Universität zu Köln International

Lecturer: Dr. Wulf Reiners

Course Nr.: 15304.0104

Date/Time: Mon, Nov 2 2020, 16:00-17:30 (weekly)

Location: virtual

The course provides an introduction to economic cooperation and its relationship with sustainable development in Europe and beyond. It concentrates on two main components. First, we will analyse the contemporary global architecture for economic cooperation and development and its main characteristics, including relevant actors, international organisations, treaties, and patterns in trade and development economics. Second, we will examine the European Union as an example of regional economic integration, its internal market, the framework for economic coordination and its external economic relations. The course will take up topical economic and political processes such as the United Nation’s 2030 agenda for sustainable development, China’s Belt and Road Initiative and the EU’s trade and economic partnership agreements. In this way, the course seeks to contribute to the understanding how economic cooperation and development are interconnected with environmental and social questions.

Lecturer: Prof. Dr. Frank Schulz-Nieswandt

Course Nr.: 15304.0108

Date/Time: Mon, Nov 2 2020, 17:45-19:15h (weekly)

Location: virtual

Inclusion as the radical alternative to the cultural reality of social exclusion of the homo patiens is an anthropological paradigm of philosophy of law. This leads to the idea of going beyond social structures of center and periphery in society.

Inclusion as a model of thought is driven by the United Nations and also by the catalogue of basic social rights, involved in the treaties of the European Union and is connected with der European Social Policy. The analysis put the emphasis on the policy of social services of general interest in connection with the European Charta of fundamental (social) right.

We cannot understand inclusion as if we switch on and off the light. Beyond legal frameworks and economic incentives as important preconditions to generate social change by Pareto-optimal solutions in allocation, successful inclusion is a process of social change understood as cultural transformation. Inclusion as metamorphosis (Gestalt-switch) of the collective agreement about the question of a good life needs time but during this time-span, society has to organize social learning processes that transform the psychodynamics of individuals and the cultural grammar of exclusion.

After a short overview about the theory the EU as multi-level-system and about the different dimensions and aspects of European Social Policy we want to read and discuss the central relevant legal article of the legal regime policy of the UN and of the EU and discuss as a re-construction a text of complex interpretation of the whole issue

Online course (content on Ilias) designed through Powerpoint-supported video and audio presentations. No classroom teaching and no live zoom sessions. Individual consultation hours in planning (for clarification of questions via zoom) at different times (not necessarily bound to the lecture times) .

Lecturer: Dr. Oliver Höing

Course Nr.: 15304.0101

Date/Time: Wed, Nov 4 2020, 17.45-19:15h (weekly)

Location: virtual

The institutional architecture of the European Union is constantly changing. This ‘institutional dynamic’ is not only a result of formalised treaty changes (such as the Lisbon Treaty in 2009), but also stems from personalities running certain EU institutions, a changing interpretation of treaty articles or the creation of new structures and institutions outside of the EU legal framework.

This class introduces all major EU institutions, e.g. their legal competences and evolution over time, and focuses in particular on the dynamic interplay of EU institutions vis-à-vis each other as well as vis-a-vis national actors.

Topics studied :

1. All major EU institutions will be introduced (the EP, the European Council, the Council, the European Commission, the High Representative and the Court of Justice).
2. These institutions are systematically introduced with the help of the TEDO-scheme: Tasks, Election, Decision-Making and Organisation.
3. The evolution of the competences of each institution is introduced
4. The dynamic interplay with other EU institutions is analysed.

Aims :

1. Students are familiar with the general functioning and the legal competencies of all major EU institutions
2. Students can critically assess the democratic legitimacy that each major EU institution is built upon.

Lecturer: Rada Popova

Course Nr: 15304.00102

Date/Time: Wed, 4 Nov 2020, 14:00 - 15:30h (weekly)

Location: virtual

In its first part, by outlining the relevant historical background, this course will introduce the genesis of the European legal tradition. In its second part, the institutional basis, the structure and the basic principles of European Union law will be presented. On the basis of case studies on milestone jurisprudence of the ECJ, the role of European Union Law for Member States will be explained.

• The genesis of modern European legal systems: historical and economic factors

• The main elements of Roman Law, the Germanic legal tradition and English (common) law and their influence on the European legal tradition

• Overview on the system of European Union Law: history, structure, organs institutions and principles

• The sources and hierarchy of European Union Law

• The role of European Union law for the legal systems in Member States: case studies of milestone judicial decisions of the European Court of Justice

Lecturer: Dr. Johannes Müller

Course Nr.: 15304.0106

Date/Time: Mon, 2 Nov 2020, 14:00-15:30h (weekly)

Location: virtual

Germany’s history in the second half of the 20th century was overshadowed by the disastrous outcome of World War II, both with regard to domestic policies and international affairs. The atrocities committed by Nazi-Germany left a monstrous legacy for generations of Germans to deal with. The aftermath of the defeat of the German Army by a discordant alliance set the scene for the division of Europe and the rise of the Cold War. Germany’s own trajectory from division to unification, with a history split into a Western and an Eastern narrative (still today difficult to merge into a common perspective), is as peculiar as it is emblematic for the history of Europe in this epoch.

This introductory course, taught in English, attempts to approach German history from the outside. The course is based on a broad selection of original texts and sources as provided by the German Historical Institute in Washington, D.C. (http://germanhistorydocs.ghi-dc.org/home.cfm?language=english) and will rely predominantly on international studies (in English). German students are very welcome, if they are ready to take on an external point of view; international students are invited to bring in their own perspective on German history based on studies/monographs from their home countries

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Lecturer: Benjamin Naujoks

Course Nr.: 15304.0105

Date/Time: Tue, 3 Nov 2020, 10:00 - 11:30h

Location: virtual

The course deals with the person and biography of Sugihara Chiune, also called „Sempo“. Sempo’s life and biography include an almost global perspective: a Japanese diplomat, in service in Lithuania during WWII, and Righteous Among the Nations. In this course the focus will therefore be on the following: an introduction to European history before and during WWII (macro perspective), illustrated by exemplary biographical stations of Sempo (micro perspective). The connecting link is Lithuania: besides Lithuania, Eastern and Central Europe as an important region is taken into consideration, and within in the case of Lithuania, one of the decisive starting points for the Shoa/ Holocaust (cf. C. Dieckmann), the course will concretely ask about places, people and memories. Sempo’s biography functions at the same time as a „view from outside“ as well as a bridge into a global perspective. The overall aim of the course is to gain basic knowledge about key developments of the European history by using digitally prepared materials, which are then deepened in teamwork in video conferences and finally enable the participants to perform an independent transfer of learning.

Recommend for introduction Jonathan Safran Foer: „Everything is Illuminated“, a popular key to the topic „Holocaust and memory“ - Book, 2002 - Film, USA, 2005 Film: Persona non grata, JPN, 2015. Biographical drama about Chiune Sugihara. Book: Timothy Snyder, Bloodlands, 2010. https://www.yadvashem.org - „The World Holocaust Remembrance Center“ http://www.holocaustatlas.lt/EN/ - Atlas about the Holocaust’s sites in Lithuania

All core courses listed under Basic Module 1 may be chosen as an elective course as well (granted that three BM1 courses have been selected as BM1 core courses).

The offers of the Department for German as a Foreign Language may be counted towards the Elective Module, if the requirements for the Basic Module 2 have been fulfilled already. 

Semester German course (9CP)

Complementary German courses (3CP, depending upon availability)

Lecturer: Judith Berns

Course Nr: 15304.0107

Time/Date: Tue, 14:00- 15:30

Location:             

Credit Points: 3

Today´s world, in both, private as well as professional aspects, is characterized by fast changes, quick means of travel and instant communication. Physical distance has become less and less of an obstacle for interaction between people. COVID-19 was a push for digitalization and intensified digital communication across any kind of distance. Intercultural encounters, whether physical or digital, are very common, but the challenges that come along with that are often underestimated.
Universities are aiming to become more international and intercultural competence is considered a key skill to be expected by university graduates.
This course will not only provide knowledge, but more importantly help students to incorporate means to face intercultural challenges adequately in everyday life. A special focus will be put on academic challegenes.
Topics dealt with are (selection):
-    What is culture and what is intercultural competence?
-    Intercultural theories and models
-    Working on real-life cases (critical intercultural incidents)
-    Introduction to Communication
-    Performing in classes
 o    Support on how to deliver requested performances (e.g. how to do a presenation)
 o    Proper teacher-student-/student-student-interaction
 o    Comparing participants´ home Universities

Lecturer: Dr. Paul Silva

Course Nr: 14213.0337

Time/Date: Tue, 12:00- 13:30

Location:             

Credit Points: 3

In the first part of this course our main interest will be in philosophical questions about the nature of time, the identity of persons across time, and the conditions for free will. In the second part of this course our main interest will be in questions about the nature of human knowledge: what is knowledge, what are our sources of knowledge, and how–if at all–we can show that we have knowledge and deal with the problem of skepticism. Throughout the course there will be various introductory lectures on inductive and deductive logic.

Lecturer: Anne Bruns

Course Nr: 14344.0003

Time/Date: Thu,12:00-13.30

Location:

Credit Points: 3

The “Comparison of Health Care Systems” module sets out to compare health care systems on the basis of theories and typologies. The aim is for students to familiarise themselves with and be able to assess the whole gamut of health policy arrangements and identify examples of best practice.

The module takes an interdisciplinary approach, comprising various perspectives (including comparative welfare state research as well as social policy concepts that include economic factors).

written exam (60 minutes)

Lecturer: Prof. Dr. Christiane Bongartz

Course Nr: 14569.2101

Time/Date: Wed. 17:45-19:15

Location:

Credit Points: 3

This lecture class looks into contexts of language acquisition that may be somewhat less familiar. We will see examples of multilingual language learning, language mixing, and translanguaging, and we will take a critical look at some of the terminology used to categorize and classify speakers.

Due to the coronavirus situation, our class will meet bi-weekly via ZOOM. In the off-week, we will work with the ILIAS platform to generate interview questions for our guest speakers. During the live sessions, we will then make use of the questions to learn from the presenters.

****Please note: complete the first assignment by the deadline given.*****

Lecturer: Elisabeth Gilbert

Course Nr: 14578.0026

Time/Date: Wed, 10-11:30

Location:

Credit Points: 3

What is literature, what do I need to know to be able to fully appreciate a piece of fiction, a poem or a play as a literary scholar? What do we mean when we speak about culture or specific cultures? What are the tools and techniques, the aims and approaches in literary and cultural studies? What movements and names need I know for future analyses? These are some of the topics dealt with in this course, which opens small doors to a variety of aspects of the field.
Please plan in zoom sessions for some of the classes if we remain online this term

Attendance: please note that you lose your allocated place (Fixplatz) in a class if you do not attend the first session and do not notify your teacher of this IN ADVANCE.

Lecturer: Dr. Victoria Herche         

Course Nr: 14569.3503

Time/Date: Tue, 10:00-11:30

Location:

Credit Points: 3 

Memory plays an integral part in how individuals and societies construct their identity. This course explores the (often times traumatic) effects of forced migration on individual and collective memory and discusses literary engagements with the connections between memory, place, and displacement.

This course will address cultural, social, historical, legal, and (geo)political issues related to the contemporary global challenge of migration and displacement. As a basis for our discussion, we will look at novel, short story and film, thereby using close readings and thematic studies of post-colonial theory and diaspora studies, and debating aspects of national identity, racism, dispossession, indigeneity, trauma, environmental issues, and gender relations.

Prior knowlegde and experience in working with post-colonial theories is preferable.

Lecturer: Tatiana Lopez     

Course Nr: 16230.0100

Time/Date: Wed, 12:00-16:00

Location:

Credit Points: 6

This course outlines the basic arguments, theories and developments of contemporary Eco-nomic Geography. It is meant to give students first insights into this highly dynamic and empirical science. Starting from core processes in our modern economic and social world like globalization and uneven development, we will deal with questions of economic growth, inequalities and economic change on different spatial scales. We will get to know basic spatial theories and use them to describe and explain various empirical examples from dif-ferent regions. A special focus will be set on the role of knowledge and innovation in contemporary economic developments and on the challenges for developing regions like East-Asia.

The course is intended for interested Bachelor students and Exchange Students in Economics, Business studies and Regional Studies.

You will be required to give a presentation, write a paper and succeed in the written exam on December 11th. Oral participation is also en-couraged and expected. The course language is English.

You are able to register for this course in the 2nd registration period via KLIPS.

Lecturer: Karsten Hank       

Course Nr: 14320.0501

Time/Date: Wed, 10:00-11:30

Location:

Credit Points: 3

This seminar provides students with an overview of social factors affecting health. There will be specific sessions dealing with the SES-health-gradient, gender inequalities in health, work related health issues, the role of families in health, health trends in ageing societies, etc. All sessions will be based on empirical studies focusing (mainly) on contemporary western societies.

Students discuss various aspects of healthinequalities from a sociological perspective. They iden-tify and theoretically differentiate the social mechanisms that cause health inequalities and explore them using empirical findings. This approach is intended to interpret and explain in sociological terms individual behaviour and social dynamics in relation to health. Students also develop practical solutions.

You can apply for this course in the second allocation period via KLIPS!

Further details regarding the course will be provided during the first session on Nov 4, 2020.

If you cannot participate in the first session, please send an e-mail to your instructor.

Lecturer: Karsten Hank 

Course Nr: 14320.0502

Time/Date: Tue, 16:00-17:30

Location:

Credit Points: 3

We will discuss theoretical concepts and empirical findings related to the three demographic core processes of fertility, migration, and mortality. Our focus – theoretically as well as empirically – will be on individuals and how their demographic behaviors are shaped by social contexts. Next to taking a cross-nationally comparative perspective (including non-Western societies), we will pay particular attention on the demographic situation in Germany.

You can apply for this course in the second allocation period via KLIPS!

Further details regarding the course will be provided during the first session on Nov 3, 2020.

If you cannot participate in the first session, please send an e-mail to your instructor.

Lecturer: Elifcan Celebi

Course Nr: 14335.5019

Time/Date: Wed., 14:00-17:30

Location:

Credit Points: 6CP

This is an introductory course to the study of politics from a gender perspective. The course aims to introduce students to the fields of gender and politics by presenting main contributions of feminist theories to the analysis of states, institutions, policymaking and politics. This includes the introduction of basic concepts of gender and politics scholarship and using these theoretical approaches to analyze how citizenship is gendered. The readings engage with feminist analysis of politics in relation to various policy fields of political representation, labor, care and migration. Furthermore, the readings focuson the role of civil society, international governance and European Union on mainstreaming the gender equality agenda. Finally, the course brings forth the contemporary debates of the gender and politics scholarship: the feminist backlash and theright-turn in gender politics, as well as intersectionality and intersectional politics

Syllabus: https://cccp.uni-koeln.de/sites/cccp/Lehre/2020-21_WS/Syllabus_Gender_and_Politics_-_Winter20-21_ECelebi.pdf

Lecturer: Ayjeren Rozyjumayeva, Jan Schwalbach         

Course Nr: 14335.5000

Time/Date: Mon, 10:00 - 11:30

Location:

Credit Points: 6

Parliaments are a fundamental component of democratic systems. Nevertheless, some of theseinstitutions differ considerably between countries and over time. These differences and theirconsequences for the political system in a country are the focus of this seminar.The aim of this course is to give the participants an insight into some basic features andfundamental questions of political science in the field of legislative politics. One focus is on thetheoretical foundations of legislative politics: In the first block of the seminar, we address relevantactors, namely parties, governments and the opposition. We then turn to relevant processes inand around parliament. In addition to party competition, we will discuss the process of policy-making and the analysis of speeches in parliaments. In a final part, we will then turn to morespecific fields of parliamentary research, looking at the representation of different groups inparliament, as well as the communication and use of social media by parliamentarians.A second focus is on getting to know relevant data sets in parliamentary research and sim-ple ways of analysing them. We would like to give you the opportunity to do your first ownanalyses with the help of the software R. This will enable us to check some of the questions andrelationships that we have discussed theoretically before. In addition, this should enable you tostart developing your own ideas and questions, which you can use in later papers and theses.