Disciplines

Prof. Gautier PIROTTE

Objectives

The objective of this course is to familiarize the students with the extensive field of international cooperation activities, a sector animated by thousands of diverse actors located both in Northern and Southern countries, mobilized around broad issues related to what is termed as „development”. It is a sector affected by multiple debates concerning the purpose of aid, its relevance, and its unintended effects.

Topics

• The Rise of Development and International Cooperation
• Bretton Woods
• Modernization
• The United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean
• Triple Anxiety
• Productivist Response
• Development Crises
• Good Governance
• Civil Society
• NGOs in International Cooperation
• Millennium Development Goals and Sustainable Development Goals
• Cooperation Today – The Belgian Example
• Official Development Assistance
• Solidarity, a job?

Expert Mircea MOCANU

Objectives

1. To analyze the major theories and concepts that underpin international migration policies, including push-pull factors, world systems theory, and the role of diaspora networks.
2. To evaluate the historical and contemporary political drivers of international migration, from colonialism and post-colonial legacies to globalization, conflict, and environmental degradation.
3. To assess the impact of international migration on both sending and receiving societies, encompassing economic dimensions (labour markets, remittances), social dimensions (integration, diversity), and political dimensions (voting patterns, populism).
4. To critique existing international migration policies and governance structures, examining the effectiveness of border controls, the ethics of refugee policies, and the challenges of international cooperation.
5. To formulate evidence-based policy recommendations for addressing the challenges and opportunities of international migration, considering the perspectives of different stakeholders and the principles of human rights and social justice.

Topics

Module 1: Foundations of International Migration

• Defining and categorizing international migration
• Major theoretical frameworks and concepts
• Historical overview of migration patterns

Module 2: Political Drivers of Migration

• Globalization and economic restructuring
• Conflict, persecution, and human rights
• Environmental change and climate-induced migration

Module 3: Policy Responses and Governance

• Immigration control, border management, and security
• Integration and citizenship policies
• International cooperation and agreements

Module 4: Socioeconomic Impacts

• Labour markets, remittances, and development
• Social cohesion, diversity, and integration
• The role of diasporas and transnational networks

Module 5: Political Impacts

• Anti-immigrant sentiment, populism, and the far-right
• The changing nature of political parties and voting
• Migration and foreign policy considerations

Module 6: Ethical and Human Rights Dimensions

• Migrant rights and vulnerabilities
• The ethics of border control and detention
• Refugee protection and the principle of non-refoulement

Module 7: Case Studies

• In-depth analysis of specific migration flows (e.g., Syrian refugees, Venezuelan diaspora, Central American migration to the US)

Module 8: Emerging Trends and Future Directions

• The impact of technology and automation
• Circular migration and temporary worker programs
• The role of cities in migration governance

Prof. Dr. Habilit. Remus ANGHEL

Objectives

O1: The course introduces the main theories and concepts in the study of migration and transnationalism; in this sense, it presents and discusses texts essential to the understanding of the study field of migration, an interdisciplinary and constantly changing field. The theoretical articles are accompanied by case studies from various geographical areas;

O2: The course introduces critical perspectives necessary for the development of coherent public policies on extremely current topics such as migration and integration, international migration, migration and development;

O3: The course discusses the methodologies that can be applied to the study of migration and transnationalism and their effects, such as mobile ethnography and multi-situated ethnography;

O4: The ability to develop a research project, individually or in a group, on the general topic of migration, using the concepts and research methods of anthropology;

O5: Explaining concrete social and political situations by using concepts, case studies from the anthropological study of migration;

O6: Analysis of real problematic situations regarding vulnerable populations using the conceptual framework provided by the course; the analysis will start from anthropological films;

O7. Public policy proposals.

Topics

The Great Challenges of Migration

– Part 1: Theories of Migration

Module 1: Paradigmatic shifts in international migration

The globalization of migration, the feminization of migration

Module 2: Theories and Concepts in International Migration

Theories of International Migration

Migration networks

The culture of migration

– Part 2: Transnationalism of migrants

Module 3: Defining transnationalism

Definitions and classifications of transnationalism

Module 4: Types of transnationalism

Multiple forms of transnationalism

Political transnationalism

Economic transnationalism

Methodologies for the analysis of transnationalism

– Part 3: Migration and Development

Module 5: Theoretical Perspectives in Migration and Development

Theoretical Perspectives on Migration and Development

Module 6: Migration and Development in Changing Societies

Migration and changing social relations

Migration and development in conflict societies Final course, analysis of the developed materials

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Cristian PÎRVULESCU

Objectives

Civil society is fundamental for representing citizens’ interests and implicitly for consolidating a democratic society. It plays the role of a mediator between citizens and the state, consisting of various types of organizations located outside governmental institutions and political parties. Strengthening and empowering civil society has become a central point in European Union politics and at the national level.

O1: Using fundamental concepts in describing and explaining the genesis and unfolding of events and processes specific to civil society; the first part of the discipline will consider the evolution of conceptual elements theoretically constituting civil society and the relevance of different approaches for the current global context. This part will provide an in-depth understanding of debates, theories, and relevant concepts associated with civil society.

O2: Using fundamental concepts specific to the discipline in interpreting specific social situations; the second part will focus on the regional specificities and international pressures of civil society in Romania. The impact of Europeanization, as well as global changes, will be analysed.

O3: Developing research projects using theoretical frameworks and methods specific to the discipline; the third part is more applied and focuses on social movements in Romania. This part will serve to contextualize the concepts and theoretical approaches discussed in the first part.

Topics

• Conceptual (1) Definitions
• Conceptual (2) “Uncivil” Society
• Regional Specificities
• Post-Socialist Space and Europeanization
• Global Changes
• International Donors
• Social Movements in Romania (1) Anti-austerity, environmental.
• Social Movements in Romania (2) For women’s and sexual minorities’ rights

Expert Mircea MOCANU

Objectives

• Familiarization with the national and international development field;
• Understanding of the socio-economic intervention models and the challenges faced by the international community;
• Identifying the defining elements of the international institutional system.

Topics

Part 1: History of Contemporary Development Programs

Module 1: Foundations of the UN system

• Post-1945 Geopolitical Context
• UN Specialized Agencies

Module 2: Structure of the UN System

Part 2: Evolution of the Development System and International Cooperation

Module 3: Fundamental Elements of UN Agreements, Agencies, and Programmes

• Establishment agreements of Development Agencies and Programs (UNDP, UNICEF, WHO, ILO, UNHCR)
• Bretton-Woods

Module 4: Post-colonial Era

• Europe
• Africa
• Asia and Latin America
• National Development Agencies

Lect. Dr. Damiana OȚOIU

Objectives

The course aims to provide a critical introduction to “development anthropology”. It first explores some of the founding paradigms of political anthropology (evolutionism, functionalism, structuralism, and post-structuralism), emphasizing the relationship between science and politics in colonial and postcolonial contexts. Then, we discuss some of the important texts to understand the history of some of the main actors in international “development and cooperation” projects, as well as the difficult relationship between “anthropology” and “development”. Therefore, the course allows students to know certain essential debates for contemporary societies, to historicize these debates, and to understand the relationship that has existed/exists between the social sciences and the political history of societies. In addition to this “theoretical” dimension, I propose to students a dialogue with experts in the implementation and evaluation of projects related to development-cooperation or human rights defence.

Topics

• Voices of the “Global South” in international debates.
• What does an anthropological archive look like? Working in archives, logistical and ethical difficulties. Brief (political) history of anthropology: the evolutionary paradigm
• How to develop a research project? Project structure and discussion of projects
• Brief (political) history of anthropology: the functionalist paradigm
• European projects of “development – cooperation” and stakes/local histories
• Alternative views on development. From ecovillages to Zero Waste initiatives
• Brief (political) history of anthropology: the structuralist paradigm
• Brief (political) history of anthropology: post-structuralist paradigms, contemporary anthropology
• Rights of indigenous populations. Building a (new?) political actor
• “Anthropology” and “development” – a difficult relationship?
• “Cooperation for development” in the cultural field. Cultural relations between former colonies and former metropolises in the post-colonial period

Prof. Dr. Habilit. Remus ANGHEL

Objectives

The issue of power and politics has preoccupied the discipline of anthropology since its beginnings. The course aims to juxtapose old and new issues in the anthropology of the study of power and how over time anthropology has provided a comparative view of how power is exercised in diverse societies.

O1: The course introduces the main theories and concepts of political anthropology. Under the vision of analysing the locations of power and politics, the course presents classic texts and introduces notions such as stateless society, ideology as a cultural system, colonialism, the problem of alterity, state, nationalism, citizenship, anthropology of politics, transnational and global politics, supra- and transnational citizenship, violence and genocide. Most of them are classic works in the field of anthropology;

O2: The course introduces critical perspectives necessary to understand the way politics is articulated and power is negotiated in various human societies, thereby contributing to an in-depth understanding of political science and the approach of extremely current topics, such as globalization, public policies, transnationalism, migration, or the conflict;

O3: The course discusses the method of anthropology and the advantages it can offer to the analysis of current political processes in the most diverse societies. The subject of political anthropology is so vast that practically any sub-theme can be deepened and developed in itself;

O4: The ability to develop a research project, individually or in a group, on the general theme of political anthropology, using the concepts and research methods specific to anthropology;

O5: Explaining concrete social and political situations by using concepts, case studies from anthropological study;

O6: Analysis of real problematic situations regarding vulnerable populations using the conceptual framework provided by the course; the analysis will also start from anthropological films;

O7. Public policy proposals on various topics.

Topics

Part 1: Power, culture and society in political anthropology

Module 1: Classical perspectives

Power analysis and the meaning of political anthropology

Anthropology, colonialism and the problematic of the Other

Mode 2: Power, ideology, trust

Ideology and culture

Social trust, power and ritual

Part 2: The State and the Individual in Political Anthropology

Module 3: Anthropology of the state

The state apparatus and the power of the weak

Nationalism and the Anthropological Analysis of Political Organizations

Module 4: Citizenship and Public Policy

Anthropology of citizenship

Anthropology of Politics and Institutions

Part 3 Transnational and Global Power

Module 5: Transnationalization and Globalization

Globalization and power

Transnational and supranational citizenship

Part 4 Conflict and resistance

Module 6: Conflicts, divisions, protests

Genocide and conflict

Social divisions and identity politics

Protests and anarchy

Lect. Dr. Radu-Alexandru CUCUTĂ

Objectives

• Utilizing fundamental concepts from the field of international relations and theories regarding conflicts and their causes in explaining humanitarian interventions and actions;
• Understanding the concepts, theories, and institutions discussing the role of religion in international politics;
• Developing projects and research papers using theoretical frameworks and specific methods of social sciences in general, and political science in particular;
• Using the methodology specific to international relations theories in analysing relevant processes, dynamics, events, and institutions for humanitarian actions and interventions;
• Using fundamental concepts to explain and understand specific empirical situations.

Topics

• Religiously Motivated Political Interventions – The Crusades
• Just War
• Religion and Colonialism
• Political Interventions of Modernity
• Orientalism
• Imperial Interventions
• Liberal Theories of International Relations and International Organizations
• Communism and Communist Interventions
• Human Security
• Exporting Democracy
• Humanitarian Interventions at the End of the Cold War
• Global War on Terror
• Humanitarian Interventions in the 21st Century
• The Future of Humanitarian Interventions

Expert Mircea MOCANU

Objectives

• Familiarization with the national and international development field
• Understanding managerial models of intervention projects at national and international levels
• Identifying the defining elements of the international managerial system

Topics

Part 1

Module 1: Fundamental Concepts

• National and international public intervention: actors, processes, agenda, public and political processes
• Fundamental concepts in implementing and evaluating development programs

Module 2: Development program cycle

• Theoretical and conceptual evolutions
• Setting the international agenda, implementation, and evaluation
• Components of development programmes

Part 2: Project Management for Development

Module 3: International Projects and Programmes

• Project management in contemporary society
• Analysis of various types of project management

Module 4: International Projects and Programmes

• Europe
• Africa
• Asia and Latin America
• International project management at the international level
• Analysis of practical models of international development projects

Lect. Dr. Nicolae TODERAȘ

Objectives

• Familiarizing students with the specifics of sustainable development within the main policies of the EU through understanding and knowing the institutional, economic, political, and social framework specific to their implementation.
• Developing a critical-constructive spirit in analysing the evolution of concepts and principles related to sustainable development within EU policies;
• Stimulating interest in researching various topics related to the EU’s directions of action in the field of sustainable development;
• Strengthening the capacity to analyse and interpret how EU principles, approaches, and conditions regarding sustainable development have been transposed into domestic policies in Romania.

Topics

• Theories and methods of applying the dimension of sustainable development in the implementation process of EU policies
• The decision-making process in establishing the strategic framework for sustainable development in the EU
• The role of interest groups in implementing the dimension of sustainable development in the process of EU policy implementation
• EU instruments for implementing sustainable development (European Semester, Recovery and Resilience Mechanism)
• The Green Deal: the defining framework for sustainable development in the EU
• The European Union Budget: allocating resources for the application of sustainable development principles
• Sustainable development in the Common Agricultural Policy
• Sustainable development in the EU Cohesion Policy
• Sustainable development in EU Transport Policy
• Sustainable development in EU Energy Policy
• Sustainable development in Employment and Health policies
• Sustainable development in consumer protection actions
• Sustainable development in EU Foreign Policy

Expert Mircea MOCANU

Objectives

• Identifying and opting for optimal methods to address the problems posed by humanitarian assistance
• Presenting the main concepts of International Law
• Understanding the policies and programmes developed and implemented in the field of development and humanitarian assistance

Topics

Part 1: General framework of humanitarian assistance policies

Module 1: Sustainable Development Goals and Humanitarian Assistance

• Promoting humanitarian assistance values and culture
• Assessing crisis situations

Module 2: Promoting policies and strategic partnerships in the field of humanitarian aid

• Strategic communication
• Specific needs and intervention planning
• Politico-social actors and perspectives

Part 2: International humanitarian assistance

Module 3: Key elements of international action

• Action and response
• Performance assessment: security and physical protection

Module 4: Pre- and post-conflict humanitarian action

• Cross-border operations
• International, transnational, global realities and institutions
• Conflict resolution and conflict management models – humanitarian intervention

Part 3: Public participation and the development of the international system in humanitarian aid

Module 5: Case studies

• Eastern Europe
• The Balkans
• Decolonization
• Africa and Asia

Module 6: Challenges of the contemporary world

• International policies and actions
• Migration
• Ethics in humanitarian action

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Cristian PÎRVULESCU

Objectives

To know and understand the main concepts related to migration and asylum policies in the member countries of the European Union

Topics

• Comparative policy of origin countries
• State failure and migration
• Quantitative and qualitative methodologies for evaluating state failure
• Case studies: Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq
• Models and practices of integration in EU member countries
• Institutional models of integration
• Access to citizenship
• Access to the labour market and social rights
• Migration theories and migration and asylum policies at the EU level
• National competences and community competences. The Dublin system
• The New Pact on Migration and Asylum
• The role of civil society in shaping asylum and migration policies in Europe

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Cătălin PARTENIE

Objectives

• Understanding important current ethical issues.
• Developing critical thinking.
• Developing communication skills.

Topics

• Discussion of the film “A Life on Our Planet” (David Attenborough, 2020)
• What is ethics? The history of ethics
• What is applied ethics? About evidence. The legal notion of evidence
• What is an argument? Deductive and non-deductive arguments. Premises and conclusions
• Should pleasures and well-being be limited to protect the planet? The utilitarian vision. John Stuart Mill
• Should freedoms be limited to protect the planet? The liberal view
• Should the market economy be limited to protect the planet?
• Freedom, morality, rationality. Kant’s vision
• Justice as fairness, but without including nature. Rawls’ vision
• Rights, equality, diversity. The purpose of politics in Aristotle’s view
• Current ethical dilemmas
• The common good. Revisiting the film “A Life on Our Planet” (David Attenborough, 2020)

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mihai UNGUREANU

Objectives

• Using fundamental concepts in the study of public organizations and theories about the conditionality and politicization of public organizations in describing and explaining the genesis and course of political events and processes;
• Developing and managing research projects using theoretical frameworks and specific methods of the discipline;
• Using fundamental rules for understanding and evaluating research projects that use specific theoretical frameworks of the discipline;
• Using the methodology specific to rationalist theories and theories of cultural assimilation in analysing specific processes and institutions of contemporary socio-political systems (public administration);
• Using fundamental concepts specific to the discipline in interpreting concrete socio-political situations;
• Using concepts and methods specific to the discipline in interpreting legislation regarding the politicization of public organizations in Central and Eastern Europe, with a focus on the situation in Romania.

Topics

• Classical approaches to public organizations: Weber, Hegel, and Wilson
• Rationalist approaches to public organizations: Downs, Niskanen, Dunleavy
• Neo-institutional socio-historical approaches, criticisms of rationalist approaches: March and Olsen
• Theories of international compliance: rationalist theories and theories of cultural assimilation
• The issue of European compliance: Europeanization through cultural assimilation and Europeanization through conditionality
• Europeanization of public administration
• Conditionality and reform in public administration in CEE states: The hypothesis of reform regression
• Politicization of public organizations in CEE states and Romania

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Habilit. Arpad TODOR

Objectives

• Acquisition of practical skills regarding participation in teams for the development of research projects, research/evaluation/policy proposals individually or in complex teams, analysis of EU institutions and policies;
• Development of the capacity to analyse European institutions by carrying out projects tailored to their area of interest;
• Understanding the main characteristics of the main types of public policies under the coordination of the European Union and mastering the research tools necessary for the development of high-quality research projects depending on the academic area of interest: comparative research, experimental studies, social research, international relations, EU studies, etc.;
• Development of research skills necessary to participate in teams conducting research/evaluations/policy proposals for organizations such as political parties, commercial research institutes, scientific research institutes, NGOs, government institutions, international institutions.
• Within the activities, students will acquire practical teamwork skills, understanding of research mechanisms, and learn methods for preparing applications such as CVs and letters of intent to access certain positions.

Topics

• Introduction to the course’s issues: applied analysis of community institutions and policies
• Theoretical approaches to research in social sciences relevant to applied research of community institutions and policies
• Planning the development of a research project
• Steps in developing an application for accessing relevant funding for applied research of community institutions and policies
• Steps in developing an application for accessing relevant funding for applied research of community institutions and policies
• Steps in developing an application for accessing relevant funding for applied research of community institutions and policies
• Mechanisms of collaboration and teamwork for the development and implementation of research projects
• Steps for implementing research projects
• Research projects from national sources
• Profiles of skills required for participation in research teams according to the type of organization: political parties
• Profiles of skills required for participation in research teams according to the type of organization: commercial research institutes, scientific research institutes
• Profiles of skills required for participation in research teams according to the type of organization: NGOs, government institutions, international institutions
• Verification of compliance with standards by the research project