Political Science Department

This course provides a basic introduction to the study of politics by exploring key concepts, ideas and debates that are important for understanding political life. Topics covered include the nature of politics, varieties and dimensions of political power, political authority and the state. Students will be introduced to both traditional and contemporary political ideologies. Credit will be granted for only one of PSCI 101 or PSCI 100. Three credits.

International relations and national politics shape political life today. This course examines various forms of government and compares political systems and processes, electoral systems, and public policies. It introduces students to the international state system and relations among states, covering topics such as co-operation and conflict, alliances and international organizations, war and peace, the global economy and contemporary global issues. Credit will be granted for only one of PSCI 102 or PSCI 100. Three credits.

A critical textual analysis of ancient and medieval thinkers such as Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Aquinas and Augustine, with emphasis on their political thought. This course will stress the continuing relevance of these thinkers to current politics and the search for the just society. Credit will be granted for only one of PSCI 201 or PSCI 200. Cross-listed as PHIL 201. Prerequisites: PSCI 101, 102. Three credits.

A critical textual analysis of modern thinkers such as Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Kant, Mill, and Marx, with emphasis on their political thought. This course will stress the continuing relevance of these thinkers to current politics and the search for the just society. Credit will be granted for only one of PSCI 200 or PSCI 202. Cross-listed as PHIL 202. Prerequisites: PSCI 101, 102. Three credits. (PSCI 201 recommended).

This course covers comparative politics and/or regional politics as a field of study and prepares students for upper level courses in the field. It will present the basic methodological and theoretical tools in the field and take a close look at countries whose political institutions, culture, and policies are similar or closely related to Canada’s. These countries may include Great Britain, France, Germany, Sweden, or Australia, among others. Prerequisites: PSCI 101, 102. Three credits.

This course covers comparative politics and/or regional politics as a field of study, and prepares students for upper level courses in the field. It examines the evolution and diversity of governments in countries whose political institutions, culture, policies differ from Canada’s. These countries may include Russia, China, Brazil, Japan, Iran, India or Nigeria, among others. Prerequisites: PSCI 101, 102. Three credits.

This course covers the key political structures and institutions of the Canadian state (the Constitution, the political executive, parliament, federalism, intergovernmental relations, the public service and the courts) which constrain, shape and give impetus to Canadian politics, governance and decision-making. Prerequisites: PSCI 101, 102. Three credits.

This course will focus on the Canadian political environment and cover the cultural, social, and regional context of how citizens interact with the Canadian state. Topics covered include political culture, parties and elections, interest groups, social movements, and the implications for the political process of key social divisions such as gender, language, and race. Language politics, multiculturalism, the women’s movement, and Indigenous peoples will receive attention. The course concludes with a discussion of Canada’s global affairs. Prerequisites: PSCI 101, 102. Three credits.

This course introduces U.S. government with a focus on the historical development of American political institutions. It examines the U.S. federal system and constitutional development, as well as executive, legislative, and judicial powers with particular attention to the founding and its enduring legacy in American political culture. Prerequisites: PSCI 101, 102. Three credits.

This course examines the historical roots and the current contours of the business-government relationship. While the focus is on Canada, conditions in other advanced capitalist states will be considered. Topics include the mechanisms of business power, the micro-politics of industries and case studies of corporate-state relations. Credit will be granted for only one of PSCI 240 or PSCI 241. Prerequisites: PSCI 101, 102. Three credits.

This course examines international relations as a field of study, offering a comprehensive survey of the conceptual, theoretical, and historical foundations of global politics. It provides students with a wide range of analytical and interpretive tools to make sense of global politics and prepare them for more advanced courses in international relations. Credit will be granted for only one of PSCI 251 or PSCI 250. Prerequisites: PSCI 101, 102. Three credits.

This course examines a set of contemporary problems and issues in global politics, focusing primarily on security-related questions, the politics of international economic relations, and transnationalism. Among the topics examined are: international security, nuclear deterrence and proliferation, humanitarian intervention, terrorism, economic globalization and its consequences, the problem of poverty and development for the global South, environmental challenges, new transnational actors, and global governance. Credit will be granted for only one of PSCI 252 or PSCI 250. Prerequisites: PSCI 101, 102. Three credits.

A critical study of liberal political theory, its basic concepts and its limitations in a multi-cultural age. Theorists considered include John Stuart Mill, John Rawls, Joseph Raz, Charles Taylor, John Gray and Wendy Brown. Prerequisites: PSCI 101, 102 and 3 credits of PSCI at the 200 level (202 recommended). Three credits.

This course examines European integration since World War II, with emphasis on the European Community (EC) and European Union (EU), their institutions and policy processes, and the consequences of European unity for the political process in European societies. Prerequisites: PSCI 101, 102 and 6 credits of PSCI at the 200 level (251/252 recommended). Three credits.

The state is a central concept within the social sciences and one of the most significant sources of power in the modern world. Despite this, states today appear increasingly in crisis, with their very legitimacy questioned. In this course, we will explore the development of the modern state in order to better understand our present. Topics include: the power of disinformation; surveillance; Trump; and Black Lives Matter. The course concludes with a reflection on democracy. Cross-listed as SOCI 309. Prerequisites: PSCI 101, 102 and 6 credits of PSCI at the 200 level (211/212 recommended). Three credits.

This course examines political communications and their impact on public opinion and political behaviour, with a particular focus on Canadian media. The course will explore key themes, including: news construction and the media landscape, media effects and public opinion; mass media, social media, and political entertainment; and political communications on campaigns. Cross-listed as PGOV 319. Prerequisite: PGOV 101 or PSCI 101; or permission of the instructor. Three credits.

A course on modern government and politics in the four Atlantic provinces. Regional development and dependence are the themes within which students will explore federal-provincial relations, fiscal and administrative changes, development policies, political culture, and party systems. Prerequisites: PSCI 101, 102 and 6 credits of PSCI at the 200 level (221/222 recommended). Three credits.

This course is concerned with parties and elections in Canada. Topics include comparative party and electoral systems; the evolution of the Canadian party system; party leadership and financing; the electoral system; brokerage politics and political marketing election campaigns and voting behaviour. Prerequisites: PSCI 101, 102 and 6 credits of PSCI at the 200 level (221/222 recommended). Three credits.

As an introduction to Indigenous politics and governance in Canada, this course will cover the history of Indigenous-Crown relations, the political mobilization of Indigenous peoples, the constitutional entrenchment of their rights, key court decisions and political struggles, and governance challenges in the modern era. Topics to be covered include the treaty process, the Indian Act, Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal perspectives, citizenship and sovereignty, land claims and modern treaties, and various forms of self-government. Prerequisites: PSCI 101, 102 and 6 credits of PSCI at the 200 level (221/222 recommended). Three credits.

Human rights and international justice are important components of politics. This course examines the theoretical and practical concerns shaping the study and promotion of human rights today. Using a variety of material and case studies, we examine the debate over whether rights are universal; the institutions and organizations enforcing human rights; and the role states play in protecting human rights. A strong component of this class is state responses to massive human rights violations. Prerequisites: PSCI 101, 102 and 6 credits of PSCI at the 200 level (211/212 recommended). Three credits.

An examination of the impact of religion on politics and politics on religion. Students will consider the relationship between religion and politics in the Middle East, Northern Ireland, India and Pakistan, Eastern Europe and North America. Case studies will demonstrate interactions between the state and Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Judaism, as well as the influence of religion on citizenship, education, the party system, and social issues. Credit will be granted for only one of PSCI 336, PSCI 295, RELS 295. Cross-listed as RELS 336. Prerequisites: PSCI 101, 102 and 6 credits of PSCI at the 200 level (211/212 recommended). Three credits.

This course explores the relationship between law and politics, especially the role and influence of Supreme Courts, with a particular focus on Canada. Topics will include legal philosophy, the separation of powers, review of landmark judicial decisions, recent constitutional developments and their political implications, the continuing impact of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the judicialization of politics, rights litigation and prospects for political change, and the future of constitutional democracy. Prerequisites: PSCI 101, 102 and 36 credits of PSCI at the 200 level (221/222 recommended). Three credits.

An introduction to the study of women and politics, this course has three parts: feminist political thought and the women’s movement; political participation and representation; and public policy. Topics include feminist political thought in the Western political tradition; the evolution and politics of the women’s movement; political parties and legislatures; women and work; women and the welfare state. Cross-listed as WMGS 345. Prerequisites: PSCI 101, 102 and 6 credits of PSCI at the 200 level (211/212 recommended). Three credits.

A study of the development and role of international organizations in global politics, examining the achievements and limits of institutionalized multilateral cooperation among states. Institutions examined include the UN, NATO, the WTO, the IMF, and the World Bank. Prerequisites: PSCI 101, 102 and 6 credits of PSCI at the 200 level (251/252 recommended). Three credits.

This course examines the politics of international economic relations. Topics include transnational corporations and the globalization of production, the multilateral trade system and regionalism, the global monetary and financial system, and economic development in the global South. Cross-listed as DEVS 354. Prerequisites: PSCI 101, 102 and 6 credits of PSCI at the 200 level (251/252 recommended). Three credits.

This course examines the state’s supremacy and its capacity to manage such global issues as transnational flows of goods, services, money, and ideas; the phenomenon of failed states in the post-Cold War period; global environmental issues; weapons proliferation; terrorism and other forms of transnational crime; and the rise of transnational social activist groups. Cross-listed as DEVS 355. Prerequisites: PSCI 101, 102 and 6 credits of PSCI at the 200 level (251/252 recommended). Three credits.

An examination of contemporary international relations and foreign policies of major regional actors in East Asia including China, Japan, North and South Koreas, and the US. Topics include the political economy of East Asian regionalism, institution-building, the regional security complex, the rise of China, and the ongoing nuclear crisis in the Korean Peninsula. Places in the course are limited and a secondary application process will be announced to those registering on Banner. Prerequisites: PSCI 101, 102 and 6 credits of PSCI at the 200 level (251/252 recommended). Preference given to students who have taken PSCI 356. Three credits.

Countries in the developing world face a distinct set of political challenges, particularly as they relate to fostering economic growth and providing effective public services. This course will explore the political determinants of development as well as the effect of economic conditions on political outcomes. Key issues include the origins of state weakness, the relationship between political institutions and economic growth, the causes of corruption, and the effect of diversity on governance outcomes. Credit will be granted for only one of PSCI 371 or PSCI 370. Cross-listed as DEVS 371. Prerequisites: PSCI 101, 102 and 6 credits of PSCI at the 200 level (211/212 recommended). Three credits.

This course is all about asking interesting questions in political science and then coming up with ways to answer these questions. We will introduce the concept of variance and causality, units of analysis, and strategies for case selection. At the end of the course, students will be able to formulate research questions, generate a research design, and discuss a range of methodological approaches that can be used to explore the world of politics. Cross-listed as PGOV 304. Credit will be granted for only one of PSCI 397 or PSCI 399 offered up until 2019-2020. Prerequisites: PSCI 101, 102 and 6 credits of PSCI at the 200 level. Three credits.

This course introduces students to the use of quantitative analysis in political science. While studying the logic of statistical inference, students will learn practical skills, including survey questionnaire design, dataset management, and data presentation. By the end of the course students will be able to critically assess quantitative research and apply quantitative tools to pursue their own research questions. Cross-listed as PGOV 303. Prerequisites: PSCI 101, 102 and 6 credits of PSCI at the 200 level. Three credits.

This seminar deals with the analysis of power in Canadian politics, through the study of selected institutions, policy fields, and governance challenges. Prerequisites: PSCI 101, 102 and 6 credits of PSCI at the 200 level (211/212 recommended). Three credits.

This seminar examines advanced theories of International Relations and contemporary issues in global politics. Prerequisites: PSCI 101, 102, 251, 252. Three credits.

This seminar discusses major issues in comparative politics and examines the advanced theories, methods, and concepts in the field. Prerequisites: PSCI 101, 102 and 6 credits of PSCI at the 200 level (211/212 recommended). Three credits.

Restricted to students in the BA Honours program. Six credits.