SPO461Analysis of Political Texts
3 credits
This course aims to introduce students to the analysis of political texts, manifestos, declaration, charter, treaties, constitutions, political speeches and press releases, etc. The analysis of the text allows the student to build a rich and varied political terminology related to the specialization.
SPO432Conflict Theories
3 credits
This course provides a classification of different types of conflicts; for example, intrastate or substate, guerrilla wars of independence, etc. It also outlines the forms and economies of violence.
SPO441Contemporary Political Thought in the ArabMuslim World
3 credits
This course examines the different political thought of the ArabMuslim world from the late 19th century to present, including fundamentalist political Islam, the Arab national movement of the late 19th century, the liberal modernism influenced by West, Arab nationalism against the FrancoBritish occupation, projects of Arab unity, Arab socialism, and current political Islamism.
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.
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.
SPO451Lebanon’s Political Regime
3 credits
This course covers, in detail, aspects of the Lebanese political system, the various political powers and their ways of operating, including, the Office of the President, Cabinet, Parliament, and judicial practices. This course also explains the community structure in Lebanon. It also introduces students to the Lebanese Constitution and its evolution since1926.
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.
POL334Political Regimes of Arab Countries
3 credits
This course reveals the dominant features that constitute the characteristics of political regimes in the various Arab countries by comparing their respective constitutions.
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.
SPO431Principles of Law
3 credits
The aim of this course is to introduce the students to the basic legal principles of law applied in Lebanon, with an emphasis on civil law, the penal code, and the commercial code, etc.
RIN452Regional and International 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.
POL345Theories and History of the State
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.
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, as well as the issue of energy in the region, 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.