For each semester of study, students must enroll into at least one (non-obligatory) course from the English track. Those who have a B2 level in French may also select one or two courses from the French track.

Semester 1
Fall 2023

September - December

Contemporary Political Debates in the UK | 20h - 5 ECTS

Syllabus

1. What does the UK correspond to?
2. The British Constitution
3. The British Monarchy
4. The British Parliament
5. Elections and political parties in the UK
6. The British Government
7. The people: giving ‘the people’ a voice in a parliamentary democracy such as the UK
8. The Scottish independence debate
9. Northern Ireland back in the spotlight

The Political Regime of France | 20h - 5 ECTS

Syllabus

The current political regime of France, the Fifth Republic, was established by the 1958 Constitution. After two centuries of political and constitutional instability, the Fifth Republic is often presented by its numerous supporters as the expression of a political maturity and equilibrium between the principles of liberty and authority. Even if this judgement has to be balanced, it is undeniable that the political regime of todays France, which is neither a "presidential regime" like the USA nor a classic "parliamentary regime" following the Westminster model, is a quite original and peculiar combination of presidentialism, democracy and rule of law. Its various components and its balance of powers will be presented and discussed in this course.

From Biological Racism to the Construction of Systemic Racism: A Comparative Study between France and the USA | 20h - 5 ECTS

Syllabus

The aim of this course is to understand how racism has been constructed as a system of oppression. Fixed in our society, institutional or systemic racism originates from biological racism. The craniology of the 19th century justified the inferiority of the Black-Slave while affirming the superiority of the "white race". If the wars of decolonization in Africa and the black liberation movements in the USA have apparently destroyed the remains of the colonial states, what remains of the racist theories? Especially when one observes a rise in extreme right-wing politics in France and the USA? What do you think of the American ghettos or the over-representation of Blacks in prisons in the USA? Should we criticize French Universalism? Or should we consider it as a model of equality and freedom?

Education and Democracy | 20h - 5 ECTS

Syllabus

Recent attempts to theoretically link democracy and education have relied on certain notions of consensus, rational communication, dialogue between citizens, and social solidarity. While these ideals strive towards an appreciation of how democratic citizens may be encouraged to learn and employ the skills of public deliberation, they have been critically contested within contemporary democratic thought. This critique has particularly arisen through theories and issues that challenge the alleged inclusiveness and/or rational consensus assumed in deliberation. In short, there presently exists a critical divergence between thinkers that emphasize a deliberative educational model and those who forefront the thinking of difference and diversity through a politics of interruption and contestation. By tracing these contrasting approaches, the course will expose students to the varied and contested ways of linking democracy and education, and to the multiple ways of conceiving the ‘pedagogical’.

Law & Literature in Britain & in the United States | 20h - 5 ECTS

Syllabus

The general objective of the course is to explore the intersection between law and literature through the analysis of the plots of five novels and a novella by 19th-century English and North American authors. Along with the massive political and social changes which took place in the age of capital (in Eric Hobsbawm’s terms), the nineteenth century was also marked by decisive developments and the consolidation of legal systems in Europe and in the Americas. Through the study of excerpts supported by a secondary bibliography and multimedia resources, we will aim at determining the ways in which the law is depicted in the fiction of George Eliot (Middlemarch, 1872), Charles Dickens (Oliver Twist, 1837-38), Thomas Hardy (Jude the Obscure, 1895), Mark Twain (Pudd’nhead Wilson, 1894), Rebecca Harding Davis (Life in the Iron Mills, 1861) and Herman Melville (Bartleby the Scrivener, 1856). Our main goals are to understand how legal elements are embedded in the plots; to identify how the idea of law interferes and guides the outcome of the narratives; and to discuss whether the central presence of the law in these stories might engage the authors and their readers in an imaginary, and perhaps desired new social order. Our discussion of the texts and of the secondary sources will be guided by four themes: property and inheritance; marriage and divorce; the poor and the law; lawyers and judges. Furthermore, the course will provide the students with an overview of the field of law and literature as it developed in the United States, and its repercussions in Europe.

Immigration and Diversity Management in Britain and France from 1930 to Present | 20h - 5 ECTS

Syllabus

The aim of this course is twofold. On the one hand, it intends to shed light on the diverging routes taken by the UK and France in the framing of immigration and integration policies since the postwar period and in the attitude of both countries towards diversity-related issues. On the other hand, its aims at providing students with an introduction to international comparisons, a fruitful analytical tool frequently deployed in social science research.

Stories that Stick: Personal, Political, & Cultural Narratives | 20h - 5 ECTS

Syllabus

Since the beginning of history, humans have told stories. But why are we wired for narrative? What can stories achieve? And how do stories define and change our understanding of ourselves, others, and key issues of our time? From the earliest cave paintings and the Egyptian Book of the Dead to stories told in the oral traditions around the globe, humans have always relied on stories to share information, influence their audience, or incite others to action. A good story can inform and inspire, motivate and unite. But the awesome power of stories isn’t always used for good. During our exploration, we’ll think critically about the role of narrative and storytelling in culture, the media, and politics: While some stories are forces of good, are others manipulative or downright dangerous? This course is divided into three sections: Stories in theory, during which we’ll explore the history of storytelling and examine theories of narrative and rhetoric; Stories in practice, when we’ll study approaches to storytelling and learn to tell a great story; and Stories in action, when we’ll look at examples of how stories play out in practice and in the public sphere. Throughout the semester, we’ll consider a wide range of mediums and forms of expression that include literature, podcasts, fashion, visual art, children’s books, music, and film. We’ll examine the role of storytelling in culture, the law, politics, and the media, and consider how storytelling can shape public opinion, inspire action, and change—or reinforce—long-held notions. And we’ll put theory into practice: students will develop a toolkit that allows them to identify, craft, and share meaningful, persuasive stories.

The validation of the two following courses is necessary to obtain the one-year degree in International and Comparative Studies:

Methodology of Writing | 5h - 2 ECTS

This class is designed and intended to aid students who are not familiar with the methodology of writing in France and in particular at Sciences Po. Structure and writing skills are the key to successful completion of a course of study in France and students will be guided in the elaboration and development of these important skills through practice. Each step of the writing process will be analyzed and explained in order to help students understand and practice the French methodology. Thus, a particular focus will be put on essay writing and the "dissertation" exercise.

Research Methods | 10h - 3 ECTS

This course aims to give students the