POL 340A Global Pandemics and World Politics
Why and how do some countries respond to global pandemics more effectively than others? How do pandemics reflect, reinforce, or undermine processes of globalization and/or the sovereign state system? What impact do pandemics have on the global economy and international politics? What is an ethical response to a pandemic outbreak and how might the Church address the current global crisis? Tracking COVID-19 in real time, this course examines the relationship between global pandemics and world politics. In addition to researching and analyzing international responses to COVID-19, the course allows students to process the global magnitude of the current crisis. Students will be asked to reflect on how COVID-19 has altered their own life and local community and to place such disruptions in a broader international context The course will be delivered online using both synchronous and asynchronous learning methods. Students will be guided by weekly reflection questions and readings as well as short written assignments.