Updated March 16, 2016
Comparative & Regional Studies
Regional Concentration Courses
The courses noted below are an illustrative rather than exhaustive list of the possible courses that fall
under each regional classification. If you have a question about a specific course not listed here or
believe a course should be listed under an additional region, please consult with the CRS Academic
Advisor.
Africa
Covering North Africa as well as states south of the Sahara, the study of Africa has four broad themes:
state, society, economy, and international affairs. African states have grappled with the need for
effective institutions, responsive political processes, and accountable leadership. The problems of
autocracy and difficulties of democratic development are acute. The course offerings on the nature of
African societies pose important questions such as the context of governance, the roles of civil society,
and ethnic and communal diversity.
SIS-619
SIS-619
SIS-619
SIS-635
SIS-635
SIS-654
SIS-671
SIS-676
SIS-676
SIS-676
SIS-676
SIS-676
SIS-676
FREN-633
FREN-635
Conflict in Africa
Peacebuilding in Africa
NGOs in International Affairs
Organizations, Governance & Global Health
US Policy toward Africa
State & Society in Africa
Comparative Politics of MENA
African Political Institutions and Contemporary Africa
Democracy, Globalization & Civil Society of MENA
International Relations of Africa
Political Economy of Africa
Political Economy of MENA
Politics & Literature of MENA
Gender and Identity in Maghreb*
Youth in Francophone Africa*
*Requires French proficiency. Students must check with the CRS academic advisor before considering these courses.
Americas
The Americas: The Americas includes the 35 independent states and other overseas territories of North
America, South America and the Caribbean. The course offerings on the historical and growing
interconnectedness of the countries of the Americas explore the evolution of United States-Latin
American relations and domestic politics in the region. More topical courses address issues such as the
historical genesis of race relations and their impact today, the evolution of the Cold War and its impact
on the region, the transnationalization of the War on Drugs, and the impact of neoliberal economic
policies.
SIS-635
SIS-653
SIS-653
Introduction to Economic Development
US Foreign Policy toward Latin America
US Foreign Policy toward Cuba
SIS-658
SIS-676
SIS-676
SIS-676
SIS-676
SIS-676
SIS-676
ECON-658
SPAN-559
SPAN-559
SPAN-656
SPAN-656
SPAN-656
SPAN-656
SPAN-705
Financial Issues in Latin America
Contemporary Latin America Politics and Society
Brazil: Politics, Economics and Society in a Rising Power
Governance and Development in Latin America
Narcotrafficking in Mexico
Political Economy of Latin America
Race and Ethnicity in the Americas
Economics of World Regions: North America
Culture and Diaspora in Latin America*
Human Rights and Latin American Literature*
Culture/Violence in Latin America*
Memory, Performance, Activism in the Southern Cone*
Representations of Violence: Colombia/Mexico*
Urban Culture in Latin America*
Latin American International Relations and Film*
*Requires Spanish proficiency. Students must check with the CRS academic advisor before considering these
courses.
Asia-Pacific
Asia-Pacific: The Asia-Pacific region covers approximately 25 countries and all major sub-regions
including East Asia, South Asia (including Afghanistan) and Southeast Asia as well as Australia and New
Zealand. By examining Asia as a broad geographic region centered around the Pacific and Indian Oceans,
students are able to engage with an array of issues ranging from democratization, migration and
trafficking, and human rights to regional governance, international security, and great power relations.
Our course offerings focus on the foreign policy of major actors within Asia-Pacific, including China,
Japan, Korea, and the United States, as well as governance and security issues within Asia.
SIS-619
SIS-653
SIS-676
SIS-676
SIS-676
SIS-676
SIS-676
SIS-676
SIS-676
SIS-676
SIS-676
SIS-676
SIS-676
SIS-676
SIS-676
SIS-676
SIS-676
JLC-677
International Security in Asia
US Policy toward South Asia
Afghanistan: Conflict & Society
Contemporary Southeast Asia: Governance, Development, Security
Chinese Foreign Policy
Chinese Politics and Society
Democracy & Development in South Asia
East Asia: Development, Democracy and Globalization
Disputes and Diplomacy: Korea, Japan, and China
Japan: Society, Politics, and Foreign Policy
Japan, China, The US and East Asia
Korean Politics and Foreign Policy
North Korea and International Security
Regional Governance: ASEAN and Southeast Asia
Environmental Security in Asia
US Strategy in East Asia
US-China Relations
Security Challenges in South Asia
Europe and Eurasia
Europe and Eurasia: The Europe and Eurasia regional focus extends the traditional focus on Western
Europe and the EU eastward by including the blend of European and Asian cultures that has shaped the
development of Russia and Central Eurasia. This dynamic world region includes Turkey, Russia and other
post-Soviet countries that form the eastern borderlands of Europe. The course offerings in this region
focus on the persistence of historical tensions between authoritarian and democratic political cultures,
the diversity of ethnic and other identities in the region, and the interconnectedness of Europe and
Eurasia in policy areas such as energy security and immigration.
SIS-619
SIS-619
SIS-619
SIS-619
SIS-629
SIS-630
SIS-653
SIS-653
SIS-676
SIS-676
SIS-676
SIS-676
SIS-676
SIS-676
HIST-500
HIST-618
HIST-628
HIST-696
JLC-696
Energy and Security in Eurasia
Migration and Security
State-Building
The EU and Global Governance
Comparative European Politics
Economic Policies of the European Union
Transatlantic Security
US-Russia Post-Cold War Relations
Nationalism and Identity
Integration and Disintegration in Europe
Energy & Security: Europe and Central Eurasia
Politics and Elections in Contemporary Russia
Race and Ethnicity in Europe
Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova: Borderlands between Europe & Eurasia
Jews and Muslims in Modern Europe
Nazi Germany
The French Revolution
Israel and Europe
European Constitutionalism
Middle East/Islamic Studies
Middle East: The Middle East focus covers a range of countries extending from Morocco to Israel and
Iran. It includes the sub-regions of North Africa, the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Peninsula. The courses
highlight the complex relationships between religion, society and the state in the region. They address
the interaction between society and the state through processes of democratization and peace-building,
the plethora of cultural, religious, and ethnic identities, and intra-regional conflicts and the involvement
of the superpowers therein.
Islamic Studies: The Islamic Studies focus seeks to promote understanding of Islam and the Muslim
community in the United States and throughout the world. Course offerings include democratization in
the Muslim world, women and Islam, Islam in the media, Islamic politics in the Middle East, and Islam
and terrorism, among others. Our Islamic scholars have conducted groundbreaking field projects
accompanied by American University students. The fostering of an understanding of Islam is
accomplished through courses, events, invited speakers, and other education efforts through a public
dialogue that involves scholars, public officials, students, and religious leaders in all denominations.
SIS-619
SIS-619
Human Rights in the Middle East
Islam and Democracy
SIS-619
SIS-619
SIS-619
SIS-619
SIS-628
SIS-631
SIS-639
SIS-653
SIS-671
SIS-676
SIS-676
SIS-676
ECON-658
GOVT-584
GOVT-637
HIST-643
HIST-696
JLC-671
Peacebuilding in Divided Societies
Understanding Conflict: Syria and Iraq
US –Iran Conflict and Reconciliation
Democratization and Political Change in the Middle East
Communication, Culture, & Middle East Conflict
Bridging the Great Divide (Core Islamic Studies Course)
Nonviolent Action: Middle East
US Foreign Policy toward the Middle East
Comparative Politics of MENA
Oil, Islam, and Politics in the Gulf
Political Economy of MENA
Politics & Literature of MENA
The Arab Economies
Gender & Politics in the Middle East
Politics in the Middle East
History of Israel
Israel and Europe
Evolution of Global Jihad