Teaching

Corporate Lobbying

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This course examines the governance of the global economy by private corporations. It is structured around several fundamental questions. What role do corporations play in international institutions and what is the nature and extent of their authority? How do the shifting forces of globalization (and anti-globalization) affect the power business wields to shape public policies? Finally, how powerful are corporations in global politics? In seeking answers to these questions, this module covers both theoretical and empirical perspectives on how, when, and why corporations are able to influence international institutions, global standards and regulations, and international negotiation processes.

Political Economy of Global Financial Regulation

This course examines the governance of the global economy by the financial industry. It is structured around several fundamental questions. What role does finance play in international institutions and what is the nature and extent of their authority? How do the shifting forces of globalization (and anti-globalization) affect the power finance wields to shape international and domestic regulations and public policies? Finally, how powerful is finance in global politics? Importantly, these questions are approached via broader debates about business and (international) politics as well as corporate political power. In seeking answers to these questions, this module covers both theoretical and empirical perspectives on how, when, and why finance manages to influence international institutions, global standards and regulations, and international negotiation processes. This course has a strong focus on several key sub-themes: financial industry lobbying within the broader context of the politics of interest representation; the nature of financial industry power including debates about regulatory capture, revolving doors, and cultural capture; the corporate-finance nexus in an era of financialization; the global corporate elite; and global financial industry regulation.

Statistics for Political Science

Increasingly, many of today’s most pressing and important political issues require quantitative analyses (the systematic collection and analysis of data that are quantifiable using statistical, mathematical, and computational techniques). These techniques can be used to examine issues related to electoral politics, public opinion, and the media, as well as topics like economic development, finance, trade, human rights, and regulation. The ubiquity of Big Data makes quantitative techniques more applicable and useful than ever. Quantitative analysis is now a critical and highly sought-after transferable skill in the private and public sectors as well as for those remaining in academia.