POL4015 Special Topics in International AffairsBahçeşehir UniversityDegree Programs INTERNATIONAL FINANCEGeneral Information For StudentsDiploma SupplementErasmus Policy StatementNational QualificationsBologna Commission
INTERNATIONAL FINANCE
Bachelor TR-NQF-HE: Level 6 QF-EHEA: First Cycle EQF-LLL: Level 6

Course Introduction and Application Information

Course Code Course Name Semester Theoretical Practical Credit ECTS
POL4015 Special Topics in International Affairs Fall 3 0 3 6
This catalog is for information purposes. Course status is determined by the relevant department at the beginning of semester.

Basic information

Language of instruction: English
Type of course: Non-Departmental Elective
Course Level: Bachelor’s Degree (First Cycle)
Mode of Delivery: Face to face
Course Coordinator : Assoc. Prof. ESRA ALBAYRAKOĞLU
Recommended Optional Program Components: None
Course Objectives: A new form of civic activism is taking root across the world. They diverge from traditional actors of civil society in their organizational and membership structure. There is an increasing debate among the researchers, practitioners and policy-makers on how representative and effective this new type of activism is. The aim of this course is to develop an in-depth understanding of new civic activism. Accordingly, the course will explore its actors, tools, relations and support mechanisms. The course will examine several case studies.

Learning Outcomes

The students who have succeeded in this course;
The students who have succeeded in this course;

I. Explain the basic features of an increasingly globalizing world;
II. Illustrate examples of major recurring or novel issues in world politics;
III. Discuss the impact of technology in politics;
IV. Grasp the rise of societies in participating local and global politics;
V. Develop competencies with respect to active inquiry and critical thinking.

Course Content

Major recurring or novel issues in international relations, basic features of an increasingly globalizing world, state and human security in the face of new risks and threats.

Weekly Detailed Course Contents

Week Subject Related Preparation
1) Introduction to the Course
2) Civil society, New Social Movements and New Civic Activism — Snow, D.A, Soule, S. A., and H. Kriesi (2004). Mapping the Terrain. In D. Snow, S. A. Soule and H. Kriesi (eds.), The Blackwell Companion to Social Movements. UK: Blackwell — Youngs, R. (2017). Introduction. In R. Youngs (Ed.), Global civic activism in flux. Washington, DC: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Available at https://carnegieeurope.eu/2017/03/17/global-civic-activism-in-flux-pub-68301#intro
3) Civic Cooperation: NGOs and New Activists — Glasius, M., and Ishkanian, A. (2015). Surreptitious symbiosis: Engagement between activists and NGOs. Voluntas, 26, 2620–2644. — Zihnioğlu, Ö. (2018).” The Prospects of Civic Alliance: New Civic Activists Acting Together with Civil Society Organizations”, Voluntas. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11266-018-0032-9
4) Digital Activism — Diamond, L. (2010). ‘Liberation technology’, Journal of Democracy, 21 (3): 69-83. — A. Breuer, T. Landman and D. Farquhar, (2015). ‘Social media and protest mobilization: evidence from the Tunisian revolution’, Democratization, 22(4): 764–792.
5) New Civic Activism: Case Studies
6) Activism and Protests — Leetaru, K. (30 May 2014). ‘Did the Arab spring really spark a wave of global protests?’, Foreign Policy. — The Economist Intelligence Unit (2013). Rebels Without a Cause: What the Upsurge in Protest Movements Means for Global Politics, EIU Report.
7) REVIEW BEFORE MIDTERM
8) Midterm Exam
9) Activism and Democracy — Maleki A.,and Hendriks, F. (2015). ‘The Relation Between Cultural Values and Models of Democracy: A Cross-National Study’, Democratization, 22(6): 981–1010.
10) International Support for Civic Activism — Agg, C. (2006). Trends in Government Support for Non-Governmental Organizations: Is the “Golden Age” of the NGO Behind Us?, Civil Society and Social Movements Programme Paper Number 23, Geneva, United Nations Research Institute for Social Development. — L. Whitehead, (2015). ‘International democracy promotion as political ideology: upsurge and retreat’, Journal of Political Ideologies, 20(1): 10–26.
11) Right-wing Activism — Shapovalova , N. (2018). The Two Faces of Conservative Civil Society in Ukraine. In R. Youngs (Ed.), The Mobilization of Conservative Civil Society. Washington, DC: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Youngs, R. (2017). Introduction. In R. Youngs (Ed.), The Mobilization of Conservative Civil Society. Washington, DC: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
12) Presentations
13) Presentations
14) Overview

Sources

Course Notes / Textbooks: Articles in Course Package
References: Articles in Course Package

Evaluation System

Semester Requirements Number of Activities Level of Contribution
Attendance 13 % 10
Presentation 1 % 10
Midterms 1 % 30
Final 1 % 50
Total % 100
PERCENTAGE OF SEMESTER WORK % 50
PERCENTAGE OF FINAL WORK % 50
Total % 100

ECTS / Workload Table

Activities Number of Activities Workload
Course Hours 11 33
Study Hours Out of Class 12 93
Presentations / Seminar 1 15
Midterms 1 2
Final 1 2
Total Workload 145

Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes

No Effect 1 Lowest 2 Low 3 Average 4 High 5 Highest
           
Program Outcomes Level of Contribution
1) To correctly identify the problems and to be able to ask the correct questions 2
2) To have the ability for problem solving and to utilize analytical approach in dealing with the problems of finance 1
3) To understand and grasp the full details of theoretical arguments and counter arguments 2
4) To be fully prepared for a graduate study in finance and to have lifelong learning awareness 2
5) To be able to apply theoretical principles of finance to the realities of practical business life 1
6) To develop solutions for managerial problems by understanding the requirements of international financial markets 2
7) To think innovatively and creatively in complex situations 3
8) To be able to make decisions both locally and internationally by knowing the effects of globalization on business and social life 2
9) To have the competencies of the digital age and to use the necessary financial applications 2
10) To be able to use at least one foreign language both for communication and academic purposes 1
11) To understand the importance of business ethics and to take decisions by knowing the legal and ethical consequences of their activities in the academic world and business life 2
12) To develop an objective criticism in business and academic life and having a perspective to self-criticize 2