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.

Asymmetric Conflict Research Practicum The prevalence of civil conflict, asymmetric threats, and global counterterrorism have resulted in the dramatic growth of special operations, security cooperation, and peacebuilding in civil conflict environments. To what extent have we learned the lessons of the post 9/11 world, and to what extent is the global policy community prepared for the asymmetric, embedded, and culturally aware operations that characterize 21st century conflict?  Examples will be drawn from around the globe and we will take a comparative approach to conflicts within and across regions, noting their impacts on institutions, policy processes, and human social systems.  This course uses the ongoing development of the Special Operations Research Database (SORD) as a platform for learning about global counterterrorism and for students’ training in all phases of research methodology, including fieldwork interviewing techniques.

Political Communication How are media and communications technology re-shaping politics?  From a global comparative perspective—ranging from the United States to the Middle East and 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.

Orion Lewis

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

Very interesting material and intensive research methods approach to Asian politics. Weekly readings and lectures are manageable but the final project will take up a lot of your time at the end of the semester. 

I personally felt like Professor Lewis made no effort to get to know his students, even in such a small class. He repeatedly got my name wrong and at time would repeatedly not call on me in discussion even though participation was a heavy part of our grade. He was an easy enough grader for the projects, but I would not ever take a class with him again. I felt like his lecturing was not engaging and often just repeated from the readings or previous lectures. 

Lewis is an extremely accommodating professor who wants his students to succeed. He is usually available for office hours to help develop your final project and usually leads his classes like grad level classes - very much at your own pace and schedule as long as the final gets done.