Global Challenges of the 21st Century

In this course we will begin by studying theories of social and political change, and then we will analyze the systematic causes of poverty and environmental degradation around the world. We will then study prospective solutions, focusing on the role of selective members of global civil society, including social entrepreneurs, in achieving these solutions. Over the course of the semester, each student will prepare a comprehensive analysis on how to tackle and overcome a specific global challenge. Readings will include Gregg Mortenson’s Stones into Schools and David Bornstein's How to Change the World: Social Entrepreneurs and the Power of New Ideas. (ENVS 0211 or PSCI 0214)