Undergraduate

Program Description

The Department of Political Science and International Studies offers a wide range of undergraduate courses in governance and public policy, Turkish politics, international relations theory, conflict studies, political economy of development, and political and social theory. These courses are concerned with how  the students evaluate the general trends in world affairs, the current challenges we face and the complexities of the globalisation. The undergraduate students are required to complete 53 courses with 159 credits in order to earn B.A degree.

Curriculum (2010-2011)

First Term (Fall) 6 courses, 18 credits

Code	Course Name	T	P	C	Prerequisite	M/E	ECTS
ECON 101	Introduction to Economics I	3	-	3		M	5
ENG 131	Academic English I	4	-	4		M	5
PSIR 101	History of Civilization and Science	3	-	3		M	6
PSIR 103	Introduction to Sociology	3	-	3		M	6
PSIR 105	Basic Mathematics	3	-	3		M	6
TÜRK 101	Turkish I	2	-	2		M	2

Second Term (Spring) 7 courses, 21 credits

Code	Course Name	T	P	C	Prerequisite	M/E	ECTS
ECON 102	Introduction to Economics II	3	-	3		M	5
BTU 110	Applied Information Technologies	2	2	3		M	3
ENG 132	Academic English II	4	-	4	ENG 131	M	5
PSIR 102	Physics and Contemporary World	3	-	3		M	5
PSIR 104	Introduction to Psychology	3	-	3		M	5
PSIR 108	Introduction to Political Science I	3	-	3		M	5
TÜRK 102	Turkish II	2	-	2		M	2

Third Term (Fall) 7 courses, 21 credits

Code	Course Name	T	P	C	Prerequisite	M/E	ECTS
ATA 201	Atatürk’s Prin. and the Hist.of The Turkish Rep. I	2	-	2		M	2
ENG 231	Academic English III	4	-	4	ENG 132	M	5
PSIR 203	Introduction to Political Science II	3	-	3	PSIR 108	M	5
PSIR 205	Research Methods in Social Sciences I	3	-	3		M	5
PSIR 215	History of Political Thought I	3	-	3		M	5
PSIR 217	International Relations I	3	-	3		M	5
PSIR 219	Law and Politics	3	-	3		M	3

 

Fourth Term (Spring) 7 courses, 21 credits

Code	Course Name	T	P	C	Prerequisite	M/E	ECTS
ATA 202	Atatürk’s Prin. and the Hist.of The Turkish Rep. I	2	-	2		M	2
ENG 232	Academic English IV	4	-	4	ENG 231	M	5
PSIR 204	Political Sociology	3	-	3	PSIR 103	M	5
PSIR 206	Research Methods in Social Sciences II	3	-	3	PSIR 205	M	5
PSIR 218	International Relations II	3	-	3	PSIR 217	M	5
PSIR 220	Constitutional Law	3	-	3		M	3
PSIR 222	History of Political Thought II	3	-	3		M	5

Fifth Term (Fall) 7 courses, 21 credits

Code	Course Name	T	P	C	Prerequisite	M/E	ECTS
ENG 331	Translation	2	2	3		M	3
PSIR 311	Political History I	3	-	3		M	5
PSIR 313	Turkish Political History I	3	-	3		M	5
PSIR 321	Comparative Politics I	3	-	3		M	5
	Elevtive Course I	3	-	3		ME	4
	Elevtive Course II	3	-	3		ME	4
	Elevtive Course III	3	-	3		ME	4

 

Sixth Term (Spring) 7 courses, 21 credits

Code	Course Name	T	P	C	Prerequisite	M/E	ECTS
ENG 332	Developing Reading and Listening Skills	2	2	3		M	3
PSIR 312	Political History II	3	-	3		M	5
PSIR 314	Turkish Political History II	3	-	3		M	5
PSIR 322	Comparative Politics II	3	-	3	PSIR 321	M	5
	Elevtive Course IV	3	-	3		ME	4
	Elevtive Course V	3	-	3		ME	4
	Elevtive Course VI	3	-	3		ME	4

Seventh Term (Fall) 6 courses, 18 credits

Code	Course Name	T	P	C	Prerequisite	M/E	ECTS
ENG 431	Developing Writing and Speaking Skills	2	2	3		M	5
PSIR 401	International Political Economy	3	-	3		M	7
PSIR 404	Turkish Foreign Policy	3	-	3		M	6
	Elevtive Course VII	3	-	3		ME	4
	Elevtive Course VIII	3	-	3		ME	4
	Elevtive Course IX	3	-	3		ME	4

 

Eighth Term (Spring) 6 courses, 18 credits

Code	Course Name	T	P	C	Prerequisite	M/E	ECTS
ENG 432	Presentation Skills	2	2	3		M	5
PSIR 403	Political Theory	3	-	3		M	7
PSIR 412	International Relations Theories	3	-	3		M	6
	Elevtive Course XI	3	-	3		ME	4
	Elevtive Course XI	3	-	3		ME	4
	Elevtive Course XII	3	-	3		ME	4

 

ELECTIVE COURSES

 

Code	Course Name	T	P	C	Prerequisite	M/E	ECTS
MAN 261	Introduction to Business	3	-	3		E	5
MAN 331	Introduction to Marketing	3	-	3		E	5
MAN 332	Marketing Strategies	3	-	3	MAN 331	E	5
MAN 431	Consumer Behaviour	3	-	3	MAN 331	E	5
MAN 436	International Marketing	3	-	3	MAN 331	E	5
MAN 463	Human Resource Management	3	-	3		E	5
PSIR 303	Social Theory	3	-	3		E	4
PSIR 304	International Organizations	3	-	3		E	4
PSIR 305	Foreign Policy Analysis	3	-	3		E	4
PSIR 306	Environmental Politics	3	-	3		E	4
PSIR 308	Social Structure of Turkey	3	-	3		E	4
PSIR 309	European Union	3	-	3		E	4
PSIR 310	Turkey-European Union Integration	3	-	3		E	4
PSIR 317	International Law I	3	-	3		E	4
PSIR 318	nternational Law II	3	-	3		E	4
PSIR 320	Civil Society and Democracy in Turkey	3	-	3		E	4
PSIR 324	Political Ideologies	3	-	3		E	4
PSIR 325	Political Process and Its Analysis	3	-	3		E	4
PSIR 328	Nationalism and Ethnicity	3	-	3		E	4
PSIR 332	Modernity, Religion and Politics	3	-	3		E	4
PSIR 340	Political Psychology	3	-	3		E	4
PSIR 405	Turkey in the Globalization Process	3	-	3		E	4
PSIR 406	Current Issues in International Relations	3	-	3	PSIR 217	E	4
PSIR 407	Diplomatic Correspondence	3	-	3	ENG 132	E	4
PSIR 408	Independent Research	3	-	3		E	4
PSIR 409	Human Rights	3	-	3		E	4
PSIR 410	Balkan Politics from a Historical Perspective	3	-	3		E	4
PSIR 411	History of Turkish Political Thought	3	-	3	PSIR 215 PSIR 222	E	4
PSIR 414	Current Issues in Turkish Politics	3	-	3	PSIR 313	E	4
PSIR 415	Political Economy in Turkey	3	-	3	PSIR 313	E	4
PSIR 420	Area Studies	3	-	3		E	4
PSIR 422	Twentieth Century Social Movements	3	-	3		E	4
PSIR 423	Communication and Politics	3	-	3		E	4
PSIR 424	Society and Politics in the Middle East	3	-	3		E	4
PSIR 426	The Middle East in Turkish Foreign Policy	3	-	3		E	4
PSIR 428	Third World	3	-	3	PSIR 321	E	4
PSIR 431	Political Philosophy	3	-	3	PSIR 215 PSIR 222	E	4
PSIR 432	Society and Politics in Eurasia	3	-	3		E	4
PSIR 433	Development of the Women’s Movement in Turkey	3	-	3	PSIR 313	E	4
PSIR 434	Conflict Resolution	3	-	3	PSIR 313	E	4
PSIR 435	American Foreign Policy Since World War II	3	-	3		E	4
PSIR 436	Ottoman Diplomacy and Europe	3	-	3	PSIR 311	E	4
PSIR 437	Public Diplomacy	3	-	3		E	4
PSIR 438	International Order and Security Issues	3	-	3	PSIR 217	E	4
PSIR 439	State, Society and Citizenship in Turkey	3	-	3	PSIR 313	E	4
PSIR 440	Turkish-Greek Relations and Cyprus	3	-	3		E	4
PSIR 441	Terrorism	3	-	3		E	4
PSIR 442	Global Migration Movements and International Relations	3	-	3		E	4
PSIR 444	Administrative Law	3	-	3		E	4
PSIR 446	Politics, Women and Media	3	-	3		E	4

 

Course Descriptions (2010-2011 Course Catalog)

PSIR 101 History of Civilization and Science

The aim of the course is to survey the history of civilization from the perspective of the development and progress in science, and to study the continuities and breaks in history with regard to creativity and a growing confidence in mathematics. The scope is the period from the Hellenic Age to the beginning of the nineteenth century with special emphasis on Plato, Aristotle, Ptolemy, Copernicus, Descartes, Kepler, and Newton. The course also aims at carrying the student's viewpoint beyond one-dimensional conception of history.

PSIR 102 Physics and the Contemporary World

The framework of the course is the scientific developments from the nineteenth century to the present, with a special emphasis on physics. Beginning with the nineteenth century physics, general and special theories of relativity, developments in logic, mathematics, and geometry, Darwin's theory of evolution, quantum mechanics, and probability theory are to be handled. The aim of the course is to create an affinity to science and a comprehension of the universe on the part of the students and to teach critical thinking.

PSIR 103 Introduction to Sociology

Basic sociological concepts, different approaches developed through these concepts, and social analysis methods derived from these approaches will be taught in this course. The organization, protection, and evolution of social life will constitute the content of the course. Furthermore, a comparative approach will be adopted to analyze different social structures of different societies.

PSIR 104 Introduction to Psychology

The main aim of PSIR 104 is to define and explain the basic concepts in psychology and to enable students to achieve required attitudes, behaviors, and cognition that can be applied to various areas of their personal and professional life. The course contains the topics such as psychology as a science, research methods, sensation and perception, memory, personality, psychological disorders and treatment, emotion, motivation, social psychology, and critical thinking.

PSIR 105 Basic Mathematics

Fundamentals of algebra, polynomials, solving equations, inequalities; functions and their graphs; their applications in economics, systems of linear equations and matrices; Cramer rule, unique solutions, matrix operations, co-factor matrix; Mathematics of finance, compound interest, effective rate of interest, present value of an investment; Linear programming; graphical solutions, maximization; probability, multiplication principle, permutations, combinations, mean, standard deviation, histogramme, frequency polygon, normal distribution.

PSIR 108 Introduction to Political Science I

The aim of the course is to introduce basic concepts in political science, including power, legitimacy, authority, contract, and the right of election. Starting from these concepts, the development of modern state, the relationship between the state and citizens, democratic and non-democratic systems and constitutional order will also comprise the themes of the course.

PSIR 203 Introduction to Political Science II

The course is the second part of PSIR 108. The sketch of the course is formed on the basis of the concepts and themes introduced in PSIR 108. The scope of the course is comprised of political institutions, electoral systems, revolutions, reforms, and political culture. The aim is to delineate the fundamental actors and mediums in the evolution of the relationship between the ruler and the ruled in different political structures (Prerequisite: PSIR 108).

PSIR 204 Political Sociology

Main approaches to power structures within societies, the analysis of the relationship between the political system and social structure, political parties, pressure groups, the analysis of the relations between interest groups and social classes, on the one hand and society and politics, on the other constitute the content of this course (Prerequisite: PSIR 103).

PSIR 205 Research Methods in Social Sciences I

PSIR 205 is an introduction to the understanding of concepts in methodology, social research methods, and techniques. Philosophical basis for social research and the problems in methodology such as choosing a research question and carrying on the research process are within the scope of the course.

PSIR 206 Research Methods in Social Sciences II

Qualitative and quantitative research methods, choosing research questions and the selection of research methods, data collection, assessment and measurement, statistics, and writing research paper are the subjects covered in PSIR 206 (Prerequisite: PSIR 205).

PSIR 215 History of Political Thought I

The course covers the turning points in the Western history of political and social thought until the seventeenth century. The aim is to familiarize the students with the issues that had been raised (as well as the structure of thought) in Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome, and Medieval Ages by employing different perspectives so that the students will be able to develop their ability to think critically.

PSIR 217 International Relations I

The aim of the course is to introduce concepts and institutions that will enable the students to comprehend inter-state relations in relation to the historical evolution of international system.

PSIR 218 International Relations II

The course is the second part of PSIR 217. The aim of the course is to enable the students to analyze contemporary developments in international system on the grounds of the accumulation they acquire from PSIR 217. The reflections of the relationship between domestic and foreign policies on the international platform are among the topics of the course (Prerequisite: PSIR 217).

PSIR 219 Law and Politics

The course is designed to familiarize students with the overlapping terms and concepts of two separate dsiciplines, namely law and politics. It introduces such basic concepts as legal rules, authority, sovereignty, state, rights, constitutionalism, rule of law, etc. Law and Politics also provides a complementary range of approaches to a close and controversial relationship between law and politics. To this end, liberal, realist and postmodern perspectives on law and politics are to be explored through an examination of the basic texts within which these perspectives are embedded.

PSIR 220 Constitutional Law

The principle aim of this course is to introduce students to the basic elements of the constitutional law in general and Turkish constitutional law in particular. To this end, the course begins with an elaboration of normative aspects of constitutional state focusing especially on the principles of rule of law, separation of powers, political neutrality, and human rights. The Turkish Constitution will be explained in its social, political and historical context. The course also takes up the general characteristics of the Turkish constitutional justice by exploring the structure and functions of the constitutional court. Finally, Constitutional Law dwells on the European Convention on Human Rights to which Turkey has been a party since 1954. Bearing in mind the fact that the European Convention plays an incresing role in Turkish domestic law, the Course will inform students on the conflicts and incompatibilities between the jurisprudences of the European Court of Human Rights and the Turkish Constitutional Court.

PSIR 222 History of Political Thought II

This course takes over PSIR 215. The course aims to study the texts and theories of the main political thinkers by relating them to the issues and developments of their ages. The course will also give the basic information necessary for comprehending the modern political theory.

PSIR 303 Social Theory

The course aims at the comprehension of the foundations of modern social and political theory through readings of the original texts of Durkheim, Marx, and Weber.

PSIR 304 International Organizations

The aim of the course is to teach the organizational functioning of the international system. The scope of the course includes the analysis of the relations between international actors and structure of the norms rather than an institutional approach.

PSIR 305 Foreign Policy Analysis

The scope of the course includes the analysis of the decision making and implementing in diplomacy and the internal and external actors, which affects this process.

PSIR 306 Environmental Policies

The aim of the course is to provide a platform for discussing the important theoretical and practical topics in international environmental policies. Locating environmental issues within the framework of international relations, analyzing the actors and institutions that command the environmental policies, contemporary proposals for providing solutions to certain environmental problems are within the scope of the course.

PSIR 308 Social Structure of Turkey

The content of the course is based on the knowledge gained by the courses of Introduction to Sociology and Political Sociology. The aim is to understand the social structure of Turkey from a critical and comparative standpoint.

PSIR 309 European Union

This course analyzes the Union’s process of formation and development within the dimensions of politics and economics. The scope of the course includes European identity and Turkey-European Union relations.

PSIR 310 Turkey-European Union Integration

This course explores Turkey’s process of integration into the European Union (EU). The historical, political, cultural, economic and social relations between Turkey and the EU are topic of the course. Besides the chances and limits of Turkey’s integration into the EU are dealt with.

PSIR 311 Political History I

Important political developments happened within the period between the French Revolution and the First World War, and inter-state relations, constitute the topic of this course.

PSIR 312 Political History II

This course covers the developments of the world history beginning from the First World War until 1990, by focusing on inter-state relations.

PSIR 313 Turkish Political History I

The course is designed to provide comprehensive account of Turkish politics. The scope of the course is limited to the period between 1923-1960. However, Ottoman past is included with reference to certain milestones in Ottoman-Turkish history in order to pinpoint the arguments of rupture and/or continuity. Throughout the course, developments in Turkish political life will be analyzed with a view to the project and/or process of modernization.

PSIR 314 Turkish Political History II

The course is the second part of PSIR 313. The developments that have taken place since 1960 form the scope of the course. The background of the course consists of the topics covered in PSIR 313. The main problematique of the course is whether a tradition can be found in Turkish political history, especially with reference to last four decades. In this respect, the focus is on the observations on society, state, political parties, political ideologies, constitutions, and military with an historical insight.

PSIR 317 International Law I

The aim of the course is to give an insight view as to the nature and basis of international law, the relationship between international law and national law, classical and modern sources of international law, the law of treaties, the subjects of international law (states and non-state actors), international institutions such as United Nations, the Council of Europe and the European Union.

PSIR 318 International Law II

The course is a follow-up of PSIR 317. The scope of the course covers practical sides of international law. In this context, human rights, diplomatic relations, the law of the sea, air and space law, state responsibility, international environmental law, settlement of disputes, international measures and counter measures, the use of force and international criminal law are studied in detail.

PSIR 320 Civil Society and Democracy in Turkey

Is there a direct and irreversible correlation between the development of civil society and democracy in contemporary world in general, and in Turkey in particular? Can one reach a standard definition of civil society? If yes, can this standard definition be the yardstick for the experiences with civil society in different socio-political contexts? Is the nature of civil society in a context a signifier of the level of democratization? What are the features of civil society in Turkey? Can all civil society organizations in the Turkish context be considered democratic actors? Above are the main questions that this course aims to address. In order to do so, the course evolves in three stages. In the first stage, different approaches to and conceptualizations of civil society are covered with an historical perspective. In the second stage, the experience with civil society in the Turkish context is covered on the axis of the characteristics of state-society relation, different stages of democratization in Turkish politics with special attention to the post-1980 period, and the connection between civil society and democracy. In the third stage, the students make presentations on their field studies.

PSIR 321 Comparative Politics I

The purpose of the lecture is to help students develop comparative point of view in the analysis of economic, political, and military structures of societies. Parliament and presidency systems, different views of democracy, national revolutions, and social movements are among the topics of the PSIR 321.

PSIR 322 Comparative Politics II

The aim of the course is to orient students to the comparative regional studies in the light of information gathered in PSIR 321. Thus, research projects are at the center of this lecture (Prerequisite: PSIR 321).

PSIR 324 Political Ideologies

The scope of the course is formed around liberalism, conservatism, communism, social democracy, and nationalism.

PSIR 325 Policy Process and Its Analysis

This course examines how policies are created, implemented, evaluated and held accountable in the current social, economic and political environment. The course is designed to promote an understanding of the theories and approaches to policy analysis and to help the student to acquire a working knowledge of the skills involved in the practice of policy analysis in the area of international relations and public administration.

PSIR 328 Nationalism and Ethnicity

The purpose of this course is to analyze the discussions of nationalism and ethnicity in a global perspective. Nationalism, nation-state formation, and ethnic nationalism are the main topics of this course.

PSIR 332 Modernity, Religion and Politics

This course aims to study the evolution of the modernity-religion relationship in the course of history. With this aim in mind, beginning with the Enlightenment thinkers such as August Comte, the approach of such “institutionalized” thinkers as Durkheim, Marx, and Weber to religion will be studied from a political science perspective. In addition, the modernization-secularization relationship that has been constructed by the classical approaches will be reviewed in the light of recent world-wide revival of religious movements.

PSIR 340 Political Psychology

PSIR 340 is designed to provide students with information about political behavior. Political psychology is an interdisciplinary field of research that blends experimental social psychology and political science. Although both theoretical and empirical works in political psychology are going to be covered in PSIR 340, experimental nature of the area will be emphasized. In short, political psychology is empirical, experimental, and person-oriented. It is assumed that research on political behavior becomes clearer and more understandable if the level of analysis is micro; that is, the individual himself / herself.

PSIR 401 International Political Economy

The course will study the relations between politics and economy at both national and international levels from different theoretical perspectives.

PSIR 403 Political Theory

The course is designed to provide a comprehensive account of the concepts and themes that have been problematized in political science literature since seventeenth century, via the reading of original essays. The aim of the course is to provide the students with a critical understanding of the related concepts and themes.

PSIR 404 Turkish Foreign Policy

The scope of the course consists of the study of the trends, changes and continuities in Turkish foreign policy throughout the republican period.

PSIR 405 Turkey in the Globalization Process

The course covers Turkey's role within the changing conjuncture of the world in 1990s, changes and continuities in diplomatic relationships, and alternative policies for handling Turkey's problems in line with the changing conjuncture.

PSIR 406 Current Issues in International Relations

The course covers by the developments in international system since the end of the 1980's. Globalization and its phenomenal aspects are within the scope of the course (Prerequisite: PSIR 217).

PSIR 407 Diplomatic Correspondence

The main course of the lecture is to give fundamental knowledge and concept in the field of international relations, how to conduct the activities, foreign policy and implemantation of diplomacy. Within the given fundamental knowlegde there will be; diplomatic language and presentation techniques, widely-used special words and idioms, common failures in writing and catachresis, efficient and effective usage of time; sample of diplomatic writing and speech text (note, message, invitations, diplomatic document, contradictions, letters e.g.), definitions of some diplomatic documentation, to learn how to draft most commonly use articles and speeches in diplomatic life and the form of correspondance and special decleration formats and protocol rules (Prerequisite: ENG 132).

PSIR 408 Independent Research

This course is offered in the eighth semester to fourth year students who aim to conduct graduate study. In order to take the course the student shall submit her/his willingness to study on a certain topic that falls within the scope of Political Science and International Relations to the department, at the end of the sixth semester. The student is also required to find a faculty whose area of research contains the topic on which the student wants to conduct research. If the faculty accepts working with the student as a supervisor they devise a research plan by the beginning of the seventh semester.  In the end of the seventh semester the student should have completed her/his literature review and shall submit a proposal. If the faculty assesses that the proposal meets the minimum requirements for carrying out a one semester long research project the student can enrol in the course. The course is carried out by regular meetings between the supervisor and the student. The length of the written research shall be between 50–80 pages. The research project shall be finalised by the end of the spring semester courses and submitted to a jury of three faculties, including the supervisor. The grade is decided by majority voting. The jury has the authority to reject the project or recommend revisions. The revisions are required to be completed in one week. If the jury is still dissatisfied with the revised version of the project, the student is considered to have failed from the course.

PSIR 409 Human Rights

The scope of this course is the universal development of the idea of human rights. The genesis and development of the idea is to be studied within the context of a variety of historical periods. The course covers universal documents pertaining to human rights as well as international organizations with a view to observing human rights.

PSIR 410 Balkans Politics from a Historical Perspective

Balkans has played an important role in global politics since the 19th century due to the involvement of great powers in regional politics. The region historically experienced many conflicts and wars within or between states. The cases of Kosovo and Montenegro prove that territorial adjustments in the region still continue. The aim of this course is to provide students with basic information about the history of the region as well as to help them grasp the current regional dynamics. In addition, the course also addresses the fundamental foreign policy parameters of Turkey toward the Balkans.

PSIR 411 History of Turkish Political Thought

The concepts, which have been problematized in the course of Ottoman-Turkish politics since nineteenth century are analyzed with a view to the essays of main thinkers. The aim is to elaborate the connection between active politics and political thought within Turkish context (Prerequisite: PSIR 215 and PSIR 222).

PSIR 412 International Relations Theories

The objective of this course are to increase the knowledge and understanding of international relations building upon the introductory course and to develop your ability to think critically about major theoretical developments in the field and their contribution to the study of world events. Some of the main topics of the course are core concepts, issues, and processes of international relations.

PSIR 414 Current Issues in Turkish Politics

The course covers the post-1980 developments that have left (their) marks in Turkish politics. Democratization debates, women’s rights, state-society relations are among the topics to be tackled (Prerequisite: PSIR 313).

PSIR 415 Political Economy in Turkey

The aim of the course is to elaborate on Turkish political history with a view to on the basis of political economy. The structure of the state and its role in economy are among the topics of the course (Prerequisite: PSIR 313).

PSIR 420 Area Studies

The scope of this course consists in a historical analysis of the political, economic and military structures of different regions of the world such as the Middle East, Far East, North Africa, Eastern Europe and the Anglo-American context. A historical perspective is always to be in the foreground. This one term course will concentrate upon one of the above mentioned regions in accordance with the faculty deliberation.

PSIR 422 Twentieth Century Social Movements

Protest politics and social movements have become almost permanent features of the contemporary political landscape. In contexts where there is little hope for institutional redress, activists often stage protests to open up democratic avenues for affecting political influence. Movements represent not only grievances on a particular set of issues, but also frustration with more established political forms of making claims in advanced industrialized societies. Those employing social movements for political goals include people who want to increase democracy, and others who want to limit it. When actors on different sides of political issues employ the same social movement forms and tactics to advance their causes, we are witnessing a growth in public distrust of more institutional democratic politics. To the extent that social movement politics have become increasingly routinized and institutionalized element of contemporary politics, they reflect a permanent skepticism about more conventional democratic tools.

PSIR 423 Communication and Politics

The scope of the course is comprised of the relationship among  information technology, mass media, and politics.

PSIR 424 Society and Politics in the Middle East

This course  analyzes modern Middle Eastern history and economic development in terms of a variety of theoretical approaches.  The course covers social and economic history of the Ottoman Empire from the mid-nineteenth century to its fall  at the end of the First World War. Then the course examines the specific histories of Turkey, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Israel and Palestine around the themes in economic development, the rise of nation, nationalism and the nation-state, and the politics of religion.  The course specifically covers the role of the military in politics in the 1950s, the Arab ideological changes in the 1960s, the rise of Islamic fundamentalism in the 1970s, the Arab-Israeli conflict and the Palestinian question throughout half a century, and the current economic and political challenges in the Middle East.

PSIR 425 National Security Law

National security is a vital element for the survival and welfare of a country and its people. Yet, there seems to be a common lack of knowledge on the subject. Separation and/or priority–superiority of powers, efforts to make a discrimination between “elected” and “appointed” authorities; civil–military relations, intelligence operations; legal aspects of the formulation and implementation of the national security policies, all deserve special attention for present and future civil and military leadership. National Security Academy (Milli Güvenlik Akademisi) in Ankara has continuing education programs to this end. However, the matter is so important that cannot be left to the activities of just one center. Also, to support development of the present policies and their implementation, a critical approach is necessary in an academic framework.

SIBU 426 The Middle East in Turkish Foreign Policy

Because of historical, cultural and strategic reasons Middle East can be considered one of the most important regions in Turkish foreign policy since the establishment of the Republic of Turkey. The region is important in terms of Turkish internal politics as well. During this course the main determinants of Turkey’s foreign policy toward the region are analyzed. Moreover, the changes in Turkey’s attitude toward the region are addressed as well. At the end of the course students are expected to know the historical developments in Turkish policies, to be able to analyse areas of cooperation and conflict and examine the current developments.

PSIR 428 Third World

The problematization of the traditional classification between the developed and underdeveloped countries within modernization literature delineates the scope of the course. Analysis of the developments in political science terminology that accompanied the changes in international system is among the aims of the course (Prerequisite: PSIR 321).

PSIR 431 Political Philosophy

The course covers the ways in which the conceptual contents of society, state, liberty, rights, power and democracy have been transformed throughout a historical process by a survey of major philosophical texts. The aim is to provide a critical analysis of the relationships between the concepts developed in philosophy and corresponding historical manifestations of political institutions and organizations (Prerequisite: PSIR 215 and PSIR 222).

PSIR 432 Society and Politics in Eurasia

This course will focus on some specific groups (Crimean Tatars, Meskhetian Turks, Soviet Germans, Soviet Jews and Russians) in Soviet and post-Soviet borderlands covering both the “dispersed peoples” forcibly moved under the Stalinist regime, which currently do not possess a state in the post-Soviet borderlands, and the Russians. The Soviet ethnos theory and the Soviet nationality policy will be critically examined to better understand the groups specified above.

PSIR 433 Development of Women’s Movement in Turkey

The course is designed to provide the students with in-depth knowledge about the woman issue and the development of woman’s movement in Turkey with a historical perspective. Starting with an introductory note on the practical and theoretical foundations of woman’s movement, the course critically explores the evolution of woman’s movement in Turkey. An historical assessment of the economic, social and political status of woman in Turkey is also included within the scope of the course (Prerequisite: PSIR 313).

PSIR 434 Conflict Resolution

This course introduces the interdisciplinary study of conflict analysis and resolution. We will examine how and why conflict occurs in human society, and what we can do to mitigate its destructive aspects. The course includes an overview of the field including the central approaches to analyzing conflict, an extended case study of a conflict, an examination of several forms of intervention, and finally a consideration of new directions in conflict studies. We will highlight the societal, structural, and cultural factors that play a part in conflict and its resolution. At the end of the course, you should be able to analyze a conflict, to appreciate the contextual factors that influence conflict, to know the major conflict resolution techniques, and to understand the complexities of the most pressing contemporary conflicts (Prerequisite: PSIR 313).

PSIR 435 American Foreign Policy Since World War II

The course will cover the major trends in post World War II American Foreign Policy including the Truman Doctrine, the Marshall Plan, the Eisenhower Doctrine, the Vietnam War, the Nixon Doctrine, the Carter Doctrine, the End of the Cold War, and the War on Terror.

PSIR 436 Ottoman Diplomacy and Europe

This course aims at providing the students with a general framework of diplomatic relations between the Ottoman Empire and the European states. Ottoman diplomacy will be analysed in three stages. In the first stage that covers the period Ottoman Empire was dominant, how the diplomatic relations with Europe were conducted will be analysed as well as the ad hoc diplomacy Ottomans pursued at this period and its causes. In the second stage, the period from the 18th century onwards when the Ottoman power started to decline, the mutualisation of diplomatic relations, the lives, changing relationships, and journals of the diplomats who went to Europe in that period  will be analysed. Moreover, the effects of the reform movements that affected all fields of social life on the diplomacy and the Foreign Ministry will be analysed in this second stage. The final stage will cover the positive or negative heritage of the Ottoman diplomacy on the modern Republic of Turkey. The study of the Ottoman diplomacy which covers an experience of centuries would facilitate the interaction between international and local developments and would give the students a key to better understand the current Turkish foreign policy (Prerequisite: PSIR 311).

PSIR 437 Public Diplomacy

One of the main purposes of Public Diplomacy Course is to provide the students of international relations and political science with a better perception of trans-national relations and the role of interest articulation in contemporary globalized world.  The students should consequently realize the nature and magnitude of important independent players in psycho-political influence processes: Media, non-governmental actors, academic institutions and official state departments in the rather demystified international relations. The course will highlight theoretical background, systemic principles and practice in contemporary public diplomacy. Policy outputs and methods used hitherto will be discussed within this context. Eventually, the “Turkish case” with appropriate political, legal and institutional approaches belongs to the curriculum of the course. The perspectives of a due conceptual approach will be complemented by the practitioners’ views and experiences. Professional representatives from Public Diplomacy domain could be invited for individual topics of the designated course.

PSIR 438 International Order and Security Issues

This course has three fundamental aims: First, it aims to introduce students to the theoretical discussions on the concepts of international order and security. Second, it  analyses the historical evolution of the global world order. Third, it examines current security issues in different regions ranging from the Middle East to the Caucasus. During the course students are expected to get an idea about the conceptual arguments, historical processes and current global security issues (Prerequisite: PSIR 217).

PSIR 439 State, Society and Citizenship in Turkey

This course focuses on the issue of citizenship in Turkey together with the roles, impacts, and views of the state and society with respect to citizenship. Firstly, different theories of citizenship and approaches will be introduced. The process of the construction of citizenship in Turkey, its interaction with the nation-building process, the developments-constitutional, legal, political, and social- throughout the Republican history and current debates on Turkish citizenship comprise the content of the course (Prerequisite: PSIR 313).

PSIR 440 Turkish-Greek Relations and Cyprus

The intended course shall cover the political, legal and strategic dimensions of the Turkish-Greek relations and the Cyprus dispute. The Turkish-Greek problems those underline and have considerable impact on the foreign policy of Turkey, the political events those provoke these problems, and the Aegean problem in the light of Turkish national benefits shall be analyzed during the course. The topics shall cover the Aegean and Cyprus disputes, the effects of these disputes on the Turkey-EC international relations shall be examined within the context of Turkish-Greek relations. The political events, EC membership of “Cyprus Republic” and the effects of this membership on the Cyprus dispute shall be analyzed in the framework of the Cyprus dispute.

PSIR 441 Terrorism

Our focus will be on academic approaches to understanding terrorism as a method. Some of the more specific issues we will deal with include the definition, history, motivations, and types of terrorism, as well as counter-terrorism efforts. The regional framework allows comparing various terrorist trends in different parts of the world.

PSIR 442 Global Migration Movements and International Relations

In this course, the phenomenon of international migration, that became today even more argumentative through contemporary developments, will be studied with its political, juridical, economic, social and cultural dimensions and the theoretical approaches in these fields will be scrutinized.

PSIR 444 Administrative Law

Important subject matters, inter alia, administrative law and administration, basic principles affecting the administration, state of law concept, other basic principles, due process of law, sources of the administrative law, administrative transactions, administrative sanctions, inspection of the administration, which all may have repurcussions on the national security will be covered.

PSIR 446 Politics, Women and Media

This course begins with the connection between politics and media codes, practices and genres that have historically reproduced the gendered socio-political codes. It then interrogates whether and to what extent certain media practices, which have been said to obtain in the Turkish context, are operative in other parts of the world, notably the US and the Middle East. A second portion of the course will look at issues of women’s disempowerment, particularly in the developing world. It will examine media strategies, chiefly entertainment education and participatory communication designed to address those problems.