Political Science is the study of the enduring issues, from ancient to modern times, of power and authority, citizenship and governance, justice and legitimacy, and conflict and cooperation. Over the past few decades, the exercise of power, patterns of governing, sources of political conflict, outcomes of distributive justice, and inter-state collaboration and international order have all been affected by several developments that include the termination of the Cold War, globalization, the ascendancy of neo-liberalism, the rise of China, international migration, ethnically and religiously motivated political conflicts, and environmental degradation.
Alongside more perennial themes, Political Science at UTSC addresses these developments and their implications through six subfields of the discipline: Political Theory, Canadian Politics, International Relations, Comparative Politics, Public Law and Public Policy.
Canadian Government and Politics
Canadian Government and Politics content covers the political-institutional foundations, political processes and public policies of Canada.
Comparative Politics
Comparative Politics courses cover problems of political change and development in areas such as Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East.
International Relations
International Relations focuses on studying the foreign policies of particular nation-states and the patterns of conflict and co-operation among states.
Political Theory
Courses in Political Theory explore ideas, such as justice and legitimacy, that are fundamental to political thought and practice, giving special attention to reading and interpreting the classic expositions of politics from ancient Greek philosophers
Public Policy
Public Policy courses examine the context, institutions, and processes of policy-making and implementation, as well as concepts and criteria for policy evaluation.
Public Law
The Minor in Public Law examines how the legal system, of which the constitutional order and judiciary are integral parts, governs the relationship both among constituent units of the state and between citizens and the state.