Courses

The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the mass media, and the role the mass media plays in American democracy. In this course, we will consider several key questions pertain- ting to the role of the media in democracy, such as: What effects do mass mediated messages have on voters? Do voters passively accept information found in the media, or do voters actively challenge this information?  How do journalists and political elites interact?

While the development of the internet has  transformed society, not all of these changes have been positive. In addition to facilitating rapid economic and social exchange, the internet has also transformed how we navigate security, conflict, and criminal activities. Careful regulation of the internet can maximize social benefits while disincentivizing harmful activity. However, identifying, implementing, and evaluating these regulations requires a combination of technology and policy expertise, as well as the ability to engage with decisionmakers in both the public and private sector in the international domain. This course will both explore the tools used to conduct policy analysis and apply those tools to a wide variety of cyber-related policy problems.  

This course provides an introduction to the politics of cybersecurity in the U.S. as well as the European Union (EU). Starting with a discussion of key concepts of cybersecurity, the class continues to analyze how U.S. and EU cybersecurity policy making differ. Recently, both the U.S. and EU passed new cybersecurity legislation laying different emphasis on privacy protection, crime prevention and the involvement of tech businesses in the policy process through public private partnerships. Why are the U.S. and Europe applying different approaches to cybersecurity policy? The goal of the course is to answer this question by comparing the institutions, actors and process of cybersecurity policy making in the U.S. and the EU. While both follow different approaches to cybersecurity policy as such, they agree on the need of enhanced international cooperation on the issue. The course ends with a unit on the current state of cybersecurity cooperation across the Atlantic and the implications of the politics of cybersecurity on the future of transatlantic relationship.

The digital revolution is changing politics. From Barack Obama's use of the Internet to drive his presidential campaign, to the upheaval of the Arab Spring and the emergence of new social movements like #OccupyWallStreet, digital technology is challenging and changing established institutions on a number of fronts. This course introduces students to the history of the Internet and the emerging technologies that are defining the Digital Age. It places emphasis on the role of technology in politics and its implications for democracy and citizen rights. The course will cover a wide range of issues related to governance of the internet, privacy and security, the role of the media and open source development.

This course examines the international arms trade from several perspectives and at different levels of analysis. The purpose of the course is to acquaint students in the with the literature, questions, and debates about the role that military equipment and technology plays in international relations.