INTRODUCTORY COURSES
3. The American Political System
08F, 09W: 10 09F: 2A 10W, 10S: 10
An examination of the American political process as manifested in voting behavior, parties and their nominating conventions, interest groups, the Presidency, Congress, and the Judiciary. Special emphasis is placed on providing the student with a theoretical framework for evaluating the system including discussions of decision-making, bargaining, and democratic control. Dist: SOC; WCult: W. Winters, Fowler, D. Brooks.
4. Comparative Politics
08F: 10 09W: 11 09S, 09F: 10 10W: 11 10S: 10, 10A
This course will introduce students to the field of comparative government and politics through an examination of selected political systems. Special attention will be given to analytic techniques involved in the study of the field and to certain basic concepts, such as power and political culture, decision-making, and communications. Dist: SOC or INT. Carey, Sa’adah, Baldez, Vandewalle, Dimirtov.
5. International Politics
08F: 10A, 11, 12 09W: 10, 11 09S: 10A, 2A
09F: 10A 10W: 10A, 10, 11 10S: 2A
This course introduces the systematic analysis of international society, the factors that motivate foreign policies, and instruments used in the conduct of international relations. Particular attention is given to power and economic relations; to cultural differences that may inhibit mutual understanding or lead to conflict; to nationalism and other ideologies; to the requisites and limits of cooperation; and to the historical structuring and functioning of international institutions. Dist: SOC or INT. Lind, Coggins, Valentino, Kang, S. Brooks, W Wohlforth.
6. Political Ideas
08F, 09W: 11 09S: 10A 09F: 11 10W, 10S: 10
This course introduces student to political theory by reading and discussing classic works. We will discuss the meaning and significance of law, justice, virtue, power, equality, freedom and property. Readings may include: Plato, Aristotle, Augustine, Aquinas, Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Burke, Kant, Hegel, Tocqueville, Mill, Marx and Nietzsche. Dist: TMV. Murphy, Clarke, Kasfir, Swaine.
7. First-Year Seminars in Government
Consult special listings
POLITICAL ANALYSIS
10. Quantitative Political Analysis
09W: 10 09S, 09X: 11 09F: 10A 10W, 10S: 10
This course will provide students with useful tools for undertaking empirical research in political science and will help them to become informed consumers of quantitative political analysis. The course will first consider the general theoretical concepts underlying empirical research, including the nature of causality, the structure and content of theories, and the formulation and testing of competing hypotheses. The course will then employ these concepts to develop several quantitative approaches to political analysis. Students will be introduced to two statistical methods frequently used by political scientists, contingency tables and linear regression. By learning to systematically analyze political data, students will gain the ability to better conduct and evaluate empirical research in both its quantitative and qualitative forms. Because of the large overlap in material covered, no student may receive credit for more than one of the courses Government 10, Economics 10, Mathematics 10, Psychology 10, Social Sciences 10, Mathematics and Social Sciences 15 or 45, or Sociology 10 except by special petition. Dist: QDS. Bafumi, Herron.
18. The Theory of Choice and Introductory Political Game Theory
09W, 10W: 11
Game theory is used to study how individuals or organizations interact strategically, and this course introduces game theory with a focus on political science applications. Insights from game theory are essential to understanding many facets of politics, such as international relations and political party competition. Among other topics the course will cover Nash equilibria, normal and extensive form games, and the basics of repeated games. The course will also focus on how simple games, like the prisoner’s dilemma and chicken, can be used to understand patterns of human and organizational behavior. Dist: QDS. Herron.
19. Topics in Political Analysis
08F: 2A 09W, 10W: 12
This course will enable regular or visiting faculty members to examine political topics not treated in the established curriculum. Subjects may therefore vary each time the course is offered. Dist: Varies.
In 08F at 2A, Research Design and Qualitative Analysis. This course surveys qualitative methods and research design. First, it introduces qualitative methods’ tools, techniques, strengths and limitations. It then explores the craft of research design and effective communication. Unlike traditional political analysis courses, this class is a practicum for those actively engaged in research. It is ideal for individuals contemplating a thesis or independent study because students concentrate on one topic throughout the term. However, it will benefit anyone interested in political science research. Coggins.
In 09W, 10W at 12, Advanced Political Analysis (formerly Advanced Statistical Methods for Political Research). This course introduces mathematical and statistical models in the social sciences beyond the level of bivariate regression. Topics to be covered include multivariate regression, selection bias, discrete choice, maximum likelihood models, multi-level modeling, and experiments. We will use these models to study voter turnout, elections, bargaining in legislatures, public opinion, political tolerance, the causes and duration of wars, gender bias in employment, educational testing, poverty and income, and a host of other topics. Students will write a paper of original research using some of the methods covered in class. Prerequisite: Government 10, Economics 10, Geography 10, Mathematics 10, Psychology 10, Social Sciences 10, or equivalent Dist: QDS Lacy.
COMPARATIVE POLITICS: ISSUES
20. Topics in Comparative Politics
08F, 09X: 11 10W: 10A
This course will enable regular or visiting faculty members to examine topics in Comparative Politics not treated in the established curriculum. Subjects may therefore vary each time the course is offered. Dist: Varies.
In 08F, 09X, Development in Emerging Economies. Countries in developing regions of the world face a number of unique challenges within a globalized economy as their financial and trade links become ever closely intertwined with those of powerful, developed countries that dominate international economic institutions. Drawing on a wide range of case studies, this course investigates some of these new developments in the world economy. What strategies can developing countries adapt in order to develop most efficiently in a global market-oriented economy? How can a country maximize its chances for economic success, and what precisely is the role of international financial and trade institutions in their development? Readings in this course range from theoretical academic writings on development strategies to policy pieces written by local practitioners and by those working for international financial and trade institutions. Dist. SOC or INT; WCult: NW. Vandewalle.
In 10W, Elections and Reform. This course examines the problem of how politicians and policies are selected by citizens. Politicians fight tenaciously to shape the rules under which they compete because how elections are conducted has enormous impact on what sorts of choices voters are offered, what sorts of coalitions politicians form, and whose interests get represented. This course investigates what rules matter, and why. It draws from a broad array of cases to illustrate the most important issues at stake in current electoral reforms around the world, and here in the United States. Dist: SOC; WCult: W. Carey.
Not offered in 2008-2009 may be offered in 2009-2010, The Rise of China. In this course, we will examine three facets of China’s rise: economic, military, and cultural. We will analyze the reasons for China’s remarkable economic growth after 1978 and examine the multiple challenges that make the sustainability of this growth questionable. Then we will turn to China’s military modernization and ending by examining China’s attempt to build soft power through cultural diplomacy. This course, will give students a more balanced view of the dangers and opportunities that China’s rise affords for the future of international relations. Dist: SOC; WCult: NW. Dimitrov.
25. Problems of Political Development: India, South Africa and China
09S, 10S: 2
Is democratic government always better than the alternatives? In the contemporary world, what is the relationship between economic development, democratic politics, and political order? What kinds of justice does democracy promote? This course will address these questions by examining institutional arrangements, elite politics, and popular movements in India, South Africa, and China.
Prerequisite: Government 4. Dist: SOC or INT; WCult: NW. Sa’adah.
AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
30. Topics in American Government
08F: 12 09F: 12, 10A
This course will enable regular or visiting faculty members to examine topics in American Government not treated in the established curriculum. Subjects may therefore vary each time the course is offered. Dist: Varies.
In 08F and 09F at 12, American Elections and Voting Behavior. This course will introduce students to the study of elections and voting behavior. Topics to be covered include partisanship in the electorate, voter turnout, nomination rules and procedures, campaign organization and strategy, and the effects of campaigns on voters. Although we will focus on the United States, throughout the course comparisons will be made with other industrialized democracies in order to better understand the peculiar features of elections in the U.S. The course will also provide a non-technical introduction to some of the methods used by political scientists to study public opinion, elections and voting behavior. Because of the timing of the course, special attention will be paid to the results of the 2004 presidential and congressional elections and the outlook for the 2006 midterm elections. Dist: SOC; WCult: W. Lacy.
In 09F at 10A, Gender and American Politics. D. Brooks.
31. Campaigns and Elections
Not offered in 2008–2009; may be offered in 2009–2010
This course examines two major areas of American politics: the behavior of voters in elections and the behavior of candidates in campaigns. The first few weeks of the course focus on the fundamental questions of voting behavior. Why do people vote in elections? Does Party affiliation mean anything to voters? Do issues matter in elections? Do candidate traits make a difference to voters? Which of these things matters most? Finally, do campaigns matter to election outcomes? This question motivates the second portion of the course. Campaign institutions such as debates, advertisements, media coverage, polls, nominations, voting rules, and financing are discussed. Potential reforms are debated.
Prerequisite: Government 3 or permission of the instructor. Dist: SOC; WCult: W. Bafumi, Fowler.
32. American State Politics
Not offered in 2008–2009; may be offered in 2009–2010
A study of the American federal system of government in which authority is distributed between the national and state governments. Readings, lectures, and discussions will focus specifically on likely explanations of the origins, maintenance, and/or changes in public policies in the states. Specific topics include the original and changing federal relationship, cooperative, competitive, and ‘free rider’ relationships among the states, public policy preferences of the public in the states, and similarities and differences among major political institutions in the states.
Prerequisite: Government 3, or permission of the instructor. Dist: SOC; WCult: W. Winters.
34. Congress and the American Political System
Not offered in 2008–2009; may be offered in 2009–2010
This course introduces students to the analysis of public policymaking in the U.S. Congress. Special attention is paid to the evolution of the House and Senate as institutions, to elections and to the interactions among elections, institutional arrangements, and policymaking.
Prerequisite: Government 3, or permission of the instructor. Dist: SOC; WCult: W. Fowler.
36. The Making of American Public Policy
08F, 09F: 10A
This course examines the process through which public policy is made in the United States. Topics covered include the nature and goals of public policy, the various stages of the policy process, and the different models of and factors involved in policy making. The course seeks to explain why policy making in the U.S. is mostly ‘incremental’ in character, i.e., involves only marginal departures from the status quo. The course also explores the conditions under which non-incremental change is feasible or even likely.
Prerequisite: Government 3, or permission of the instructor. Dist: SOC; WCult: W. Fowler.
37. Public Opinion
Not offered in 2008–2009; may be offered in 2009–2010
This course examines the connection between public opinion and political behavior, primarily in the contemporary American setting. The first part of the course focuses on the nature and origins of public opinion. The second part explores the links between public opinion and political behavior with particular attention paid to election outcomes, policy making, and issues of tolerance.
Prerequisite: Government 3 or permission of the instructor: Dist: SOC; WCult: W. D. Brooks.
38. Government and Business
09W: 11
A study of the interrelationship of government and business, analyzing governmental assistance to, and regulation of, business. Readings and discussion will focus on the economic and political forces which shape governmental assistance and regulation, and the consequences of assistance and regulation on business activities and the attitudes and beliefs of business leaders. Specific topics examined will be the political business cycle, economic and political theories of regulation, inter-state mobility of business, and the influence of business in shaping American public policy.
Prerequisite: Government 3, or permission of the instructor. Dist: SOC; WCult: W. Winters.
COMPARATIVE POLITICS: AREAS
40. Topics in Area Politics
08F: 12 09F: 10A 10W: 2A
This course will enable regular or visiting faculty members to examine topics in Regional Politics not treated in the established curriculum. Subjects may therefore vary each time the course is offered. Dist: Varies.
In 08F, Political Economy of the Arab Gulf States. For decades the Arab Gulf states—Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait—were viewed both economically and politically as anomalies, utterly dependent on world oil markets for their development, conservative if not backward, and marked by highly authoritarian regimes. However, the creation within the region of the Gulf Cooperation Council as an economic bloc, and the emergence of Dubai as a post-oil financial and commercial center for the region, are clear indicators of the changing economic (and perhaps political) fortunes of the local countries. Vandewalle.
In 09F and 10W, Chinese Politics: The Reform Period. The conventional wisdom on China’s post-1978 experience holds that the government has encouraged economic reform without allowing for political opening up. In this course, we will explore whether this view accurately captures the essence of China’s reform period. We will first examine the successes and failures of the economic reforms, paying attention to the gap between the rich coastal provinces and the poor hinterlands. We will then focus on the political reforms undertaken in China since 1978. In particular, we will examine such harbingers of change as the introduction of village elections, the growing role of the courts, the rise of associational activity, the nature of the Chinese press, and the role of intellectuals. We will also focus on certain problems, such as the spread of corruption, the treatment of ethnic minorities, and limits to religious freedom. By the end of the course, we will have a good sense of China’s progress during the reform era, as well as an appreciation of the remaining problems. Dist: SOC; WCult: NW. Dimitrov.
41. European Politics
09S, 10S: 11
An intensive study of the political development, institutions, and behavior of selected West European countries. Special attention will be paid to the problems of political change and to present trends in the study of comparative politics.
Prerequisite Government 4, or permission of the instructor. Dist: SOC or INT; WCult: W. Sa’adah.
44. Politics and Political Economies in Africa (Identical to African and African American Studies 47)
09S: 2A
This course contrasts the most important approaches to development in Africa as they are used to explain the structure of political economy and politics in specific African countries. Special attention is paid to the consequences of external agencies, including external relations with industrialized countries and the World Bank, and the internal relations based on the interaction of the African state, ethnicity, patronage, class and local capitalism. Selected countries will be analyzed in detail.
Prerequisite Government 4, or permission of the instructor. Dist: SOC or INT; WCult: NW. Kasfir.
46. Politics of the Middle East and North Africa
09X: 10
This course will introduce students to the politics of the Middle East and North Africa. It will systematically compare the process of state formation of different types of regimes in selected countries of the region following the break-up of the Ottoman Empire.
Prerequisite: Government 4, or permission of the instructor. Dist: SOC or INT; WCult: NW. Vandewalle.
47. The Arab-Israeli Conflict (formerly 14) (Comparative Politics or International Relations)
09W, 09F: 2
For the better part of a century, the conflict over Palestine has defied resolution. The tensions and instability it has generated have profoundly affected—and been affected by—both international relations and the domestic politics of a wide range of countries. This course examines the changing external and local forces that have shaped the confrontation. Using primary as well as secondary sources, we will try to understand how the various parties to the conflict have defined its stakes, understood their interests, viewed their adversaries, mobilized support, and formulated policy. We will consider grassroots politics as well as elite calculations. We will look at the role played by ideas, institutions, material interests, and leadership, at both the regional and the broader international levels. We will end by assessing the current prospects for a settlement. Dist: INT; WCult: NW. Sa’adah.
48. Politics of the Korean Peninsula
09W: 10 10S: 11
The Korean peninsula has had geographic importance for politics in Northeast Asia for thousands of years. Because of Korea’s location between Japan and China, its domestic politics and international politics have been thoroughly intertwined. This course will present an analytic overview of the politics of both North and South Korea. Topics to be covered include the historical development of Korean politics, domestic politics in South Korea since 1948, North Korean politics and nuclear threat, and the foreign relations of and between North and South Korea.
Prerequisite: Government 4 or permission of the instructor. Dist: SOC or INT; WCult: NW. Kang.
49.01 Latin American Politics and Government
09W: 10A
This course is an introduction to the political development and the current context of politics in Latin America. It combines material on historical and theoretical topics with material on the current politics of specific countries, particularly in the Andean region, which has experienced particularly turbulent politics in recent years. The central theme of the course is to evaluate the performance and stability of democracy in Latin America. We consider the impact of political culture, economic development, representative institutions, and the legacies of authoritarian and revolutionary regimes on the contemporary politics of the region.
Dist: SOC or INT; WCult: NW. Carey.
49.02 State and Society in Latin America (Identical to Latin American and Caribbean Studies 32)
Not offered in 2008–2009; may be offered in 2009–2010
This class provides an introduction to the political and economic development of Latin America in the latter half of the 20th century. We will focus on only six of the countries in this vast and diverse region: Argentina, Chile, Cuba, El Salvador, Colombia and Mexico. Our analysis will emphasize the following themes: political systems and regime change; economic strategy; U.S. foreign policy; social movements and revolution; democratization; identity politics; and human rights. Dist: SOC; WCult: NW. Baldez.
49.03 Latin American Politics: Cuba (Identical to Latin American and Caribbean Studies 33)
Not offered in 2008–2009; may be offered in 2009–2010
As one of the world’s few remaining socialist regimes, Cuba is unique. But Cuba is also subject to many of the forces that have shaped other countries in Latin America and the third world: a heritage of Spanish colonialism and slavery, a geography that contains a limited array of natural resources and a system of government that has evolved under the constant shadow of the United States. This course examines the politics and culture of Cuba in the 20th and early 21st centuries in order to understand Latin American politics-and politics more generally. Dist. SOC or INT. Baldez
49.04 Gender Politics in Latin America (Identical to Latin American and Caribbean Studies 52 and Women’s and Gender Studies 31)
10W: 10
The seminar will introduce students to recent scholarship on gender politics in Latin America in the 20th century, a field of study that has exploded in the past two decades. The goal of the seminar is to understand the ways in gender affects politics, and vice-versa. What does it mean to use gender as a category of analysis in political science? How do norms about masculinity and femininity shape public policy, legislative behavior and foreign relations? Under what conditions will people mobilize on the basis of their gender identity or sexual orientation? Readings will focus on a range of countries throughout the region. Dist: SOC; WCult: NW. Baldez.
49.05 Protest and Parties in Latin America (Identical to Latin American and Caribbean Studies 53)
09W: 2A
This course will examine the conditions that prompt people organize on behalf of their collective interests, how those movements evolve, and under what conditions efforts to mobilize will succeed. We compare protests, revolutionary movements, social movements, political parties and other forms of political action in various countries throughout the region. Dist: SOC or INT. WCult: NW. Baldez.
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
50. Topics in International Relations
09W: 2 09S: 2A, 10A 10W: 10A, 10 10S: 11, 2A
This course will enable regular or visiting faculty members to examine topics in International Relations not treated in the established curriculum. Subjects may therefore vary each time the course is offered. Dist: Varies.
In 09W at 2 and 10W at 10A, What’s So Civil about War Anyway? Civil wars are far more common in the contemporary world than international wars. They tend to affect more people, go on for longer, and destroy more property. Yet most of our theory and expertise on war derives from experiences of international war. Are the two types of conflict essentially similar? What’s so civil about civil war? Are civil wars simply international wars played out within borders? Or might the causes, dynamics, and consequences of civil war differ fundamentally from those of inter-state war? Finally, what role do international politics play in civil war (and vice versa)? In this course, we will compare and contrast civil and international war placing special emphasis on modern cases of civil war, its international dimensions and potential strategies for conflict resolution. Topics addressed will include intervention, ethnic conflict, guerilla war and non-state actors. Dist: SOC or INT. Coggins.
In 09S and 10S at 2A, Nuclear Weapons: Physical and Strategic Effects. This course examines the effects of nuclear weapons on the conduct of international politics. It begins by examining the physical properties of nuclear weapons, and then uses evidence from the Cold War to address the following questions: Why did the United States and Soviet Union build such large nuclear arsenals? What did they plan to do with these weapons? How did nuclear weapons fit into U.S. and Soviet military strategy at various phases of the Cold War? The course uses evidence from the Cold War to evaluate theories of nuclear deterrence and the so-called “nuclear peace.” The last section of the course focuses on current issues relating to nuclear weapons: the spread of nuclear weapons in the developing world, the dangers of nuclear terrorism, the potential for effective missile defenses, and the changing strategic nuclear balance of power. Dist: SOC or INT. Press.
In 09S at 10A and 10S at 11, War and Peace in the Modern Age (Identical to Social Sciences 1 and War and Peace Studies 1). This course is designed to acquaint students with the fundamentals of war and peace; that is, with the political uses of military power and the respective roles of military and civilian leaders in formulating and implementing foreign policy. We will also investigate how war affects civil society’s social movements and how the characteristics of states’ domestic politics arrangements affect or constrain the ways that leaders choose to execute their most preferred strategies. Finally, we will also try to come to an understanding of what war is actually like for those, both combatant and non-combatant, that must participate in war on a daily basis. Dist: SOC. Press.
In 10W at 10, International Relations of East Asia. The international relations of Asia are a major concern of the United States. In the past few years, there has been increasing concern about the threat North Korea may pose to the security of the United States. The past decade has seen China emerge as a potential economic, political, and military superpower, that some view as a potential rival to the U.S. Japan’s economy, although experiencing difficulties, remains the world’s second largest and most technologically advanced. What happens in Asia has a direct and important impact on the U.S.? How do we understand the international relations of these countries? What are the issues, and consequences? In answering these questions, we will view the international relations of Asia from historical and theoretical viewpoints. I assume that students are familiar with the basic tools of international relations theory, including realism, liberalism, and institutionalism. In addition I assume prior coursework in international relations. I do not assume extensive knowledge of Asia. Government 5 is recommended but not required. Dist: SOC or INT; WCult: NW. Lind, Kang.
51. International Law
09W, 10W: 2
An introduction to international law, with particular emphasis on law that attempts to govern the use of force by states. Materials include the United Nations Charter and other multilateral treaties, decisions of the International Court of Justice, and commentary by scholars. Dist: INT. W. Wohlforth.
52. Russian Foreign Policy
Not offered in 2008–2009; may be offered in 2009–2010
This course is a survey of Russia’s relations with the world, and particularly with Europe and the United States, from the Revolution through the Soviet period to the present. Special emphasis will be placed on the politics of the national security process in the USSR and Russia. Although intended as an overview of Russian foreign policy, the course gives primary attention to three areas: the origins and nature of Soviet-American competition; Russia’s political and military relationship with the West; and the future development of Russian-American relations.
Prerequisite: Government 4 or 5; Government 42 is recommended. Open only to sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Dist: SOC or INT; WCult: W. W. Wohlforth.
53. International Security
08F, 09F: 10A
This course will focus on military strategy in the post-cold war world. The course will cover deterrence theory, crisis stability, nuclear strategy, and the political uses of military coercion. Other topics may include the obsolescence of major war, collective security, nuclear proliferation, and escalation of regional wars.
Prerequisite: Government 5 or permission of instructor. Dist: SOC or INT. Press.
54. United States Foreign Policy
08F: 11 09W, 10W: 10
An inquiry into relationships between the social structure and ideological tradition of the United States and its conduct in world affairs. Attention is given to the substance of American foreign and military policy; to the roles of the White House, State Department, CIA, the military, Congress, private elites, and mass opinion; and to foreign policy impacts on domestic life.
Prerequisite: Government 5 or permission of the instructor. Dist: SOC; WCult: W. Mastanduno, Strathman.
56. International Relations Theory
09S, 10W: 10A
Is war unavoidable? Or is most violent conflict unnecessary and preventable? How should statesmen best protect the interests and physical security of their countrymen? Do they meet that standard, or fall short? Can a people ever be truly safe? Or is the international environment inherently uncertain? Which peoples ought to live together? Or are identities dynamic? These are the enduring questions of international politics. Perhaps not surprisingly, theorists come to different conclusions. This course explores a wide variety of international relations theories and evaluates their implications for real world politics. Realism, Liberalism, Constructivism, and other major strands of IR theory will be discussed as will American hegemony, international laws and norms and grand strategy.
Prerequisite: Government 5, or permission of the instructor. Dist: SOC or INT. Lebow
58. International Political Economy
08F: 10A 10W: 2A
The political aspects of international and transnational economic relations will be examined. Topics will include economic imperialism, politico-economic dependence and interdependence, economic instruments of statecraft, the role of economic factors in foreign policy making, economic causes of international conflict, economic determinants of national power, the politics of international economic organizations, and the role of multinational corporations in world politics.
Prerequisite: Government 5 and Economics 29 or 64, or permission of the instructor. Dist: SOC or INT. S. Brooks.
59. Foreign Policy and Decision Making
08F, 09F: 2A
The objectives of this course are to introduce the most influential theoretical approaches to the study of strategic decision-making in political science and to apply and evaluate these approaches in a series of historical and contemporary case studies of foreign policy. These immediate objectives serve a larger purpose: to make you a better strategist and more sophisticated analyst of foreign policy. The empirical focus of the course is on states and their problems, but its basic precepts are applicable to other domains as well. Each of the decision-making theories we study represents a venerable tradition of social science scholarship. Mastering them can contribute to the acquisition of extremely useful analytical and critical skills. The first four sections of the course introduce the four most basic models of strategic decision-making and explore them in selected case studies. The last section provides an opportunity to integrate the different models in a series of case studies and simulations exercises involving the foreign policies of major powers.
Dist: INT or SOC. Strathman.
POLITICAL THEORY AND PUBLIC LAW
60. Topics in Political Theory or Public Law
09W: 10A, 12 09S: 10A, 2A 09F: 10, 2, 2A 10W: 10A 10S: 10A
This course will enable regular or visiting faculty members to examine topics in Political Theory or Public Law not treated in the established curriculum. Subjects may therefore vary each time the course is offered. Dist: Varies.
In 09W and 10S at 10A. Democratic Theory. Can we defend the value of democracy against serious and thoughtful criticism? Using a combination of classic and contemporary texts, this course encourages students to think rigorously about one of their most basic political values. It examines the origins of democratic theory in ancient Athenian political practice and the normative and practical criticisms of more contemporary thinkers. What makes politics “democratic?” What features distinguish the democratic regime from other regimes? What is democracy supposed to reflect or achieve? And what kinds of concerns about democracy did ancient philosophers like Plato and Aristotle raise? How (and why) did early modern and Enlightenment thinkers relocate the grounds for preferring democracy to other regimes? Clarke.
In 09W and 09F at 12, Indigenous Nationalism: Native Rights and Sovereignty (Identical to Native American Studies 36). This course focuses on the legal and political relationship between the indigenous peoples of Canada, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand and their respective colonial governments. Students will examine contemporary indigenous demands for self-government, especially territorial claims, within the context of the legislative and political practices of their colonial governments. The course will begin with an examination of the notion of Aboriginal self-government in Canada and develop it in light of the policy recommendations found in the recent report of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples (1996). Using the Canadian experience as a benchmark, students will then compare these developments to indigenous peoples’ experiences in the United States, Australia and New Zealand. An important theme of the course will be to develop an international approach to the issue of indigenous rights and to explore how colonial governments are responding to indigenous demands for justice. Not open to first-year students without permission of instructor. Dist: SOC or INT; WCult: NW. Turner.
In 09S, 10W at 10A, Immigration, Asylum and Politics. This course examines the topic of immigration and asylum from a political, social, legal and public policy perspective. As a nation of immigrants, much of our self-identity is bound up in the idea that we are forever the “unfinished” nation. What does this mean? How are our views and policies on immigration different from those of other nations with different identities and histories? How do we address the problems of security and the need (both in law and philosophy) to provide a safe haven to those who seek asylum from persecution elsewhere? Bohmer.
In 09S at 2A, Machiavelli and Machiavellianism. Machiavelli is famous for instructing princes about the need to be deceitful, unscrupulous, manipulative, and even cruel if they want to maintain their power, so much so that his name has become synonymous with that teaching. Why did Machiavelli teach this lesson given his apparent preference for free republics? What, if anything, is philosophically interesting about the Prince, which appears at first glance to be merely a technical manual? Is there any merit to the claim that Machiavelli’s recommendations signal a transition to distinctively modern ways of thinking about politics? Dist; TMV, WCult: W. Clarke.
In 09F at 2A. Theorizing Free Speech. The First Amendment of the United States Constitution reads in part: “Congress shall make no law. . . abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press...or the right of the people to peacefully assemble.” This course examines the philosophical and constitutional issues regarding the First Amendment’s speech, press, and association clauses. Readings draw from Supreme Court cases and secondary sources. Areas covered include: philosophical foundations of free speech, compelled speech, defamation, hate speech, expressive discrimination, obscenity and pornography. Recommended background: A course in law and/or political theory. Dist: SOC; WCult: W. Bedi.
In 09F at 10, Ethics and Public Policy (Identical to Public Policy 83.2). This course examines the nature and validity of arguments about vexing moral issues in public policy. Students examine a number of basic moral controversies in public life, focusing on different frameworks for thinking about justice and he ends of politics. The primary aim of the course is to provide each student with an opportunity to develop his/her ability to think in sophisticated ways about morally difficult policy issues. Amount the questions students address will be the following: Are policies that permit torture justifiable under any circumstances? Do people have basic moral claims to unequal economic holdings and rewards, or should economic distribution be patterned for the sake of social justice? Should people be permitted to move freely between countries? Is abortion wrong, in theory or in practice, and in what ways should it be restricted? Dist: TMV; WCult: W. Swaine
In 09F at 2, Liberalism and Its Critics. Liberal political theory is renowned for its emphasis on rights, freedoms, and limited government; but critics of liberalism hold that the liberal legacy in free societies is one of misguided energies and broken promises. Students in this course chart the development of liberal thought from the Seventeenth Century to the present, with a view to considering the central values and commitments liberals may share, and examining important contemporary work in liberal theory. The course integrates weighty challenges to the moral and political viability of liberalism, from communitarian, conservative, libertarian, and postmodern critics. Government 6 recommended. Dist: TMV. Swaine.
61. Jurisprudence
10S: 11
Jurisprudence is the theory of law—not of a particular body of laws but of law in general. In this course, we explore a variety of approaches to some of the fundamental questions in jurisprudence: Are laws rooted in human nature, in social customs, or in the will of the sovereign authority? How are laws made, interpreted, and enforced? Can morality be legislated? Readings and lectures will draw on both philosophical arguments and legal case-studies to explore these and other questions. Dist: TMV. Murphy.
63. Origins of Political Thought: Render unto God or unto Caesar?
09S: 12
The perennial questions of political thought include: who should rule? and what is justice? The ancient world provides two radically different answers to these questions—that of classical philosophy (represented here by Aristotle) and that of the Bible. After contrasting these two ancient perspectives, we then turn to the medieval attempts (by St. Augustine and by St. Thomas Aquinas) to synthesize Greek philosophy and Biblical faith. What is the relation of divine law to human law? What do we owe to God and what to Caesar? Is justice based on human reason or on faith in God?
Prerequisite: Government 6, or course work in ancient Greek philosophy. Dist: TMV. Murphy.
64. Modern Political Thought
Not offered in 2008–2009; may be offered in 2009–2010
This course complements Government 63, presenting the major themes in Western political philosophy from the Reformation to the twentieth century. The natural right tradition, which has served as the basis of liberal democracy, will be examined at its origin (Hobbes’ Leviathan) along with Rousseau’s revision and criticism of classical liberalism (First and Second Discourses, Social Contract). Then the historicist tradition—the major alternative which has dominated European thought since the French Revolution—will be studied first in Hegel’s Philosophy of Right, then in Marx’s transformation of the Hegelian dialectic (Critique of Hegelian Philosophy of Right, 1844 M.S.S., and German Ideology). As in Government 63, lecture-discussions will focus closely on the texts of the four philosophers being studied while relating them to the development of modern political thought and contemporary social science.
While Government 63 and 64 form a sequence, either may be taken separately. Dist: TMV. Swaine, Turner.
66. Constitutional Law, Development, and Theory
09F: 10A
This course covers some of the main themes of the American Constitution with a particular emphasis on constitutional history, structure, interpretation, development and theory. Areas covered include: federalism, separation of powers, judicial review, slavery and Reconstruction.
Open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Dist: SOC; WCult: W. Bedi.
67. Civil Liberties Legal and Normative Approaches
08F, 09F, 10S: 2A
This course examines the normative and constitutional (textual) bases for protecting certain civil liberties or rights in the United States. The aim is not only to learn the constitutional language of civil liberties but also to think critically about it. Areas covered include: property, race, sex, abortion, religious and cultural rights, sexual freedom and “alternative” marriage, and animal rights. Open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors. WCult: W. Bedi.
68. Gender and Law (Identical to Women’s and Gender Studies 32)
09S: 2A
This course examines how gender and law in the United States are used to confer rights, create obligations, and define identities. We explore the theoretical, historical, and empirical basis for gender in law, and pay particular attention to how and when gender-based laws have changed over time. Specific topics covered include, for example, federal legislation on educational and workplace equity, constitutional doctrines of equality and privacy, and state policies on family law, criminal responsibility, and domestic violence. We analyze the relationship between gender politics, legal theory, legal doctrine, and social policy. We also ask whether the gender of legal actors (litigants, lawyers, judges) makes a difference in their reasoning or decision-making.
Prerequisite: Government 3 or a law course strongly recommended. Dist: SOC; W Cult: W. Bohmer.
69. Native Americans and the Law (Identical to Native American Studies 50)
09S: 10A
This course will focus on the constitutional, statutory and jurisprudential rules of law that make up the field of Federal Indian Law. Attention will be given to the historical framework from which the rules were derived. After tracing the development of the underlying legal doctrines that are prominent today, the course will turn to a consideration of subject-specified areas of Indian law, including hunting and fishing rights, water rights, and preservation of religious and cultural rights. Dist: SOC; WCult: NW. Duthu.
ADVANCED COURSES
80. Readings in Government
All terms: Arrange
Independent work under the direction of a member of the Department. Open to honors students and to other qualified students. Those interested should discuss their plans with a prospective faculty advisor and must submit written statements of their proposed work to the departmental office before electing the course.
81-87. Seminars in Government
The following seminars will be offered in 2008-2010. Seminars are numbered according to Department subfield: 83 for seminars in American Government, 84 for Comparative Politics, 85 for International Relations, and 86 for Political Theory and Public Law. Seminars that may count in either of two subfields, or which come from outside the Department, are numbered 81. For details concerning individual seminars and their prerequisites consult the Department. Please check the Department website at http://www.dartmouth.edu/~govt/ for further information. Dist: Varies.
81.03 10W: 10
Economic Growth and Reform in the Emerging Economies. (Comparative or International Relations) Dist: SOC or INT; WCult: NW. Vandewalle.
81.04 09S, 10W: 2A (Identical to Public Policy 81.2)
Lawyers and Public Policy (American or Theory/Law subfield). Dist: SOC; WCult: W. Bohmer.
81.21 Not offered in 2008–2009; may be offered in 2009–2010
Democracy in America: Tocqueville and His Critics. (American Politics and Theory/Law) Dist: SOC; WCult: W. Murphy.
81.22 Not offered in 2008–2009; may be offered in 2009–2010
Counterfactuals and International Relations. (American Politics and Theory/Law) Dist: TMV. Lebow.
83.02 08F, 09F: 3A (Identical to Public Policy 81.9)
Politics and Markets. Dist: SOC; WCult: W. Fowler.
83.06 10W, 10S: 3A
Political Communication. Dist: SOC; WCult: W. D. Brooks.
83.16 09S: 2A
Voting Irregularities and Issues in Electoral Reform. Dist: SOC; WCult: W. Herron.
83.17 Not offered in 2008–2009; may be offered in 2009–2010
The American Voter through Time. Bafumi.
83.18 09W, 09S: 3B
Politics and Policy in the American States (a 2-part seminar). Dist: SOC; WCult: W. Winters.
83.19 08F, 09F: 3A
American Political Behavior. Dist: SOC; WCult: W. Lacy.
83.20 09W, 10W: 3A
Law and Political Institutions. Lacy.
84.09 Not offered in 2008–2009; may be offered in 2009–2010
Political Responses to Capitalism. Dist: SOC or INT. Sa’adah.
84.10 09F: 2A
The 1989 Revolution. Dimitrov.
84.11 09S: 2A (Identical to Latin American and Caribbean Studies 77)
Democracy and Accountability in Latin America. Dist: SOC. Carey.
84.15 Not offered in 2008–2009; may be offered in 2009–2010
State-Building, Oil, and Islam in the Arab Gulf States. Vandewalle.
84.17 Not offered in 2008–2009; may be offered in 2009–2010
The Rule of Law. Dist: SOC. Dimitrov.
84.21 10W: 3A
Democracy and Authoritarianism in the Former Soviet Union. Dist: SOC or INT; WCult: W. Dimitrov
84.23 10W: 2A
Politics of Peace in the Middle East. Sa’adah.
85.02 10W: 2A
Leadership and Grand Strategy. Dist: SOC or INT. W. Wohlforth.
85.04 Not offered in 2008–2009; may be offered in 2009–2010
International Relations Theory.
85.12 08F, 09F: 2A
Military Statecraft in International Relations. Dist: SOC or INT. Press.
85.14 Not offered in 2008–2009; may be offered in 2009–2010 (Identical to Public Policy 83.2)
Economics, Security, and U.S. Foreign Policy. Dist: SOC; WCult: W. S. Brooks.
85.15 09S, 10S: 10A
Globalization and the Future of Asia. Dist: SOC or INT; WCult: NW. Kang.
85.16 08F: 10A
The Causes and Prevention of Genocide and Mass Killing. Valentino.
85.19 09W: 3B, 10W: 2A
Secession and State Creation. Dist: INT or SOC. Coggins.
85.20 08F, 09F: 10A
The Psychology of International Relations. Dist: INT or SOC. Strathman.
85.22 09W, 10W: 12
Techniques of Statecraft. Dist: INT or SOC. Strathman.
85.23 08F :2A 09S: 3A 09F: 2A
Unipolarity and US Security. Dist: INT or SOC S. Brooks.
85.24 10W :3A
Psychological Experimentation in International Relations. Lebow.
86.01 09S: 10A
Multiculturalism. Dist: SOC; WCult: CI. Swaine.
86.03 10W: 2
Contemporary Political Thought. Dist: TMV. Swaine.
86.08 Not offered in 2008–2009; may be offered in 2009–2010.
International Relations in Political Theory. Dist: TMV or INT; WCult: W. Murphy.
86.10 09S: 3A
Order and Justice: Greek Perspectives. Dist: TMV. Lebow.
86.15 09S: 2
Tocqueville and His Critics. Dist: TMV; WCult: W. Murphy.
86.16 09S: 10A
Contemporary Aboriginal Politics in Canada. Dist: SOC; WCult: CI. Turner.
86.18 08F, 10S: 3A
Contemporary Readings on Justice. Bedi.
86.19 Not offered in 2008–2009; may be offered in 2009–2010.
Race. Dist: SOC; WCult: W. Bedi.
86.20 09S: 3B
Ideology and Intellectuals. Dist: SOC; WCult: W. Clarke.
86.22 09X: 3B
Rousseau. Clarke.
86.23 10S: 2
The Bible as Political Theory. Murphy.
90. Seminar
08F, 09F: London F.S.P.
Course taught by a member of the faculty of the Department of International Relations of the London School of Economics and Political Science. Dartmouth students attend class with the LSE faculty member. (This course counts as an upper level course and not as a seminar for the major or minor).
91. Seminar
08F, 09F: London F.S.P.
Course taught by a member of the faculty of the Department of International Relations of the London School of Economics and Political Science. Dartmouth students attend class with LSE faculty. (This course counts as an upper level course and not as a seminar for the major or minor).
92. Seminar
08F, 09F: London F.S.P.
Seminar taught by the faculty advisor. (This course counts as a seminar for the major or minor). 08F, Lebow. 09F, Winters.
93. Internship Essays
09S, 10S: Washington D.C. O.C.P.
An internship with a public or private agency or organization intended to give students practical experience of political life in the nation’s capital. Each student will write weekly essays relating his or her work experience to broader issues in political science. Dist: SOC. Bafumi.
94. Congress, the Presidency, Courts and Policy Making at the Federal Level
09S, 10S: Washington D.C. O.C.P.
This course will investigate the complex relationships between and within the three branches of the federal government (with a heavy focus on the presidency and Congress) as they bargain over policy. Several theoretical tools will be introduced and used to explain recent and historical policy change (and gridlock). These include ideal point theory, simple spatial models, delegation, and bargaining theory. Dist: SOC; WCult: W. Bafumi
95. Federal Budgetary Process
09S, 10S: Washington D.C. O.C.P.
This course will investigate the process by which the federal government passes an annual budget. It will focus on both what is supposed to happen and what actually happens in pursuit of a budget compromise. Students will gain an in-depth understanding of the revenue generating and expenditure decisions made by the federal government. Much of the course will be spent considering possible reforms that can be made to the federal budgetary system and the costs and benefits of these reforms. Dist: SOC: WCult: W. Bafumi.
98. Honors Research
08F, 09F: 3B
99. Honors Thesis
09W, 10W Arrange
Government 98 and 99 consist of independent research and writing on a selected topic under the supervision of a Department member who acts as advisor. Open to honors students. In exceptional cases these courses are also open to other qualified students by vote of the Department. Carey, Valentino.