Mandatory Courses

Public and International Affairs 6000 3.0: Public Management. This course examines the principles and processes of public management. It covers specific topics such as financial management, budget process, personnel management, political and administrative control. Analysis of proposals for public sector reform. Canadian and comparative experiences are studied.

Public and International Affairs 6001 3.0: The Policy Process. Examination of the various stages of policy analysis: definition, design, implementation and evaluation. Exploration of various theories and models of the policy process. Canadian and comparative experiences will be examined.

Public and International Affairs 6002 3.0: Economics and Public Policy. Application of fundamental economic principles to the design and analysis of government programs and policies. The dilemma between equity/efficiency faced by governments in their interventions is addressed, as well as how economics devises optimal practical solutions to this problem.

Public and International Affairs 6003 3.0: Research Methods. A range of qualitative and quantitative methods is examined to enable students to use, interpret and analyze qualitative and quantitative data as well as to appraise the analyses of others.

Additional Mandatory Courses

Public and International Affairs 6100 3.0: Capstone Seminar (2nd year). Students pursue individual projects, starting with policy briefs and culminating in Major Research Papers (MRPs) or a Policy Analysis Exercise. A Major Research Paper is an independent examination of an issue in public affairs. A Policy Analysis Exercise is developed in collaboration with a public sector organization, or client, exploring issues that confront the client and proposing recommendations. Drafts of texts are presented in the weekly seminars and the completed papers are presented in a year-end colloquium, attended by the full student body.

Colloquium

Public and International Affairs 6200 1.5: Colloquium: Canada and its Place in the World. Critical reflection on challenges facing Canada and the Canadian state, from both domestic and international perspectives. Sessions involve faculty members, visiting faculty, practitioners, members of School advisory committee, etc. Weekly sessions to be attended by all students in the program.

Internship

Public and International Affairs 6400 6.0: Internship. A four-month full-time internship with an appropriate governmental or non-governmental unit. The program will assist students in locating appropriate internships. The internship will be remunerated and be an integral part of the overall student financial assistance package. In close collaboration with the coordinator, students will define objectives and prepare an analysis of their experience. Students not undertaking an internship will complete two additional half courses, during the summer session.

Elective Courses
(N.B. Not all courses are offered every year)

Public and International Affairs 6004 3.0: Canadian Political and Social Structures. An examination of governmental structures, such as the Constitution, intergovernmental relations and legislative procedures, as well as the party system and other political structures. Exploration of social divisions such as language, ethnicity, gender and class as well as Aboriginal issues.

Public and International Affairs 6005 3.0: International Context of Policy-making. The course explores policy-makers’ attempts to improve domestic policies by the use of systematic comparisons of country performance. While not new, this ‘benchmarking exercise’ is increasingly carried out in collaboration with international organizations.

Public and International Affairs 6300 3.0: State and Society. The nature of civil society and alternative theorizations of the relationship between civil society and the state. Continuing validity of the private-public division. Examination of new forms of governance that transcend the two spheres. Comparative examples will be examined.

Public and International Affairs 6301 3.0: Government-Business Relations. Focus on the interaction between government and business. Issues regarding the interplay of public policies and private governance are addressed in the global environment. A cross-country comparative approach is taken to examine topics such as intellectual property, subsidy rules, etc.

Public and International Affairs 6302 3.0: Political Philosophy. A survey of contemporary political philosophy, with a focus on issues that are particularly relevant to contemporary public affairs. Topics include theories of rights and freedoms; distributive justice; liberal neutrality; administrative and political ethics; and international obligations of rich countries.

Public and International Affairs 6303 3.0: Global Immigration and Canadian Law and Policy. An overview of Canada’s legislation and policy relating to immigration and exploration of the challenges facing policymakers. Examination of current debates regarding international migration, related issues of state sovereignty, demographic trends, migration control and human rights obligations.

Public and International Affairs 6304 3.0: Science and Technology Policy. Science and technology influence society and economy as never before.  This reality is not only national but also international and impacts on governmental strategy, international organizations and diplomacy are profound.  Increasingly science diplomacy succeeds where foreign diplomacy failed.  The course covers also the causes and consequences of scientific and technological change and its impact on major public policies.

Public and International Affairs 6305 3.0: Politics of Sustainability. Exploration of political goals, actors and policy instruments shaping the politics of sustainability in the Canadian context and internationally. Examination of the politics of sustainability combining the management of environmental issues and the politics of sustainable economic and social relations.

Public and International Affairs 6306 3.0: The Global Economy. Exploration of new literature on economic growth, demographic bifurcation between North and South, the rise of global cities, trade theory in the presence of free capital flows but restricted labor, the rise of China and India, and human capital agglomeration.

Public and International Affairs 6308 3.0: International Law and International Organizations. This course deals with public international law and the law of international organizations. It explores principles and processes of the international legal order so that students will understand how international law affectspublic affairs and the work of international organizations.

Public and International Affairs 6309 3.0: Europe in international affairs. This public affairs seminar considers the role of Europe in international affairs, focusing on the European Union and its institutions. Emphasis on an independent research project in public affairs. Enrolment is restricted to students in the Graduate Program in Public & International Affairs.

Public and International Affairs 6310 3.0 : Health Policy in an International Context. A major challenge facing societies, health is at the heart of the concerns of governments and international organizations. There is a diversity of health systems (integrating, each in their own way, the curative, preventive, palliative and regenerative functions) which are available in a variety of health policies. The course borrows from an international and comparative perspective in a context of sustainable development

Public and International Affairs 6311 3.0 : Theories of International Relations. This course is an introduction to the major theories of international relations. It is intended as a survey course for MPIA students at Glendon College, who may have little to no background in political science or international relations.

Public and International Affairs 6312 3.0 : Identity construction, cultural trends and societal movements. Globalization, weakening of the nation-state, general state of war; this course is rooted in the heart of deep transformations. Identity construction processes, community and religious debates, cultural and social movements in advanced capitalist nations are examined through the eyes of contemporary theorists and observers.

Public and International Affairs 6313 3.0 : Feminism, Political Citizenship and Collective Action. This course proposes the most current feminist theories concerning the definition/redefinition of rights, social and political citizenships and movements. The course is multidisciplinary and structured around the intersectionality of race, gender, sexual practices and abilities.

Public and International Affairs 6314 3.0 : The Environmental Crisis: International and Public Policy Implications. The environmental crisis is a multi-dimensional phenomenon in which climate change, pollution, resource depletion, food, energy, consumption, culture, social justice and demography interact. This course examines the ramifications of these interactions for international and national public policy questions.

Public and International Affairs 6315 3.0 : The United States and the Emerging World Order. This course employs forecasting as a policymaking guide to tackle the question of how the competition between the United States and contenders for its superpower status might combine with major trends to shape alternative futures requiring new approaches to international governance and new foreign policy styles.

Public and International Affairs 6316 3.0 : Foreign Policy Analysis. The changing nature of foreign policy in the context of globalization and deterritorialization; foreign policy as public policy and in relation to the major theories of international relations. Examples are drawn primarily from the foreign policies of small and middle powers.

Public and International Affairs 6317 3.0 : Inside Public Policy. The course examines the policy process from an “insider’s” perspective, including the role of research and science and the roles and responsibilities of key institutions. Current issues are used to highlight the distinctive features of policy development in Canada as a federation and constitutional democracy.

Public and International Affairs 6318 3.0 : Notion of Risk in Modern Societies. The course explores the notion of risk in an interdisciplinary perspective at the national and international levels. Decision-makers develop an arsenal to prevent and manage risk. International arrangements behind risk management have been considerably transformed.

Public and International Affairs 6319 3.0 : Policies, Politics and Practice of the Multilateral Trade System. This course focuses on the international trading system as a multilateral institution affected by the global shift in power from the emerging economies. It examines the problem solving capacity of the WTO with particular emphasis on the rise of the global south and its demands for a new kind of trade and development agenda

Public and International Affairs 6320 3.0 : Human Rights and Civil Liberties. This course probes the dilemmas of human rights in democracies. While certain principles such as free speech are fundamental to our system, they invariably collide with other important values, such as public safety. We will examine these recurring conflicts.

Public and International Affairs 6321 3.0 : Indigenous Language Policy. This course examines the field of indigenous language policy in comparative perspective in Canada and the Americas. Students analyse a variety of policy approaches and integrative perspectives from the LP field, typically those which foster language revitalization.

Public and International Affairs 6322 3.0 : Managing Diversity. This course aims at presenting, discussing, and criticising models and philosophies pertaining to the management of diversity in Western societies. Models such as multiculturalism, republicanism, and interculturalism will be addressed in their normative, theoretical, and empirical dimensions. It involves a de facto comparative perspective as these models are often associated with different countries/jurisdictions.

Public and International Affairs 6323 3.0 : Canada’s Foreign Aid in Perspective. This course introduces the politics, policies and programming of Canada’s foreign development assistance, in global comparative context. It provides an overview of international assistance structures and processes; the history of Canada’s development assistance policy and programming; and current issues and debates.

Public and International Affairs 6324 3.0: World Heritage and Development. Preserving natural and cultural heritage is a strategy of sustainable development contributing to inter generational prosperity and well-being of developed and developing countries. However, negative externalities can arise. The course examines the determinants of public investment and assesses the socio-politico-economic impact of natural and cultural world heritage.

Public and International Affairs 6326 3.0 : The Political Economics of Income Inequality. This course explores the evolving nature of income distribution in Canada, and its significance to Canadians. It will focus on empirical trends, economic causes, policy responses and emerging political realities.

Public and International Affairs 6327 3.0 : Transformations in the Middle East and North Africa. This course is designed to assist students in developing a critical analytical perspective and a professional frame of reference within the field of international development assistance, through an intensive discussion of five recent case studies in the MENA region.

Public and International Affairs 6328 3.0 : Institutions and Instruments of Public Finance in Canada. This course will be an introduction for graduate public policy students to public finances at federal, provincial and municipal levels, with an emphasis on the federal government. It will examine the key public finance policy instruments and institutions that underlie them.

Public and International Affairs 6329 3.0 : Municipalities, Gateways and Community-based Logics. A detailed analysis of municipalities serving as gateways in transport, distribution and the international political economy, as well as of their impacts on local communities.

Public and International Affairs 6331 :The Development of Socio-Economic Policy in Canada, 1919-1966. An examination of economic, financial, social, and cultural policy development in Canada, within the context of federal-provincial relations, from the end of the First World War into the 1960s.

Public and International Affairs 6332 : Citizenship and Migration. The political and policy relevance of citizenship and migration is high. Through contemporary case studies, students in this course examine a range of issues related to the politics of nationality and citizenship, transformations of sovereignty, the meaning of citizenship, immigration and emigration policies and laws, immigrant integration, and border and security studies.

Public and International Affairs 6333 : A Geopolitical History of the Middle East. This course focuses on conflicts, doctrines and socio-political dynamics which determine the geopolitics of the Middle East. This reality is analysed through the historical evolution of these terms from the reforms of the nineteenth century to the mixed results of the Arab Spring. The course is taught in French.

Public and International Affairs 6334 : Canada’s Language Policies in Comparative Context. A detailed examination of the state, functions and integration of Canada’s language policies in public affairs with comparisons to other state policies from around the world.

Public and International Affairs 6335 : Federalism in Canada. Study of Canadian federalism: nature, functioning, policy impact and capacity for reform and adaptation. Examination of the constitutional structure of Canadian federalism followed by exploration of different aspects of federalism, including: the relationship between federalism and democracy, impact of federalism on the formulation and implementation of public policies, federalism and Aboriginal Peoples, and models of a multinational federation.

Public and International Affairs 6336 : The Canada-EU Free trade Agreement (CETA). An introduction to international trade law as it affects free trade areas, followed by a study of the Canada-EU Free Trade Agreement and its likely effects on Canadian industries and the Canadian economy.

Public and International Affairs 6337 : Diplomacy and World Affairs. This course covers the diplomatic practice from three perspectives: the theoretical perspective which deals with the conceptualization of the relationship among States and their respective foreign policies , the practical perspective of the diplomatic function for the implementation of these policies, in particular through diplomatic representation and negotiation, and finally the historical perspective to capture changes that diplomacy has experienced in modernity.

Public and International Affairs 6338 : Nations, States and Autonomy. Exploration of ‘plurinationality’ or presence of ‘internal nations’ within larger states. Study of the phenomenon of ‘internal nations’. Exploration of their implications for political organization, including: formal recognition of ‘internal nations’, representation within central political institutions, devolution, federalism, and accession to sovereignty. Analysis of cases such as Canada, Spain, United Kingdom, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Ukraine and former states of Yugoslavia.

Public and International Affairs 6339 : The Dynamics of International Development. Since the end of the Second World War, the international community has dedicated trillions of dollars towards the modern enterprise of international development. At the same time, internal forces and historical legacies influence a country’s developmental trajectory. This course endeavours to understand the interplay of these dynamics through a social scientific lens. It explores the various conceptions of “development” and considers both internal and external determinants of development, specifically examining current debates in the field surrounding the roles of foreign aid, states and colonial legacies in shaping modern development.

Public and International Affairs 6340 3.0 : The Craft of Managing World Affairs. Examination of conceptual and practical approaches to managing international affairs by the means of bilateral and multilateral diplomacy. Exploration of the ways diplomatic skills and methods are applied to promote national interests, resolve international disputes, and preserve peace.

Public and International Affairs 6341 3.0 :  L’internationalisme au 20e siècle. This course examines the foundations, mechanisms and dimensions of internationalism in the history of the twentieth century and studies how its forms and practices have changed and adapted to various scales and contexts. Internationalism is a historical actor. This course analyses and evaluates its contribution to the domains of public and international affairs.
The language of instruction is French.

Public and International Affairs 6342 3.0 : Privacy & Surveillance: Law & Practices. This course examines the legal foundations of privacy in Canadian and international contexts and studies the evolving concepts of privacy and surveillance in the digital era. It analyzes the place of whistleblowers in contemporary debates on privacy and surveillance and the legal frameworks they work within and around. Finally, this course examines movements and tactics aimed at surveillance reform.

Public and International Affairs 6343 3.0 : Governance and Digital Platforms.

Digital platforms (Uber, AirBnb, Blablacar) have become part of our daily lives and have a proven impact on public regulation and the ways of doing politics. While these platforms are open to the collaboration of millions of individuals, their governance is closed and governed by traditional financial mechanisms. The course offers a practical and critical analysis of the main types of governance of digital platforms. This is an integrated course that is accessible to students with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science (POLS) and students with a Bachelor’s degree in Communication (COMS) as a 4000-level course.

Public and International Affairs 6344 3.0 : Social Policy in the Canadian Context

The course provides a comprehensive overview of the development of social policy in Canada, including the interaction between social issues and policy responses and their impacts. The course will explore historical and contemporary approaches to Canadian social policy, including social welfare policies, economic and labour policies, education, healthcare, and housing, among other areas of focus. The course provides important background about social policy contexts and debates, to provide students with the skills and knowledge to advocate on social policy issues, including politics and social movements, institutions and state structures, culture and international influence. The course primarily focuses on Canada and Ontario specifically, but will also compare social policies across provinces/territories and cross-nationally.

Public and International Affairs 6345 3.0 : Politics and Public Policy in Europe

Public policy traditionally focuses on domestic politics, but decades of integration have significantly altered the conduct of government and governance in Europe. This course analyses European politics and public policy in areas such as migration, citizenship, borders, economics, and law. This course starts with an introduction to EU institutions before examining the relationship between these institutions and national and subnational governance institutions. Case studies of particular policy areas illuminate the complexities of governance in a multilevel political system.

Public and International Affairs 6346 3.0 : Applied Ethics in Public and International Affairs 

This course offers an advanced engagement with contemporary ethical dilemma faced in public and international affairs. It focuses on real-world issues, such as global poverty, border controls, human rights, or whistle blowing. It aims for the development of a capacity to analyse issues like these in light of contemporary moral and political theories. The course can be offered in either French or English.