Introduction to International Relations

Students will develop the analytical skills with which to explain or understand world politics. They will be introduced to the intellectual tools such as core concepts and schools of thought, in order to make sense of the complex world of international politics. Students will explore a broad range of contemporary topics, including the role and importance of various state and non-state actors, the promotion of international order, and salient features of the international political economy, including the disparities between the countries of the North and South.

Transferable (refer to transfer guide )

Government & Politics of the Prairie Provinces

Students will study the structures and processes of government in the Canadian Prairie Provinces. Students will study the role of the national government in shaping the Prairies and will analyze the theoretical approaches to federalism and regionalism. Comparisons with other Canadian provinces will enhance student awareness of different political traditions and allow them to develop reasoned judgments about politics and government in their home province as well as the country as a whole.

Prerequisites: POLI 1125 or 1120

Charter Politics in Canada

Students will study the concepts of rights and freedoms as they have been treated historically in Canada, and will analyze the place of rights in Canadian law prior to the entrenchment of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. They will examine the Charter and the role of the courts with emphasis on the Supreme Court, and will discuss the place of rights and courts in a democratic society. Students will study the legalization of politics and politicization of the judiciary to better understand recent developments in Canadian law and politics regarding rights.

Prerequisites: POLI 1125 or 1120

International Relations Theory

Students will learn the theories of International Relations, from realism and liberalism to "radical" challengers such as Marxism, dependency theory, critical theory, postmodernism, and feminism. Students will explore, debate, and compare theories to develop a solid grasp of the different perspectives and to establish their own theoretical preferences.

Prerequisites: POLI 1150 and (ENGL 1100 or LPI score 36)

Transferable (refer to transfer guide)

European Integration

Students will acquire a detailed factual and conceptual framework for the analysis of the process of European integration. They will study the historical origins of the European Union (EU), the institutions (structure and process) and the challenges of integration in the 21st century. Students will focus on the political, social, and economic impacts on the member states, the tension between nation-state and confederation, supra-national citizenship, democracy and regional integration, and the role and status of the EU in world affairs.

Prerequisites: POLI 1125 or 1150

Comparative Politics of Asia

Students will be introduced to the government and politics of key Asian states. They will learn about the dynamics that shape the character and quality of contemporary Asian political systems, the underlying assumption being that "they who know only one country, know no country well." Students will enhance their understanding of political transformation in a comparative context will be enhanced by the study of different Asian countries.

Prerequisites: POLI 1125 or 1150 or 1145

Transferable (refer to transfer guide)

International Political Economy

Students will acquire a detailed conceptual framework for the analysis of the international political economy. They will study the dynamic interaction among states, societies, firms, and markets, at the international level. Students will focus on major “IPE” perspectives and theories, and learn to apply these to issue areas including monetary and financial relations, international trade, foreign investment, foreign debt, and development finance.

Prerequisites: POLI 1125 or 1150

Transferable (refer to transfer guide)

Contemporary Political Conflict

Students will study the sources and nature of major contemporary international and national conflicts, such as disputes between the great powers, rich nations and poor nations, between Third World countries and within states. Students will focus on the phenomena of war, violence, and crime in conflict.

Prerequisites: POLI 1125 or 1150

Transferable (refer to transfer guide)

British Columbia Government and Politics

Students will examine British Columbia’s political culture and various elements affecting it, such as immigration, native land claims, primary and secondary resource industries, federal-provincial relations, interest group behaviour, union activity, environmental issues, political parties, and government policy-making. Students will prepare research essays on given topics which will then be discussed and defended in seminar format.

Prerequisites: (POLI 1120 or 1125 recommended)

Transferable (refer to transfer guide)

American Government and Politics

Students will examine the institutions and processes associated with the federal government of the United States. They will study the executive, legislative and judicial branches, as well as the party system, the electoral system and election finance. Students will analyze the policy making process in America employing both foreign and domestic examples to highlight the important roles played by pressure groups, corporations and the media.

Prerequisites: (POLI 1125 or 1120) and ENGL 1100

Transferable (refer to transfer guide)

Introduction to Canadian Foreign Policy

Students will examine the history and current state of the foreign and defence policies of Canada. They will also study the following specific areas: domestic and foreign influences on policy, governmental structures affecting policy, the interplay of trade, defence and diplomatic decision-making. Students will appraise recent policy initiatives with a view to developing an understanding of Canada's place in the global community.

Prerequisites: POLI 1120 or 1125

Nationalism in Canadian Politics

Students will probe the intersection of nationalism and ideology in Canadian politics, examining varieties of Canadian nationalism, and the challenges that Quebec and aboriginal nationalisms pose to the Canadian state. They will also engage multicultural visions of Canadian nationhood. Students will gain an enriched understanding of the diversity and complexity of nationalism in Canada, a deeper command of key moments in Canadian thought, and a sharpened sense of the normative problems involved in nationalism.

Prerequisites: POLI 1125  (POLI 1110 or 1120 recommended)  

Comparative Transborder Studies

Students will acquire a factual and conceptual framework for the comparative analysis of transborder regions. They will analyze two types and two levels of transborders: peaceful and conflictual, and regional-continental, and local. Students will review a spectrum of transborder areas in the Americas, West and East Europe, and Asia. They will address the challenges of multi-level governance in the 21st century in the context of case studies of peaceful transborder regions. Students will analyze the political, social, economic and environmental impacts of transborder integration; the tension between nation-state, inter-governmentalism and supra-nationalism; identity, citizenship and democracy; and the status of transborders in domestic and world affairs.

Prerequisites: POLI 2130 or 2131 and (ENGL 1100 or LPI Score 36)

Transferable (refer to transfer guide)

Government and Politics of India

Students will explore the political economy of South Asia in general and India in particular. They will also explore some of the conceptual frameworks in which the politics of the South Asian region is studied. Students will develop a critical understanding of similarities and differences in the preconceptions of these frameworks, their basic tenets and relevant insights. They will be able to address more specialized issues related to the government and politics of India within a comprehensive conceptual framework of development and modernization.

Prerequisites: POLI 2140 or 2130

Transferable (refer to transfer guide)

Foreign Policies of the Major Powers

Students will acquire a factual and conceptual comparative framework of foreign policy as practiced by major powers. They will analyze the types of powers, various foreign policies, styles of foreign policy, constellation of the major powers and the target audience of the major powers. Students will review some case studies on the challenges arising to, and by, the major powers. They will explore, debate, and compare theories to develop a solid grasp of the different theoretical perspectives of the foreign policies of major powers, and will establish their own theoretical preferences.

Prerequisites: POLI 2150 or 2130

Corequisites: POLI 2147 and ENGL 1100 (or LPI Score 36)

Transferable (refer to transfer guide)

American Foreign Policy

Students will examine the historical patterns of U.S. foreign policy and the U.S. Soviet rivalry during the Cold War era. They will discuss the challenges faced by the U.S., its increasing reliance on unilateralism, and the response of other great powers to the U.S. in the post-Cold War era. Students will also examine the sources of American foreign policy and will explore the linkages among political institutions, the policy formulation process, and policy outcomes.

Prerequisites: POLI 2147 (POLI 2130 and 3100 recommended)

International Organization

Students will acquire a basic knowledge of the nature, activities, and problems of international organizations in political, economic, and social issue-areas. They will analyze the historical evolution, structural mechanisms, and governance styles of these organizations in addressing various global problems. Students will critically examine the most prominent theoretical and conceptual approaches to the analysis of international organizations, with particular emphasis on the notions of multilateralism and global governance.

Prerequisites: POLI 2147 (POLI 2130 recommended)

Chinese Government and Politics

Students will learn the characteristics of the Chinese civilization, the reform and revolution in the pre-Communist era, the Communist road to power, the development of Chinese politics from 1949 to the present, and China's international relations.

Prerequisites:POLI 1125 (POLI 2145 strongly recommended)

Transferable (refer to transfer guide)