With the provision of transdisciplinary courses, the Globalization, and Democratic Governance (GG) track at the ICI seeks to address some of the critical issues at our times: the rising uncertainties of climate change, political polarization, and socio-economic disparity, and democratic regression. We recognize an urgent need to deepen the understanding of contemporary issues, to develop knowledge and problem-solving abilities of risk aversion. We envisage the GG at the ICI will help students to explore the issues of participation, equality, transparency, and accountability across geographical and cultural contexts.
Building upon this premise, GG covers a broad spectrum of social science approaches and cross-cutting areas. In regards to professional development and training, this special track draws on four major research axes – Science, Technology and Society; Global Environmental Governance; Spaces, Places, and Connections; and Global Civil Society – to develop relevant thematic courses.
We design the GG track to help students to look beyond the short-term, functional purpose of job security. We aim to guide students to envisage how one could prepare oneself with professional ability and critical visions in light of situating in an increasingly contingent, dynamic, and unstable world.
We hope that students will be able to (a) comprehend and appreciate the complexity of our living worlds, which are simultaneously natural, social, and technical in their multiplicity, limitation, and vulnerability; (b) develop the ability to reflect, critique, negotiate, and act; (c) have a vision for inclusive societies and appreciate multiple worldviews and possibilities of problem-solving. In brief, this track seeks to assist students in exploring and developing creative approaches to ‘staying with the trouble’ on their life journeys.
