5.1 External Environment 1: Politics and Ethics

5.1.1 International Politics:

Objectives: This seminar will give an introduction to International Politics and to areas such as peace and war, human security, global governance and international regimes, sustainable human development and foreign assistance, climate change, democracy and human rights. Case studies will focus on specific countries (e.g. Germany) and groupings of states (e.g. the EU) by explaining the management of foreign affairs and international relations, based on pertinent theories. Students work out processes and structures of international cooperation and political integration worldwide as well as advocacy networking approaches. Relying on theories of development, conflicts and international relations, they reflect positive and negative factors for development, peace research approaches, humanitarian interventions, the role of the United Nations, and the interactions between states in the era of globalism.

Content:

• Introduction to International Politics and global challenges

• Theories of International Relations

• Structures of international cooperation and networks

• Global Governance and power shifts in world politics

• Regionalism and processes of political integration/groupings (e.g. EU, SADC, MERCOSUR, ASEAN …/G7/8, G20)

• Germany’s foreign policy, including development cooperation

• Theories of conflicts and peace research approaches

• Human rights and democracy as universal values

• Humanitarian interventions – Responsibility to protect

• United Nations, history and development

• International Politics: NGOs and the private sector.

5.1.2 Global & Business Ethics:

Objectives: To learn about the foundations in ethical thought. Discussing a variety of perspectives on difficult ethical dilemmas in both the personal and professional context. To critically evaluate different perspectives in business ethics using one’s own ethical theory base.  Critically analyse different business situations in conjunction with management, law, economics and public policy from a multidisciplinary and philosophical perspective.

Content:

• Values and Ethics, the Nature and goals of Business Ethics and the Law

• Stakeholder Theory and Ethical Perspectives

• Ethical Theory and Business (e.g. Ethical Relativism and Reasoning in Ethics, psychological Egoism, Utilitarian Ethics, Deontological Ethics, Virtue Ethics)

• CSR and Ethics

• Employer & Employee Ethics (e.g. Moral Law and Rights in the Workplace, Diversity approach, Equal Opportunity and Affirmation Act)

• Marketing & Sales Ethics

• Business Environmental Responsibilities (e.g. Sustainability, CSR)

• International Business and Globalization (e.g. Ethical Relativism, Cross-Cultural Values and International Rights, Global Compact)