Politics, Law, & Economics (PLE)

Session Snapshot:

Politics, Law, & Economics (PLE) is a session aimed at students with an interest in understanding diverse economic theories, the values and practices of government, and legal frameworks in historical and comparative perspectives. Students learn key ideas in topics such as public policy, human rights, market regulation, governance structures, international policy, and conflict and cooperation across borders.

The session builds students’ critical thinking and analytical skills, enabling them to examine social systems and present-day issues through the lenses of economic, legal, and political theory. During PLE, students draw extensively on interdisciplinary approaches to build their expertise and increase their exposure to a wide array of topics within the session theme, preparing them to be more informed and engaged global citizens.

Sample Lecture Offerings:

Sample Seminar Offerings:

  • Rethinking Free Trade, Economic Multilateralism, and International Finance in a Calamitous Decade of Global Affairs
  • U.S.-China Relations in the 21st Century: Will the U.S. and China Go to War? Does China Have a Grand Strategy?
  • Globalization and Its Discontents: The Economic and Political Consequences of an Increasingly Interconnected World
  • Rethinking Free Trade, Economic Multilateralism, and International Finance in a Calamitous Decade of Global Affairs
  • Commodifying Art: The Economics and Contradictions of Musical Work

Is PLE a Good Fit for Me?

If you are intrigued by any of the following questions, then this session is a great choice:

  • What legal frameworks exist governing surveillance and foreign intelligence gathering?
  • As climate change and global conflicts continue to shape global migration, how does international law govern (or not govern) asylum processes in different country contexts?
  • What types of resistance movements bring about lasting political change? And how do innovations in social media shape and change protest movements today?
  • What are the challenges in tackling criminal economic activities, particularly if they cross international borders? How can policy makers design relevant and successful solutions?
  • Should governments regulate markets? How do governments balance economic growth with workers’ protections?