The past decade has been transformational. A global pandemic, world at war, planet on fire, and Ai Agora have infused international relations with the discord of populism, accelerated by stalled economic growth and externalities of deepening wealth
inequality. Converging political, economic, social, and environmental forces complicate the already difficult task of bridging triple bottom line development goals protecting people, profits, and planet, with enlightened policies designed to make business a better partner with government and civil society. A world troubled by a multipolar global order characterized by the “Thucydides Trap” demands rethinking the formal institutions and existing practices of the international order, and the conceptual frameworks of the power transition theory. This course asks students to critically consider Ancient Athenian foreign policy and trade successes and failures – what Plutarch believed were the
foundations of international commerce that brought cooperation and friendship – thrashed against contemporary Greek and European policy efforts. Students will travel and explore the sites, museums, monuments, and history of Athens, Delos, Delphi, Corinth, Crete, and Mykonos, as well as meet with nonprofit and corporate leadership.

The combination asks students to consider blueprints from ancient history that illustrate models of purpose-driven leadership and more equitable political and economic development efforts while avoiding the failures of past empires. As importantly, this class affords students embarking on a career in international relations, business, public policy, nonprofit, consulting, or financial investment with global perspectives to better anticipate, predict, and manage how countries develop strategic and policy measures ensuring they contribute to building a more peaceful and prosperous world both at home and abroad.

Course Details

Enrollment

This course requires a minimum enrollment of 10, with a maximum enrollment of 20.