The course provides a mode of analysis for the study of political systems. Basic concepts of political science are utilized to present a descriptive and analytical examination of various political systems that can be classified as liberal democracies, post-communist, newly industrializing countries, and Third World. Particular attention is paid to the governmental structure, current leadership and major issues of public policy of those selected political systems under review.

The world’s economic environments are changing rapidly with globalization. New patterns in the international economy or fresh fields of a global economy require a reexamination of the basic concepts to remember, like power and efficiency, and the traditional roles played by leading actors in the world market: private businesses, individual governments, and international organizations. This course provides insights into understanding the relationship among the key players in the globalizing economy, most importantly interactions between the state and market. Classic viewpoints to explain international economy, like Mercantilism, Liberalism, and Marxism, will be critically reviewed and applied to various current cross-state economic affairs. Each perspective contains ethical and pragmatic concerns about human life and their interactions, conflicting or cooperative. What is right and what is good calls for a perpetual struggle to find the best combination in the practical field of trade or finance. So, critical evaluations of the perspectives are essential in this class to developing creative ideas appropriate for the transforming realities of globalization.