Class Format This course follows a weekly seminar format. I will briefly present and initiate the day's topic, which is followed by student presentations, a group debate, and group work. The course ultimately builds on student participation, so students are expected to complete the required readings and to actively participate in discussions. All students are required to prepare a very short written summary statement for each of the mandatory readings. Students need no prior knowledge of the study of qualitative methods or the Global South but should have solid knowledge of core theories of political science/international relations as well as social scientific methodology. In-class discussions will be conducted in English, although German contributions are equally welcome. Summary statements may be submitted in either English or German. close

Course Description In recent years, a multitude of state and non-state actors have emerged within the so-called "Global South" to take up an ever more prominent role in international politics. This begs the question: How do we study the Global South, and which tools can we (or should we) draw on to do so? The social sciences, including international relations, have a long pedigree of Global Northern researchers studying the Global South. Historically, this study served primarily to confirm imperial theories, racist hierarchies and developmental clichés. But there have always been voices critiquing (neo-)colonial traces in contemporary knowledge production and centring on ways how to study political dynamics in the Global South with appropriate ethics and methodological rigour. This seminar seeks to combine qualitative methods, the study of the "Global South" broadly defined, and critical/post-colonial theory. First, the seminar introduces students to some core methods of qualitative data collection and data analysis and gives space for students to practise them and apply them to topics of interest. Second, the seminar applies these methods across a variety of issue areas related to the Global South, from statehood to democracy, empire and sexuality. Finally, the seminar shows the genesis of knowledge production on the Global South along colonial and racist lines and aims to rethink whether and, if yes, how we (as students in Global Northern institutions) should study the Global South. The seminar offers space for exchange and collaboration among students: through discussions, presentations and other creative forms of engagement. For the final grading delivery (Prüfungsleistung), students will produce a podcast episode in groups which can be published online. Intended Learning Outcomes This course introduces students to the study of security politics and presents a variety of methodological and thematic angles on what security is and how to conceptualise it. At the end of the course, students will be able (1) to understand, adequately select and apply the main qualitative methods of international relations and political science more broadly; (2) to critically assess existing empirical, theoretical and methodological approaches to (the study of) the Global South drawing on critical theory; (3) to design independent research on issues related to the Global South, methodology and its critiques; and (4) to use the format of Podcasts to present and discuss (their own) academic findings. close