PSC380.29 Politics and Power in Chile

Taught in Spanish at Universidad Pontificia Católica and may not be offered every semester. In this course, you will study the Chilean political process from independence through the present time. You’ll develop the capacity to systematically analyze the origins, development, and breakdowns of Chilean democracy, and the inner and external factors that influence political and economic development through different methodologies such as content dialogic exposition, team-based learning, and case studies, focusing on the main political actors’ roles and their interactions with institutions. Learning outcomes will be evaluated through essays and oral group presentations.

Upon successful completion of this course, you’ll be able to:

Critically analyze, based on relevant literature, the main cleavages or fissures in theprocesses of continuity and change in the political process of the last two centuries.
Analyze the Chilean political process of 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries up through the present, identifying milestones, interrelations between political actors and the institutions, internal and external factors, and their influence on the economic and political development from Chilean independence until current days.
Develop an active commitment to Chilean society and politics, promoting citizens’ participation and fostering positive changes that benefit the community, informed by public ethics.

(PUC #ICP0156)

PSC300.4 The US Supreme Court & the World (Fall)

Taught in English.

Examine American jurisprudence, comparing it with the decisions of European and international courts. Proceeding by theme, students analyze courts’ approaches to issues such as free speech, terrorism, war crimes, environmental rights, child custody, abortion, human rights, and the balance of powers. Supplementing these thematic analyses, the course explores how international law shapes the US Supreme Court’s jurisprudence, and vice versa.

Similarly embedded in the course is an examination of theories of constitutional interpretation as applied by the Supreme Court and other courts. Finally, the course concludes with classroom discussions with the professor and practitioners about potential careers in international public and private law.

PSC300.2 Comparative Tech Policy (Spring)

Taught in English

This course examines the shifting terrain of tech and AI regulation across Europe and the United States, tracing its roots from telecom oversight to today’s digital governance battles.

Students explore landmark policies like the GDPR, Digital Services Act, and Germany’s NetzDG, while analyzing Dublin’s rise as a tech hub and Brexit’s ripple effects. Juxtaposed with Europe’s regulatory state, the course investigates the U.S. ‘broligarchy’—the strategic alliance between tech giants and government—and its implications for freedom, sovereignty, and democracy. With site visits to the Council of Europe, European Parliament, and France’s Foreign Ministry, students gain firsthand insight into the politics shaping our digital future

Cross-listed with COM 300.2

PSC300.3 Museum Wars and Sacred Sites (Spring)

Taught in English

Explore how cultural heritage is governed across global and local levels, from UNESCO to community-led initiatives. This course delves into the politics of heritage policy—who decides what counts, whose voices are heard, and how power shapes preservation. Students will tackle urgent issues like museum decolonization, illicit trafficking, and heritage’s role in sustainable development, grounded in real-world case studies from Strasbourg. By the end, you’ll be equipped to critically assess heritage governance and rethink its future in a changing world.

PSC400.1 International Communications in the European Media (Fall, Spring)

Analyze trends in media and communication practices across Europe and how they intersect with European political institutions. Topics include mass media, development of media systems, and the effects of the media on the public. Look at the interaction of the European media industry with various sectors, including political parties, lobbyists, markets, NGOs, etc. A special focus will be on the relationship between media governance and European Institutions (including the Council of Europe, the European Court of Human Rights and the EU Parliament). Includes a study visit to the headquarters of an international organization in Strasbourg and selected guest speakers from the world of print and digital information.

Cross-listed: Also offered as COM442

PSC300.5 Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights (Fall, Spring) NOT OFFERED FALL 2026

What positive role can Artificial Intelligence (AI) play in addressing interconnected global challenges such as sustainable development, climate change, and human rights? And on the other hand, how can the use of AI negatively affect human rights? This course enables students to make sense of these highly topical issues, as new developments occur every day.

Cross-listed with PAI 300.5.

PSC380.30 Politics and Society in the Arab World

Taught in Spanish at Pontificia Universidad Católica; may not be offered every semester. In this course, you’ll critically analyze the social and political reality of Middle East countries from an interdisciplinary perspective, considering cultural, geographic and economic variables in the region. We’ll cover the unfolding of events since the beginning of the 19th Century, considering different milestones that have impacted the region, and we’ll analyze specific cases of some countries that have been and are vital to an understanding of current identities and geo-political situations. Your goal in this class is to develop a deep understanding of current phenomena via a reflective, historical, and critical perspective.

On successful completion of this course, you will be able to

Distinguish the countries that make up the Middle East, starting from historical processes that started with the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, considering also the influence of global and regional powers during and after the two World Wars.
Analyze the social and political development of the Middle East countries, through the study of historical milestones and their unique contexts, including the Sykes-Picot Agreement, the different independence processes of the countries in the region, the Cold War, the Nahda, Gulf Wars, emergence of Islamic movements, and the Arab Spring.
Appreciate and understand the contemporary situation of the region, considering especially the historical and current roles of women in the Arab societies.
Analyze specific countries of the region as case studies, in terms of their global and regional relevance.

Matriculated Syracuse students: May not earn credit for both this course and PSC 344. For Syracuse Political Science majors, this course counts toward the Comparative Politics concentration.

(PUC ICP0148)

PSC380.36 Self-Determination and Plurinationality in Latin America

Taught in Spanish at Pontificia Universidad Católica; may not be offered every semester. The Chilean Constitutional process has brought the discussion about the formation of a plurinational country. What does this concept really mean? When did this concept enter the public discussion around the world? What experiences already exist? When did the Latin American Indigenous movement build the idea of a plurinational State? What is self-determination?

This class aims to help answer these questions from a historical perspective, applying methods and key concepts of social studies to the period between 1992-2021. To accomplish this we will apply an analytic reflection using short-term categories to understand one of the most important movements on a continental level in the last three decades.

Upon successfully completing this class, you will be able to

Apply methods and key concepts of history and the respective historiographic analysis considering the Latin American Indigenous movements between 1986 and 2020.
Analyze the historic timeframe in question, considering the Indigenous movements’ perspectives and the perspectives of the movements’ leading academics.
Evaluate the Indigenous movements and their principal concepts in their historical dimension.

Syracuse Political Science majors: This course counts toward the Comparative Politics concentration.

May also be registered as SPA 380.36.

(PUC IHI0517)

PSC300.2 Green Britain? Science, Devolution, and Climate Controversies in the UK (Spring, Fall)

This field studies course invites you to use Great Britain as a case study for the interplay between environmental geology, political ecology, and devolution policy.

During two full weekends of travel during the semester, you will encounter controversies over environmental resources, climate policies, and decision-making power. A fundamental reality in environmental science is that all life and Earth processes are interconnected across vast distances and over long periods of time. Yet human systems of governance work at much smaller scales, both spatially and temporally. This is perhaps especially true in the contemporary United Kingdom, where ongoing processes of regional devolution –- and particularly Brexit –- signal growing interest in localization.

You will simultaneously study the geological history that formed distinct landscapes in the devolved areas of Great Britain and the current sociopolitical forces that create interest in the resulting environmental resources.

Ultimately, “Green Britain” will help you better understand geology, politics, and science communication –- and how these forces impact both their daily lives and human history.

May also be registered as GEO 300.2

Not included in limited registration of PSC courses.

This course has an associated course fee. See the London Course Fees page for more information.

PSC300.1 Energizing Europe: Politics of Energy and Sustainability (Fall, Spring)

In an era of unprecedented global energy challenges, this course introduces you to the complex web of policies, regulations, sustainable practices, and diverse energy sources that shape Europe’s energy sector. Starting with nuanced exploration of energy sources, you’ll examine critical intersections between European policymaking, regulatory frameworks, and the pursuit of sustainable energy solutions.

You’ll need a solid foundation to understand the complexities of government policies and regulations, so the course begins with a broad overview of energy sources, with a particular emphasis on renewables, and the unique policy challenges associated with each. You’ll then delve into the current dynamics of the energy mix, coming to understand the intricate relationship between governments and companies. You’ll examine how governments formulate policies based on a country’s strategic needs, the offerings and requirements of energy companies, and the evolving landscape of technological advancements.

This course will provide you with broad-based knowledge of the many facets of the energy sector, focusing on development, implementation, and evaluation of policies and regulations within a European framework. Because of the abstract nature of energy-related issues, we’ll take an interdisciplinary approach to integrate basic concepts from economics, environmental science, and political science. Through case studies, interactive discussions, and practical exercises, you’ll gain insights into the complexities of policy crafting, regulatory frameworks, and the evolving landscape of sustainable practices in the European energy sector as compared with America.

Syracuse Political Science majors: This course may count toward the Comparative Politics or Public Policy concentration.

Offered regularly through Syracuse Abroad.