Course Descriptions

This course will introduce students to the theories and concepts necessary to understand the complex world of contemporary politics. It will prepare students to become global citizens and enjoy a lifetime of meaningful political participation in the Canadian – or any other – political system.

Throughout history, humans have organized themselves into many different types of political systems, from tribes to empires, city-states to nation-states. This course will introduce students to the wide range of political systems that exist throughout the world today, be it Asia, Africa, Europe, or the Americas. By studying these systems in detail, students will gain an appreciation for how political behaviour varies throughout the world, as well as develop a better critical understanding of their own.

Knowledge about the Canadian system of government is important for job preparation of all kinds, as the policy decisions of government affect every career. Through class discussion and debate, role-play, consideration of politicians' perspectives, current events, and readings, this course will examine the basic design, decision-making processes, and democratic credentials of such institutions as parliamentary democracy, the Crown, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, federalism, political parties, the electoral system and the constitution.

Political theory is a form of reflection on matters that concern the community as a whole. It poses questions about the meanings of concepts such as justice, liberty, citizenship, and order. This course offers an introductory examination of the tradition of Western political thought, ranging from the Ancient Greeks to Modern times. Thinkers covered may include Plato, Aristotle, St. Augustine, Niccolò Machiavelli, Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Mary Wollstonecraft, Karl Marx, and John Rawls. Indigenous, feminist, and critical race theory may also be used to interrogate and re-imagine traditional concepts and debates in political thought.

Why do we often disagree with our leaders? Do you sometimes wonder if your ideas make more sense than the Prime Minister's? Students will find answers to these questions in 'Contemporary Ideologies' by studying various ideologies such as liberalism, conservatism, socialism, anarchism, fascism, religious fundamentalism, feminism and environmentalism. This course emphasizes practical skills such as group discussion, presentations, and research/writing skills, which will help students develop their critical thinking and excel in their careers/ life.

Where does the will to engage in armed conflict come from? How are decisions made to fight or collaborate with others? Why are some states more prosperous and healthy than others? This course answers these questions by studying various dimensions of conflicts, decision making, institutions, international law, human rights, the environment, economic collaboration, and the proliferation of weapons. This course promotes experiential learning through group work, student presentations, research/writing, and participation in a UN simulation.

In this course, students will gain a working knowledge of British Columbia’s political institutions, its political history, and the major forces shaping politics in the province. Topics of emphasis include institutions of government, parties and elections, environmental politics, federal-provincial relations, and case studies on selected public policy issues. An examination of Indigenous forms of government and policymaking processes within BC constitute a core aspect of this course.

This course is about the institutionalization of cooperation at the international level. It offers an empirical analysis of a range of existing international organizations, including the UN, The World Bank, NATO, and the WHO. It also examines current debates concerning the role(s) and overall efficacy of international organizations in the areas of peace/security, trade, development, human rights, global health, and the environment. Students are required to think critically about how international organizations respond to global political forces and challenges, and about the kinds of effects they have on the patterns and developments of global politics. Particular emphasis is placed on Indigenous presence within and engagement with international organizations.

This course introduces students to the public policy process in Canada. It examines the formation, implementation, and effects of public policies in specific areas such as health policy, immigration policy, language policy, welfare policy, and foreign policy. A particular emphasis is placed on Indigenous public policies.

Globalization has dramatically increased the scope of treaties and international institutions. The result has been a surge of interest in international law - to govern trade and economic activity; deal with the movement of greater numbers of people; cope with the scourge of conflict and violence; and commit to human rights and humanitarian goals. Students learn the basic concepts and terms of international law; apply effective reading and interpretation of treaties and international legal decisions; and explore the relevance of international law.

This course introduces the student to the variety of approaches and tools available to those studying politics. Students will become familiar with the nature of and debates inherent in contemporary political studies, as well as the strengths and weaknesses of the various methods employed by students of politics. By developing their own research project, students will struggle first-hand with the issues central to all types of social science research: selecting from alternative models of explanation, attempting to isolate variables, and dealing with questions of cause and effect to name but a few. Students may have the opportunity to develop and work on a prototype political studies journal as well.

This course covers an important thinker, school of thought, or issue in contemporary social and political theory. Specific topics will shift from term to term but might include, for example, the role of the state in capitalist societies, current debates in democratic theory, current debates in postcolonial and decolonial theory, the role and place of political protest in contemporary society, an examination of the meaning of liberty in complex societies, the renewal of nationalism and critiques of cosmopolitanism, the persistence of political violence, or the work and influence of a particular theorist: for example, Arendt, Gramsci, Marcuse, Foucault, Habermas, Rawls to name a few.

Justice for Canada's Aboriginal peoples, given the devastating impact of colonialism upon their lives, is both a moral and political imperative. Through class activity, guest speakers, films, and readings, this course equips students to understand, appreciate, and take positions on the important political challenges of justice presented by colonialism and Aboriginal policy, Aboriginal political identity and nationalism, self-government, treaties, and court decisions on Aboriginal rights and title.

The European Union is an unprecedented form of governance bringing peace and prosperity to a European continent divided by two World Wars. The EU is also criticized for being a driving force of neoliberal globalization. This course engages with this debate by introducing students to EU structures, institutions and operations. Taking this course will also prepare students for changes and opportunities expected as part of the recent free trade agreement signed between Canada and the EU.

This course offers a comprehensive examination of the central institutions and processes of American politics. It begins with an examination of the historical and theoretical foundations and evolution of American Republic. Major themes covered include the constitution, federalism, congress, the presidency, the judiciary, civil rights, and foreign policy. Contemporary challenges facing American politics are also discussed, such as the rise of populism, the polarization of American political culture, the persistence of racial exclusion and inequality, Native American politics and Tribal sovereignty, the influence of money and corporate power on politics, and the changing nature of American power on the global stage.

This course will further explore the field of comparative politics from a regional perspective. The region will change according to the interest/expertise of the instructor and/or important political events of the time. By taking this course, students will deepen their understanding of political systems, and hone their critical analysis of the political development process around the world.

Students learn the historical evolution of human rights standards in the world and explore the principles and practices of human rights norms at the global and regional levels. They explore the significance of international conventions, global and regional instruments, and multiple dimensions of human rights in a globalized context. They also learn about the key debates on the issue of universality and cultural relativism, responsibility to protect, right to development, war crimes, genocide, crimes against humanity, and gender discrimination.

This field school course will focus on the politics of states and regional organizations in a specific region of the international system. Through lectures and on-line activities delivered before departure and during a field trip through the region chosen, students will come to understand the differing types of politic behaviour and activities within states and between states and international organizations in a specific region, including the historical, social, cultural, geographic and international contexts in which those states and organizations exist. Students will also come to understand the methods, typologies, theories, and concepts used in the comparative study of politics as applied to the region studied.

Public Policy is how government works to address social, cultural, economic, and environmental issues. In this course, we examine how public policies are designed and implemented in liberal democratic and non-democratic states. The course takes an issue-based approach, examining different policy areas such as healthcare, immigration, education, Indigenous rights, and environmental policy. The course also features a practical and studio-based aspect, where students are invited to 'step into' the world of public policy by crafting their own briefing papers and policy presentations. Students will attain scholarly knowledge and develop practical capacities in the field of public policy.

This course examines the relationship between government and the courts in Canada. It explores how the Canadian legal system functions within the wider political system. Comparisons are drawn between Canada's legal system and other liberal-democratic states. Core themes include the structure of the Canadian court system, how judges are selected and make decisions, the importance of judicial independence and accountability, how the Charter of Rights and Freedoms has transformed Canadian politics, and the overall effect of the courts on the quality of Canadian democracy and the rights of Indigenous peoples. Deeper questions concerning the pursuit of justice in contemporary liberal democratic societies will also be posed.

In addition to the fundamentals of public international law, students learn the procedure and principles in cases and decisions. With emphasis on the decisions of the International Court of Justice and related tribunals, cases are analyzed and discussed. Legal practice is highlighted with the Moot Court, an exercise involving legal research, the application of legal principles to fact-based cases, and the skills in argument and examination.

Justice for Canada's Indigenous peoples, given the devastating impact of colonialism upon their lives, is both a moral and political imperative. Through class activity, elders, films, and readings, this course equips students to understand, appreciate, and take positions on the important political challenges presented by colonialism, Canadian Indigenous policy, Indigenous political identity and nationalism, self-government, treaties, and court decisions on Indigenous rights and title. In doing so, the course equips students with the understanding required to appreciate the nature of the claims that Indigenous peoples bring to their engagement with the Canadian state.

Students explore the structure, institutions and operations of the European Union, an unprecedented form of governance in an increasingly globalized political environment. Students will also learn about how the EU functions as a significant regional internal governmental organization, with particular emphasis on EU-Canada relations. Students will then apply their knowledge to real-world challenges faced by the EU.

Climate change, pandemics, human rights, global inequality, and terrorism constitute some of the major political challenges of our time. All are transnational in that they reflect the heightened interconnectedness of the planet. They are complex issues that cannot be effectively addressed within the confines of a single state. In this course we investigate the global flows of wealth, trade, human bodies, and infectious disease, along with the ways in which international organizations and social movements have emerged to meet these challenges. We will also examine how through collective agency on a global scale, Indigenous peoples are generating strategies for decolonization. Students will be challenged to connect their understanding of transnational issues to local, community-based realities and experiences.

Students in this course will study the tradition of Utopian and Dystopian literature and political thought throughout history, and identify how modern versions of this tradition (both literary and cinematic) may help or impede our attempts to find solutions to the political, social, and economic challenges we face today.

This course provides students with the opportunity to engage in an in-depth study of how environmental issues are dealt with across national boundaries. Theoretical approaches are critically evaluated in order to organize a systematic study of relevant actors, institutions and agreements in the field of global ecopolitics. Key concepts associated with environmental issues such as sustainability, ecological footprint, and the precautionary principle are also critically evaluated.

This course introduces students to the political economy of international trade, finance, development and production, and the major theoretical perspectives which are employed to understand how the global economy is organized. The emphasis on state-market interactions focuses attention on the ways in which international economic exchanges are mediated through structures of governance which may operate at the bilateral, regional or global level. Students will learn to apply the theories introduced in the course to a number of case studies.

This course examines identity politics through the lens of political theory. The course analyzes the different kinds of identity categories within liberal democracies and how they become infused with political meaning. It also investigates the strategic issues that identity-based movements face as they develop. Case studies and films are utilized to create a supportive space for critical thinking about categories such as race, ethnicity, Indigeneity, gender, and class. Special attention will be placed upon how the lived experience of intersecting and oppressive forces constitute the basis for emancipatory politics.

This course provides a comprehensive overview of the main debates on citizenship in liberal democracies and the implications of globalization on those debates. The course will examine citizenship from the perspective of rights, participatory democracy and identity politics as expressed in cultural, ethnic, national, and gendered contexts. The course will also consider the degree to which globalization has de-territorialized and fragmented citizenship thereby raising new challenges about how community identity, civic ties, human rights, environmental stewardship and social justice are to be practiced and experienced.

In addition to exploring the historical evolution of human rights standards in the world, the principles and practices of human rights norms at the global and regional levels, the significance of international conventions and instruments, and learning about the key debates on human rights issues (i.e. universality and cultural relativism, responsibility to protect, right to development, war crimes, genocide, crimes against humanity, and gender discrimination), students also analyze specific human rights cases, conduct a community outreach project, and complete other higher level of research assignments to earn a 300 level credit in this course.

This course is about doing public policy. It provides students with the analytical tools and skills they need to conduct public policy analysis for employers in the public, private, and non-governmental sectors. In the classroom, students work collaboratively to address real world problems, exploring and formulating concrete policy options and alternatives. This course will help students become effective and ethical practitioners of public policy. Special emphasis is placed on the public policy process in the context of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities and organizations.

Students will work with a Political Science faculty member to guide them in the development of a research-based project. Specific course details will be arranged between individual students and faculty members. See the Department of Political Science website for complete details on the application process.