International Relations

International Studies students take courses in political science as well as across many disciplines. Here is a sample of some of the courses a student may take:

POL 221 Comparative Government Systems

This course addresses an introduction to non-traditional and non-Western political systems. Content will vary from year to year and may include topics such as Asian political systems, Latin American systems, the political structures of ancient imperial organizations, pre-colonial African tribal organizations, etc. This course is required of all political science majors. A course requirement includes 12 to 15 pages of academic writing.

POL/HIS 325 Imperialism in the Modern World

This course examines the causes and consequences of imperialism in the modern world. It considers and compares imperial institutions, ideologies, economies, and cultures. It also studies the variety of ways in which people shaped these encounters and evaluates the significance of these experiences for the post-colonial global order.

POL/ECN 334 Political Economy of Latin America

This course begins by examining aspects of the indigenous societies prior to the arrival of Europeans in what has come to be called “Latin America.” Throughout, it considers issues such as colonialism, militarism, race, gender relations, and religion that have shaped the societies, polities, and economies of nations from Mexico and the Caribbean to those of the Southern Cone. The goal of the course is to afford class members the opportunity to better understand Latin America’s history as a basis for comprehending its likely future.

POL 341 Globalization and Decision-Making

This course offers an analysis of the increasing functional obsolescence of the nation state under the pressures of transnational problems such as drugs, AIDS, and the environment. The emergence of regional and international organizations such as the European Union, the Organization of African States, and the Association of South East Asian Nations to meet these challenges are also addressed. The course is required of all political science majors.

Departmental Programming

Faculty in the Political Science Department host and participate in a number of events throughout the year for our majors and the wider La Salle community. Among these events are the annual Constitution Day Panel, the Lasallian Forum for Politics and Policy, film nights, and election night parties.  They are also actively involved in supporting University initiatives like the Diplomat-in-Residence Program (DRP) and Explorer Cafés. Some recent events have included the following:

• Michael Boyle, Michael Dillon, Miguel Glatzer, and Lyman Stebbins on “Massacre in Paris: Context and Reaction”
• Miguel Glatzer on “Victory of the Left in Greece, Impact on the EU and the U.S.”

Lasallian Forum for Politics and Policy

The Lasallian Forum for Politics and Policy, established in 2010, brings informative speakers from a range of fields—federal, state, and local governments, nonprofits, law firms, court officials, campaign officials, lobbyists, and interest group activists—onto campus to talk about their work and career trajectory. The Forum aims to give La Salle students a firsthand account of each speaker’s field of practice and expose them to the multiple career opportunities. Recent forum speakers and topics include:

• Amilcar Moreira, Ph.D., Institute of Social Science, University of Lisbon, Portugal, “The Economic Crisis and European Labor Markets”
• Malia K. Du Mont, Director of Strategy in the Office of the Secretary of Defense at The Defense Entrepreneurs Forum, “The Quadrennial Defense Review and National Security Strategy”
• Karen Kaiser, Esq., Associate General Counsel for the Associated Press and La Salle alumnus Thomas Curley, former CEO of the Associated Press, “Government Seizing Phone and E-Mail Records.”
• Ana M. Guillen, Ph.D., Professor of Sociology, University of Oviedo, Spain, “Economic Crisis and Austerity: Impacts on European Union Health Care Systems”

The Political Science Department offers two awards to each graduating class for outstanding academic achievement.

Political Science Department Academic Award

This departmental award is given each year to the graduating student with the highest cumulative grade point average (GPA).  The award is given during Commencement Weekend at a special awards luncheon for all department winners and their families.

Joseph V. Brogan Senior Research Seminar Award

Inaugurated in 2011, the Joseph V. Brogan Award, named in honor of Dr. Joseph Brogan, ’72, who taught political theory in the Department from 1987 to 2009, is given each year to a graduating senior to honor excellence in undergraduate student research.  The award is given to the best paper produced in the senior seminar classes.  The award winner is presented with a plaque after Commencement and his/her name is engraved on a larger plaque maintained in the Department.