Global Law, Global History: A Comparative Perspective

This course examines global history from the colonization of the Americas to the end of the cold war through a normative lens, using the admission timeline of the 193 United Nations (UN) member states as a framework. Students explore the historical development of core international law subjects—tates and international organizations—while critically engaging with themes such as state-building, nationalism, empire, race, religion, gender, and notions of civilization and progress. The course emphasizes the intersection of law and history, encouraging students to reflect on how historical events, non-European state participation in the UN, and concepts of geography, time, and space have shaped the modern global order and continue to inform contemporary debates. Through readings, films, artworks, and archival sources, students develop a conceptual toolkit for understanding international relations, political science, international law, and global studies. Students may not count both HIST S-1022 (offered previously) and LSTU S-121 for degree or certificate credit.