Cyprus, which joined the European Union in 2004, is the ideal location to study the political and social aspects of the European integration process.
Additional information on academics is also available.
Comparative Literature 100A (4 units) (Fulfills UCI GE Requirement VIII)
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Through a combination of literary genres, this course explores the relationship between place and inspiration with a focus on Greece and Cyprus. ‘Place’ is meant as geographical location mediated by politics, and ‘inspiration’ as the imaginative pro-cess that reconciles the complex dimensions of lived experience. The course opens with a look at literary incarnations of Athens, whose illustrious history and classical heritage have drawn some of the great-est minds, from Lord Byron to Sigmund Freud, and from Mark Twain to Gustav Flaubert. After a brief literary stopover in Santorini, the course moves to an in-depth survey of the contemporary literatures of Cyprus. The course undertakes to represent the diverse communities of the island, as well as its visitors, and its diasporic subjects (living and writing abroad). The writing includes poetry and fiction but also the literary and autobiographical impressions of expatriate Cypriots, visitors, and foreign residents. With particular attention on 20th century and contemporary writing, the course explores themes of war, peace, ethnic division and unity, gender, and sexual choice as these emerge in the many literatures of Cyprus. The literature will be complemented with critical readings that will help students gain theoretical insights on the issues affecting every facet of the island’s history and its peoples. Instructor: Stavros Karayanni, PhD.
Political Science 149 (4 units)
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Cyprus, having been integrated into the EU in 2004, provides the ideal backdrop for studying concepts surrounding the European integration process. This course will familiarize you with the historical development of European integration and the theoretical debates of regional integration, and ultimately provide you with the basis for understanding future European Union enlargement. You also address some of the main debates regarding the future of Europe, touching upon the European Convention and the role of the nation-state. Instructor: Christos Kassimeris, PhD.
Sociology 159 (4 units)
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Through this course, you will be provided with insight into the social structure of the member states of the European Union. At the same time, the course focuses on the increasingly multicultural character of European societies and aims to sensitize you to the various issues related to multiculturalism. The course will analyze the social complexity of modern Europe using a critical sociological lens, and investigate the European social institutions from a cross-cultural perspective in order to assess similarities and differences. Instructor: Marios Vryonides, PhD.
