Well no, not really. However, I am studying at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva, a university specifically dedicated to handing out advanced degrees in subjects related to International Affairs. That means I am taking classes at the Institute with other Masters and even Ph.D. students. This can be and has been a little intimidating but I am sure I will get over it.
However, not all my classes are with other Masters students. I am taking two required undergraduate class with other college students, some from Wellesley and some from other US colleges. The rest of my classes were electives. Since I am at the end of my first week, I thought I would share with you some of the classes I will be taking this semester.
The first one is called the Histories of Globalization(s): Themes and Issues in Humanitarian Responses to crises and development politics. This course is probably the one that aligns most with my academic interests. In this class, we will be exploring the history of humanitarianism. First by trying to define it, then we will talk about it’s biggest actors, the consequences of humanitarianism and how it looks like today. The course actually relates to my potential thesis (which I will discuss later). I am looking forward to what I learn in this course.
The second one is Security Challenges in the 21st Century. In this class, we will explore security studies and some of the challenges in safety around the world. We’ll discuss various topics related to security including organizations like NATO as well as the security measures taken on by the state and how it affects people. Security studies are not something I have ever thought about or been interested in learning. However, our first class went well and I am interested in seeing where it goes.
My graduate courses are both in the International Affairs program. They are both on topics that I am very interested in but have not had much opportunity to explore. The people in my Master’s course are students who are either research a topic related to the class or have an extensive history studying it. It will be really great to hear their perspectives on the various issues we discuss.
The first one is called Race and Mobility: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives. The class explores mobility and who have historically had the right to move and the regulation of mobility in the past and the ways that it has evolved. The class also studies refugees and migrants, the reasons why they moved, how they were treated based on their racial classifications. This topic is clearly very relevant to some of the issues we are facing in
The second one is called Image and Violence. We explore that ways that images relate to violence particularly how images depict violence and effect violence. The ways that images that depict violence can be used as an organizing tool to fight against an oppressive system or to depict a conflict or disaster in another country. We will discuss whether images can cause violence and what is our duty in distributing explicit images that depict violent acts. I am particularly interested in discussing the ways that humanitarians, activists, politicians, and regular people use images that either depicts violence or allude to it for whatever cause.
I am also taking a French course which I am hoping will continue to build on the language skills I learned in Senegal. So far in Geneva, I have had most of my conversations in French!
until next time,
Laïssa