of the state in development, the effect of African economies’ global connections, the activities of non‑governmental organizations, and the effect of natural resources on development.Component(s):
SeminarNotes:
Students who have received credit for this topic under a POLI 487 number may not take this course for credit.
Prerequisite/Corequisite:
Courses at the 400 level are taught as seminars and are generally open to students enrolled in a Political Science program who have successfully completed 60 credits and POLI 203. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.Description:
This course introduces concepts related to the various forms of decentralization and explores the diverse expectations, politics, and outcomes associated with decentralization.Component(s):
SeminarNotes:
Students who have received credit for this topic under a POLI 487 or 498 number may not take this course for credit.
Prerequisite/Corequisite:
Courses at the 400 level are taught as seminars and are generally open to students enrolled in a Political Science program who have successfully completed 60 credits including POLI 205. Permission of the Department is required.Description:
This special reading course is designed in conjunction with a faculty member to explore topics and themes in a specific research area in international politics of interest to the student and faculty member.Component(s):
Independent StudyNotes:
- Enrolment is limited to one 400-level Directed Studies course per student.
Prerequisite/Corequisite:
Courses at the 400 level are taught as seminars and are generally open to students enrolled in a Political Science program who have successfully completed 60 credits including POLI 203. Permission of the Department is required.Description:
This special reading course is designed in conjunction with a faculty member to explore topics and themes in a specific research area in comparative politics of interest to the student and faculty member.Component(s):
Independent StudyNotes:
- Enrolment is limited to one 400-level Directed Studies course per student.
Prerequisite/Corequisite:
Courses at the 400 level are taught as seminars and are generally open to students enrolled in a Political Science program who have successfully completed 60 credits including POLI 204. Permission of the Department is required.Description:
This special reading course is designed in conjunction with a faculty member to explore topics and themes in a specific research area in Canadian and Quebec politics of interest to the student and faculty member.Component(s):
Independent StudyNotes:
- Enrolment is limited to one 400-level Directed Studies course per student.
Prerequisite/Corequisite:
Courses at the 400 level are taught as seminars and are generally open to students enrolled in a Political Science program who have successfully completed 60 credits. Permission of the undergraduate program director is required.Description:
This special reading course is designed in conjunction with a faculty member to explore topics and themes in a specific research area in public policy and administration of interest to the student and faculty member.Component(s):
Independent StudyNotes:
- Enrolment is limited to one 400-level Directed Studies course per student.
Prerequisite/Corequisite:
Courses at the 400 level are taught as seminars and are generally open to students enrolled in a Political Science program who have successfully completed 60 credits including POLI 206. Permission of the Department is required.Description:
This special reading course is designed in conjunction with a faculty member to explore topics and themes in a specific research area in political theory of interest to the student and faculty member.Component(s):
Independent StudyNotes:
- Enrolment is limited to one 400-level Directed Studies course per student.
Prerequisite/Corequisite:
Courses at the 400 level are taught as seminars and are generally open to students enrolled in a Political Science program who have successfully completed 60 credits and POLI 204. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.
Description:
This seminar in public policy is designed to explore the relationship between government and business in Canada. Particular attention is paid to the formation and implementation of policy intended to promote and control enterprise, and the role of government as entrepreneur.Component(s):
SeminarPrerequisite/Corequisite:
Courses at the 400 level are taught as seminars and are generally open to students enrolled in a Political Science program who have successfully completed 60 credits. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required. Students must complete the permissions request form at concordia.ca/WSSR before registering for the course.
Description:
Led by scholars, public officials, politicians, and policy analysts, these workshops are intensive short learning experiences designed to enhance students’ knowledge and skills in the areas of democratic governance, public policy, and research methodology.Component(s):
WorkshopPrerequisite/Corequisite:
Courses at the 400 level are taught as seminars and are generally open to students enrolled in a Political Science program who have successfully completed 60 credits and POLI 203. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.
Description:
This seminar examines the nature of politics of the states and societies of Western Europe, including the significance of their membership in the European Union.Component(s):
SeminarPrerequisite/Corequisite:
Courses at the 400 level are taught as seminars and are generally open to students enrolled in a Political Science program who have successfully completed 60 credits and POLI 203. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.Description:
This seminar examines the nature of politics in Latin America. A specific focus is placed on selective issues of state‑society relations, and the emergence of new political forces and institutions in response to changes in the socio‑economic structure of the region.Component(s):
SeminarPrerequisite/Corequisite:
Courses at the 400 level are taught as seminars and are generally open to students enrolled in a Political Science program who have successfully completed 60 credits and POLI 203. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.Description:
This seminar reviews the post‑communist states’ transition to democracy and their state‑formation. The seminar focuses on the interplay between the forces of nationalism, ethnicity, identity, and the transition to democratic structures.Component(s):
SeminarPrerequisite/Corequisite:
Courses at the 400 level are taught as seminars and are generally open to students enrolled in a Political Science program who have successfully completed 60 credits and POLI 203. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.Description:
This seminar focuses on the political and economic problems of the new nations. A particular emphasis is placed on understanding the process of development and state formation within a democratic context.Component(s):
SeminarPrerequisite/Corequisite:
Courses at the 400 level are taught as seminars and are generally open to students enrolled in a Political Science program who have successfully completed 60 credits and POLI 205. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.Description:
Advanced seminars deal with selected topics in sub-fields of political science. Topics vary from year to year.
Component(s):
SeminarPrerequisite/Corequisite:
Courses at the 400 level are taught as seminars and are generally open to students enrolled in a Political Science program who have successfully completed 60 credits and POLI 203. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.Description:
Advanced seminars deal with selected topics in sub-fields of political science. Topics vary from year to year.
Component(s):
SeminarPrerequisite/Corequisite:
Courses at the 400 level are taught as seminars and are generally open to students enrolled in a Political Science program who have successfully completed 60 credits and POLI 204. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.Description:
Advanced seminars deal with selected topics in sub-fields of political science. Topics vary from year to year.
Component(s):
SeminarPrerequisite/Corequisite:
Courses at the 400 level are taught as seminars and are generally open to students enrolled in a Political Science program who have successfully completed 60 credits and POLI 203 or POLI 204. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.
Description:
Advanced seminars deal with selected topics in sub-fields of political science. Topics vary from year to year.
Component(s):
SeminarPrerequisite/Corequisite:
Courses at the 400 level are taught as seminars and are generally open to students enrolled in a Political Science program who have successfully completed 60 credits and POLI 206. If prerequisites are not satisfied, permission of the Department is required.
Description:
Advanced seminars deal with selected topics in sub‑fields of political science. Topics vary from year to year.Component(s):
SeminarNotes:
Students should consult the Department for a description of these courses.
Prerequisite/Corequisite:
The following course must be completed previously: POLI 396. Enrolment in the Honours (Thesis) in Political Science and permission of the Department is required.
Description:
The student works with an individual faculty member in a particular field of study in Political Science. Students are asked to produce a sustained piece of written work to be defended before a departmental committee.Component(s):
ResearchPrerequisite/Corequisite:
Enrolment in the Honours in Political Science and permission of the Department is required.