EC2 '19:
Unit24: Environmental Issues and Energy Policy in the US and in the UK:
Climate change is now one of the most serious issues. What with a rising number of natural disasters and and scientific evidence of climate change, politicians have to take a stand on the matter. We will thus try and study the energy policy implemented in the US and in the UK, not to mention its underlying stakes.
Unit25: Immigration in the US and in the UK (+Australia):
Immigration is a never-ending challenge for governments, and it is even more so in times of crisis. We will here reflect on the different stakes of this burning issue. Here are keywords for the
unit: immigrants, minorities, multiculturalism, melting pot, salad bowl, border patrol, undocumented workers, deportees, wetbacks or boat people, Hispanics or Latinos, "scroungers", fear tactics,
...
Health is a burning issue which is seldom off the agenda in the developed world. It has long been troublesome for successive governments on both sides of the Atlantic. Focusing on the Covid fallout and the healthcare system in the US and in the UK, we will try and understand the problems both systems are plagued with.
Unit23: Education matters: raising hopes or failing dreams?
Education is a hot-button issue both in the US and in the UK. In this unit, we will try and study the American and the British educational systems. We will also address the main issues they are faced with, such as elitism vs social mobility, "traditional" learning vs e-learning or lack of diversity, not to mention a few other education-related issues.
Unit20: The Glass-Ceiling and the Gender Gap:
The glass-celing” and the “gender gap” are notions which seem to go hand in hand with women’s situation on the job market. Taking a look at women’s (and minorities’) economic and political progress, we will try to see whether women and minorities are now in a position to break through the glass-ceiling. We will thus focus on the job market to see whether most of them can now make it to the top!
Unit21: Globalization, the World of Finance and the Impact on the Job Market:
In the wake of the transition from a manufacturing-based economy to a service-based economy - thanks to the digital revolution - and the economic crisis, the world economy has been faced with a number of challenges. Here we will try and study a few of these issues and reflect on the causes and the consequences of the financial crisis.
NSA? FISC? DOJ? Prism? Feeling a little lost? In this Unit, we will try to have a better grasp on the recent NSA snooping scandal in the US. You will find out more about Snowden, Manning or other whistleblowers who made the news in the US and in the UK, study key articles about the surveillance leaks and programs, and reflect on the debate pitting civil liberties against national security.
Unit19: "The American Culture of Violence":
A lot of people consider the US as a violent country. Indeed, many mass shootings have recently hit the headlines, the death penalty still exists in more than 30 states and US History is plagued with instances of violence inflicted on others. We will here try to understand the reasons why some people criticize the US and reflect on how valid these reasons are.
Unit16: The Media in the US and in the UK: "No News is Good News"?
The media is a cornerstone of the US and the British cultures. Here, you will reflect on the blurred line between privacy and the right to information and the changes the media is faced with. You will also scrutinize the violence of contemporary media or the intermingling of the media, business and politics, as can be seen in a number of scandals.
Unit17: The 2020 Election Campaign and Big Money in US Politics:
A year after the midterm elections, Republicans and Democrats are still at each other's throats. The 2020 campaign is already under way. Here we will try to have a better grasp of the issues at stake in US politics right now and of the role of money in US elections and campaigns. This unit will also help you review Unit3.
Britain is said to be at a crossroads right now. Indeed, the next few months (and years!) will be crucial for this country: in the aftermath of the Brexit vote, the UK has to renegotiate its
status in (and out of) the European Union and to overcome major challenges. A political, constitutional is looming and attention has shifted to the possibility of a greater devolution of powers.
All this bodes ill for Britain's clout around the world, doesn't it?