Political Communication How are media and communications technology re-shaping politics?  From a global comparative perspective—ranging from the United States to Asia—this course will survey the historical development of communications, the role of media in shaping public opinion and behavior, the impact of new media, and the rise of transnational satellite TV.  Conceptually, the course will assess the importance of communications for understanding authoritarianism, democracy, and foreign policy.  We will develop general comparative frameworks for understanding the growing importance of communications in the information age, while clarifying the limitations of media for shaping polities.

Contentious Politics in Asia In this course we will compare protest, social mobilization, and contentious politics across Asia.  While some have argued that "Asian values" cause harmonious and stable political systems, we will start from the premise that contentious politics in the region reflect the same dynamics seen elsewhere throughout history.  However, as with all countries, the specific institutional and cultural context often shapes particular forms of contention.  Empirically, we will focus on key regions including East and Southeast Asia as well as the domestic and international dimensions of activism.

Globalization, Terrorism, and Global Insurgency How does globalization change the nature of terrorism and create a global security environment characterized by a series of hybrid asymmetric threats? What are the connections between organizations, conflict regions, and the developed world? This course will focus on at least four modules that link aspects of globalization to global counterterrorism, counterinsurgency, and counterproliferation policy: 1) migration, immigration, and the movement of people, 2) illicit international markets and financing, 3) global communications, and 4) the connections between international relations, foreign-policy, and political violence worldwide. Skill development will focus on policy evaluation and analysis, oral briefings, collaborative project management, and collaborative policy strategy papers.

Water Conflict in Vietnam and Thailand Students will research water conflict between China, Vietnam, and Thailand through extensive field research in both Vietnam and Thailand. Specifically, students will conduct group interviews exploring water politics and conflict transformation comparing the two countries, such as how do they secure Chinese investment but also balance local environmental and water use concerns to avoid conflict over scarce water resources? How do they strike a balance between their economic dependence on China and security dependence on the US? How have the China-led Lancang Mekong Cooperation group (LMC) and the US-led Mekong River Commission (MRC) competed as multilateral institutions governing water politics in the region? How do they strike a policy balance between meeting energy demand and mitigating negative social and environmental impacts of dam-building? How do they coordinate various interests and impacts between the upstream and downstream states through regional institutions? Studying these important questions will help students learn more about water politics in the region as well as tools and methods of conflict transformation, while also deeply immersing themselves in local politics and culture in each country.

Asymmetric Conflict Research Practicum  The prevalence of civil conflict and asymmetric security threats have resulted in the dramatic growth of nontraditional security policy. To what extent have policymakers learned the lessons of the post-9/11 world, and to what extent is the global policy community prepared for the asymmetric, complex, and multifaceted operations that characterize 21st century conflict? Examples will be drawn from around the globe, with comparisons within and across regions, noting their impacts on institutions, policy processes, and human social systems. This course uses ongoing professional research projects on communications and international intervention, as well as Russian and Chinese hybrid warfare policies, as platforms for learning about global counterinsurgency and for students’ training in all phases of research methodology, including fieldwork interviewing techniques.

Orion Lewis

Reviews and ratings for Orion Lewis at Middlebury College.Orion Lewis teaches Political Communication, Contentious Politics in Asia, Globalization Terror, Conflict and more.  Explore top rated instructors and find the best for you.Is Orion Lewis good ? Find out on MiddCourses.

Professor Lewis organizes the course well. You’ll have three take-home exams and two presentations, and everything is clearly laid out. The material is super relevant to what’s happening in the world today, and most lectures are interesting, though a few can feel a little dry. There is not a ton of work outside of class. Overall, I’d definitely recommend this class if you need a poli-sci requirement or if you’re interested in modern global issues.

You do not learn any new material after the third week of class. The professor just repeats himself over and over. The final grade is calculated from quizzes, presentations, and group work simply because the professor doesn't want to deal w grading papers. Easy A

The course material is fascinating. The topics you cover, the themes you discuss, the questions you raise are all paramount to our society. However, professor Lewis made the experience a little more difficult. I felt that his teaching could be a little hard to follow, and he could be frustrating to interact with. He's got good knowledge and does want to share, but I had a difficult time adjusting to his course.