Global Studies Course Descriptions

What does it mean to think globally? This discussion-based course invites students to explore how networks and flows of people, wealth, goods, ideas and information across vast distances have shaped human experience. Course materials draw on insights from a range of disciplines, enabling students to apply global perspectives to the study of issues such as identity, war, migration, commerce, artistic expression and communication. PREREQUISITES: Freshman or sophomore standing only; consent of instructor required for juniors and seniors

The so-called "Silk Road" was the world's first superhighway, linking East Asia to the Mediterranean. The peoples along the way not only traded luxury goods, but also ideas, technology, and more. This course offers a thematic examination of the dynamic, cross-cultural interactions along the ancient and medieval Silk Road. (G & C)

An introduction to world history from 500 to 1750. Attention to global change through the emergence of world systems, as well as the development of worldwide commercial and colonial empires. Thematic focus on the nature of cross-cultural relations and the dynamics of power and resistance. Special emphasis on analysis of documents and historical interpretations. (G&C or E)

This course introduces students to the rich artistic traditions generated by Islamic cultures from the 7th century onward. While considering the Umayyad, Abbasid, Ilkhanid, and Mughal dynasties, among others, we examine architecture, illuminated manuscripts, metalwork, ceramics, and more. A broad selection of readings and activities supplements class discussions on themes that include the role of art in Islam, relationships between art and power, and the importance of cross-cultural exchange.

An introductory study of the cultural, political, and economic interactions among states and non-state actors in global politics. Special attention is paid to key issues, including international security, foreign policy decision-making, and the role of diplomacy in promoting cooperation. Required for the interdisciplinary area in international studies.

Directed study follows a syllabus set primarily by the instructor to meet the needs or interests of an individual student or small group of students. The main goal of directed study is knowledge or skill acquisition, not research or creative work.

Examines contacts among various peoples between 1350 and 1750. Focus on cultural or ethnic identity, the role of power in relations between groups, and theoretical problems involved in such study. Examples include ancient and medieval cultural contacts, European settlement in North and South America, the African slave trade, and contacts among the peoples of Southeast Asia, India, China, and Japan. (G&C) PREREQUISITES: Sophomore standing or consent of instructor

For centuries, dream interpretation has been integrated into philosophical discourse, used as a political tool, and touted as proof of otherworldly activities. This seminar will examine dream theories as products of socio-cultural development in different historical contexts.

This course aims to develop an understanding of international economic issues and policies in open economies. The course will provide a general body of knowledge on topics such as gains from trade; patterns of trade; effect of trade on welfare; exchange rate policy regimes; international organizations; financial crises; and the effect of government policies on trade and the exchange rate. You will get exposed to economic modeling and learn analytical tools that can be applied to understand the changing world economy and analyze problems in international economic policy. You are encouraged to explore the potential and limitations of international economics in dealing with real-world problems. This course will assist you in improving your economic writing skills as well as your ability to read critically and understand discussions on international economic issues in the press. PREREQUISITES: ECON 100

What if we think of an ocean as a meeting place and not a barrier? Between 1400 and 1800 the peoples living in west Africa, western Europe, and the Atlantic coast of the Americas encountered each other with transformative, often devastating consequences. This course investigates the creation of this ""Atlantic World"" and the identities formed as a result, uncovering how wars, piracy, enslavement, and resistance unfolded on ships and at sea. (G&C) PREREQUISITES: Sophomore standing or consent of instructor

An introductory survey of premodern East Asia. Focus on multi-disciplinary approaches to understanding the diverse cultures in the region and the historical processes that bound those cultures together. (EA)

An introductory survey of modern East Asia. Focus on the ways in which East Asian cultures overlapped and interconnected with distinct experiences of modernity, empire, colonization, and semi-colonization. (EA)

This course will examine the religious motivations that have led religious groups to embrace global norms like human rights or reject them and turn to violence. We will examine liberation theology in Latin America and the writings of extremist thinker Sayyid Qutb. Much of the class will be centered on case studies such as Myanmar's Rohingya crisis where religion, immigration, and questions of human rights are at play. Offered in conjunction with Ripon College, with online interactions and travel to local places of worship. PREREQUISITES: Sophomore standing

An intermediate course with a rotating topic determined by faculty in the Global Studies program. Topics will be wide-ranging, but will include a global perspective and contribute to one of the four global studies thematic tracks (human security, global cities, nations and identities, or arts and exchange). May be repeated when topic is different.

The rhetoric surrounding technology invokes revolution and newness, but the products and services fit with the individualism of American (and global) views of self and society. We will examine both the positive visions offered by tech thinkers like Steward Brand and Ray Kurzweil, as well as the destructive results that occur as corporations “move fast and break things.” Students will complete a video critique of a digital platform. PREREQUISITES: Sophomore standing

This course provides an introduction to politics in less-developed countries, paying close attention to differences within the so-called developing world and the impact of economic realities on politics. In doing so, it addresses questions about the relationship between economic development and democracy and the impact of globalization on poor countries. PREREQUISITES: Sophomore standing and one of GOVT 110 or GOVT 140

Social entrepreneurs all over the world adopt and implement innovative ideas in order to address some of the world's most pressing problems. In this course, students will study the many dimensions of social entrepreneurship, especially those ventures that address problems of human security. Students will work with a team to propose an entrepreneurial solution to one such problem. PREREQUISITES: Sophomore standing or consent of instructor

We live in an interconnected world of culture, goods, services and decisions exceeding national borders, but how do we understand what is happening and why? This seminar will complement economics and politics by considering postcolonialism, Marxism, feminism, critical theory and cultural studies in understanding global trends. Students will engage with critical paradigms and cultural artifacts in reading responses, written papers and a culminating project.

This course provides an examination of the environment as an issue in world politics. Emphasis will be placed on the role of both state and non-state actors (i.e., the UN, NGOs) in global environmental regimes that are designed to deal with global warming, ozone depletion, and other environmental issues. Particular attention will be paid to the positions taken by both developed and developing countries. As part of the course, students will participate in a simulation of an international negotiation on an environmental issue. PREREQUISITES: Sophomore standing or ENST 150 or GOVT 110

This class studies the lasting effects of migration on London as a global city. We will analyze historic and current influxes of people and how they have changed the structure, identity, and culture of London. Students will explore London neighborhoods and meet people who have found a new home here. Assignments and experiential learning will allow students to fully engage with London in a meaningful way. Offered at the London Centre. PREREQUISITES: Must be attending the Lawrence London Centre.

An introduction to major postcolonial works in their literary, historical, and cultural contexts. Readings include novels by African, Asian, and Caribbean authors such as Chinua Achebe, Salman Rushdie, and Jean Rhys.

This course will focus on the diverse artistic production and consumption practices within Edo-period Japan (1603-1868). Topics include the revival of classical Heian narratives like The Tale of Genji, the rise of an urban bourgeois culture, the prints and paintings depicting kabuki actors, courtesans, and ghosts, the reification of the tea ceremony and encounters with the West through trade. PREREQUISITES: ARHI 101 or 175 or sophomore standing

This course explores the transformation of the cityscape in Tokyo, Seoul, and Shanghai. Topics include the emergence of the modern artist, the search for an “avant-garde” of the East, the modernization of public and private spaces, the introduction of film and photography and the rise of the “modern girl.” PREREQUISITES: ARHI 101 or 175 or sophomore standing

Over the past century, China has witnessed the arrival of Western Imperialism, mass rebellion, revolution, and radical reconstruction under the Communist regime. This class will trace how artists attempted to intervene in social life to change its course of development and how art continues to affect radical social change. PREREQUISITES: ARHI 101 or 175 or sophomore standing

This course introduces students to one of the world's great cities. Classwork includes the history, culture, and literature of Berlin as well as preparations for a series of day-long walking tours of the city that students will conduct themselves for their classmates with the help of a guidebook. In addition, students will conduct comparative research on some aspect of life in the U.S. or Germany. Students must complete both the classroom portion of the course and the Berlin trip to receive credit. Taught in English. Not open to students who have previously received or need to receive credit for GER 389.

This topics course will allow students to experience sites that highlight global issues (political, religous, environmental, or cultural) through a one- or two-week field experience accompanied by at least one professor. Students should register for this course in the term prior to the planned travel. Some field experiences will require registration in the term following the field experience in order to complete a research project.

Topic for 2018-19: Four Communities of Senegal
This class prepares students for a December trip to Senegal. It will give students the opportunity to experience the largest slave trading center on the Atlantic coast, and spend time in the current capital, Dakar. Students will learn about the lasting legacy of colonialism, the practice of Islam in Africa, and the challenges of urbanization in developing countries. This course will be conducted in English. Students will complete and present independent research during winter term.

An examination of the idea and the reality of nationalism in modern history. Among the questions we will ask are: Is nationalism a modern phenomenon, or does it have pre-modern origins? Is it compatible with democracy and human rights or fundamentally hostile to them? Is it primarily a European phenomenon transplanted to other places, or are there indigenous roots of nationalism throughout the world? We will attempt to answer these questions by reading theoretical works on nationalism from a variety of disciplines and by examining historical case studies. (G&C) PREREQUISITES: Sophomore standing or consent of instructor

This course aims at introducing students to the nature and role of literature in the francophone world. Selected pieces from various literary genres (folk tales, poetry, drama, and novels) by writers such as Césaire, Senghor, Diop, Bâ, Jalloun, Kateb, and Memmi will be read. Themes will include colonialism, resistance, and identity formation. PREREQUISITES: FREN 202 or consent of instructor

This course examines important questions about gender in the last thousand years of Chinese history. Through an exploration of primary sources in translation, classic works of fiction, film, memoirs, and oral histories, we will address theoretical questions fundamental to both gender studies and Chinese history. (EA) Units: 6. PREREQUISITES: Sophomore standing or consent of instructor

The course examines the history of ethnically diverse territories referred to as “Russia” from early modern times to 1991. Themes include the formation of the Russian empire, its transformation into the Soviet Union, and its partial collapse in 1991; the meaning of “empire,” “nation,” and “ethnicity” in historical context; and the interaction of Russians with non-Russian peoples in Ukraine, the Baltic States, Central Asia, and the Caucasus. (G&C) PREREQUISITES: Sophomore standing or consent of instructor; HIST 320 or 325 recommended

An introduction to the critical analysis of Latin American and Spanish film. Students will study a series of films and pertinent readings through class discussions, different types of assignments, and presentations. The course is organized around the central topic of the relationship between audiovisual representation and power. Students will explore different ways in which Latin American and Spanish cinema has portrayed hegemonic and non-hegemonic identities along lines of race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and socioeconomic status. Class taught in Spanish. Units: 6. PREREQUISITES: SPAN 202, its equivalent, or official placement and consent of instructor. Students who successfully completed SPAN 430 cannot register for GLST 330.

An analysis of patterns of interactions of state and non-state actors in a system without supreme authority, focusing on alternative theoretical frameworks rather than substantive problems. Special emphasis on “realist” and “liberal” theories; the nature and uses of power in international politics; and issues of security, including conventional war, weapons of mass destruction, terrorism, environmental decay, and migration. PREREQUISITES: GOVT 110 or 140 or sophomore standing

An overview of European colonialism in Africa and Asia, this course focuses on colonial ideologies in the 19th and 20th centuries. It will investigate the myths and realities of colonialism and compare the colonial practices of the Belgians, Dutch, English and French. Our analysis will be informed by essays written by leading colonial theorists, novels and films. Lecture/discussion with response essays and a final project. PREREQUISITES: Sophomore standing

This course focuses on literary responses to the Holocaust, but it also deals with film and the issue of commemoration. After a discussion of the difficulty of representing the Holocaust, the course examines the Holocaust’s role in the construction of German-Jewish identity and its impact on post-war German culture. Taught in English. German majors and minors may participate in a two-unit tutorial in which discussions and some course readings will be in German. PREREQUISITES: Sophomore standing or consent of instructor

This course examines Western encounters with China. Students will analyze and assess Western perceptions and misperceptions of China through a variety of primary sources in translation and relevant secondary studies. (G & C or E) PREREQUISITES: Sophomore standing

A study of the role of law in international politics. Attention to the distinctive nature of the international legal system and to the relevance of international law to the control of violence, promotion of peace, protection of human rights, and management of resources. Current problems and the outlook for the future world order are assessed. PREREQUISITES: GOVT 110 or GOVT 140 or sophomore standing

This course dispels racial myths of the European continent, introduces the Black Diaspora beyond the African American context, pushes the boundaries of belonging and national identity in Europe, and presents black individuals/collectives as historical agents and transnational actors on and beyond the continent. Course materials may consist of literature, poetry, music videos, film, and art. Assessments include short reflection papers, research papers, and oral presentations. Taught in English. German majors and minors may participate in a two-unit tutorial in which discussions and some course readings will be in German.

An introduction to one of the world's great cities. Classwork includes the history, culture and literature of Berlin and preparations for day-long walking tours that students will lead. Students will do some readings and discussions in German and write their comparative paper in German Students must completed both the classroom portion of the course and the Berlin trip to receive credit. Taught in English. Not open to students who have previously received credit for GER 290. PREREQUISITES: GER 312

A tutorial is a primarily student-driven course of study undertaken by an individual student or small group of students in collaboration with one or more faculty members. The primary goal of a tutorial is expansion, refinement, and synthesis of knowledge and abilities through in-depth exploration of a specific topic.

Directed study follows a syllabus set primarily by the instructor to meet the needs or interests of an individual student or small group of students. The main goal of directed study is knowledge or skill acquisition, not research or creative work.

Independent study is an opportunity to go beyond the established curriculum and undertake largely student-directed work that in most disciplines is expected to result in the generation of new scholarship or the creation of a new work or performance.

PREREQUISITES: Course requires permission of instructor. Contact Prof. Skran for more information about the application process.

This course is part of the Lawrence Francophone Seminar in which students study in French-speaking West Africa for ten weeks. Offered in alternate years. PREREQUISITES: Must be attending the LU Francophone Seminar

This course is part of the Lawrence Francophone Seminar in which students study in French-speaking West Africa for ten weeks. Offered in alternate years. PREREQUISITES: Must be attending the LU Francophone Seminar

This course is part of the Lawrence Francophone Seminar in which students study in French-speaking West Africa for ten weeks. PREREQUISITES: Must be attending the LU Francophone Seminar

An advanced discussion-focused course with a rotating topic determined by faculty in the global studies program. Topics will be wide-ranging, but will include a global perspective and contribute to one of the four global studies thematic tracks (human security, global cities, nations and identities, or arts and exchange). May be repeated when topic is different.

This course examines the French national self-image over the centuries, including the creation of a national historical narrative. We will also consider how defining the non-French, the foreigner, and especially the immigrant helps to reify national self-image. PREREQUISITES: One 300-level French course or consent of instructor

This course is designed to give students insights into the realities of contemporary France and other parts of the French-speaking world (Belgium, Switzerland, Québec, Vietnam, francophone Africa, and the Islands of the Pacific and Indian Ocean) through the study and discussion of literature, essays, film, art, and recent newspaper and magazine excerpts, as well as radio and television broadcasts from the French media. PREREQUISITES: One 300-level course or consent of instructor

In this course, we will think about how mediated representations shape our understanding of the world we live in by investigating the dynamic relationship between diverse forms of media (print, visual, and audio) and the French revolutions of the 19th century, as well as the Franco-Algerian War and the events of May 1968. PREREQUISITES: One 300-level course or consent of instructor

This course will address an advanced topic in the sub-field of Comparative Politics, such as democracy and authoritarianism, politics of the city, political participation and social movements, gender and politics, or the comparative method.

Topic for Fall 2024: Comparative Authoritarianism
PREREQUISITES: GOVT 215, or GOVT 245, or consent of instructor.
Description: This course explores the reasons for the persistence and apparent resilience of authoritarianism despite successive “waves” of democracy in the decades since World War II. Course materials will address the following questions: What are the different types of authoritarian regimes? What are the strategies authoritarian elites use to stay in power? What are the limitations of these strategies? Why do mass protests against authoritarian rulers arise when they do? How do authoritarian leaders learn from and support each other? And how do authoritarian regimes leave legacies long after they collapse?

Focusing on the works of writers and filmmakers such as Sembene Ousmane, Joseph Zobel, Aimé Césaire, D.T. Niane, Dani Kouyate, Euzhan Palcy and Raoul Peck the course examines the interface between the literary and filmic media in raising consciousness about societal challenges, nationhood, power and identity. It also analyzes the strengths and weaknesses of each medium in accomplishing these objectives. PREREQUISITES: 300-level French course or consent of instructor

An examination of music of a particular geographic region or diasporic group. Topics and prerequisites may vary from year to year. May be repeated when topic is different.

This course explores the intersections of Balinese music, dance, drama, and ritural. Discussions will include how globalization, tourism, and economic and religious tensions affect the arts and performer’s lives. Students will have hands-on experience learning to play Balinese gamelan instruments. PREREQUISITES: MUCO 212 or MUCO 202 or consent of instructor.

This course will investigate the dynamic reciprocal relationship between travel, real or imagined, and the development of a discourse on the Other. Drawing on the works of Montaigne, Graffigny, Rimbaud, Baudelaire, Loti, Celine, Maran, Dadié, and Beyala, the course will explore the writers’ fantasies in their attempt to acquaint us with the “exotic.” PREREQUISITES: One 300-level French course or consent of

This course explores the history of New Orleans from the colonial era to the present. Students will investigate the multiple racial and ethnic histories of identity construction that make New Orleans so significant to American culture today. Tracing identity constructions across the course of three centuries will allow us to understand some of the stakes in contested racialized categories and linguistic policies and practices today. The course explores the dominant tropes in New Orleans history: race, sex, carnival, jazz, prostitution, slavery, free people of color, and the environment. We will map the social, cultural, and political changes that occurred in New Orleans from colonial times to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. PREREQUISITES: HIST 130, 131, or 132

This seminar examines the history and contemporary life of “race” in France, from 18th-century French essays on the “races” of man, to the removal of the word “race” in 2018 from Article 1 of the French Constitution. Alongside literary/film written and oral analysis, we will deepen our historical and socio-cultural knowledge of French and American concepts, e.g. universalism, laïcité, intersectionality, “color-blindness,” minorités visibles. PREREQUISITES: One 300-level French course or consent of instructor.

How do forces of globalization affect musicians and music-making? How do people use music to make sense of their transnational and cross-border lives and identities? What happens to the meanings in music when it travels across borders and boundaries, is performed by new musicians in different contexts, and is heard by new listeners? What happens to local or ritual meanings when it becomes commodified and commercialized? Do international copyright laws adequately protect composers and musicians when their music travels, and what about when such laws are at odds with local notions of creation and ownership? This course explores answers to these questions through case studies on a variety of musical genres and places around the world. PREREQUISITES: MUCO 212 or GLST 100

In many societies around the world, people use music and specialized listening skills to connect with nature, specific places, and surrounding environments. This course will explore music performance practices that express or enact these connections. Course materials will draw on ethnographic case studies and the growing fields of ecomusicology, acoustic ecology, and zoomusicology. PREREQUISITES: MUCO 212 or MUCO 202 or ENST 127 or consent of instructor

This course examines the myths and realities of immigrant life through the writings of Maghrebin and sub-Saharan African francophone writers (Beyala, Diome, Boukedenna, Mounsi, Begag, and Chaouite). The course will address questions of identity, assimilation, acculturation, integration, alienation, and marginalization and various survival strategies. PREREQUISITES: One 400-level French course or consent of instructor

How did the national friendship forged during the “sister” American and French Revolutions devolve into the post-9/11 enmity-filled era of  “freedom fries” and widespread French-bashing? In this course, we will examine a variety of each nation’s diverse mutual representations in order to better understand the dynamic and often volatile nature of Franco-American cultural relations. PREREQUISITES: One 400-level course in French or consent of instructor

This course will focus on textual and cultural (re)presentations—including narratives, performance, film, photography and genre-defying texts—of the Central American-Mexio-U.S. borders, where spaces, race, violence and ethnicity become gendered. The course will cover the mid-1980s until contemporary times, a period tempered by the events of 9/11, as well as more recent political discourses focused on the border. Seminar with papers and a final project. PREREQUISITES: SPAN 300-level course or equivalent official placement

An interdisciplinary investigation of the aesthetics and ethics of representing human rights and their violations in literature and film. Texts include novels, plays, essays, and films on topics such as genocide, torture, and development. PREREQUISITES: Junior standing, ENG 280, or consent of instructor

What can literature teach us about inequality and the efforts to address it? This course explores select works that represent wealth, health, and environmental inequalities at home and abroad. PREREQUISITES: PREREQUISITES: Junior standing or consent of instructor

A study of the variations of black cultural nationalisms in the works of francophone writers from Africa and the Diaspora. This course examines the writers, challenge to the “Négritude” school and the ways in which they articulate plural and locational black identities to affirm their unique sense of national belonging. Readings from authors such as Senghor, Cé’saire, Laye, Condé’, Chamoiseau, Contant, and Glissant. PREREQUISITES: One 400-level French course or consent of instructor

A tutorial is a primarily student-driven course of study undertaken by an individual student or small group of students in collaboration with one or more faculty members. The primary goal of a tutorial is expansion, refinement, and synthesis of knowledge and abilities through in-depth exploration of a specific topic.

Directed study follows a syllabus set primarily by the instructor to meet the needs or interests of an individual student or small group of students. The main goal of directed study is knowledge or skill acquisition, not research or creative work.

Independent study is an opportunity to go beyond the established curriculum and undertake largely student-directed work that in most disciplines is expected to result in the generation of new scholarship or the creation of a new work or performance.

The culminating experience for the Global Studies major is a senior capstone in which students will produce a three-part portfolio: a reflection on their experience in the major, a revision of a paper or project from another course, and a presentation of the reflection or revision.

A tutorial is a primarily student-driven course of study undertaken by an individual student or small group of students in collaboration with one or more faculty members. The primary goal of a tutorial is expansion, refinement, and synthesis of knowledge and abilities through in-depth exploration of a specific topic.

Directed study follows a syllabus set primarily by the instructor to meet the needs or interests of an individual student or small group of students. The main goal of directed study is knowledge or skill acquisition, not research or creative work.

Independent study is an opportunity to go beyond the established curriculum and undertake largely student-directed work that in most disciplines is expected to result in the generation of new scholarship or the creation of a new work or performance.