Courses

This course analyzes how politics influence banks and stock markets and how banks and stock markets influence politics. Investigating these interactions is important as it has implications for wealth and economic growth - but also whether politicians listen to money or voters. In this course, we study the conditions under which politicians should use taxpayer money to bail out banks. We analyze which banking regulations can ensure your money is safe and how crises like the 2008 Recession affected regulations. We analyze how elections and political movements like the Arab Spring affect share prices. We examine how regulation might move firms from maximizing short-term shareholder value to long-term sustainability.

You can find more information about this course in the course catalogue - 2370.

This course examines how politics shape Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and how FDI shapes politics. Understanding this interplay is important as it has implications for jobs and technological innovation - but also democracy and inequality. In this course, we analyze how politics influence the process of screening FDI in sensitive sectors. We examine how politics shapes firms’ investment decisions. We explore the effect of FDI on voters, workers, and domestic companies. We evaluate when foreign companies can undermine domestic laws via investment arbitration disputes. We study whether governments competing for FDI results in weakened labor protection laws.

You can find more information about this course in the course catalogue - 2371.

Why do some countries impose legal limits on public debt while others borrow freely? Why do some governments choose to default on their loans, while others implement harsh austerity measures to repay them? How do powerful lenders like China and the United States use debt to exert political influence over other countries?

This course seeks to answer such questions by analyzing the political causes and consequences of sovereign debt.

Specifically, this course examines the interplay of how politics shapes national debt policies and how debt, in turn, affects domestic and international politics.

In our discussions, we will explore the role of key international financial institutions such as the IMF and World Bank, and examine how the global financial system distributes power, promotes or restricts development, and influences national sovereignty.

You can find more information about this course - 1973.

Why do some countries favor protectionist trade policies while others embrace free trade? Why does trade reshape domestic job markets and fuel economic inequality? Why do tariffs often benefit high-emission industries, and what does this mean for global climate goals?

This course seeks to answer such questions by analyzing the political dynamics of international trade.

Specifically, this course examines the interplay of how politics affects trade and how trade, in turn, shapes politics.

Throughout our discussions, we will explore how citizens, corporations, politicians, and international organizations influence trade policy. We will also examine how global trade intersects with key sustainable development issues, including inequality, inclusive economic growth, and climate change.

You can find more information about this course - 1974.

This course offers an introduction to qualitative research methods, focusing on their scientific and systematic approaches to understanding the complexities of human behavior, motivations, and social contexts. Unlike quantitative methods, which emphasize numerical data and patterns, qualitative methods are uniquely suited to explore questions that resist simple quantification—questions about the processes, experiences, and dynamics that shape individual and group behavior.

The course introduces key qualitative methods, including interviews, focus groups, observational studies, and content and discourse analysis. Through case-based analysis, students will examine how qualitative methods can be used to both test existing theories as well as generate new ones from the ground up. 

The course also examines the complementary strengths of qualitative and quantitative research, enabling students to evaluate when and why each approach is most appropriate.  Ultimately, this course equips students with the tools to conduct meaningful qualitative research that contributes to better science. Whether in academic, policy, or applied settings, students will develop an appreciation for how qualitative methods address some of the most important questions in social science.

You can find more information about this course in the course catalogue – 1971, 1972, 2329.

This course analyzes how politics influence banks and stock markets and how banks and stock markets influence politics. Investigating these interactions is important as it has implications for wealth and economic growth - but also whether politicians listen to money or voters. In this course, we study the conditions under which politicians should use taxpayer money to bail out banks. We analyze which banking regulations can ensure your money is safe and how crises like the 2008 Recession affected regulations. We analyze how elections and political movements like the Arab Spring affect share prices. We examine how regulation might move firms from maximizing short-term shareholder value to long-term sustainability.

You can find more information about this course in the course catalog - 5827.

This course examines how politics shape Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and how FDI shapes politics. Understanding this interplay is important as it has implications for jobs and technological innovation - but also democracy and inequality. In this course, we analyze how politics influence the process of screening FDI in sensitive sectors. We examine how politics shapes firms' investment decisions. We explore the effect of FDI on voters, workers, and domestic companies. We evaluate when foreign companies can undermine domestic laws via investment arbitration disputes. We study whether governments competing for FDI results in weakened labor protection laws.

You can find more information about this course in the course catalog - 5828.

This course offers an introduction to qualitative research methods, focusing on their scientific and systematic approaches to understanding the complexities of human behavior, motivations, and social contexts. Unlike quantitative methods, which emphasize numerical data and patterns, qualitative methods are uniquely suited to explore questions that resist simple quantification-questions about the processes, experiences, and dynamics that shape individual and group behavior.

The course introduces key qualitative methods, including interviews, focus groups, observational studies, and content and discourse analysis. Through case-based analysis, students will examine how qualitative methods can be used to both test existing theories as well as generate new ones from the ground up.

The course also examines the complementary strengths of qualitative and quantitative research, enabling students to evaluate when and why each approach is most appropriate. ultimately, this course equips students with the tools to conduct meaningful qualitative research that contributes to better science. Whether in academic, policy, or applied settings, students will develop an appreciation for how qualitative methods address some of the most important questions in social science.

You can find more information about this course in the course catalog - 5855, 5856, 6271.

Why do some countries favor protectionist trade policies while others embrace free trade? Why does trade reshape domestic job markets and fuel economic inequality? Why do tariffs often benefit high-emission industries, and what does this mean for global climate goals?

This course seeks to answer such questions by analyzing the political dynamics of international trade.

Specifically, this course examines the interplay of how politics affects trade and how trade, in turn, shapes politics.

Throughout our discussions, we will explore how citizens, corporations, politicians, and international organizations influence trade policy. We will also examine how global trade intersects with key sustainable development issues, including inequality, inclusive economic growth, and climate change.

You can find more information about this course in the course catalogue.

Why do some countries impose legal limits on public debt while others borrow freely? Why do some governments choose to default on their loans, while others implement harsh austerity measures to repay them? How do powerful lenders like China and the United States use debt to exert political influence over other countries?

This course seeks to answer such questions by analyzing the political causes and consequences of sovereign debt.

Specifically, this course examines the interplay of how politics shapes national debt policies and how debt, in turn, affects domestic and international politics.

In our discussions, we will explore the role of key international financial institutions such as the IMF and World Bank, and examine how the global financial system distributes power, promotes or restricts development, and influences national sovereignty.

You can find more information about this course in the course catalogue.

This course offers an introduction to qualitative research methods, focusing on their scientific and systematic approaches to understanding the complexities of human behavior, motivations, and social contexts. Unlike quantitative methods, which emphasize numerical data and patterns, qualitative methods are uniquely suited to explore questions that resist simple quantification—questions about the processes, experiences, and dynamics that shape individual and group behavior.

The course introduces key qualitative methods, including interviews, focus groups, observational studies, and content and discourse analysis. Through case-based analysis, students will examine how qualitative methods can be used to both test existing theories as well as generate new ones from the ground up. 

The course also examines the complementary strengths of qualitative and quantitative research, enabling students to evaluate when and why each approach is most appropriate.  Ultimately, this course equips students with the tools to conduct meaningful qualitative research that contributes to better science. Whether in academic, policy, or applied settings, students will develop an appreciation for how qualitative methods address some of the most important questions in social science.

You can find more information about this course in the course catalogue - 2462 & 2463.

The subject "Modern Societies I" will be offered in the winter semester 2025 for the last time.

Why do some governments use taxpayers' money to bail out private banks while others do not? Which dimensions of political and social contexts need to be taken into account for successful corporate management?

Anyone developing strategies needs a basic political understanding in order to be able to assess the future development of the business environment. This basic understanding arises from dealing with the relevant questions in times of polarisation and globalisation: What holds a society together? Why is there inequality within a population? Whose preferences are taken into account by politics?

In this course, students learn about fundamental political and social dynamics and actors and develop an understanding of how these shape social and economic policy. In this context, the role of institutions, interest groups and politicians, but also of norms, culture and power are analysed.

You can find more information about this course in the course catalogue.

The subject "Modern Societies II" will be offered in the winter semester 2025 for the last time.

It is probably important for everyone in the USA, Sweden and Austria to be healthy, but the healthcare systems in these countries differ considerably. The same applies to the labour market (‘Job security for honest workers vs. hire and fire to increase innovation?’), the regulation of the financial sector (‘Tax money for rich bankers vs. systemic importance of banks?’) or the healthcare system (‘Free treatment for all vs. private insurance system?’). How can these differences be explained? To understand one's role as a participant in a democratic society - be it as a decision-maker, voter or taxpayer - one must understand the forces and dynamics that explain these differences. In this course, students will analyse how governments make policy and why different countries find different solutions to societal problems.

In this context, students will examine various policy areas that are important for social cohesion, such as labour market policy, regulation of the financial sector or health policy.

You can find more information about this course in the course catalogue.