Peace & Global Studies

We live in an era of labor conflict when strikes make headlines. This U.S. history class explains how anarchists,
communists, reactionaries, Black nationalists, radical feminists, and other dissidents have built a movement to
challenge the capitalist system.

Explores the intersection of politics, philosophy and peace through one or various authors. Topics include discussions on the conceptions of community, communication, pluralism and migration. Re-assesses the meaning of the political. This course may be best for sophomore standing and above.

A survey of peacebuilding and reconciliation in East Asia with global comparisons to conflict resolution studies and transitional justice. Students will seek a formula for sustainable peace for conflicts between Japan and China, Japan and Korea, and North and South Korea. Topics include imperialism and colonialism, war crimes and atrocities, territorial disputes, colonial and forced migration, and international relations.

Builds upon the introductory sequence in PAGS and addresses the question of how to define what constitutes "peace," whether and how sustainable peace might be possible, and how to best contribute to peacebuilding efforts. Uses a variety of disciplinary and interdisciplinary lenses to explore the root causes of various forms of violence, including war, terrorism, ecological destruction and poverty, and in what ways these forms of violence are related.

An experiential course that examines political, economic and social issues in world politics by simulating the work of states in U.N. committees and organizations. Students serve as delegates to a regional Model UN. Scholarly readings on the practice of diplomacy.

This course will ponder the relation of crime to housing affordability and wage stagnation. Karl Marx described how in nineteenth century England large scale farming huddled laborers into miserable dwellings where dear rents and minimal wages fostered crime. Dubbed “improvements”, these evictions also furnished lavish new places of business and residence for the wealthy. This course will consider actual and historical examples of “improvements” and crime, and their "intersectional" outcomes.
 

We will read (in translation) manga and comics that depict warfare on a spectrum of speculative to journalistic. We will discuss the ethics of storytelling, faithfulness to history/reality, official vs. unofficial narratives, empathy and compassion fatigue and unrespresentable. 

Examines the problem of conflict in social theory and practice. Readings introduce types of alternative dispute resolution. Students practice mediation and negotiation skills through simulated conflicts. Class and gender perspectives are presented in class activities, readings, and films. 

An examination of Marxist intellectual traditions with heavy emphasis on the writings of Marx. Examines Marx's critique of capitalism and alienation in his early writing to his more formal analysis of capitalism in his work Capital. Looks at how later Marxists and critics of capitalism have used, criticized and reworked elements of the Marxian analysis to continue developing contemporary conceptions of a non-capitalist or classless society.

A practical course teaching methods for community organizing through interaction with Richmond community groups and educational centers. Analyzes influence of national and international popular culture within Richmond.

Explores the problem of global inequality, its implications for human development, and possible solutions. Builds on concepts from International Political Economy and Comparative Politics. Defines inequality and development and discusses how to measure these phenomena. Explores competing explanations for the existence and persistence of global inequality and tackles issues important in the developing world. 

An internship or practicum is organized by the student in consultation with the adviser. Credits for the experience must be negotiated between the adviser and the on-site supervisor. The experience involves one of the following: (a) teaching or tutoring a second language, (b) a special research project, or (c) interpreting / translation. Depending on the experience, students enhance their communicative skills, develop a critical understanding of linguistic and cultural differences, connect to other disciplines through languages, come to a deeper understanding of the role of translation in cross-cultural communication, and/or reflect on career and life goals.

Investigates the philosophical foundations of the Social Sciences. Introduces students to questions of theory, method, interpretation, ideology and the intersection of subjectivity, modern society and Social Sciences. Prerequisite: Previous study in Social Sciences or Philosophy or consent of the instructor. Also listed as PAGS 370.