The Transnational Politics of Knowledge and Expertise 

Whose knowledge counts in transnational politics, and how does it come to be recognised as legitimate? This course explores how knowledge and expertise shape contemporary transnational politics. It explores how certain forms of knowledge come to be recognised as authoritative, scientific, or evidence-based, and how experts shape policy-making within international organisations, governments, NGOs, and transnational networks. Students will analyse how knowledge circulates across borders, how established hierarchies (North/South, scientific/belief, etc.) influence what is considered legitimate knowledge, and how competing forms of expertise and knowledge generate controversy and conflict in fields such as development, security, health, technology, and environmental governance.

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

• Understand the role of knowledge and expertise in shaping transnational politics and global governance.
• Examine how knowledge is produced, circulated, and mobilised across national borders by international organisations, experts, NGOs, and other transnational actors.
• Analyse how claims to expertise shape political authority, legitimacy, and decision-making beyond the state.
• Critically assess the power relations embedded in the construction of “valid” knowledge, and identify tensions and conflicts between expert, local, experiential, and indigenous forms of knowledge.

Connaissances et compétences pré-requises ou co-requises

 

Lectures, debates, readings/audio material, and students' presentations.

Références, bibliographie et lectures recommandées

 

Support(s) de cours

• Université virtuelle

Informations complémentaires

 

Contacts

Pr. Elisa Lopez Lucia: elisa.lopez.lucia@ulb.be

Campus

Solbosch

Méthode(s) d'évaluation

• Examen écrit
• Evaluation continue
• Présentation orale
• Travail de groupe

Examen écrit

Evaluation continue

Présentation orale

Travail de groupe

Group work and its oral presentation on one of the themes of the lectures (40%).

Final exam: open questions on all course material (60%).

This course evaluation modality is a continuous evaluation : students are required to do the group work to be able to pass the final exam. The group work cannot be retaken.

Construction de la note (en ce compris, la pondération des notes partielles)

 

Langue(s) d'évaluation

• anglais