Introduction to Politics & Technology

What it is about

You learn how politics and technology influence each other and how you apply political analyses to technological questions. The module provides foundations of political analysis (normative, institutional, behavioral) and combines them with technological introductions and current societal challenges such as climate, war, mobility, health and innovation governance. In the end you will be able to apply political theories and methods to technology-related policy problems and work on interdisciplinary projects.

What you will be able to do

Know relevant concepts, theories and methods of politics and policy analysis
Apply political science tools to technological questions
Understand the technological foundations of selected technologies (e.g. robotics, quantum computing, censorship circumvention)
Analyze current grand challenges at the interface of politics and technology
Collaborate in interdisciplinary groups to work on concrete problems

What the module consists of

Lecture with integrated Tutorial/DiscussionConveying concepts, theories and technological introductions; discussion and deepening
Interdisciplinary Lectures and group sessionsApplication of what is learned in project-like, smaller groups
Self-studyPreparation of the required reading

Teaching method

Weekly lectures with integrated TutorialIntroduction to theory and technique as well as joint discussions
Small group breakout sessionsApplied project work and interdisciplinary exchange
In-class discussions (with the option to continue online)Deepening and transfer of content
Independent study of the required readingPreparation before and after the sessions

What you should already know

Introduction to Politics and Technology (POL40100)

Assessment

LectureTutorialGroup project

The description of study and examination requirements is currently under revision. Details on form, duration, aids and weighting are not currently available.

Reading list

Winner - Do Artifacts Have Politics?
Milner & Solstad - Technology Diffusion and the International System
Hottenrott & Richstein - Start-Up Subsidies
Zehavi & Breznitz - Distribution Sensitive Innovation Policies
Schönmann et al. - The Care-Dependent are Less Averse to Care Robots: An Empirical Comparison of Attitudes
Gläser & Paula - Censorship, News Falsification, and Disapproval in 1989 East Germany
Yang & Roberts - The Authoritarian Data Problem
Jakimów et al. - Achieving European Union Strategic Autonomy: Circularity in Critical Raw Materials Value Chains
Calcara et al. - Why Drones Have Not Revolutionized War
Hammes - How Converging Technology Strengthens Small Powers
Steinert et al. - COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in Eight European Countries
Büthe & Mattli - The New Global Rulers: The Privatization of Regulation in the World Economy
Downer - The Aviation Paradox: Why We Can 'Know' Jetliners But Not Reactors

Dates

Lecture with exercise(POL40100) Introduction to Politics and Technology2 groups to choose from

AThu15:00–18:15
H.001, Seminarraum (2910.EG.001)
14× · 15.10.–04.02.
- 15.10.
- 22.10.
- 29.10.
- 05.11.
- 12.11.
- 19.11.
- 26.11.
- 10.12.
- 17.12.
- 07.01.
- 14.01.
- 21.01.
- 28.01.
- 04.02.
BFri09:00–10:30
H.001, Seminarraum (2910.EG.001)
15× · 16.10.–05.02.
- 16.10.
- 23.10.
- 30.10.
- 06.11.
- 13.11.
- 20.11.
- 27.11.
- 04.12.
- 11.12.
- 18.12.
- 08.01.
- 15.01.
- 22.01.
- 29.01.
- 05.02.

From the current semester, not binding. You attend one of several groups; the timetable automatically suggests the one with the fewest clashes.

Filters