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TSMIN 200 International Interactions (5) I&S
Interdisciplinary study of the origins and interactions of diverse societies and the traditions in the modern world. Topics may include revolution, ecology, group and individual identity, nationalism and oppression, economic development and social change, world views, art and spiritual life. Content and approach varies with instructor.
Instructor Course Description:
Michael Forman
Johann Reusch
TSMIN 224 Modern Latin America (5) I&S
Provides multi-disciplinary examination of Latin America with social science emphasis. Discusses history of the region, sociological analysis of various Latin American institutions (the Church, the military, the labor movement). Considers migration issues and development economics, including a brief section on culture. examines of contemporary Latin American political and social issues.
TSMIN 229 Making of Modern Africa (5) I&S
Examines how African societies came to be and as they are today. Examines aspects of the experience of five centuries of the African Diaspora as they affected Africa and its peoples.
TSMIN 310 Modern European Political Theory (5) I&S
Examines the emergence and development of modern European political thought through selected works by some of its most important exponents. Analyzes answers to questions about the nature of a political community, about citizenship and rights, about the evolving meaning of freedom, equality, and democracy.
Instructor Course Description:
Michael Forman
TSMIN 311 International Human Rights (5) I&S
Team-oriented research of the historical origins, theories, basic documents, personalities, institutions, and legal and political processes which have promoted international human rights as a widely accepted legal and moral foundation for a just world order.
TSMIN 312 19th Century Revolutions and Revolutionaries (5) I&S Forman
Examines the major revolutionary events and ideas of the 19th century: liberalism, socialism, nationalism, and anarchism. Emphasizes discussion of political theories, movements, and their relationships to underlying historical processes. Ends with consideration of how these revolutions and revolutionaries helped define the political agenda for 20th century.
TSMIN 313 Making of Russia (5) I&S
Considers historical, social, and cultural forces creating the Russian Empire. Examines Russia’s Kievan past, Mongol era, rise of Moscow, the country’s transformation under Peter the Great and his heirs, and social and political movements that resulted in the Tsarist system’s collapse. Films, music, and slides supplement lectures and discussions.
TSMIN 314 Twentieth-Century Revolutions (5) I&S
An interdisciplinary look at four major 20th-century revolutions: Russia, China, Cuba, and Nicaragua. Begins with political theories of revolution, then discusses the historical process which accomplished each of the four revolutions, and ends with a discussion of how these revolutions established political legitimacy and culture.
TSMIN 315 Europe in the Twentieth Century (5) I&S
Examines major political, social, and cultural developments in 20th century Europe. Explores the two world wars, fascism and communism as alternatives to parliamentary democracy, Europe’s remarkable revival since 1945, and concludes with an examination of the integration of Europe and its prospects for re-establishing its world prominence.
Instructor Course Description:
Johann Reusch
TSMIN 320 Confucianism and East Asian Modernity (5) I&S
Examines elements of the Confucian tradition which have left a distinctive imprint on the social, political, and economic life of modernized, but not “Westernized,” East Asian societies.
TSMIN 322 Comparative Perspectives on East Asian and Latin American Development (5) I&S
Focuses on two important regions of the world, broadly comparing historical, cultural, and social experiences and relating these differences in experiences in specific Pacific Rim and Latin American countries. Examines how internal dynamics of these regions has shaped their standing in the world economy despite external political and economic constraints.
TSMIN 323 The Making of Mexico (5) I&S
Considers the principal historical, social, and cultural forces that have been at work in creating the Republic of Mexico. Examines the country’s pre-Columbian past, the colonial era, the movement for independence, the Mexican Revolution, and the period of construction during the middle decades of the 20th century. Films, music, and slides supplement the lectures and discussions.
TSMIN 325 Mexico: Problems and Perspectives (5) I&S
Examines Mexico’s present-day predicament in the light of its past. Explores major current issues of overpopulation, unemployment, environmental pollution, education, and political pluralism by comparing them with Mexico’s historic experiences. Incorporates sociological, economic, cultural, and political analysis in a historical context.
TSMIN 326 Modern Brazil (5) I&S
Traces the development of modern Brazil from independence to the present. Emphasizes populism, the evolution of the military, the economic miracle, and contemporary social issues.
TSMIN 328 Third World Problems and Prospects (5) I&S
Examines contemporary issues and problems faced by the developing world. Considers economic development, resource use, and aspects of neocolonialism. Discusses selected topics relevant to individual Third World regions and presents case studies.
TSMIN 340 War and Empire in the Middle East (5)
Comprehensive analysis of Middle Eastern Conflicts from WWI to the present time, from a political and economic point of view. Explores the encounter of Western culture and the Middle East through war and empire building, with emphasis on religious, ideological, political, and economic differences.
TSMIN 410 Caribbean Basin: Selected Topics (5) I&S
Covers selected themes concerning the region comprised of the Caribbean Islands, Central America, Venezuela, and Colombia. May be repeated for credit with instructor’s approval.
TSMIN 411 Human Rights and Violence in the Third World (5) I&S
Examines political violence and human rights concerns in under-developed regions. Establishes broad, inclusive definitions of violence and human rights.
TSMIN 412 History of Vietnam (5) I&S
Examines Vietnamese history, culture, and society from the earliest days through the 1980s. Offered: Sp.
TSMIN 413 Premodern Japan (5) I&S
Explores how, from its prehistory to the 17th century, Japan has blended native traditions with continental Chinese influences to create its own civilization. Examines the political, economic, social, and intellectual factors that have shaped Japan in the premodern age. Provides a background to understanding the development of modern Japan.
TSMIN 414 Modern China (5) I&S
Traces the 19th and 20th century Chinese experience through China’s struggles to modernize, its revolutionary experience, and the establishment and continuation of communist rule. Examines China’s transformation from imperial rule to “People’s Republic” by exploring political and economic change, and social, cultural, and intellectual change in an historical framework.
TSMIN 415 Modern Japan (5) I&S
Traces the transformation of Japan from a feudal country under Tokugawa military rule in the 19th century to an economic super-power in the 20th century. In addition to historical and political issues, addresses social and cultural topics, as will the clash of traditional Japan with the modern, industrialized West.
TSMIN 416 Modern Korea (5) I&S
Traces Korea’s transition from traditional Asian state to modern nation emerging on the world economic scene. Explores how, because of its geographic location, Korea has suffered chaotic change in the modern period. Examines Korean society, culture, and politics, looking at Korea’s period as a Japanese colony, the division of Korea, the Korean war, and recent developments.
TSMIN 417 Siberia and the Russian Far East (5) I&S
Examines the geography and natural resources, peoples, history, literature, culture, and economic development of Siberia and the Russian Far East from their beginnings to the present day. Recommended prerequisite: previous study of Russian or Soviet history, politics, or culture.
TSMIN 418 Interpreting Enigmatic India (5) I&S
Introduces the politics and economics of modern India. Using a historical approach, examines India as a "nation-state" and its attempts to resist global capitalism. Critically reviews how this resistance has been shaped by local class and caste politics, regional differences, economic policies and performance.
TSMIN 419 Special Topics (3-5, max. 15) I&S
TSMIN 420 Theories of Political Violence (5) I&S
Establishes broad, inclusive definitions of violence. Reviews the theoretical discourse on the nature of violence as a political phenomenon. Themes include terrorism (both non-authoritative and state-sponsored), civil conflicts, and “tools” or calculated manifestations of violence (torture, massacres), the relationship between violence and development, and the relationship between culture and violence.
TSMIN 421 Human Rights in Emerging Democracies: Eastern Europe and Latin America (5) I&S
Examines the role of human rights in the context of democratization. Compares emerging democracies in Eastern Europe with counterparts in Latin America, and develops an understanding of the relationship between the two phenomena.
TSMIN 422 International Humanitarian Law (5) I&S Lorenz
Investigates International Humanitarian Law (sometimes called the Law of Armed Conflict), the field concerned with rules developed by civilized nations to protect the victims of armed conflict, including the Geneva Conventions. Case studies include the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, as well as developments in Afghanistan and Iraq.
TSMIN 424 Imperial China (5) I&S
Surveys the social, political, economic, and intellectual history of Imperial China from the earliest times to the 17th century. Provides a background to understanding the development of Asia in general and modern China in particular.
TSMIN 425 Contemporary Issues in International Political Economy (5) I&S
Investigates pressing issues confronting both industrialized and underdeveloped societies. Includes topics such as the international debt crisis, the changing international division of labor, poverty and inequality in the world economy, liberation movements, internationalization of production and regional disruptions in the U.S.
Instructor Course Description:
Anthony P. D'Costa
TSMIN 426 The Soviet Experience (5) I&S
Explores Soviet society and politics since the Bolshevik Revolution. Examines the nature of the revolution, liberalization during the NEP period, Stalinism, World War II, and the changes taking place during the Khrushchev and Brezhnev eras. Focuses on how the lives of Soviet people changed during 70 years of their country’s history.
TSMIN 427 Gorbachev and the Second Russian Revolution (5) I&S
Examines Soviet Union during the Gorbachev era. Compares traditional Soviet lifestyle and changes produced by Gorbachev’s policies of glasnost and perestroika. Include topics such as ethnic issues, political reforms, economic liberalization, and cultural developments. Examines collapse of USSR and speculates on the future of nations which make up the former Soviet Union.
TSMIN 428 Eastern Europe in Transition, 1940-2000 (5) I&S
Examines the peoples and nations of Eastern Europe in times of fundamental change. Includes the impact of the Second World War, the imposition of Stalinism, attempts at liberalization in Hungary and Czechoslovakia, transformation associated with the Gorbachev era, and the region’s economic, social, and political future.
TSMIN 429 Topics in States and Markets (5, max. 15) I&S
TSMIN 432 Drugs, Mafias, and the Economics of Crime (5) I&S
Provides a history of the Sicilian Mafia and its socio-economic impact since World War II; a wide survey of the realm of drugs and intoxication; a study of the underground economies, prostitution, the arms trade; analysis of the tangle of interests uniting warfare, drug trafficking, and overall political destabilization.
TSMIN 433 Exploring Nazism (5) I&S
Investigates the Nazi movement, looking at three key aspects of the phenomenon: society, finance and economics, and the revival of Germanic paganism. Examines the rise to power of Hitler and his followers cast against the social history of Germany and Europe from 1918 to 1938.
TSMIN 434 The Pacific War (5) I&S
Traces the Pacific War, examining the emergence of modern Japan, the sources of conflict in Asia and between Japan and the U.S., the battles that comprised the war, the homefronts of the involved nations and the war's end, and its impact on Asia and the world.
TSMIN 435 Contemporary Geopolitics (5) I&S
Explores geopolitical concepts and relates them to contemporary global issues and debates. Examines both the influence of geography on politics and the geography of politics.
TSMIN 436 Contemporary Chinese Culture and Society (5) I&S
Examines cultural life in China since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949. Includes political rituals (e.g., struggle sessions); socialist policies (e.g., household registrations, work units); post-Mao social classes and consumerism; and family relations and cultural practices such as gift-giving and relationship building.
TSMIN 450 Human Rights in Latin America – Argentina Study Abroad (5) I&S
Examines the history, theory, and practice of international human rights in Latin America. Explores human rights from human rights lawyers and activists, while living, studying, and working in Argentina. Taught in English at the Association of International Studies in Buenos Aires. Prerequisite: T SPAN 102.
TSMIN 451 Human Rights and the Use of Force (5) I&S
Covers both the history and sources of international law, including the system of treaties and emerging principles of customary law. Examines the conditions under which military force is justified, looking specifically at the war against terrorism, and world events since September 11, 2001.
