Courses in the Fall Semester 2025/26

This lecture introduces students to key topics on political violence. We will cover classic and current debates on interstate warfare, civil war, insurgencies and armed groups, coup d’états, terrorism and state repression. Given the vast amount of research in this broad field, we will not be able to cover all aspects in depth, but you will be equipped with key insights and conceptual and analytical frameworks and tools to better understand characteristics and causes of different forms of political violence.

The world is facing the highest number of active violent conflicts since the end of World War II. According to UN estimates, 2 billion people currently live in areas affected by conflict. Understanding the causes and consequences of armed conflict is thus of vital importance. This undergraduate seminar introduces students to literature that uses empirical methods to shed light on key questions such as “What are risk factors associated with the outbreak of conflicts?”, “Who fights in civil wars?” and “How does political violence shape individuals’ behavior and attitudes?”. The objective of this seminar is to familiarize students with the key readings, theories, and debates on the causes and consequences of armed conflicts. The course is taught in English.

Peaceful political competition is a central component of democracies, but the spread of electoral democracy as the global norm has not always implied inherently peaceful transitions of power.
Instead, electoral processes in many countries are marred by violence, as illustrated by recent violent elections in Brazil, Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire, India, Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, the United States, and Zimbabwe. Electoral violence is defined as the use of force by political actors against property or humans linked substantially to an electoral contest.

In this comprehensive course, we delve into the intricacies of electoral processes in these environments, focusing particularly on the phenomenon of electoral violence. We will explore the workings of elections in these specific contexts and analyze the factors that shape the nature and operation of electoral politics therein, including various forms of electoral manipulation. Throughout the course, we will address critical questions such as: Who are the perpetrators, and who are the victims of electoral violence? What are the various types of electoral violence, and do they share common causes and consequences?

Our in-depth examination of electoral violence will be complemented by an extensive analysis of case studies from developing and young democracies. Students will engage with diverse data sources related to electoral violence, enabling them to identify trends and characteristics. This hands-on approach provides a unique opportunity to gain insights into the realities of electoral violence on the ground.

The objective of this course is to introduce students to central areas of international relations research through a gender lens. We will survey key topics such as international determinants of gender inequality, gendered norms of protection, cooperation and violence, or the role of gender in political leadership, diplomacy, and political violence. Furthermore, we will discuss potential implications of “gender-blindness” in quantitative political science research and related issues of gender-sensitive measurement and data collection. Throughout the course, particular emphasis will be on familiarizing students with the foundations of academic writing and independent research. After completing this course, students will be able to i) critically assess and reflect potentials and pitfalls of the gender and IR literature, and ii) to identify and sketch out a research project within the broad area of gender and IR.
 

This seminar examines why some groups turn to violence while others remain peaceful. What drives conflict, and what sets warring groups apart from those that coexist? We explore violent conflict at all levels—nations, political groups, ethnic communities, religions, villages, and gangs—uncovering shared patterns and underlying causes. The seminar also focuses on strategies to reduce violence. From community efforts in the U.S. and El Salvador to global initiatives by the UN Security Council, we ask: How can warring groups be convinced to stop fighting? How can societies on the brink of conflict become more stable? We analyze ideas from key thinkers and organizations, evaluating their solutions through the lens of social science. Combining theory and practice, this seminar also draws on literature from economics, history, psychology, and sociology. We also examine the experiences of policymakers and the strategies and organizations they’ve developed to address violence.

How do international organizations work to achieve economic and political consensus? What is the role of human rights in conflicts? And why do states continue to violate them through repression? This course begins with the basic concepts of International Relations to provide an introductory overview of human rights. The goal is to provide insight into the importance of these principles in international politics, the role of governmental institutions, the United Nations, and civil society, and to reflect on how these rights are violated or protected. During the seminar, we will examine concrete cases of violations and discuss theoretical definitions of human rights, such as those associated with international conventions, and the rights and freedoms of individuals and minorities, including women, refugees, and immigrants. The seminar is an introduction to basic social, legal, and political issues and how they operate in a global context. Students will be encouraged to think critically and identify challenges and key questions in the field that they can apply to their projects. The course will be taught in English.

Why do governments engage in repression of citizens? This seminar introduces students to foundational and recent research on human rights violations and repression around the world. We start by defining human rights and how they can be observed and measured. We discuss conditions that facilitate repression with particular focus on the role of democratic institutions and international human rights norms. The seminar sheds light on how governments organize repression, and we investigate different perpetrators of repression and how actors aim to justify or obfuscate state violence. We will also consider the role of the international community on influencing domestic processes of human rights protection and violation. Over the course of the seminar, you will develop your own research question on one of the topics discussed in the seminar and carrying out your own research.