Political Studies

POLI 100  (3)  Identities and Communities: An Introduction to Politics

An introduction to the study of politics through an examination of contemporary issues and problems, Canadian and international. Topics include changing political ideals and ideologies, the interaction of political actors and institutions and the impact of globalizing forces on national governments and politics. (3:0:0)

Prerequisite: None.

POLI 151  (3)  Law and Politics in Canada

An introduction to the Canadian judicial system in its contemporary political context. Topics include the courts and the constitution, parliament and law-making, the evolving significance of the Charter of Rights and selected judicial decisions. (3:0:0)

Prerequisite: None.

POLI 199  (3)  The Theory and Practice of Politics

An introduction to political engagement and awareness. Based upon the instructor's practical political experience, it is intended to stimulate interest in, and awareness of, how politics actually operates in a democratic and open society. The fundamental question to be addressed is why politics and politicians are seemingly held in such low esteem. (3:0:0)

Prerequisite: None.

POLI 200  (3)  International Peace and Security

An examination of causes of war and peace, and human and national security over time. Topics include great power rivalries, foreign policy analysis, contemporary problems such as global terrorism and humanitarian crises due to genocide, intra-state conflict, and refugee flows across borders. (3:0:0)

Prerequisite: None.

POLI 201  (3)  An Introduction to International Political Economy

An examination of global political economic relations. Topics include North-South relations over time, globalization and its impact on states, inter-state relations and non-state actors, and contemporary global challenges related to an interdependent world such as global environmental and health issues. (3:0:0)

Prerequisite: None.

POLI 220  (3)  American Politics and Government

A study of American politics and government, including American political culture, the constitution and federalism, political parties and the electoral process, interest group politics, the Congress and the Presidency, bureaucracy, the judiciary and state and local governments. (3:0:0)

POLI 221  (3)  Canadian Politics and Government

A study of the institutions of Canadian politics and government. Topics include the constitution and major institutions of governance, political culture and socialization, ideologies, the media, political parties, interest groups, and elections. POLI 221 was formerly called POLI 121, POLI 122, POLI 222; credit will not be granted for both courses. (3:0:0)

Prerequisite: None.

POLI 228  (3)  Urban and Regional Government and Politics

A study of Canadian urban, regional government, and politics in the context of globalization. From the history of local and urban government institutions and self-governance within the Indian Act, the course moves to more specific components of urban and regional government and politics that are important to our region. (3:0:0)

Prerequisite: None.

POLI 231  (3)  Comparative Politics

An examination of various government institutions and political processes throughout the world in a comparative context. Topics include theoretical perspectives and case studies including the Great Britain, France, Germany, Russia, India, China, Japan, Mexico, Brazil, Nigeria, and Israel. POLI 231 was formerly called POLI 101; credit will not be granted for both courses. (3:0:0)

Prerequisite: None.

POLI 245  (3)  Ideologies and Political Thought

An introduction to the clash of major political ideologies in modern politics, including conservatism and neoconservatism, liberalism, socialism, fascism, nationalism, anarchism, and the ideologies of new social movements. Credit will not be granted for both POLI 245 and 112. Credit will only be granted for one of POLI 112 or POLI 245. (3:0:0)

Prerequisite: None.

POLI 260  (3)  Justice and the Good Life: an Introduction to Political Thought

What is justice? What is freedom? Is there a proper goal for a good and happy life? Does the individual's good conflict with the common good? Does might make right? These and other timeless questions are explored through classical texts from such thinkers as Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli,and Hobbes. (3:0:0)

Prerequisite: None.

POLI 300  (3)  International Organizations

An examination of the role of international organizations within the context of the international political system with a focus on the United Nations and its components. Topics will include peace and security, the implementation of international regimes, economic and social development and international organizations as a potential source of employment. (3:0:0)

Prerequisite: Third-year standing.

POLI 301  (3)  Implementing Human Rights

An examination of definitions, issues, debates, and challenges surrounding the global implementation of human rights since 1945. Topics include various aspects of human rights violations around the world and the solutions offered by a variety of private and public actors. (3:0:0)

Prerequisite: Third-year standing.

POLI 302  (3)  Political Dimensions of International Development

An examination of the political aspects of development theory and practice over the past half century. Topics include in-depth analyses of case studies from Africa, Latin America, and Asia. Studies cover a broad spectrum of actors and levels analysis ranging from the global-institutional levels to the local and individual levels. (3:0:0)

Prerequisite: Third-year standing.

POLI 320  (3)  American Foreign Policy

An examination of the development of American foreign policy through various presidencies to the present. Topics include the presidency and the domestic sources of foreign policy-making. This course will also examine the current issues and challenges to the United States as it pursues its national interests abroad. (3:0:0)

Prerequisite: Third-year standing.

POLI 321  (3)  Canadian Foreign Policy

An examination of the development of Canadian foreign policy from 1867 to the present, with most of the attention focused on issues and problems emerging since 1945. Topics also include the domestic sources of foreign policy-making, Canadian-American relations, as well as Canada's recent commitments to international institutions and development. (3:0:0)

Prerequisite: Third-year standing.

POLI 330  (3)  Comparative Public Policy

An examination of the formulation and evaluation of public policy through a comparative approach. Topics may include those issues addressed by different governments such as education, health, environment, immigration, indigenous peoples, and international trade policy. POLI 330 was formerly called POLI 230; credit will not be granted for both courses. (3:0:0)

Prerequisite: None.

POLI 335  (3)  Asian Governments and Politics

A comparative analysis of the political processes and institutions of government in Asia with special emphasis on the Pacific Rim states including Japan, Korea, Indonesia, and China. POLI 335 was formerly called POLI 240; credit will not be granted for both courses. (3:0:0)

Prerequisite: Third-year standing.

POLI 340  (3)  Equality, Freedom, Authority: Modern Political Thought

What justifies human rights? Is healthy community threatened by liberal individualism? Is inequality justifiable? These questions and topics such as the nature of modern states, the justifications for political authority, theories of justice, and alternatives to liberal political thought, will be examined through central political thinkers from the Enlightenment to today. (3:0:0)

Prerequisite: POLI 260 is recommended.

POLI 345  (3)  Democratic Theory and Practice

An examination of fundamental and contemporary debates around the practice and ideal of democracy. Topics may include: the justness of democratic rule; the ennobling of democratic citizenship; democratization; participatory versus representative democracy; the nature of democratic representation and leadership; the tension between liberty and equality; deliberative and radical democracy. (3:0:0)

Prerequisite: Third-year standing.

POLI 360  (3)  Canadian Federalism and Public Policy

An examination of the constitutional, political, social, economic and cultural bases of Canadian federalism, the dynamics of contemporary intergovernmental relations, and the impact of the federal system on public policy. (3:0:0)

POLI 370  (3)  Selected Topics in Provincial Politics

Advanced study of provincial politics in Canada. Topics may include the study of politics in a single Canadian province, comparative provincial politics and federal-provincial relations. Issues include the challenge to provinces posed by the continuing uncertainty over Canadian federation and the problems of social and economic union in the post-deficit era. (3:0:0)

Prerequisite: Third-year standing.

POLI 390  (3)  Selected Topics in Political Theory

Presentation of various topics in Political Theory. Students should ask the Department Chair about when the course is to be offered and what substantive areas are to be studied. Students may take this course up to three times provided it is a different topic each time. (3:0:0)

Prerequisite: None.

POLI 391  (3)  Selected Topics in Canadian Politics and Government

Presentation of various topics in Canadian Politics and Government. Students should ask the Department Chair about when the course is to be offered and what substantive areas are to be studied. The course may be taken this course up to three times provided it is a different topic each time. (3:0:0)

Prerequisite: None.

POLI 392  (3)  Selected Topics in Comparative Politics

Presentation of selected topics in Comparative Politics. Topics vary and students should ask the Department Chair about when the course is to be offered and what substantive areas are to be studied. Students may take this course up to three times provided it is a different topic each time. POLI 392 was formerly called POLI 310; credit will not be granted for both courses. (3:0:0)

Prerequisite: None.

POLI 393  (3)  Selected Topics in International Relations

Presentation of various topics in International Relations. Students should ask the Department Chair about when the course is to be offered and what substantive areas are to be studied. Students may take this course up to three times provided it is a different topic each time. (3:0:0)

Prerequisite: None.

POLI 400  (3)  Theories of International Relations

An examination of theories of international relations as they relate to power, foreign policy and statecraft, international political economy, the state and globalization, international conflict and world order (3:0:0)

Prerequisite: Third-year standing.

POLI 440  (3)  Contemporary Themes in Political Thought

An examination of recent issues in political theory which may include multiculturalism and the rights or minorities, current developments in democratic theory, and the future of the nation state in the global economy. Emphasis on attempting to recast the terms of some seemingly intractable problems of contemporary politics in ways that promise to open up new possibilities for political practice. (0:3:0)

Prerequisite: Third-year standing.

POLI 457  (3)  Public Policy and Global Resources

The politics of resource policy in a global context, including minerals, forests and fish, in Canadian and international contexts. Topics may include international trade, environmental impacts, and national security. (3:0:0)

Prerequisite: Third-year standing.

POLI 470  (3)  Canadian Political Economy in a Global Era

A study of key concepts and schools of thought in Political Economy, providing an overview of liberal, socialist, and staples approaches to political economy and to our understanding of Canadian economic and political development. Topics include the history of resource dependency, regionalism, and continental and global integration. (3:0:0)

Prerequisite: Third-year standing. POLI 221 strongly recommended.

POLI 490  (3)  Senior Project I

Independent research under the supervision of an available faculty member. To be taken after consultation with the Department Chair. (0:3:0 for 30 weeks)

Prerequisite: Enrolled in B.A. Minor in Political Science.

POLI 491  (3)  Senior Project II

A continuation of POLI 490. To be taken after consultation with the Department Chair. (0:3:0)

Prerequisite: POLI 490.