RIN431Diplomatic and Consular Law
3 credits | Pré-requis: DRG300.1
This course is about the organization of diplomatic and consular posts, and the immunities and privileges attached to it according to the Vienna Conventions.
POL331European Union: History, Organization and Political Challenges
3 credits
This course covers the history of the European Union and the political and economic context of its foundation. It deals with its organization, its institutions, its political issues, particularly those of its foreign policy, its economic power, etc. It addresses geographical, cultural, religious and linguistic features and their role in the formation of the European Union and in its enlargement. It focuses on the Euromed project that encompasses the countries of the European Union and the Mediterranean.
RIN441Existing and Emerging World Powers
3 credits
This course covers the political and economic issues of world powers: the United States, France, Britain, Germany, and Russia. It also addresses the emerging world powers: China, India, Brazil, and South Africa.
POL336History of Political Thought
3 credits
This course covers the history of political thought, from ancient times to contemporary history. Particular attention is paid to concepts such of democracy, citizenship, the birth of the states, revolutionary movements, liberalism, socialism and conservatism.
DRG225International Public Law
3 credits | Pré-requis: DRG240.1
This course enables students to learn about the subjects of international law and their legal status; such as, states, organizations, and private persons, and the sources of international law; such as, treaties, customs, general principles, unilateral acts, jurisprudence, etc. The course also discusses the general questions of international law, i.e. questions of law making, sovereignty, jurisdiction, responsibility, enforcement, the settlement of disputes, and specific topics such as the use of force.
POL340Internship and simulation
3 credits
This course introduces students to the conduct of political training and research using simulation technique, game theory methods and internship in appropriate institutions submitting report at its accomplishment. This will be done in the context of specific political and IR research activities like public opinion surveys, voting behavior, decision making systems, comparisons of political processes in different countries, and the evaluation of public policies making. Students participate in joint class projects and conduct individual projects. This course will be divided in two parts: internship and simulation.
RIN210Introduction to Comparative Politics
3 credits
The main goal of this course is to provide students with the necessary analytical tools to understand the relevance of the State as a political institution. The first part of the course will be focused on the theoretical approaches to understand how important is the State for the political game (Hans Kelsen, Hermann Heller, and Carl Schmitt). The second part of this course will be addressed to the presentation and explanation of the evolution registered by the State, Constitution, and Declaration of Rights. Finally, the course will present the political game between Government and Parliament to understand how these two can affect the political process and policies.
SPO451Lebanon’s Political Regime
SPO442Negotiations and Conflict Resolutions
3 credits
This course is of practical nature, intended to prepare students to address the different forms of international negotiations: individual diplomatic negotiations, labor delegations, international trade negotiations, how to resolve political, ethnic, community, and economic conflicts. This education is provided by practitioners in the field, such as diplomats and international businessmen.
POL335Politics and Mass Media
3 credits
Political power remains voiceless or even nonexistent if it does not communicate with the masses, and it is put in danger if it communicates poorly. At its worst it can become autocratic, communicating one way. This course is responding to the question of how to call upon mass communication without manipulating which, this is the policy issue in democracy and the main focus of this course.
RIN452Regional and International Organizations
3 credits
This course offers an historical overview of international organizations since 1944, and tries to establish a classification system of these organizations depending on their competences, structures and missions on the level of international or regional organization, cooperation or integration. The course will particularly focus on the Arab League and specific UN organizations.
RIN443The ArabIsraeli Conflict
3 credits
This course considers the history of the ArabIsraeli conflict since the founding of the State of Israel and its impact on the regional and international political map, including: the interference of international powers in this conflict, the political contexts of the wars of 1956, 1967, 1973, 1982, and the process of peace (the peace conference in Madrid, the Oslo Accords, and the peace treaty between Israel and Jordan), the problem of the Golan Heights and the Shebaa Farms.
RIN451Theories of International Relations
3 credits
This class will focus on the most important schools of thought and their approach to international relations. The main theoretical movements that will be covered include: Realism, Liberalism, Transnationalism, Marxism and Constructivism.
RIN442Transnational Movements and Non-State Actors in World Politics
3 credits
This course deals with movements that do not position themselves necessarily under the traditional influence of the states, whether NGOs, lobbies, or Diasporas, all of which seem to obey their own logic. This class mainly attempts to explain their recent development, especially through international social movements, in the field of environmental protection and the phenomenon of globalization.
RIN444Water and Energy Issues in Regional Politics
3 credits
This course considers the issue of waters and rivers in Turkey and in the Middle East, international and interstate conventions and agreements concerning water, strategies and regional water conflicts, large water projects established and executed in the region, the water needs of states and water projects in Lebanon.