INTRODUCTORY COURSES
3. The American Political System
10F: 11 11W: 10 11X: 2A 11F: 10A 12W:10
An examination of the American political process as manifested in voting behavior, par- ties 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. Glick, Herron, Fowler, D. Brooks.
4. Comparative Politics
10F: 10, 11W: 10 11S: 11 11F: 10
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, Horowitz and Vandewalle.
5. International Politics
10F: 10A 11W: 10, 11 10S: 11, 12 11F: 10, 11 12W: 10, 11, 12 12S: 11, 12
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. W. Wohlforth, Valentino, Lind, S. Brooks.
6. Political Ideas
10F: 11 11W, 11S: 10A 11F: 11 12W: 10A 12S: 11
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, Swaine, Muirhead, Clarke.
7. First-Year Seminars in Government
Consult special listings
POLITICAL ANALYSIS
10. Quantitative Political Analysis
10F: 10 11W: 11 11S: 10 12W: 11 12S: 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. Herron, Greenhill, Nyhan.
18. The Theory of Choice and Introductory Political Game Theory
11S: 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
11W: 11 12S: 2
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 11W at 11, Advanced Political Analysis. 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.
In 12S at 2, 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.
COMPARATIVE POLITICS: ISSUES
20. Topics in Comparative Politics
12W: 11
This course will enable regular or visiting faculty members to examine topics in Compar-ative Politics not treated in the established curriculum. Subjects may therefore vary each time the course is offered. Dist: Varies.
In 12W, 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.
25. Problems of Political Development: India, South Africa and China
11W: 10A
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
10F, 11W, 11F, 12W, 11S: 11 11X, 12W: 10A 11W, 11S, 11F, 12S: 2A
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 10F and 12W at 11, 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 12W at 10A, The Federal Budget. This course will investigate the U.S. federal budget. Students will come to understand the history of, contemporary practices in and future trajectory of U.S. expenditure and revenue generating policies. The course will also cover the process by which policymakers pass an annual budget including what is supposed to happen and what actually happens in pursuit of a budget compromise. Substantial course time will be spent considering possible reforms that can be made to the federal budget. Bafumi
In 11W at 11, Law and Politics of the Environment. Although most Americans believe that environmental protection should be a policy priority, environmental regulation is routinely criticized for delivering only modest benefits at an exorbitant cost. This course provides an overview of the development and current state of environmental law and policy in the United States, with special attention to the recurring technical and political challenges that frustrate policymakers’ attempts to solve environmental problems. Huber.
In 11W at 2A. The Presidency and the Public in American Politics. This is a course on the interaction between the president and the public. We will explore different theories about when and why the president might seek to alter policy in response to public attitudes as compared to when the president will seek to change public opinion. We will analyze the various techniques and strategies presidents use to understand public opinion in the current era, and the strategies they use to affect public views. We will examine whether the president is more or less responsive to public opinion in different issue areas, including: war and conflict, international trade, domestic social policy, and macroeconomic policy. Throughout the course, we will compare the approach that President Barack Obama has taken towards the public with that of previous presidents. D. Brooks.
In 11F and 11S at 2A, Women in Politics. This is a general course on women in politics. We will examine the role of women as politicians, activists, and voters. The course will examine a wide range of issue areas, including: female attitudes on war and conflict, the reactions of women to different kinds of campaign tactics and policy positions, the differing barriers women face to attaining elected office in different countries, and how the challenges thought to be faced by female political leaders compare with those faced by female business leaders. One key question we will explore concerns whether female politicians are treated differently than male politicians, and how that might affect their strategies for reelection and governance. D. Brooks.
In 11S at 12, The American Legal System. A legal system is an integral part of a nation’s political system. It provides mechanisms for implementing and reformulating public policies, for resolving individual and group conflicts, and for holding political and economic processes to certain standards of fairness. This course will examine selected features of the American legal system and the ways it deals with basic social problems, e.g., regulating criminal law enforcement, controlling physical and environmental hazards that stem from industrial technology, and regulating the struggle for economic power. Readings and lectures will explore how the American legal system’s approach to these problems has changed over time. Huber.
In 11X at 10A and 12S at 2A, Survey Research in Business and Politics. Pollsters in politics and marketing researchers in business all devote a great deal of energy to discovering the attitudes of the public, regarding public policies and politicians for the former and products and services for the latter. In this course, we will explore the general techniques that political pollsters and marketing researchers use to discover how the public thinks, and we will compare how this information is used in different contexts. We will discuss questions such as: can similar techniques be used to introduce unfamiliar politicians and products to the public? Does “brand strategy” apply to politicians and products in similar ways? How is advertising used to improve the market share of candidates and products? Can negative advertising be applied with equal effect to harm competitors in the business and political realms? How will politicians and businesses seek to understand and influence the preferences of the public as technological changes produce new opportunities and challenges regarding interactions with the public? D. Brooks
31. Campaigns and Elections
12S: 2A
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.
34. Congress and the American Political System
Not offered in 2010–2011; may be offered in 2011–2012
This course introduces students to the analysis of public policymaking in the U.S. Con-gress. 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 policy-making.
Prerequisite: Government 3, or permission of the instructor. Dist: SOC; WCult: W. Fowler.
35. The Presidency
12W: 2
This course highlights central themes in the development, organization, and functioning of the American Presidency. It combines the study of presidential behavior with an analysis of its complex and evolving institutional framework. Since the office requires the President to play multiple political roles simultaneously, the course will assess the institutional and behavioral components of these roles. It will present an integrated theoretical and empirical conception of presidential governance.
Prerequisite: Government 3 or by permission of the instructor. Dist: SOC; WCult: W. Nyhan.
36. The Making of American Public Policy
11F: 2A
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.
38. Government and Business
10F: 10
Government and business are inextricably linked, each exerting a great deal of influence over the other. This course examines their interrelationship, focusing in particular on economic and political theories of regulation and subsidization; foreign trade, free trade and protectionism; the power of corporate interests in the policymaking process; and business within the American legal system.
Prerequisite: Government 3, or permission of the instructor. Dist: SOC; WCult: W. Winters, Huber.
COMPARATIVE POLITICS: AREAS
40. Topics in Area Politics
10F: 2A 11S, 12W: 12
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 10F at 2A, Politics of Iraq. This course examines the modern politics of Iraq and the historical forces which have shaped contemporary Iraqi politics. It covers Iraq’s formation in the aftermath of World War One, the British mandatory experience, Arab nationalism, Ba’thism and Saddam’s rule, as well as the 2003 invasion and its aftermath. It examines the roles of sectarianism, ethnicity and tribalism, the impact of oil, and Iraq’s regional context. Barry.
In 11W at 2, Politics of Africa. This course examines post-colonial politics in sub-Saharan Africa, with particular focus on the events of the last decade. The course will be structured around three main themes: (1) patterns of economic growth and decline; (2) the transition to democratic political systems; and (3) political violence and civil conflict. While the course covers broad trends across the continent, it will also draw on case studies from particular countries. Horowitz.
In 11S at 12, 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. Dist: SOC or INT; WCult: W. Vandewalle.
In 12W at 12, Globalization and Global Development, The latest wave of economic globalization has differently affected various regions of the world. One of the most often repeated (and disputed) assertions is that the economic power of the United States is fading and that the fortunes of the so-called BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India, and China) as well as other selected Emerging Economies (“the Second World”) will mark the dawn of a more equal and, economically speaking, a more balanced global economy. The most recent financial crisis has put into question many of the assertions on both sides of this debate, in ways that question the very basic assumptions analysts of the global economy have been making since the creation of the Bretton Woods system in the aftermath of World War II. In this course we investigate the impact of the economic boom of the last two decades, the current crisis, and their impact on the economic fate and standing of particularly the United States, India, China, and Russia. We focus in part on efforts to create a new financial architecture for the global economy, and investigate how the debate between markets and state intervention has been affected by the ongoing financial crisis—and what this may mean for both countries that rely extensively on markets, and for those that strategically promote state intervention. Vandewalle
41. Democracy, European Style
11S, 12S: 10A
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.
46. Politics of the Middle East and North Africa
Not offered in 2010–2011; may be offered in 2011–2012
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 (Comparative Politics or International Relations)
10F: 11
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.
Prerequisite: Government 4, or permission of the instructor. Dist: SOC or INT; WCult: NW. Sa’adah.
49.01 Latin American Politics and Government
Not offered in 2010–2011; may be offered in 2011–2012
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 2010–2011; may be offered in 2011–2012
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 2010–2011; may be offered in 2011–2012
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 Stud-ies 52 and Women’s and Gender Studies 31)
12S: 2A
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 for-eign 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)
Not offered in 2010–2011; may be offered in 2011–2012
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
10F: 10, 11 11W: 2A, 2 12W:10, 2A 12S: 10, 2A, 10A
This course will enable regular or visiting faculty members to examine topics in Interna-tional Relations not treated in the established curriculum. Subjects may therefore vary each time the course is offered. Dist: Varies.
In 10F at 10 and 2, and in 11W and 11S at 2, 12W and 12S at 10 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 10F at 2A European Union as a Foreign Policy Actor. This course deals with the ‘adventure’ of 27 sovereign European states seeking to develop a common foreign and security policy. Why are they doing it and how are they going about it? What decision-making procedures have they developed and what foreign policy concepts? What are the results in terms of policies? Where do the strengths and weaknesses lie? Is the European Union a potential superpower? How is the United States affected? Mahncke.
In 11W at 2 Human Rights and International Relation. This course examines the role that the international human rights regime plays in international politics. The goal of the course is to critically assess the extent to which international human rights institutions have been successful in bringing about improvements in states’ human rights practices in recent years. In doing so we shall engage with a number of interesting theoretical and practical debates such as how the concept of human rights should be defined, the claim that human rights are a Western invention, the impact of the human rights regime on state sovereignty, and the importance of non-governmental organizations such as Amnesty International in the politics of human rights. Greenhill.
In 11W and 12W at 2A, 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 inter-national 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.
In 12S 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 11S and 12S at 10A, 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.
51. International Law
Not offered in 2010-2011 may be offered in 2011-2012
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
12W: 2A
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
11F: 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
11W: 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. Strathman.
56. International Relations Theory
11F: 3B
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
12W: 3A
The political aspects of international and transnational economic relations will be examined. Topics will include economic imperialism, politico-economic dependence and inter-dependence, 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 multi-national 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
10F: 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 pro-vides 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
10F: 10, 10A 11W: 10A 11S: 2A 11X: 10A 11F: 10, 12, 2, 2A 12S: 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 10F and 11X at 10A. American Political Thought. The course focuses on the period from the Revolution to the Civil War. Topics include toleration, constitutionalism, rights, individualism, and slavery. Readings are drawn mainly from primary sources, including Jefferson, Madison, Adams, Hamilton, Jackson, Calhoun, Taylor, Anthony, Thoreau, and Lincoln. Muirhead.
In 10F and 11F at 10, Ethics and Public Policy (Identical to Public Policy 42). 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 11W at 10A and 11X at 2A, 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? Dist: SOC. Bohmer.
In 11S at 2A, 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? Dist; TMV, WCult: W. Clarke.
In 11S at 2A and 12S at 10A, Ethics, Everyday Life and Law. What is the right thing to do? What is the best way of life? How, if at all, should the answers to these questions bear on politics and law? Some hold that morality is intensely demanding, and asks us to overcome the natural concern for ourselves and those close to us. Others argue that the moral life is simple and relatively easy to comply with. Are morally excellent people happier—or is happiness beside the point of morality. Does a political community that enshrines the “pursuit of happiness” as among its foundational goals need to take a concern with the moral character of citizens? These questions will be investigated through readings that move between the history of moral and political thought (Plato, Aristotle, Kant, Mill) and cases and questions drawn from contemporary life. Muirhead.
In 11F 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 11F 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.
In 11F 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.
61. Jurisprudence
12W: 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?
11W: 11
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
10F, 12S: 2
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. Muirhead, Swaine.
66. Constitutional Law, Development, and Theory
11W: 2 11F: 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. Huber, Bedi.
67. Civil Liberties Legal and Normative Approaches
12S: 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)
11F: 10A
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)
Not offered in 2010–2011; may be offered in 2011–2012
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 frame-work 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. This course can count as a seminar course.
81-87. Seminars in Government
The following seminars will be offered in 2009-2011. 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.
81.02 11W, 12W: 10A
Memory, Nationalism, and War. (Comparative or International Relations) Dist: SOC or INT. Lind.
81.03 Not offered in 2010–2011; may be offered in 2011–2012
Economic Growth and Reform in the Emerging Economies. (Comparative or International Relations) Dist: SOC or INT; WCult: NW. Vandewalle.
81.04 11W, 11F: 2A (Identical to Public Policy 81.2)
Lawyers and Public Policy (American or Theory/Law subfield). Dist: SOC; WCult: W. Bohmer.
81.05 Not offered in 2010–2011; may be offered in 2011–2012
Left and Right : Party Spirit and Ideology in American Politics. Muirhead
81.06 11S: 2A
Terrorism and Counterterrorism. Abrahms.
81.21 Not offered in 2010–2011; may be offered in 2011–2012
Democracy in America: Tocqueville and His Critics. (American Politics and Theory/Law) Dist: SOC; WCult: W. Murphy.
81.22 Not offered in 2010–2011; may be offered in 2011–2012
Counterfactuals and International Relations. (American Politics and Theory/Law) Dist: TMV. Lebow.
83.02 11W: 3A 11F:10A (Identical to Public Policy 81.9)
Politics and Markets. Dist: SOC; WCult: W. Fowler.
83.03 11S: 3A
Environmental Politics. Huber.
83.04 12S: 3A
Myths and Realities in Public Policy Solutions. Bafumi
83.05 11S: 3A
The media and Advertising in American Politics. D. Brooks.
83.06 12S: 10A
Political Communication. Dist: SOC; WCult: W. D. Brooks.
83.16 Not offered in 2010–2011; may be offered in 2011–2012
Voting Irregularities and Issues in Electoral Reform. Dist: SOC; WCult: W. Herron.
83.17 Not offered in 2010–2011; may be offered in 2011–2012
The American Voter through Time. Bafumi.
83.19 10F, 12W: 3A
American Political Behavior. Dist: SOC; WCult: W. Lacy.
83.20 Not offered in 2010–2011; may be offered in 2011–2012
Law and Political Institutions. Dist: SOC; WCult: W. Lacy.
83.21 11F: 10A
Experiments in Politics. Nyhan
84.09 10F: 3A
Political Responses to Capitalism. Dist: SOC or INT. Sa’adah.
84.10 Not offered in 2010–2011; may be offered in 2011–2012
The 1989 Revolution. Dimitrov.
84.11 Not offered in 2010–2011; may be offered in 2011–2012 (Identical to Latin American and Caribbean Studies 77)
Democracy and Accountability in Latin America. Dist: SOC. Carey.
84.12 12S: 10A
Gender and American Politics. Baldez
84.15 Not offered in 2010–2011; may be offered in 2011–2012
State-Building, Oil, and Islam in the Arab Gulf States. Vandewalle.
84.23 11W: 2A
Politics of Peace in the Middle East. Sa’adah.
84.25 11W: 2A
Canada and the United States: Individualism and Individual Rights. Von Hlatky Udvarhelyi
84.26 10F: 10A
Politics of Post-conflict Societies. Horowitz
84.27 10F: 3A
Politics and Policy of Post Democracy Promotion. Horowitz
85.02 11S, 11F: 2A
Leadership and Grand Strategy. Dist: SOC or INT. W. Wohlforth.
85.04 Not offered in 2010–2011; may be offered in 2011–2012
International Relations Theory.
85.08 11F: 3A
US Security Policy in the 21st Century. S. Brooks
85.12 11F: 2A (Identical to Public Policy 82.1)
Military Statecraft in International Relations. Dist: SOC or INT. Press.
85.14 Not offered in 2010–2011; may be offered in 2011–2012 (Identical to Public Policy 83.2)
Economics, Security, and U.S. Foreign Policy. Dist: SOC; WCult: W. S. Brooks.
85.16 10F: 10A
The Causes and Prevention of Genocide and Mass Killing. Valentino.
85.19 11W: 3B 12W:3A
Secession and State Creation. Dist: INT or SOC. Coggins.
85.20 10F:10A
The Psychology of International Relations. Dist: INT or SOC. Strathman.
85.21 11S: 10A
International Law and Institutions. Greenhill
85.22 11W: 12
Techniques of Statecraft. Dist: INT or SOC. Strathman.
85.23 Not offered in 2010–2011; may be offered in 2011–2012
Unipolarity and US Security. Dist: INT or SOC S. Brooks.
85.24 Not offered in 2010–2011; may be offered in 2011–2012
Psychological Experimentation in International Relations. Lebow.
85.26 Not offered in 2010–2011; may be offered in 2011–2012
International Law. W. Wohlforth.
86.01 11W: 2A
Multiculturalism. Dist: SOC; WCult: CI. Swaine.
86.02 10F, 11X: 2A
Political Speech. Muirhead.
86.03 12W: 2A
Contemporary Political Thought. Dist: TMV. Swaine.
86.10 Not offered in 2010–2011; may be offered in 2011–2012.
Order and Justice: Greek Perspectives. Dist: TMV. Lebow.
86.15 Not offered in 2010–2011; may be offered in 2011–2012.
Tocqueville and His Critics. Dist: TMV; WCult: W. Murphy.
86.16 Not offered in 2010–2011; may be offered in 2011–2012.
Contemporary Aboriginal Politics in Canada. Dist: SOC; WCult: CI. Turner.
86.18 12W: 3A
Contemporary Readings on Justice. Bedi.
86.19 12S: 3A.
Race, Law and Identity. Dist: SOC; WCult: W. Bedi.
86.20 Not offered in 2010–2011; may be offered in 2011–2012
Ideology and Intellectuals. Dist: SOC; WCult: W. Clarke.
86.22 Not offered in 2010–2011; may be offered in 2011–2012.
Rousseau. Clarke.
86.23 11W: 2
The Bible as Political Theory. Murphy.
86.24 11S, 12S: 3B
Machiavelli and Machiavellianism. Clarke.
86.26 12W: 2A
Great Trials in History. Murphy.
90. Seminar
10F, 11F: 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 a midlevel course and not as a seminar for the major or minor).
91. Seminar
10F, 11F: 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 a midlevel course and not as a seminar for the major or minor).
92. Seminar
10F, 11F: London F.S.P.
Seminar taught by the faculty advisor. (This course counts as a seminar for the major or minor). 09F: Winters, 11F: Lebow, 12F:Vandewalle.
93. Internship Essays
11S, 12S: 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. (This course counts as a midlevel course and not as a seminar course for the major or minor.) Dist: SOC. Winters
94. Congress, the Presidency, Courts and Policy Making at the Federal Level
11S, 12S: 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. (This course counts as a seminar course for the major or minor.) Dist: SOC; WCult: W. Winters.
95. Federal Budgetary Process
10S, 11S: 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. (This course counts as a seminar course for the major or minor.) Dist: SOC: WCult: W. Winters.
98. Honors Research (This course counts as a seminar course for the major or minor.)
11F, 12F: 3B
99. Honors Thesis (This course counts as a midlevel course and not as a seminar course for the major or minor.)
11W, 12W 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. Clarke, Valentino.