Courses

Governing the Global Economy

This course explores how politics and economics collide in an increasingly interconnected or “globalized” world. As cross-border trade, investment, and migration have expanded dramatically in recent decades, living standards have risen in many places, but so have new social, economic, and political tensions. Understanding these dynamics is essential for making sense of today’s global economy. In this course, you will develop an analytical toolkit for evaluating the causes and consequences of globalization. We will survey major theoretical approaches and empirical strategies used to study global economic governance and apply them to key issue areas including international trade, foreign investment, development, monetary policy, immigration, and environmental politics. Throughout the semester, we will compare competing explanations for global economic outcomes and assess each using historical and contemporary evidence. You will also apply course concepts through policy-relevant case studies designed specifically for this seminar—sharpening your ability to analyze real-world global economic challenges from multiple perspectives.

The course is intended for advanced undergraduate students (currently offered as a senior major seminar). Click here for the syllabus.

States, Power, and Global Governance

Why do international organizations exist? Do they shape outcomes in international politics? This course considers the role that international institutions have played in addressing global problems. Some argue their role is trivial, since there is no international police force that can constrain states. Others argue their role is profound, as institutions help states overcome important barriers to cooperation. You will apply these theories to understand institutions governing economic stability, human rights, climate change, global development, and more. To do so, you will complete several writing assignments where you step into the shoes of world leaders. You will assess whether your state should join and comply with international organizations; when it might make sense to leave them; and how new institutions should be designed to address the world’s greatest challenges.

The course is a university (freshman) seminar. Click here for the syllabus.

International Political Economy

This course examines how domestic and international politics influence economic relations between states. It will address the major theoretical debates in the field and introduce the chief methodological approaches used in contemporary analyses. We will focus attention on different types of cross-border flows and the policies and international institutions that regulate them: the flow of goods (trade policy), people (immigration policy), production (foreign investment policy), capital (financial and exchange rate policy), and pollution (environmental policy).

The course is open to PhD and Masters students. All interested students should email me for permission to enroll. Click here for the syllabus.

International Organizations

Why do governments and leaders cooperate? What is the role of international institutions in world politics? This course is an introduction to the systematic study of international cooperation and institutions. The purpose of the course is to prepare graduate students for original scientific research in the field. The course emphasizes recent empirical and theoretical research across issue areas.

The course is open to PhD and Masters students. All interested students should email me for permission to enroll. Click here for the syllabus.