This course provides a multidisciplinary approach to the challenges of globalization, with a particular emphasis placed on its scope and its economic consequences. We will discuss the much debated theoretical questions about globalization, and combine it with an analysis of changes in the balance between powers in the 20th and 21th centuries, including the decline of traditional powers, the emergence of new regional powers, the multiplication of decision centers, and the role of international governance in organizations.

The comparative study of contemporary systems is relatively recent development in the field political systems and this course focuses on the comparative analysis of different Western political systems in particular. There will be an emphasis on the practice of comparing systems, comparing and classifying what is studied in order to achieve a generalization or a developing better explanation. Political science is no exception to the rule and comparative work makes up a significant part of the analysis conducted on the diversity of socio­political phenomena around which the discipline is built. The methodological approach of this course will combine comparative analysis by subject and then by country. Throughout this course students will be invited to participate in an active way.

This course is a set of practical activities focused on current issues. Presentations and press releases, the writing book of reviews and synthesis, participation in simulation debates are all exercises that will allow students to gain practical and working methods in close contact with the current themes of international, regional and national politics.

This course aims to give students a theoretical analysis framework to understand the practical issues of political communication. Thus, the seminar aims to assess the different types of political effects and to understand strategies and communication practices during the development, elaboration and the implementation of public policy.

This course is devoted to issues of political science research, from theoretical and methodological points of view, and it proposes to revisit the major themes that characterize the discipline. What are the main research areas favored by political scientists today? What are the theoretical implications? What impact can political science research have on the societies studied?

The Mediterranean area is now at the center of international and European policy. Mediterranean societies have a long and rich history, but it is their contemporary problems and issues that interest us the most in this class. We will also pay special attention to their common points and differences in order to better understand this region.

This course offers a critical and comparative approach to constitutional law and the theory of the state, based on various case studies. Its content is structured around the questioning of the notion of state in Lebanon and the Arab countries, with regard to the sources of norms production and policies and legislative practices, in comparison with historical experiences the West has known, and other regions of the world (Indian subcontinent, Latin American world).

Federalism and decentralization are issues of debate in many countries including Lebanon. This course aims to provide students with practical knowledge through the study of case studies along with theoretical tools related to these fields.

"The 21th century will be religious or not" (attributed to André Malraux). It is clear that religions have become ­ or have again become ­ actors of international relations in the Middle East, but also in some European countries as rather acquired secularism. Key questions will be discussed in this course, including: How has Islam projected itself into the world stages it legitimate to speak about religious conflicts in the Middle East or the Balkans? What is happening in Italy, where in November 2009 more than 80% of its population voted for maintaining its commitment to keeping crucifixes in the classrooms of public schools, just after the European Court of Human Rights decided on its removal in the name of freedom of conscience? This course will provide some answers while placing the Lebanese experience at the center of the debate.

Deep knowledge and critical approach of the political system and the administrative organization in Lebanon are necessary for any student who is interested in public policy and who wants to pursue a professional career or conduct research in this area.

This course provides tools for policy analysis, a central theme in political science. The analysis of public policy helps to identify practical and ideological conditions in which publication is developed, formulated and implemented. It combines the practical instruction of general administrative law based on various case studies.

Sustainable development is a current topic which is investing more and more public action in the management of natural, cultural and historical resources. This course offers both practical and theoretical instruction, for putting into practice in the Lebanese and regional situation.