2210E – Women and Politics – Prof. Carolyn Gibson

This course focuses on how women participate and effect political change. It examines women’s subordination and the wide-range of emancipator struggles women have undertaken to achieve equality.

1020E – Introduction to Politics

A study of the principal concepts, ideas, and analytical methods of modern political science, with emphasis on the political systems of Canada, the United States and Britain.

2211E – Business and Government -- Dr. Hugh Mellon

A review of the relationship between business and government, emphasizing their respective responses to problems of economic and social change. The course will focus primarily on Canada.

2215F – Special Topics in Political Science -- Dr. Benjamin Muller

‘Borders, Security, Identity’

Since the events of 11 September 2001, border security has been one among many focus areas for states. Specifically, the management of the Canada/US border has dramatically changed. Institutional changes on both sides of the border, and the increasing reliance on risk management strategies and various identification technologies – such as biometrics – have intensified focus on security and surveillance at the border, rather than the historical focus on visa, immigration and customs. These measures have intensified exclusionary practices at the border, facilitated the proliferation of borders and bordering practices, such as the creation of ‘virtual borders’ in airports and elsewhere, and dramatically threatened the identities of borderlands and the efficacy of the stakeholders located there.

Beginning with more general interdisciplinary engagements of borders and borderlands, this course will examine this transformation of borders and borderlands, and the impact on identity, security, justice, and territoriality. In more specific terms, the course will focus on: the institutional changes to Canada and US border management; the securitization of migration and citizenship, such as the politics of sanctuary and deportation; the reliance on risk management and what some have termed ‘governing through risk’; the zealous application of biometric technologies and related trusted and/or registered traveler schemes; and, the overall impact on borderlands and identity.

2230E – Canadian Government and Politics -- Dr. Jacquie Newman

An explanation of selected problems in Canadian government and politics, such as federalism, political parties and pressure groups.

2231E – International Politics -- Dr. Tozun Bahcheli and Dr. Erin Hannah

This course surveys contemporary world politics and examines contending theories used by scholars and policymakers to make sense of international affairs. It also provides the conceptual tolls and theories to interpret the international system.

2235E – Politics of the Environment -- Prof. Ross Gibbons

An examination of human impacts on the earth's ecosystems, and the political responses to these impacts, with particular attention to the effects of industrial technologies and economic patterns, and the underlying values that support these. This course will draw upon concepts from economics, geography, and biology as well as political science.

2237E – Introduction to Political Theory -- Prof. Liz. Sutherland

An examination of central themes and issues in the history of political thought from Plato to Marx.

2244E – American Government and Politics -- Dr. Will McKercher

A study of the American Constitution, institutions of government and political processes.

2245E – Introduction to Comparative Politics -- Dr. Hugh Mellon

Examines theoretical approaches to the study of comparative politics. The course introduces students to the methodology of comparative politics through the study of both developed and developing societies.

2246E – Public Administration -- Dr. Mario Levesque

The basic principles of public administration in the modern state, including organization, procedures and the relation of administration to policy making.

2265F – The Politics of Childhood Education -- Prof. Pat Dunne

An examination, analysis and evaluation of education legislation in Canada, with particular emphasis on education law in Ontario. This course will explore the relationships that exist among levels of government, school boards, unions and municipal institutions, and how these affect children and families.

2266G – The Family in Law and Politics -- Prof. Pat Dunne

An examination, analysis and evaluation of the effects of international, federal and provincial law on families, children and youth. The political climate that produced such legislation, the parallel policies and social programs introduced and their success or failure will be considered.

3300E – Comparative Politics of Protest and social Justice -- Dr. Jacquie Newman

An examination of cases of unconventional politics and protest movements with reference to competing theories regarding their formation and activities. Focus will be on their political role and activities which invoke a sense of solidarity, shared identity, and a set of moral principles as much cultural as political.

3309E – Politics and Contemporary Social Policy -- Dr. Pat Ryan

The political dimension of the social policy debates of recent decades, the challenges of public policy formulation and evaluation and the experience of Canada and other countries in the social policy will be examined.

3325E – Ethnic Conflict and Resolution -- Dr. Tozun Bahcheli

This course will be concerned with the phenomenon of ethnic conflict and conflict resolution. It will examine the numerous theories of ethnicity and ethnic conflict resolution, and will apply these to various examples of ethnic conflict throughout the world.

3345E – International Law and Organization -- Dr. Benjamin Muller

A study of the principles and operations of international and regional associations such as the UN and NATO. An introduction to international law, emphasizing its relevance to the resolution of conflicts between nations.

3352E – Advanced International Politics -- Dr. Erin Hannah

A seminar course treating theoretical aspects of international politics in the light of substantive material. The seminar will consider a selection of normative doctrines, conceptual frameworks, and theoretical propositions concerning various modes of international action and interaction, organization, and integration and evaluate these in application to contemporary world politics.

4423F – Nationalism and Secession -- Dr. Sid Noel

This course will deal with types of nationalism and the relationship between nationalism and conflict in multi-national societies. It will focus primarily on deeply divided societies that have undergone partition or have experienced serious secessionist conflicts, and consider the challenges posed for conflict resolution or management.

4424G – Nationalist Conflicts and Paths to Peace -- Dr. Sid Noel

This course deals with methods of managing and/or resolving nationalist conflicts utilizing integrative methods. These include constitutional power-sharing, federalism and other forms of territorial or non-territorial autonomy for ethnic communities. The course will also examine the involvement of third parties as mediators and guarantors of peace accords.

4444E – Constitutions in Canada and the United States -- Dr. Will McKercher

This course analyzes and compares the protection of individual and group rights in the two federal constitutions from their inception to the present. Based within a legal-historical context using the constitutional case method, it examines the political, social and the economic issues as they relate to the role of judges, legislation and the executive in the formation of public policy.

4450E – United States Foreign Policy: Economic and Military Globalization -- Dr. Will McKercher and Dr. Benjamin Muller

An analysis of the theory and practice of US Foreign Policy based upon political, economic, ideological and institutional factors, in relation to the constitutional constraints in a democracy from 1776 to the present.

4485E – Selected Topics in Political Science -- Dr. Hugh Mellon

Theories of Democracy

The course will involve discussion and assessment of debates surrounding the state of democracy and representative government. Among these issues will be the concept of democracy itself, the promotion of democracy both nationally and globally, suffrage and the extension of voting rights to groups within society, voter turn-out, citizen assemblies, and the relative inclusiveness of representative institutions. The approach taken will be broadly comparative supplemented by keen attention to relevant Canadian topics.

The course will generally be run in a seminar fashion with grades awarded each term for participation. Each student will be responsible for leading discussion of a particular assigned reading during the second term. The course grade will be divided up as follows – 20% seminar participation (10% for each term); 15% for leading discussion of assigned reading in second term; 30% Term I essay; and 35% Term II essay.