This course examines the US' presidential contest and its results as events occur. We will cover the primary elections, exploring the structure and the strategies involved. We also analyze the general campaign process, analyzing tactics used by the candidates - from positive to negative campaigning - and explore the theoretical and real effects of these strategies. We assess the role of the media on the election. We cover polls and the effect of polls on voters and outcomes. We analyze the American voter and his/her decision making process. We finally cover the election itself and its potential implications. Linked to the theme "Citizenship".

The incorporation of law and economics theory is becoming increasingly popular in understanding why certain policies may be more efficient and/or effective than others. This course examines some of the basics of this approach, incorporating issues such as tort law property, contract, law enforcement and the administration and organization of justice. Particular focus is made on the North American business, criminal and judicial structure.

Designed for visiting students. (Course also corresponds to Edge-1)

This course has two main goals. It provides a basic overview of the Soviet Russian political-economical and sociocultural development 1917-1991 and seeks to illustrate certain aspects of this development: the interaction between official rhetorics and politics on the one hand and the realities of everyday life, and popular opinion on the other. To what extent did the official rhetoric and the popular discourses coincide or differ from each other?

During the course questions will be asked like ?Was the October Revolution of 1917 a coup or a revolution?' and ?Did Nikita Khrushchev succeed to de-Stalinize Russia?'. It will deal with topics like ?Stalinism in ideal and reality' and ?Did the late Soviet period mean stagnation or stability?' The course problematizes the development in the 1980s by asking questions like ?Did the pressure of Perestroika and Glasnost eventually topple Soviet social mechanism?' This is a course that also aims to view the Soviet Russian history from a gendered perspective by looking into officially proclaimed ideals of women's liberation and practices of gender politics in everyday life.

Preliminary programme:

1. Why revolution(s) in Russia? Explanations in economic, social, political and cultural terms

2. October 1917 - coup d'état or revolution?

3. Soviet Union - a state of nations

4. Marxism-Leninism: Sociel theories & power rhetoric

5. Stalinism - realities and ideals

6. The Kchrushchev era: Problems of de-Stalinization and Stalinist continuity

7. The Soviet economy - models and realities

8. The Brezhnev regime - stagnation or stabilization?

9. Class and gender in social relations in Soviet Russia

10. Soviet Union and the surrounding world - a geopolitical model of concentric circles

11. Russia today and the Soviet legacy - politics, economics and culture

12. Perestroika and glasnost - too much of both in order to keep the Soviet empire together?

Kurssi toteutetaan yhteistyössä valtakunnallisen Venäjän ja Itä-Euroopan tutkimuksen maisterikoulun kanssa.

Enrolment via NettiOpsu http://www.uta.fi/nettiopsu/

This lecture course focuses on the cultural, economic, political and security aspects of the American-European relationship since 1945. Within the context of broader international developments from the end of WW II to the post-Cold War era, the course will explore the patterns of cooperation, competition and conflict that have characterized the transatlantic relationship in the past century. Linked to the theme "Global".

This course examines the US' presidential contest and its results as events occur. We will cover the primary elections, exploring the structure and the strategies involved. We also analyze the general campaign process, analyzing tactics used by the candidates - from positive to negative campaigning - and explore the theoretical and real effects of these strategies. We assess the role of the media on the election. We cover polls and the effect of polls on voters and outcomes. We analyze the American voter and his/her decision making process. We finally cover the election itself and its potential implications. Linked to the theme "Citizenship".

The incorporation of law and economics theory is becoming increasingly popular in understanding why certain policies may be more efficient and/or effective than others. This course examines some of the basics of this approach, incorporating issues such as tort law property, contract, law enforcement and the administration and organization of justice. Particular focus is made on the North American business, criminal and judicial structure.

Designed for visiting students. (Course also corresponds to Edge-1)

Objectives: The course aims at explaining the formation and development of modern Japanese society and culture in historical perspective. Why was Japan the only Asian nation which was able to modernize itself already in the 19th century, however, without losing its own identity (that is, without westernization)?
Content:
- The formation of Japanese society and culture during the Tokugawa-period (1600-1853).
- From the opening of Japan to the Meiji-revolution (1853-1869).
- The birth of Modern Japan (1869-1905).
- The rise and fall of the "Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere" (1905-1945).
- Rebirth of modern Japan (1945-1989).
- The "lost decade" and challenges of the future (from 1990)

Please note that the course begins during the UTA period break!

In addition to the students of the Asian Studies module, there is room for 20 students of history (major or minor subject). Please preregister by sending an e-mail to isss@uta.fi. Places will be filled in the order of registration.

This course covers the political party systems found in North America from a comparative perspective. We explore theoretical analysis of political parties and of their interaction with the institutional structure. We compare this theory to the particular cases in North America, paying attention to the evolution of these parties over history. We analyze individual features of the party systems with respect to the individual cultures and histories of the countries in North America.

This course examines the issue of democracy, and through this, of dictatorship, from all angles. We will explore the definition of democracy and of dictatorship, then evaluate the goals of governments of various varieties and compare them. We will analyze the tools used to meet these goals and compare the constraints placed upon various forms of government. From this perspective we assess the potential effects of various types of democratic versus dictatorial rule upon the economy, upon the population itself, and on an international perspective. Linked to the theme "Citizenship".

An intensive course starting on January 26th for a week. A written exam will take place on second half January.

Course examines the role of the US in world affairs. Although the emphasis will be put on the years since 1945, the lectures will explore the reasons behind and the processes that led to America's rise to a global superpower. Specific focus will be put on the interplay between domestic pressures and external threats. Linked to the theme "Global".

Objectives: To identify main features of contemporary Chinese and Korean culture. To explain how cultural changes interact with contemporary issues in Chinese and Korean society.
Content: This course will focus on contemporary characteristics of Chinese and Korean culture and society. For various historical reasons both societies have undergone thorough changes in the 20th century. With a brief introduction to the historical background this course will address the main topical issues. How these social changes have interacted with culture? What are the main changes of traditional culture in both countries? How culture interacts with social change and what kind of social problems have occurred?

Preregistration in NettiOpsu: starts 7.1.2009 at 06.00, ends: 12.1.2009 at 23.59. The course can be found under the Department of History and Philosophy.

The course is part of the UNIPID virtual studies study module.

Time: Course time 14 January - 31 March 2009, new lectures 14 January - 18 February.

Registration: Latest 7 January 2009 through NettiOpsu -system at Department of Social Policy and Social Work / Social Policy / SPOLA3A7. REGISTRATION PERIOD HAS BEEN EXTENDED: Between 10th and 13th January through NettiOpsu -system at Department of Social Policy and Social Work / Social Policy / SPOLA3A7

Course content: Leading scholars of Finland present contemporary theories of development, society, history, political economy and environment as ways to approach social development on a global level. See the programme of the course at http://www.uta.fi/laitokset/isss/studies/global_social_development.php

New lectures: 15 hours of lectures at K103 in Linna-building starting on Wednesdays at 16.15 from 14 January to 18 February 2009. Exceptions: a lecture on Monday 16 February.

Study materials: Video lectures 40 lecture hours. That consists of live lectures (15 hours see above) and lectures of spring 2008 (25 hours). Learning materials and texts related to video lectures will be available on the Moodle -course management system. New modules will emerge on course's Moodle -site in a week after lectures have been held at the University of Tampere.

Objectives: 1) Learn social development as a multidisciplinary concept. 2) Learn social development as a concept of global social policy. 3) Learn major factors of social development and how they are in relation to each others.

Learning methods: A particular student centered learning diary based on the lectures. Length of the diary ab. 10 pages (1,5-row, 12-font).

Pedagogical frameworks: Critical pedagogy and problem based learning.

Inquiries: isss@uta.fi

Teacher in charge: Senior Assistant Professor Mikko Perkiö Tel. 03 35 51 71 76.

Teaching language: English

Compensations:

If no specific agreement with any other subject 5 ECTS will be registered in the English Curriculum of social policy (SPOIB8B2)

SOCIAL POLICY

SPOIB8B2 Social Policy and Development 5 ECTS
SOSPOLA3A7 Global Social Development 6 ECTS (including 1 ECTS extension to the learning diary)

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

2 books / 4 ECTS from the following books:

Agnew, Weatherby, or Pempel in A3
or
Fierke, Miall-Rambotsham-Woodhouse, or Newman-Richmond in A5
or
in S2 or S3 4 ECTS / 2 books

HISTORY

HISOA3 Temaattiset erikoistumisopinnot
TASOP2 Taloushistoria
tai sopimuksen mukaan S3

WOMEN'S STUDIES

The course with the learning diary is 3 credits in Women's Studies, or, upon agreement, 6-7 credits with a longer essay. The student directs the question to the lecturer as with the other learning diaries, but the arguments for the questions have to deal with the thematic of gender and sexuality in all cases.

W.S.2 Gender in the Making: c)'Race', Ethnicity, Post-colonialism (7 ECTS)
NAISA2D Kansallisuus ja kansalaisuus (6 op)
NAISA2I Globaalit geminismit (6op)
M5 Naistutkimuksen alat (8 op)

JOURNALISM AND MASS COMMUNICATION

4 ECTS to be agreed with Professor Nordenstreng.

SOCIAL WORK

P5 2 ECTS (perform 50 % of the courses's general demand)

Other compensations to be confirmed.

Assessment: passed / failed, 0-5 grading on a student's request

Mandatory enrollment in NettiOpsu between 15.12-20.1.

This course covers the political party systems found in North America from a comparative perspective. We explore theoretical analysis of political parties and of their interaction with the institutional structure. We compare this theory to the particular cases in North America, paying attention to the evolution of these parties over history. We analyze individual features of the party systems with respect to the individual cultures and histories of the countries in North America.

This course examines the issue of democracy, and through this, of dictatorship, from all angles. We will explore the definition of democracy and of dictatorship, then evaluate the goals of governments of various varieties and compare them. We will analyze the tools used to meet these goals and compare the constraints placed upon various forms of government. From this perspective we assess the potential effects of various types of democratic versus dictatorial rule upon the economy, upon the population itself, and on an international perspective. Linked to the theme "Citizenship".

Linked to the theme "Globalization"

Mandatory enrollment in NettiOpsu between 15.12-20.1.