GLBL 1204a / CLCV 2691a / HIST 1702a, Global Leadership, 600 BCE–600 CE  Staff

This course provides students with an accessible and engaging introduction to both the classical world and the problems of political organization and leadership through time and across societies. Students learn to think comparatively between individuals, societies, and systems and to analyze different ideals of leadership. This means considering not only traditional masculine and military conceptions of rule but also the leadership roles and styles of women, slaves, and rebels. We hope to bring into view, in other words, the intersectional challenges to power faced by non-traditional leaders in a world dominated by gender, class, and cultural prejudices, and to show how non-traditional leaders confronted and overcame these. Students draw upon this experience to access the premodern world as an alternative but related historical reality which can productively inform their engagement with the present.  HU  0 Course cr
HTBA

GLBL 1433a / HIST 1733a, The Twentieth Century: A World History  Staff

For most people, almost everywhere, the twentieth century was a time of profound and accelerating change. Someone born in the 1890s could, if they lived a long life, have experienced two world wars, a global depression, collapse of empires, the enfranchisement of women and young people, and the rise of the United States to global power.  They could have witnessed the first cars, the first planes, the first radios and TVs, and the first computers. They could have been among the first to swear allegiance to one (or several) of 130 new states, almost twice the number that existed in 1900. They would have been certain to witness massive ecological destruction, as well as unparalleled advances in medicine, science, and the arts. The twentieth century was, as one historian puts it, an age of extremes, and in this class we explore some of these aspects of the age. The class is not intended to be a complete history nor is it one that provides an integrative interpretation of historical events. The aim is rather to enable students to know enough to think for themselves about the origins of today’s world and about how historical change is created.  HU  0 Course cr
HTBA

GLBL 2121a, Applied Quantitative Analysis  Staff

This course is an introduction to statistics and their application in public policy and global affairs research. Throughout the term we cover issues related to data collection (including surveys, sampling, and weighted data), data description (graphical and numerical techniques for summarizing data), probability and probability distributions, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, measures of association, and regression analysis.   QR  0 Course cr
HTBA

GLBL 2122b, Applied Quantitative Analysis II  Staff

This course introduces students to multiple regression analysis and other tools of causal inference and program evaluation. The course focuses on applying these tools to real data on various topics in global affairs and public policy. Applications are drawn from a wide range of areas including education, social welfare, unemployment, security, health, immigration, the environment, and economic development. We develop the core analytical tools of single and multi-variable regression and discuss fixed effects, difference-in-difference, natural experiment, instrumental variables, regression discontinuity, event study, and matching approaches. Students are trained to thoughtfully produce their own empirical research and to critically consume empirical research done by others. Prerequisite: GLBL 121 or equivalent.  QR  0 Course cr
MW 11:35am-12:50pm

GLBL 2159a or b / ECON 2159a or b, Game Theory  Staff

An introduction to game theory and strategic thinking. Ideas such as dominance, backward induction, Nash equilibrium, evolutionary stability, commitment, credibility, asymmetric information, adverse selection, and signaling are applied to games played in class and to examples drawn from economics, politics, the movies, and elsewhere. After introductory microeconomics. No prior knowledge of game theory assumed.  QR, SO  0 Course cr
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GLBL 2203a / PLSC 2105a, Globalization and Domestic Politics  Staff

This course offers students a general introduction to the political consequences of economic globalization (e.g., the rise of populist parties). We identify the winners and losers of tariff policy, foreign aid, and monetary policy (e.g., a strong/weak dollar), and examine how domestic institutions—such as lobbying and electoral systems—reinforce the advantages enjoyed by globalization’s winners, while also creating opportunities for losers to advocate for policy reversal.  0 Course cr
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GLBL 2234b / ECON 2184b, International Economics  Peter Schott

Introduction to conceptual tools useful for understanding the strategic choices made by countries, firms, and unions in a globalized world. After two terms of introductory economics.  SO
MW 9am-10:15am

GLBL 2251b / CPLT 2650b / EALL 2560b / EAST 2221b / HUMS 2720b, China in the World  Jing Tsu

Recent headlines about China in the world, deciphered in both modern and historical contexts. Interpretation of new events and diverse texts through transnational connections. Topics include China's international relations and global footprint, language and script, Chinese America, science and technology, and science fiction. Special topic for AY 2025-2026 with guest speakers: AI, U.S.-China futurism, and tech policy Readings and discussion in English.   HU  0 Course cr
MW 1:30pm-2:20pm

GLBL 2283a / PLSC 2127a, Technology and War  Staff

The course explores the international security implications of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, cyberweapons, hypersonic missiles, and so-called killer robots. The first half of the course offers a deep dive into the transformative military and civilian technologies of the 20th century, examining how doctrine and culture shaped the development, acquisition, and deployment of key systems like submarines, bomber aircraft, and nuclear bombs, and how these technologies, in turn, shaped international security. In the second half of the course, we apply the lessons of the past to make theoretically guided predictions.  What norms will guide the use of new technologies, and what weapons should or should not be developed? Are arms races inevitable? What might improve the prospects for arms control of emerging technologies?  SO  0 Course cr
HTBA

GLBL 2357a / HIST 2623a, Palestine and Israel  Laura Robson

This course traces the history of Palestine and Israel from the mid-nineteenth century to the present, focusing particularly on the genesis of the Arab-Israeli conflict and the construction of two opposing nationalist narratives attached to the same geographical space. In this class, we examine the political, social, economic, and cultural history of the region and trace the concurrent development of Palestinian and Israeli national identities during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. We also consider the historiography of the conflict and investigate some of the most prominent scholarly debates surrounding the history of the region.  HU
MW 11:35am-12:25pm

GLBL 2383b / ECON 2160b, Games and Information  Staff

This is designed to be a "second" game theory course. We build on the learnings from introductory game theory courses like ECON 159/GLBL 159, MGT 822 or the SOM core. The course aims to introduce important ideas and tools from game theory, and use them to answer questions in social sciences, law, and business.  For instance, how does information get sold and used to persuade? How do we think about the efficiency and equity of allocations? How do sellers decide the best format for an auction to sell a good? Does requiring unanimous verdicts guarantee that the innocent will not be convicted? What causes bank runs? When do we see price wars? The underlying ideas will include games of incomplete information, mechanism design, common knowledge and high-order reasoning, and repeated games.   Prerequisite: Any introductory game theory course, e.g., ECON/GLBL 159, MGT 822 or Game Theory in the SOM Core.  SO  RP  0 Course cr
TTh 1pm-2:15pm

GLBL 2392a, Intelligence, Espionage, and American Foreign Policy  Staff

The discipline, theory, and practice of intelligence; the relationship of intelligence to American foreign policy and national security decision-making. Study of the tools available to analyze international affairs and to communicate that analysis to senior policymakers. Case studies of intelligence successes and failures from World War II to the present.  0 Course cr
TTh 11:35am-12:50pm

GLBL 2427a / AFST 3381a / PLSC 2427a, Government and Politics in Africa  Staff

The establishment and use of political power in selected countries of tropical Africa. The political role of ethnic and class cleavages, military coups, and the relation between politics and economic development.  SO  0 Course cr
HTBA

* GLBL 3095a, Special Operations History and Policy  Phil Kaplan and Christopher Fussell

For two decades, the world has seen the role, funding, and employment of Special Operations Forces (SOF) increase in ways that would have been unrecognizable to previous generations of military leaders. While this phenomenon has been global to some degree, it has been by far the most pronounced in the United States. Driven by a sustained period of highly kinetic counterterrorism operations, the evolution of SOF has been one of the most significant developments in the military history of the 21st century. With that period of conflict now receding, and a period of sustained competition between near-peers dominating geopolitical dynamics, the role of SOF remains both contested and consequential.  The goal of this course is to prepare students to think critically about the proper utilization of SOF—whether as informed citizens, military leaders, or civilian policymakers. Drawing on a diverse set of narrative, historical, legal, and other sources, the course will analyze SOF’s recent expansion and explore what its future utilization might look like, based on the changing landscape of global conflict.
F 9:25am-11:15am

GLBL 3101b, Challenges in Global Affairs  Jennifer Gandhi, Amit Khandelwal, and Alden Young

Challenges in Global Affairs is the singular core course for global affairs majors, intended for students in their junior year. The course is led by senior Jackson faculty and co-taught with other experts to delve into key topics in global affairs. The goal is to teach students how to think systematically about a particular challenge through various lenses, especially those used in economics, history, and political science. The course is a mix of lectures and class discussions.  We approach key topics from both a theoretical and a practical perspective. Note: Please ensure that you have the course prerequisites below before registering. This course is a requirement for the new global affairs major curriculum and open to global affairs majors only. Students may not enroll in this course without the following two courses (1) introduction to microeconomics (ECON 115 or equivalently ECON 110) or a higher-level microeconomics course; and (2) at least one History or Political Science course that has dealt with post-1945 history, politics, or international relations; or without instructor permission.  SO  0 Course cr
TTh 1pm-2:15pm

* GLBL 3102a, Introduction to Human Rights: Human Rights in a Turbulent World  Janine di Giovanni

This course explores war crimes and crimes against humanity through the lens of modern conflicts. Using investigations, civil society reports, reliable journalism, and firsthand witness testimonies, students analyze the impact of these crimes. The course covers topics such as case studies of current conflicts, including Syria, Israel/Gaza, Ukraine, and Yemen, and then it examines the Balkan and African wars of the 1990s and the lessons learnt (or not learnt) and patterns we see emerging in current conflicts. Students study the evolution of war crimes documentation since the 1990s, including the role of OSINT and DNA analysis of mass graves. An overall theme is accountability and transitional justice: exploring past international justice efforts and the challenges of truth-telling. This course serves as the common requirement for the Certificate in Human Rights and the Intensive Certificate in Human Rights programs.  SO  0 Course cr
MT 11:35am-12:50pm

* GLBL 3191b, Research Design and Survey Analysis  Justin Thomas

Introduction to research design through the analysis of survey data. Policy and management issues explored using data from the United States as well as from several developing countries. A bridge between the theory of statistics/econometrics and the practice of social science research. Use of the statistical package Stata. Prerequisites: GLBL 121 or equivalent, and an introductory course in statistics or econometrics.  SO
MW 1pm-2:15pm

GLBL 3211b / ECON 2201b, Introduction to Development Economics  Lauren Bergquist

This course explores the causes of global poverty and the efficacy of policies designed to alleviate it. Topics to be covered in this course include poverty and inequality, global health, education, agriculture, savings, insurance, credit markets, labor markets, firm productivity, colonialism, slavery, democracy, and corruption. These topics will be approached through the lens of micro-economics, with a focus on the variety of tools available for rigorously measuring the impact of development policies and programs. Econ 117 or GLBL 121 (or the equivalent).  SO
MW 9am-10:15am

GLBL 3219b / ECON 3375b, Monetary Policy  William English

Introduction to modern macroeconomic models and how to use the models to examine some of the key issues that have faced monetary policymakers during and after the global financial crisis of 2008–2009. Prerequisites: Intermediate level macroeconomics (ECON 122 or 126) and introductory econometrics.  WR, SO  0 Course cr
TTh 1pm-2:15pm

* GLBL 3225a, Approaches to International Development  Staff

Students interested in topics of international development gain practice in the various tools that practitioners, researchers, and policymakers use to answer development questions. Topics include history of development thought, economic growth, poverty, impact evaluations, education, development aid, and institutions. To practice development tools, students work on assignments with real-world data and learn how to create a policy report on a development topic of their choice. Enrollment limited to sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Prerequisite: GLBL 121 and its approved substitutes YC GLBL 121 Alternative Course  QR, SO  0 Course cr
HTBA

* GLBL 3237a / ECON 2185a, Global Economy  Aleh Tsyvinski

A global view of the world economy and the salient issues in the short and the long run. Economics of crises, fiscal policy, debt, inequality, global imbalances, climate change. The course is based on reading, debating, and applying cutting edge macroeconomic research.  SO
T 9:15am-11:05am

GLBL 3275b, Approaches to International Security  Staff

Introduction to major approaches and central topics in the field of international security, with primary focus on the principal man-made threats to human security: the use of violence among and within states, both by state and non-state actors. Priority to Global Affairs majors. Non-majors require permission of the instructor.  SO  0 Course cr
MW 10:30am-11:20am

GLBL 3303a / EAST 2721 / SOCY 1702a, Inequality and Social Change in China  Emma Zang

This course offers an introduction to major social and economic issues in contemporary China. It provides a survey of the ongoing reforms and the Chinese society in transition with a focus on selected policy issues. In most weeks, the first session is reserved for a lecture by the instructor or a guest lecturer, and the second session is reserved for student-led discussions of pre-circulated questions.  SO
Th 1:30pm-3:20pm

* GLBL 3315a, Economics of the European Union  Marnix Amand

The functioning of the economy of the European Union, both from a theoretical perspective (trade theory, monetary union, etc.) and from a practical perspective. Particular emphasis on the recent crises of the last ten years with effort to put these crises in a larger geostrategic context.  Prerequisites: ECON 110 or 115 and ECON 111 or 116.   SO
MW 1pm-2:15pm

* GLBL 3344a / HIST 3783a / PLSC 3125a, Studies in Grand Strategy II  Michael Brenes

The study of grand strategy, of how individuals and groups can accomplish large ends with limited means. During the fall term, students put into action the ideas studied in the spring term by applying concepts of grand strategy to present day issues. Admission is by application only; the cycle for the current year is closed. This course does not fulfill the history seminar requirement, but may count toward geographical distributional credit within the History major for any region studied, upon application to the director of undergraduate studies. Prerequisite: PLSC 321. Previous study courses in political science, history, global affairs, or subjects with broad interdisciplinary relevance encouraged.  SO  0 Course cr
M 1:30pm-3:20pm

* GLBL 3358a / PLSC 3104a, The Geopolitics of Peace in Ukraine  Lauren Young

This seminar examines the war in Ukraine with a geopolitical lens focusing on its broader implications for both regional security and democracy. The outbreak of war in Ukraine in February 2022 quickly became a flashpoint in the region. Over two years later, the stakes are high and tensions are rising among transatlantic allies supporting Ukraine, both with arms and sanctions. This course evaluates the historical roots of the war and the fallout from a potential failure to effectively deter an authoritarian state from invading a sovereign neighbor. Our course of study includes the role of international stakeholders and multi-lateral institutions in the conflict, regional political and security dynamics and economic consequences. The humanitarian aspects of the war and its impact on civilian populations, human rights violations and the role of the media in shaping perceptions of the conflict is analyzed. Ultimately, what are the responsibilities of the international community in mitigating the human cost of conflict and the broader economic and policy implications? The aim of this course is both a comprehensive understanding of the conflict and its role in changing and shaping both security and democracy in region and further afield.  WR, SO
T 3:30pm-5:20pm

* GLBL 3363a / AFST 4406a / PLSC 3457a, Sexual Violence and War  Elisabeth Wood

Analysis of patterns of sexual violence in war. Assessment of how well scholars in various disciplines and policy analysts account for these patterns.  SO
T 1:30pm-3:20pm

* GLBL 3822a, Adversaries by Design: Deconstructing the Iran-US Relationship  Robert Malley

In this course, we take an in-depth look at relations between the United States and Iran from the 1979 Islamic revolution to today. The course does not purport to offer a comprehensive history of the bilateral relationship, but rather to examine the past in order to better appreciate the two governments’ worldviews and the reasons behind a more than 40 year-old antagonism that remains one of the world’s most dangerous. Our goal is to try to put ourselves in the shoes of US and Iranian decision-makers, internalize their respective narratives and assessments of the past, and seek to understand why each sees acts toward the other as they do. We focus in particular on the two nations’ sense of (in)security, Iran’s and the US’s regional roles and ties to Mideast state and non-state actors, the nuclear question and nuclear negotiations, as well as the role and impact of US sanctions. The course will closely follow unfolding events and examine possible future scenarios in light of these historical lessons. Guest lecturers will join to offer Iranian and US perspectives.
W 3:30pm-5:20pm

* GLBL 3828b, Reopening & Reimagining Africa  Harry Thomas

It is time to “reopen and reimagine Africa.” This course requires students to research and redesign policies that are intended to help African nations emerge economically stronger and with a population that is better educated and healthier by 2050. We examine, analyze, and support and/or criticize the long-term policies of African nations. Students are required to engage up-and-coming African scholars, businesspersons, educators, and policymakers to ensure that the recommendations are not conceived in a vacuum. We examine the obstacles and challenges of Great Power Competition among the U.S., the PRC, Russia, and the EU on Africa and design alternative policies.   SO
T 1:30pm-3:20pm

* GLBL 3834a, What Role Should the U.S. Play in the World?  Leslie Tsou

Should the United States intervene in the affairs of other countries to act as the world’s security force, protect its own interests, and promote its liberal democratic values?  Should it stay out of world events and focus on problems at home? Or is there a balance between "Interventionism” and “Isolationism,” and, if so, what factors should the United States government take into account in determining this balance? These questions are as old as the United States itself, and the debate continues to rage today. This course examines these questions through the lens of the United States' recent engagements in the Middle East, focusing on the First Gulf War, the War on Terror, the Second Gulf War, Libya, Syria, Iran, Israel/Palestine, and the Gulf states of Saudi Arabia, and Oman as well as Ukraine/Russia.  We consider whether the U.S. approach in each case was effective, not effective, or partly effective, and what factors contributed to that outcome. The factors we examine include but are not limited to U.S. security, business and economic interests, and human rights.
Th 1:30pm-3:20pm

* GLBL 3930a, Turning Points in Peace-building  Bisa Williams

This seminar examines the challenges that must be addressed when the fighting has stopped. Once a peace agreement is signed, real deal-making begins. Former rebels negotiate with their military commanders about relinquishing arms and working for a living; communities look for “peace dividends,” refugees weigh options to return home; Governments try to assert authority despite how weakened they have become or new to the role they are; compatriots who opposed the peace settlement relentlessly try to undermine it. The international community, which often leads warring parties to the table, takes on a new role also, informing and sometimes deforming outcomes. Building a durable peace requires a sensitivity to the changing priorities of the signatories and international community, as well as the constituencies for whom the peace was achieved. Anchored in (but not limited to) the ongoing UN-supported peace agreement implementation process in Mali and the monitoring process of the Final Agreement to End Armed Conflict and Build a Stable and Lasting Peace in Colombia, the seminar considers peace-building processes from the perspectives of formerly warring parties, diplomats, NGOs, and civil society, providing students an opportunity to begin to catalogue strategies for building durable peace following conflict.   SO
T 9:25am-11:15am

* GLBL 4102b / ECON 3380b, Emerging Markets  Mayara Felix

Emerging markets are economies transitioning from low- to middle-income status, experiencing rapid urbanization, increasing integration into global trade, and strengthening financial institutions. These countries, which include China, India, Brazil, Indonesia, South Africa, and Mexico, are characterized by stronger state capacity compared to other developing economies. This course exposes students to the challenges and opportunities faced by people and firms in emerging markets, with a special focus on policy reforms aimed at addressing such challenges. We cover contemporary issues in trade policy, taxation, labor markets, and welfare programs. Each theme is explored through empirical research published in leading economics journals, allowing students to derive evidence-based insights into policy effectiveness. Prerequisites: ECON 117 and ECON 121, or permission from the instructor.  SO
Th 3pm-5pm

* GLBL 4307b / ECON 4467b / ECON 467, Economic Evolution of the Latin American and Caribbean Countries  Ernesto Zedillo

Economic evolution and prospects of the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries. Topics include the period from independence to the 1930s; import substitution and industrialization to the early 1980s; the debt crisis and the "lost decade"; reform and disappointment in the late 1980s and the 1990s; exploration of selected episodes in particular countries; and speculations about the future. Prerequisities: intermediate microeconomics and macroeconomics.  SO
M 9:25am-11:15am

GLBL 4308a / ECON 4424a, Central Banking  William English

Introduction to the different roles and responsibilities of modern central banks, including the operation of payments systems, monetary policy, supervision and regulation, and financial stability. Discussion of different ways to structure central banks to best manage their responsibilities. Prerequisites: Intermediate Microeconomics, Intermediate Macroeconomics, and Introductory Econometrics.  SO  0 Course cr
MW 1pm-2:15pm

* GLBL 4310a / ECON 4407a, International Finance  Ana Fieler

A study of the implications of increasing integration of the world economy, through international trade, multinational production, and financial markets.  Topics include foreign exchange markets, capital flows, trade and current account imbalances, coordination of monetary and fiscal policy in a global economy, financial crises and their links to sovereign debt crises and currency devaluations.  Prerequisite: intermediate macroeconomics or equivalent.  SO  0 Course cr
TTh 1pm-2:15pm

* GLBL 4394a / ANTH 4809 / ER&M 3594a / EVST 4422a / F&ES 422, Climate and Society: Perspectives from the Social Sciences and Humanities  Michael Dove

Discussion of the major currents of thought regarding climate and climate change; focusing on equity, collapse, folk knowledge, historic and contemporary visions, western and non-western perspectives, drawing on the social sciences and humanities.  WR, SO
Th 1:30pm-3:20pm

* GLBL 4405a / PLSC 3456a, Self-Determination, Secession & Accommodation  Maria Jose Hierro

This seminar offers specialized instruction on self-determination and secession, combining insights from scholarly research with in-depth case study analysis to explore the complexity of contemporary secessionist conflicts. We focus on two key multinational states: Spain—an advanced Western democracy—examined through Catalonia’s independence movement, and India—an influential Global South country—through the case of Tamil Nadu. The course also engages with other high-profile cases, such as Greenland, Somaliland, and Republika Srpska, paying particular attention to the role and strategic interests of the United States in shaping international responses and influencing the trajectory of these conflicts. Students should have taken at least one Comparative Politics and/or International Relations introductory course.   SO
T 1:30pm-3:20pm

* GLBL 4425a, Atrocity Prevention  David Simon

Can atrocities be prevented? This course considers the ways in which episodes of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes might be preventable. It looks at ways in which models of atrocities yield corresponding models of prevention, and then what policies those models, in turn, recommend. We consider a broad number of cases of prevention, devoting attention to the different phases and agents of the prevention efforts in question. We analyze the extent to which prevention efforts at different levels have been successful while being mindful of the costs that accompanied them. We aim to draw conclusions about what strategies key actors can deploy to reduce the incidence of mass atrocities throughout the world.  SO
W 3:30pm-5:20pm

* GLBL 4450a, Directed Research  Bonnie Weir

Independent research under the direction of a faculty member on a special topic in global affairs not covered in other courses. Permission of the director of undergraduate studies and of the instructor directing the research is required.
HTBA

* GLBL 4499a, Senior Capstone Project  Staff

Students work in small task-force groups and complete a one-term public policy project under the guidance of a faculty member. Clients for the projects are drawn from government agencies, nongovernmental organizations and nonprofit groups, and private sector organizations in the United States and abroad. Projects and clients vary from year to year. Fulfills the capstone project requirement for the Global Affairs major.
HTBA

* GLBL 4830a / ECON 4465a / EP&E 4224a, Debating Globalization  Ernesto Zedillo

Facets of contemporary economic globalization, including trade, investment, and migration. Challenges and threats of globalization: inclusion and inequality, emerging global players, global governance, climate change, and nuclear weapons proliferation. Prerequisite: background in international economics and data analysis. Preference to seniors majoring in Economics or EP&E.  SO  RP
M 9:25am-11:15am