This course will consider crucial questions about the potential extension of the rule of law, which has brought a degree of peace to many domestic societies, to the global arena to make the international system more stable. Through lectures, guest speakers, and site visits, this course will encourage students to consider and engage diverse perspectives […]
Fall 2020
Fall 2020
Identity and Intergroup Conflict
This course explores the dynamic and complex relationship between identity and post-modern intra-state and international conflict with the emphasis on the role of different forms of identities both in the emergence of conflicts and in processes of conflict resolution and transformation. For example, ethnic groups participate in civil wars more than any other types of […]
Capital Sustainability
Washington, DC is in a unique position to be a role model as a modern sustainable national capital. In this course, we will ask what a sustainable DC could look like and how to pursue those visions. Our topics will include human development, equitability, and environmental sustainability including both conservation and climate change. Recent city […]
Presidential Scandals
“Watergate. Iran-Contra. The Clinton impeachment and the Trump impeachment. Major scandals have been a recurring feature of several modern American presidencies, and studying them as a group can provide insight into the following key questions: how do we define a presidential scandal? How have presidents used the powers of their office to respond to them? […]
The South Got Sumn To Shake
“Often devalued for being too simplistic and focused on dance, southern hip hop is criticized as making a mockery of “real” hip hop, or lacking “lyricism”—calling into question the authenticity and intelligence of southern hip hop artists. Its defenders, however, promote southern hip hop as a deeply complex subgenre that both touches on relevant social […]
Money Matters
This course is designed to teach students how individual choices directly influence future earning potential, long term financial well-being and personal happiness. It integrates economics, accounting, psychology and personal finance concepts to help students of all majors make informed financial decisions and better understand the implications of economic events. The course will provide the critical […]
Black is Beautiful
When 1960s civil rights activists chanted “black is beautiful,” they were placing the beauty of black people and black culture at the center of their pursuit of justice. Why would they do such a thing? In this course we will try to answer this question by wondering aloud about the social force of artistic beauty. […]
Responding to Atrocities
Although many prefer to view the modern age as one of progress and enlightenment, it has also witnessed some of history’s worst atrocity crimes; that is crimes against humanity, genocide, and war crimes. What makes these crimes so horrific is not only their magnitude but also the fact that they were usually carried out by […]
Art, Activism and Social Change
This course covers a range of topics, disciplines, theoretical frameworks, and case studies that question how people create visual art objects that have political and social effects, including how art helps to advance the work of activists and how artists enable activists to think more creatively. Further, what role do academics play in this equation? […]
The Game Behind the Game
This course explores the cultural myths which have been foundational to the invention of basketball in America. From the myth of an “essence of the game” discovered by its Presbyterian inventor in 1891 to the NBA’s myth of “playing the right way,” the sport of basketball embodies a set of collective narratives that re-inscribe a […]