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Public Policy International Relations Canadian Politics Comparative Politics Political Theory - Please note: the Political Theory specialization will not be offered in the 2024-25 academic year. Dean Ingrid Makus Faculty of Social Sciences Associate Dean Dawn Zinga Faculty of Social Sciences Core Faculty Professors Charles Conteh, Hevina S. Dashwood, Tim Heinmiller, Pierre Lizee Associate Professors Stefan Dolgert, Nicole Goodman, Blayne Haggart, Paul Hamilton, Matthew Hennigar, Pascal Lupien, Ingrid Makus, Livianna Tossutti Assistant Professors Joanne Heritz, Danielle McNabb, Liam Midzain-Gobin Academic Advisor / Seminar Coordinator Diane Leon Graduate Program Director Paul Hamilton Administrative Assistant Claire Gallop |
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However uncertain we are about the human good, it is clear, as Aristotle observed, that the pursuit of that good is the work of politics and the understanding of that good the aim of political science. Whether we regard politics as the pursuit of justice, the uses of power, or the securing of "peace, order, and good government," its study appeals to students interested in government, law, and international affairs, and to those who want to understand the shaping of our political world. At Brock, the MA program in political science usually entails specialization in one of five fields of study: Canadian politics, comparative politics, international relations, political theory or philosophy, and public policy. Our faculty and our students are joined in the common endeavour to see how their diverse interests can contribute to the political understanding of ourselves and our world. This aim is at the heart of our curriculum: It is reflected in the program requirements and in the design of our Core Seminars. Graduates of the program have proceeded to successful careers in government, politics, and business; many have pursued further study to become scholars and teachers. |
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The Graduate Admissions Committee will review all applications and recommend admission for a limited number of candidates. Part-time study is available. The Philosophy of Law Traditional and contemporary accounts of law and their implications for issues of contemporary concern. Note: taught in conjunction with POLI 4P01. Ancient Political Theory Political theory of the ancient world, spanning texts from the Near East, Greece, Rome, or China. Possible themes include democracy, justice, power, tragedy, gender, and ecology. Note: taught in conjunction with POLI 4P02. Modern Political Theory Modern political theory examined in selected texts. May focus on a theme such as historicism, consent, progress, equality or on a selected author, such as Rousseau, Kant, Hegel. Note: taught in conjunction with POLI 4P03. Politics and Tyranny Comparative accounts of ancient and modern tyranny are examined with a view to assessing whether political domination has varied significantly in the western tradition. Note: taught in conjunction with POLI 4P04. Postmodern Political Theory Perspectives on the postmodern condition in the works of selected 20th century thinkers. Topics may include notions of the self, aesthetics and politics, reason and power, the construction of meaning. Note: taught in conjunction with POLI 4P07. |
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A thesis or major research paper is required. Students interested in the thesis stream must obtain approval from the Graduate Program Director and must complete an acceptable thesis proposal in order to proceed. Major research paper stream: POLI 5P80, POLI 5P81, 1.5 POLI credits numbered 5P82-5P86, 0.5 POLI credit numbered 5P01-5P86, POLI 5F90 Thesis stream: POLI 5P80, POLI 5P81, 0.5 POLI credit numbered 5P82-5P86, 0.5 POLI credit numbered 5P01-5P86, POLI 5F99 For full-time students the program is normally three successive terms or one year program. |
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Students may opt for a general Political Science MA or for an MA with a designated specialization in one of the subfields of political science as listed below. |
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Thesis Stream: 0.5 credit from POLI 5P12, 5P14, 5P16, 5P17, 5P19, 5P37 POLI 5F99 Thesis, in Canadian politics Major Research Paper Stream: two of POLI 5P83, 5P84, 5P85, 5P86 0.5 credit from POLI 5P12, 5P14, 5P16, 5P17, 5P19, 5P37 (or Public Policy provided all Canadian politics options have been exhausted) POLI 5F90 MA Major Research Paper, in Canadian politics |
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Thesis Stream: 0.5 credit from POLI 5P34, 5P36, 5P38, 5P68 POLI 5F99 Thesis, in Comparative politics Major Research Paper Stream: two of POLI 5P82, 5P83, 5P84, 5P86 0.5 credit from POLI 5P34, 5P36, 5P38, 5P68(or international relations if all comparative politics options have been exhausted) POLI 5F90 MA Major Research Paper, in Comparative politics |
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Thesis Stream: 0.5 credit from POLI 5P20, 5P21, 5P22, 5P24, 5P26, 5P27 POLI 5F99 Thesis, in international relations Major Research Paper Stream: two of POLI 5P82, 5P83, 5P84, 5P85 0.5 credit from POLI 5P20, 5P21, 5P22, 5P24, 5P26, 5P27(or comparative politics if all international relations options have been exhausted) POLI 5F90 MA Major Research Paper, in international relations |
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Political Theory: Please note this specialization will not be offered in the 2024-25 academic year. |
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Thesis Stream: 0.5 credit from POLI 5P01, 5P02, 5P03, 5P04, 5P07, 5P37 POLI 5F99 Thesis, in political theory Major Research Paper Stream: two of POLI 5P82, 5P84, 5P85, 5P86 0.5 credit from POLI 5P01, 5P02, 5P03, 5P04, 5P07, 5P37 POLI 5F90 MA Major Research Paper, in political theory |
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Thesis Stream: 0.5 credit from POLI 5P10, 5P12, 5P50, 5P54, 5P67 POLI 5F99 Thesis, in public policy Major Research Paper Stream: two of POLI 5P82, 5P83, 5P85, 5P86 0.5 credit from POLI 5P10, 5P12, 5P50, 5P54, 5P67 (or Canadian politics provided all public policy options have been exhausted) POLI 5F90 MA Major Paper, in public policy The Philosophy of Law Traditional and contemporary accounts of law and their implications for issues of contemporary concern. Note: taught in conjunction with POLI 4P01. Ancient Political Theory Political theory of the ancient world, spanning texts from the Near East, Greece, Rome, or China. Possible themes include democracy, justice, power, tragedy, gender, and ecology. Note: taught in conjunction with POLI 4P02. Modern Political Theory Modern political theory examined in selected texts. May focus on a theme such as historicism, consent, progress, equality or on a selected author, such as Rousseau, Kant, Hegel. Note: taught in conjunction with POLI 4P03. Politics and Tyranny Comparative accounts of ancient and modern tyranny are examined with a view to assessing whether political domination has varied significantly in the western tradition. Note: taught in conjunction with POLI 4P04. Postmodern Political Theory Perspectives on the postmodern condition in the works of selected 20th century thinkers. Topics may include notions of the self, aesthetics and politics, reason and power, the construction of meaning. Note: taught in conjunction with POLI 4P07. |
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Note that not all courses are offered in every session. Refer to the applicable timetable for details. Students must ensure that prerequisites are met. Students may be deregistered, at the request of the instructor, from any course for which prerequisites and/or restrictions have not been met. MA Major Research Paper Major research paper written under guidance of a supervisor and approved by a supervisory committee of the supervisor and a second reader. Thesis Research project involving the preparation and defence of a thesis which shall demonstrate a capacity for independent work. The research shall be carried out under the supervision of a faculty member and shall be defended at an oral examination. |
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Political Theory: Please note this specialization will not be offered in the 2024-25 academic year. |
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Students must ensure that prerequisites are met. Students may be deregistered, at the request of the instructor, from any course for which prerequisites and/or restrictions have not been met. Note: students may not hold credit for a course at the 5(alpha)00 level if they previously completed the course at the 4(alpha)00 level. The Philosophy of Law Traditional and contemporary accounts of law and their implications for issues of contemporary concern. Note: taught in conjunction with POLI 4P01. Ancient Political Theory Political theory of the ancient world, spanning texts from the Near East, Greece, Rome, or China. Possible themes include democracy, justice, power, tragedy, gender, and ecology. Note: taught in conjunction with POLI 4P02. Modern Political Theory Modern political theory examined in selected texts. May focus on a theme such as historicism, consent, progress, equality or on a selected author, such as Rousseau, Kant, Hegel. Note: taught in conjunction with POLI 4P03. Politics and Tyranny Comparative accounts of ancient and modern tyranny are examined with a view to assessing whether political domination has varied significantly in the western tradition. Note: taught in conjunction with POLI 4P04. Postmodern Political Theory Perspectives on the postmodern condition in the works of selected 20th century thinkers. Topics may include notions of the self, aesthetics and politics, reason and power, the construction of meaning. Note: taught in conjunction with POLI 4P07. |
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Students must ensure that prerequisites are met. Students may be deregistered, at the request of the instructor, from any course for which prerequisites and/or restrictions have not been met. Note: students may not hold credit for a course at the 5(alpha)00 level if they previously completed the course at the 4(alpha)00 level. Issues in Local Government Policy making and service delivery in local government in such areas as economic development, fire, parks, policing, public health, recreation, and social services. Note: taught in conjunction with POLI 4P10. Citizen Politics Citizen engagement in Canadian political parties, social movements, advocacy groups and voluntary organizations, and the impact of civic activism on public discourse, policies and laws. Note: May combine seminars with a service learning component. Taught in conjunction with POLI 4P12. Federalism in Canada Canadian concepts of federalism, judicial interpretation of the constitutional distribution of powers, the social, economic and cultural factors that influence federal-provincial relations, issues in federal-provincial relations, the impact of federalism on public policy, and the politics of constitutional change. Note: taught in conjunction with POLI 4P14. Global Migration: Canada in a Comparative Context Global migration patterns, immigrant and refugee admission and integration policies, the trafficking of persons and smuggling, and the relationship between migration and development. Note: Combines seminars with a mandatory experiential learning component. Taught in conjunction with POLI 4P16. May be offered online. Canadian Politics in the Digital Age Impact of digital technology and innovation on political institutions in Canada and the opportunities and challenges it is creating for actors and groups. Critically assesses the implications of these changes for democracy in Canada. Note: Combines seminars with a mandatory experiential learning component. Taught in conjunction with POLI 4P17. The Canadian Judicial Process Structure, functions, and political dimensions of the judiciary in Canada. Topics may include judicial decision-making, appointment and independence; the policy impact of judicial rulings; the criminal process; the influence of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms on the judicial system; and the players in the judicial process, including judges, interest groups and governments. Note: taught in conjunction with POLI 4P19. Indigenous-Settler Relations in Canada and Beyond Indigenous-settler relations and reconciliation in Canada and other Anglo settler states through selected texts. Theories of settler colonialism, Indigenous-settler relationships on both collective and individual levels, the politics of recognition, constitutional rights, truth commissions, and Indigenous theories of decolonization. Note: This course can be counted toward a sub-field specialization in Canadian Politics or Political Theory. Taught in conjunction with POLI/CANA 4P37. |
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Students must ensure that prerequisites are met. Students may be deregistered, at the request of the instructor, from any course for which prerequisites and/or restrictions have not been met. Note: students may not hold credit for a course at the 5(alpha)00 level if they previously completed the course at the 4(alpha)00 level. Globalization and Global Governance Factors explaining the globalization of national politics and the reconstruction of politics at a global level. Topics may include policy problems linked to the effectiveness of international and national institutions; theoretical considerations on new concepts of politics and democracy in the globalized world. Note: taught in conjunction with POLI 4P20. The Global Digital Political Economy Intersection between economics and politics with an emphasis on understanding how issues such as data governance, intellectual property and internet governance are shaping global economic governance, trade, and development. Note: taught in conjunction with POLI 4P21. Canada and International Development Canada's policies and practices in addressing global inequalities in wealth and power. Topics may include Canada's international assistance policies directed to lower and middle-income countries, ethical considerations, and international cooperation to address the differential impacts of global developments. Note: taught in conjunction with POLI 4P22. Private Global Governance Interactions between global corporations, voluntary standards associations, non-governmental organizations, states and industry associations and the influences that drive global private governance arrangements and global standard setting. Note: taught in conjunction with POLI 4P24. International Politics and National Security Conditions affecting the use of force in the post-Cold War international system, with emphasis on the basis of state security and the effects of the security dilemma. Note: taught in conjunction with POLI 4P26. Theories of International Relations International relations theory emphasizing the nature of the international system and its relationship to the choices and actions of individual states. Note: taught in conjunction with POLI 4P27. |
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Students must ensure that prerequisites are met. Students may be deregistered, at the request of the instructor, from any course for which prerequisites and/or restrictions have not been met. Note: students may not hold credit for a course at the 5(alpha)00 level if they previously completed the course at the 4(alpha)00 level. Comparative Judicial Systems Global expansion of judicial power and the role of courts in democratization, rights protection, political centralization, and resolving societal conflict. Domestic as well as supranational courts from around the world are considered, representing both common law and civil law systems. Topics include the success and failure of the "rights revolutions," the judicialization of politics, court reform, and justifications for judicial review. Note: Taught in conjunction with POLI 4P34. Comparative Democratization in a Global Age: Reform, Revolution and Reversal Analysis of the origins, processes, and outcomes of democratization and de-democratization in countries around the world. Note: taught in conjunction with POLI 4P36. Students completing this course will forfeit credit in POLI 5V36. Nationalism and Ethnic Politics Theories of nationalism, ethnic conflict and secession. Case studies analyze civil war, genocide and the political mobilization of ethno-national groups. Note: taught in conjunction with POLI 4P38. Social Movements and Globalization Restructuring of social movements from around the world in new alliances for global justice. Topics may include: relationship between local and global scales; cross-cultural collaboration; tensions between unity and diversity; conflicts and unequal power relations in networks; North-South inequalities. Movements may include: indigenous movements; transnational feminism; the anti-corporate globalization movement; environmentalism. Note: taught in conjunction with POLI/SOCI 4P68. |
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Students must ensure that prerequisites are met. Students may be deregistered, at the request of the instructor, from any course for which prerequisites and/or restrictions have not been met. Note: students may not hold credit for a course at the 5(alpha)00 level if they previously completed the course at the 4(alpha)00 level. Machinery of Government Structures and processes of federal and provincial government in Canada. Emphasis on the operation of government departments, central agencies, regulatory agencies and crown corporations. Note: taught in conjunction with POLI 4P50. Business-Government Relations Politics and management of relations between business organizations and governments in Canada, with particular emphasis on current research and issues. Topics include theories of business-government relations, the legislative and regulatory environment of business, public enterprise and privatization, lobbying and interaction among government, business, the media and labour. Note: taught in conjunction with POLI 4P54. Comparative Public Policy Major concepts, theoretical approaches and issues in Comparative Public Policy, assessing the various frameworks used for understanding and addressing public policy issues in different countries and regions. Cases will be drawn from Canada, the United States, Europe, and the developing world. Note: This course can also be counted toward a sub-field specialization in Comparative Politics. Taught in conjunction with POLI 4P67. |
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Students must ensure that prerequisites are met. Students may be deregistered, at the request of the instructor, from any course for which prerequisites and/or restrictions have not been met. Great Works in Politics Critical examination of some of the most significant writings in political science. Core seminar. Research and Research Methods Exploration of theories and approaches to research in Political Science. Issues and problems in research design will be assessed with a view to helping students develop the research skills and acquire the tools necessary for the successful completion of a thesis or major paper. Core seminar. Graduate Seminar in Canadian Politics Examination of major aspects of Canadian government and politics and of different approaches to the study of Canadian politics through the discussion and analysis of significant books in the field. Core seminar. Graduate Seminar in Political Theory Ethical, ontological, aesthetic and literary interpretations of major texts or issues in political theory Graduate Seminar in Public Policy Examination of significant writings and issues in public policy and policy development. Core seminar. Graduate Seminar in Comparative Politics Critical examination of significant writings and issues in comparative politics. Core seminar. Graduate Seminar in International Relations Critical examination of significant writings and issues in international relations and foreign policy. Core seminar. |
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Students must ensure that prerequisites are met. Students may be deregistered, at the request of the instructor, from any course for which prerequisites and/or restrictions have not been met. Selected Topics in Political Theory Particular writer, work or theoretical problem in political theory is examined. Selected Topics in Canadian Politics Selected aspect of Canadian government and politics or an issue of contemporary concern. Selected Topics in International Relations Selected problems and issues drawn from both the system and nation-state levels of international politics. Selected Topics in Comparative Politics Comparative study of selected political institutions, processes or policies in various states. Selected Topics in Public Administration Selected problems and issues in public administration drawn from the federal, provincial and/or municipal levels. Selected Topics in Canadian Public Policy Field or topic in Canadian public policy, including the analysis of policy making and policy outcomes. Political Science Tutorial Guided readings on a particular topic which is not covered in the department's regular course offerings. Topics must be chosen in consultation with a faculty member willing to supervise the tutorial. Prerequisite(s): permission of the Graduate Program Director and faculty supervisor. |
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2024-2025 Graduate Calendar
Last updated: February 23, 2024 @ 02:42PM