Finance and Politics

Finance has a key role in the economy as well as the wellbeing of society and nature. This becomes especially clear with climate and biodiversity crises. At the same time, finance is politics and financial operations in the social and natural systems are a deeply political process determined by structures and struggles of power. What is the current state of global financial affairs? What is the role of markets vs. the state? What are the different worldviews with which we can approach this situation? What is the role of the emerging economies of the Global South?

This interdisciplinary course aims to enable students to orientate themselves in the current global affairs and be able to think about them critically. For this purpose we would go through the following topics (the outline might change):

1. Global finance and politics: state of affairs, key topics, actors and mechanisms
2. Markets vs. state: worldviews and trends
3. Global North vs. Global South
4. Case study #1: Sustainable finance in the EU
5. Case study #2: Market financing of forests in Kenya, Brazil and Thailand

Prior knowledge of finance and/or politics is an advantage but not a prerequisite for this course.

David Němeček

David studied corporate finance, international relations and political ecology in Prague and London where he is currently living. During his studies, he had a chance to explore a wide variety of topics and perspectives, which helped him build up an interdisciplinary understanding of global issues. David worked in various advocacy and research projects focused on topics of human rights, environment and development. He visited and worked in vulnerable communities and ecosystems of Mexico, Cuba and Peru. At the moment, David works as an independent researcher and consultant and as a senior associate in sustainable finance at the global climate policy think tank E3G. Beside that, David is co-leading a business in direct trade with coffee from Colombian indigenous communities. He speaks Czech, English and Spanish, struggles to find time for French, is fascinated by forest ecosystems, and is a Goju Ryu karateka.

Session D

AI in Particle Physics

Oliver Matonoha

Biodiversity

Samuel Paulini

Climate Crisis: Challenges and Solutions

Beniamin Strzelecki

Finance and Politics

David Němeček

History

Emma Nabi-Bourgois

International Investment Law

Maroš Hodor

Medicine and science

Veronika Holubová

Moral Philosophy

Mojmir Stehlik

Neuroscience of Stress and Neurodiversity

Liza Mrackova

Rapid Prototyping & Human Centered Design

Jakub Zálešák

Sleep course 101

Monika Václavková

Sociology of Gender and Masculinities

Ecem Nazlı Üçok

Sound, music and science

Sol Johansen

The Art of Resistance

Morena Pedriali

Visit your inner world

Petro Rusanienko