Introduction to African Diaspora Studies

A survey of the African continent and the Diaspora that would include geography, history, politics, economics, and literature. The purpose of the course is to introduce students to specific historical, cultural, social and political topics related to Africa and the African Diaspora. Because the scope of the course is so vast, we will explore important issues and themes to give students a desire to further pursue more specific classes in African and African Diaspora Studies. Boston College faculty members will be invited to lecture in their area of expertise specific to Africa and the Diaspora throughout the semester. 

Twentieth Century Art 

The early twentieth-century European and American art world was a hotbed of visual experimentation. A study of French Fauvism and Cubism, Italian Futurism, German and Austrian Expressionism and Bauhaus, Russian Suprematism and Constructivism, Dutch Neo-Plasticism, International Dada and Surrealism, and American Modernism, will highlight the cross-national influences that led to radical artistic invention and new definitions of art.

International Law 

The course examines the legal relationships between individuals, business enterprises, and governments in the world community. Emphasis is on the private business transaction. Course objectives include how to assess the risks of doing business internationally and what legal steps may be taken to minimize or assign risk. Topics covered include different methods of transacting international business, from exporting and importing to direct foreign investment, issues in international contracting, the documentary transaction, and licensing intellectual property.

The Culture of Athenian Democracy

A political and cultural history of Athens during the creation and height of its democracy (circa 480–400 B.C.E.). The course will consider the Persian Wars and their effect on political and constitutional developments in Athens, the workings of the Athenian Democracy under Pericles, and the eventual collapse following the Peloponnesian War. Readings in translation include Thucydides, Plutarch, Aristotle, Xenophon, Plato, and the Greek playwrights (Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, and Aristophanes). Emphasis will be on integrating historical, literary, and archaeological evidence to provide as complete a picture as possible of this dynamic period of ancient history.

Asian American Media

This course examines the dynamic roles of Asians and Asian Americans in media and pop culture, past and present. By exploring their representations and involvement in areas such as Hollywood, television, independent documentaries, stand-up comedy, music, and online media, we can better understand the complex experiences and critical issues related to Asian diasporas. This course will include short writing assignments and exams.

Intercultural Communication 

This course studies communication as it relates to society and as it occurs inter-culturally and internationally. In those contexts, questions and issues will be pursued which reveal processes, effects, methods, and critical norms for evaluating interpersonal, group, and mass communication.

The Global Economy

This course aims to deepen your understanding of real world economic issues, while providing you with a stronger analytical base. We will focus on international trade theory and policy, and issues in international finance.

International Trade 

This course is an analysis of the foundations of trade and the principle of comparative advantage leading to a sophisticated study of protectionism. Current U.S. protectionist issues will be illuminated, as well as economic warfare, control of international factor movements, and interaction of trade and economic development.

International Finance 

International financial markets, international trade and balance of payments issues will be studied by using analytical models of the open economy. Topics of particular interests are exchange rate determination, capital flows, trade flows, and other international linkages between economies. The course will apply the analytical tools of international economics to address macroeconomic aspects of current policy issues such as the global impact of the financial crisis, exchange rate policy, sovereign debt crises, and persistent trade deficits and international indebtedness.

Global & Comparative Systems/Higher Education

Colleges and universities are part of an international system of post-secondary education. This course offers a perspective on the organization and structure of higher education worldwide, as well as an analysis of central issues affecting academe internationally. Examples from other countries are related to the American context. Among the topics considered are global trends in the expansion and organization of higher education, international study and its impact, the political role of universities, student activism, the role and status of the academic profession, styles of academic leadership in other countries, and others.

 Outcast Ireland: Paupers, Penitents, Patients 

This course considers the roles played by institutions in Irish society since the formation of the State (1922). We study the history of institutional provision, both as a legacy of empire and an apparatus of social control throughout the twentieth century, e.g., Industrial Schools, Magdalene Laundries, Mother and Baby Homes, and “Mental Hospitals.” We examine legislation and social policy informing social phenomena contained by these institutions, e.g., poverty, illegitimacy, single motherhood, deviancy, illness, etc. We analyze how literary and cultural representations (e.g., fiction, drama, poetry, film, memoir, journalism, and testimony) contribute to making visible aspects of Irish society typically hidden from view. And, we evaluate the significance of human rights advocacy campaigns, survivor organizations, and the State’s response to demands for justice, redress, and memorialization.

Buddhist Thought and Practice 

We explore aspects of early, Southeast Asian, and East Asian traditions of Buddhism, focusing on ways that Buddhist philosophy informs and is informed by practices of meditation, phenomenological investigation, ritual, and ethics. Students will be instructed in mindfulness exercises (cultivating fuller awareness of things) to inform our studies. Weekly writing, active discussion, two short papers, one longer paper.

Globalization I and II

“Globalization” is a fairly new term for the world-wide connections that are diminishing the significance of traditional geographical, cultural, and political boundaries. Global connections have increased rapidly in the past half-century, but global convergence has been a powerful force during the eight centuries covered by this survey. The year-long course examines three kinds of globalization: commercial, cultural, and political. While recognizing the Western world’s expansiveness as a key force for globalization, the course gives extensive attention to how people from other continents have also been major agents in initiating, promoting, and resisting globalizing forces.

World War I 

A century on from a war that ravaged populations across the globe, radically altered international politics, and changed the landscape of philosophy and culture, nations and historians are still trying to make sense of what happened. In this course we will explore some of the classic historical problems of the First World War, such as how it started and what its aftermath wrought, but we will also examine the war?s deeper impact ? how did the memory of the war shape subsequent generations? How has its legacy complicated the development of the Middle East and Asia through the 20th century? Finally, we will investigate the efforts of the belligerent nations to commemorate the war?s 100th anniversary from 2014-2018 as an example of how World War I, then and even now, shapes national identities.

The Inquisition in Spain and Spanish America

This lecture and discussion course for advanced students will consider the development of the Spanish Inquisition from its medieval roots to its early nineteenth-century demise. Divided roughly between Spain and the Americas, we will consider the following topics: the medieval co-existence of Jews, Muslims, and Christians in Spain; the “re-conquest” of the Iberian peninsula in the fifteenth century and the formation of the inquisition; and the theological debates of the sixteenth century that determined the scope of heresy. Our focus will be on using the Inquisition as an insight into early modern culture in both Spain and the Americas.

Divided Korea 

The Korean Peninsula has remained one of the most internationally contested areas since its division in 1945. This course explores the local and international political conditions that led to the ideological split between the communist North and the capitalist South and its subsequent consolidation into two fiercely opposed regimes over the course of the Cold War and post-Cold eras. Using a combined chronological and thematic approach, this course will address the political, economic, social, and cultural impact of this division on Koreans and on the world.

Reflections on Being Abroad 

This on-line course is designed for students of all majors who are currently abroad and are committed to reflecting more deeply on their study abroad experience. The course permits students to consider where they are in life, what they hope to gain from their time abroad, and how their current experiences may shape their future personal, academic, and professional trajectories. The course also trains students to observe and document the culture(s) in which they are studying, and in turn to produce an interactive, mixed media presentation, which captures one aspect of their host setting. From the course, students will gain valuable insight and skills which will benefit them well beyond their study abroad experience.

The Global Economy 

This course aims to deepen your understanding of real world economic issues, while providing you with a stronger analytical base. We will focus on international trade theory and policy, and issues in international finance.

International Environmental Science & Policy

This course examines both the science underlying today's international environmental problems and the policy decisions that drive human actions and responses. The natural environment underlies every other human system: economic, political, cultural/religious, etc., and when it is perturbed, every system above it feels the effects. We will study the science behind climate change, deforestation, ocean/wildlife issues, and food security and look at how U.S. domestic laws, international treaties and conventions, international organizations like UNEP, and NGOs shape the way humanity deals with these problems.

Online Communication and Global Society 

This course offers a critical look at the history of the Internet and the ways in which online communication technologies are shaping our world. Merging conceptual approaches from the disciplines of Cultural Studies, Globalization theory and International Relations, the class will consider the role that new media is playing in shaping the art, entertainment, politics and economics of the new century. Case studies will include close looks at websites such Twitter, Facebook, World of Warcraft, Match.com and Alibaba.com, as well as considerations of social movements such as Occupy Wall St. and the the Arab Spring.

World Politics: Conflict & Cooperation 

This course examines the principle sources of the behavior of countries in international politics, including the nature of the international system and the decision-making process within states. It examines such issues as the sources of power, the causes and implications of the security dilemma, the dynamics of alliances, the causes of war, international political economy, and the dilemmas of world order.

Industrialization & Democratization in Korea

This introductory course surveys the political and economic transformation of South Korea from decolonization through the high growth era to today's global neo-liberal age. It traces how a war-ravaged country became a prosperous and industrialized nation. In exploring this transformation, it also examines the relationship between Korea's industrialization and its democratization: How did US Cold War modernization impact the Korean state's economic strategy and it's political development? Why and how did Korean society campaign for social and political justice during the economic high growth era? The course also considers the reconfiguration of South Korea's political economy sine the 1990s.

International Trade 

This course is an analysis of the foundations of trade and the principle of comparative advantage leading to a sophisticated study of protectionism. Current U.S. protectionist issues will be illuminated, as well as economic warfare, control of international factor movements, and interaction of trade and economic development.

Globalization

This course examines the political, economic, social and cultural implications of the increasingly integrated world system. The course focuses on conflicting assessments of international institutions (IMF, World Bank, WTO) and political governance; the impact of economic integration; and the effects of globalization on state sovereignty, democracy, and social cohesion. Specific case studies will include: globalization and the environment; globalization, gender, and work; globalization and immigration/migration; globalization and the illicit economy, and anti-globalization social movements and activism.

Research Methods in International Studies 

This course is designed specifically for students in the Political Science and the History, Culture, and Society (HCS) tracks of the International Studies major. It lays the groundwork for understanding qualitative research methods in the social sciences. Students interested in quantitative research methods are urged to take additional courses offered in other departments to augment the material covered here. This course complements and supplements IN 497 Senior Thesis, but the two courses are independent.

Ethics, Religion and International Politics 

An examination of the role of religion in international politics and of ethical approaches to international affairs. Special emphasis will be given to religion as a source of conflict, religious communities as transnational agents for justice, protection of human rights, and peace; the historical development and contemporary formulations of ethical norms for the use of force; and ethical and religious contributions to reconciliation and solidarity.

Islamic Civilization

This course introduces the varieties of Islamic civilization from the seventh century to the modern world. It explores not only the tenets of faith and practice, and political, social, theological, and economic history, but also considers Muslim cultural and intellectual contributions, including by women, from Indonesia to Morocco and in the Western world. Students will read primary sources, listen to recordings, and view films. The course will emphasize the variety of experiences of Muslims and their contributions to the world.

 Special Topics: International Management

The world has changed in fundamental ways over the last several decades, resulting in a more integrated, complex, and global economy. This has created new opportunities as well as new risks. How managers respond to changes in the global business environment have important implications to the firm?s competitive position and overall survival. Historically it was primarily large firms that operated internationally; however, nowadays firms of all sizes are internationalizing. Thus, no matter what firm you work for or business you start after graduation, you will benefit from a strong understanding of the global business environment. We will explore a broad range of topics important to the success of businesses outside the firm?s ?home country?, including cultural, social, political, and legal differences, international trade and investment policies, and international organizations. We will also look at issues surrounding international market entry options and competitive strategies. And finally, we will close with a review of the ways that business functions need to be adapted when operating across international markets. The course material will be presented via in-class learning, case discussion, and project work.

Introduction to Musics of the World

This course will attempt to develop essential and critical listening faculties by employing a chronological survey of the elements, forms, and various types of music that the serious listener is exposed to today. The principal emphasis of the course will be on traditional Western art music from medieval Gregorian Chant to twentieth-century electronic music, but certain excursions into the world of non-Western musics, jazz, and American popular song will be included to diversify and enrich the experience of listening critically to music.

Greek Philosophy 

This course is organized around the central philosophical questions asked and answered, in various ways, by philosophers in the ancient Greek-speaking world. We will consider the pre-Socratics, Plato, Aristotle, and, more briefly, some Hellenistic authors such as Plutarch, Epictetus, and Plotinus. Topics include theories of material bodies and of change; whether anything immaterial or immutable exists, and if so whether it is single or multiple and its relation to this changing world; the human soul; and the question of the criterion of truth, and the process by which humans may come to know; and the question of the criterion of ethics.  

Human Rights in International Politics 

This course explores cultural values, religious traditions, and political conditions that enhance or impede human rights within individual states and the international community. It focuses on the following key questions: Can religious traditions and values reinforce human rights or should they be promoted on purely secular grounds? How should conflicts between universal human rights norms and indigenous traditions and values be resolved, and when is it legitimate for outside powers or international agencies to intervene in response to human rights violations by sovereign states? And who bears the responsibility to protect the rights of stateless persons and refugees?

Introduction to International Politics

This course examines the principle sources of the behavior of countries in international politics, including the nature of the international system and the decision-making process within states. It examines such issues as the sources of power, the causes and implications of the security dilemma, the dynamics of alliances, the causes of war, international political economy, and the dilemmas of world order. 

The Politics of Self-Rule: Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Scotland

A century ago, Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Scotland were integral parts of Great Britain and the United Kingdom and were governed by the British Parliament. Now each has its own parliament, although only Ireland is fully independent of the UK. We will consider the development of self-rule in these three places, how self-rule operates today and the major challenges that each administrative unit faces. We will also examine the key political questions that each parliament is currently debating. Our understanding of these matters will be greatly enhanced by the visits we will pay to each of the three parliaments and to other sites that are particularly important for understanding the political development of the three places. Students will also benefit from interacting with a variety of political leaders, policy analysts, journalists, civil servants, and citizen activists in Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Scotland.

Peaceful Conflict Resolution Methods 

This course considers conflict resolution methods in several different types of contexts: personal and family, organizational and work, international peace-making. Among the methods analyzed and practiced in role playing exercises are: methods for resisting win-lose behaviors, methods for developing win-win solutions to conflicts, dialogic methods for developing creative solutions to conflicts, and third party facilitation, mediation, and arbitration methods. Personal skill development as well as careers in conflict resolution are explored. In addition, different types of personal philosophical and spiritual approaches to conflict resolution are considered.