Carleton College

POSC 120. Comparative Political Regimes An introduction to the fundamentals of government and the variety of ways politics is practiced in different countries. Capitalist democracies, transitional states and developing nations are compared. 6 cr., SS, WR; SI, WR2, IS, Fall,Spring—D. Gupta, A. Montero

POSC 122. Politics in America: Liberty and Equality An introduction to American government and politics. Focus on the Congress, Presidency, political parties and interest groups, the courts and the Constitution. Particular attention will be given to the public policy debates that divide liberals and conservatives and how these divisions are rooted in American political culture. 6 cr., SS; SI, IDS, QRE, Fall,Winter—R. Keiser, S. Schier

POSC 160. Political Philosophy Introduction to ancient and modern political philosophy. We will investigate several fundamentally different approaches to the basic questions of politics--­questions concerning the character of political life, the possibilities and limits of politics, justice, and the good society--­and the philosophic presuppositions (concerning human nature and human flourishing) that underlie these, and all, political questions. 6 cr., SS; HI, Fall,Winter,Spring—L. Cooper, M. Czobor-Lupp

POSC 170. International Relations and World Politics A survey of factors in international relations of a geopolitical, commercial and ideological character; systems of international relations, including bipolar deterrence, polycentrism, and international organization; and dynamics of international relations, including war, diplomacy, and international economic and social development. 6 cr., SS, WR; SI, WR2, IS, Winter,Spring—R. Grow, G. Marfleet

POSC 201. National Policymaking This course will examine how and by whom ideas are brought to the national political agenda and how they are kept off, the processes by which policy solutions are considered, the formulation of legislation and the reasons for success and failure, and policy implementation. We will mix theory with a variety of policy case studies, such as tax reform policy and health care policy. Prerequisite: Political Science 122 or sophomore standing. 6 cr., SS; SI, IDS, Fall—R. Keiser

POSC 202. Parties, Interest Groups and Elections Examination of the American electoral system and its components: parties, interest groups and the media. The impact of parties and interests on national policy making is also explored. The course will devote special attention to the 2008 and 2010 elections. 6 cr., SS; SI, IDS, Fall—S. Schier

POSC 203. Political Communication: Election Campaign Advertising and Public Opinion* Cross-listed with POSC 303. How does political advertising influence the electorate? Do "negative ads" turn voters off? Can advertising be used strategically to influence turnout, decreasing the participation of one of the major parties, while increasing the likelihood that others will vote? Election ads along with the six second "sound bite" are now among the major forms of political communication in modern democracies. We will study how ads are created and "work" from the standpoint of political psychology and film analysis. The course includes a research experience. 6 cr., SS; LA, QRE, Not offered in 2010-2011.

POSC 204. Media and Electoral Politics: 2010 United States Election Our analysis of media influences on politics will draw from three fields of study: political psychology, political behavior and participation, and public opinion. Students will conduct a study of the effects of campaign ads and news in the 2008 election, 2010 election, and health care initiatives in the Obama administration, using content analysis and other research methods. 6 cr., SS; SI, QRE, Offered in alternate years. Fall—B. Allen

POSC 205. Issues in American Democracy Is direct citizen rule through participatory democracy or a reliance on policymaking by officeholders the best way to govern America? This seminar addresses the question by examining several topics--the levels of political knowledge and interest among the public, the impact of interest groups in national government, and the operation of popular rule through initiatives and referendums in American states. 6 cr., SS; SI, Spring—S. Schier

POSC 206. The American Courts We will explore the political and institutional dimensions of courts, and consider whether and how judicial decision making differs from political decision making. Topics will include legal reasoning and the role of the judge, the institutional capacity of courts and their relation to the political branches, and the role of lawyers in the political system. 6 cr., SS, WR; SI, WR2, Fall—K. Smith

POSC 207. Urban Politics in a Global Era Are cities microcosms of state or nation? How has the role of immigrant-port-of-entry affected the politics of cities? What has been the impact of population shift to the suburbs? Are African-Americans and Latinos fighting over an inconsequential hole-in-the-doughnut in Chicago and Los Angeles? What is the significance of living wage and gay rights movements in cities? Why do European and American cities seem so different, and are there signs of convergence in the era of globalization? 6 cr., SS; SI, IS, Not offered in 2010-2011.

POSC 210. Politics Across Borders Cross-listed with POSC 310. We live in an age of interdependent national economies. The costs of international travel and communication have declined in recent decades. Do the international political economy and modern technology make it easier for political actors in civil society to extend the reach of their influence across borders? Does the transmission of cultural ideas and practices across borders change the nature of domestic politics? In examining these questions, we will pay particular attention to the politics of human rights, migration, refugees, and labor in the advanced industrial democracies. 6 cr., SS; SI, IS, Not offered in 2010-2011.

POSC 211. Environment and the Evolution of Rules: Designing Institutions to Solve Political Problems How can we design democratic institutions to deal with environmental and social problems? Are there universal approaches to solving political problems in physically and socially diverse communities? Do people come up with different institutional ways to address shared problems because of environmental or cultural differences? By examining basic principles of institutional design you will learn how to analyze constitutions, public policies, international treaties, and other "rule ordered relationships" that different people have created to deal with environmental concerns and, generally, the health and welfare of their communities. 6 cr., SS; SI, Not offered in 2010-2011.

POSC 212. Environmental Justice The environmental justice movement seeks greater participation by marginalized communities in environmental policy, and equity in the distribution of environmental harms and benefits. This course will examine the meaning of "environmental justice," the history of the movement, the empirical foundation for the movement’s claims, and specific policy questions. Our focus is the United States, but students will have the opportunity to research environmental justice in other countries. 6 cr., SS; SI, IS, Winter—K. Smith

POSC 213. Labor Politics in a Global Age Cross-listed with POSC 313. How are American unions coping with globalization? As capital mobility puts growing pressures on unions, how are United States labor institutions changing at the national, local, and workplace level? The course compares wage-bargaining institutions and the political representation of unionized labor in North America, Western Europe, and East Asia. Topics include the politics of job loss; the informal economy; gendered labor; and the stance of unions on issues of migration and race. 6 cr., SS; SI, IS, Not offered in 2010-2011.

POSC 214. Visual Representations of Political Thought and Action Visual media offer an alternative method of framing political ideas and events. Images found in such texts as film, posters, and even in statistical tables can enlighten--or mislead. Readings in visual theory, political psychology, and graphic representation will enable you to read images and use these powerful media to convey your ideas and research. 3 cr., SS; LA, QRE, Spring—B. Allen

POSC 215. Political Communication in Comparative Context This five-week course will focus on the major theories of political communication in an election context. Our case study will be the United Kingdom elections, which are expected to occur around May 6, 2010. Students who enroll for this course concurrently with POSC 204 on United States elections will have an opportunity to compare the legal and cultural contexts of election news coverage and advertising in the United Kingdom and United States. 3 cr., SS; SI, IS, QRE, Offered in alternate years. Fall—B. Allen

POSC 216. The Initiative, Referendum and Public Policy Cross-listed with POSC 316. This course focuses on the direct democracy tools of initiative and referendum. What are the origins of these institutions and in what historical circumstances do citizens turn to them? Policy conflicts over gay marriage, regulation of tobacco, financing of sports stadiums, and the externalities of economic development will be among our topics. 6 cr., SS; SI, IDS, Not offered in 2010-2011.

POSC 218. Schools, Scholarship and Policy in the United States What can scholarship tell us about educational strategies to reduce achievement gaps and economic opportunity? Do the policies promoted at the city, state and federal levels reflect that knowledge? How are these policies made? What is the relationship between schools and the economic class, racial composition and housing stock of their neighborhoods? Prerequisite: Sophomore Standing. 6 cr., SS; SI, IDS, Offered in alternate years. Winter—R. Keiser

POSC 219. Protest, Power & Grassroots Organizing: American Social Movements Cross-listed with POSC 319. Why do protest movements form and who joins? How do grassroots movements achieve their aims? This class examines the strategies of grassroots political actors as they organize protest movements in civil society, forge coalitions, and give a voice to the voiceless. Comparisons are drawn between the United States, European, Asian, and Latin American experiences. 6 cr., SS; SI, IDS, Winter—C. Wong

POSC 220. Politics and Political History in Film How do representations of politics in film influence our ideas about governance, citizenship, power, and authority? How do film and TV reflect values and beliefs of democratic society, particularly in the United States? These are two questions that we will consider in the course as we study films representing politics and historical events in fiction and non-fiction genres for entertainment and education. Films to be analyzed include: Battle of Algiers, Fog of War, Cape Fear (1963), Manchurian Candidate (1960), Advise and Consent, All the President’s Men, Primary, War Room, The Mushroom Club, Fahrenheit 9/11, When the Levees Broke. 6 cr., SS; LA, IS, Winter—B. Allen

POSC 221. Latin American Politics Comparative study of political institutions and conflicts in selected Latin American countries. Attention is focused on general problems and patterns of development, with some emphasis on United States-Latin American relations. 6 cr., SS; SI, IS, Not offered in 2010-2011.

POSC 226. Political Psychology This course is an introduction to political psychology, an inter-disciplinary field of study that applies psychological theory and research to the study of politics, as a theoretical alternative to rational choice models. Study will include applying psychological models to elite decision making and to political behavior of ordinary citizens. Topics include personality and political leadership, group processes and foreign policy, theories of information processing and elite decision making, malignant political aggression and punitive politics, altruism and heroic political action, etc. in light of important political issues and events. 6 cr., SS; SI, QRE, Not offered in 2010-2011.

POSC 227. Agenda Setting through Speeches and Debates Can political speeches like the State of the Union Address really set the agenda for the Congress and the country? How do election campaign speeches set an agenda and control the discourse among journalists, citizens, and candidate? What about campaign debates? Do they set an agenda for candidate and country? What do debates and speeches reveal about the political psychology of candidates and office holders: about how they process information and make decisions. These are a few of the questions we will address in our survey of political psychology and communication literature. 6 cr., SS; SI, QRE, Not offered in 2010-2011.

POSC 229. International Institutions Intergovernmental organizations (IGOs), nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and citizens are all entities that shape the governance of international and global issues. This course focuses on both international organizations (IOs) and international institutions that include formal treaties and informal rules, norms, and strategies. We will study key theoretical concepts and analytical frameworks through case studies and the literature on formal organization and collective action. 6 cr., SS, WR; SI, WR2, IS, QRE, Not offered in 2010-2011.

POSC 230. Methods of Political Research An introduction to research method, research design, and the analysis of political data. The course is intended to introduce students to the fundamentals of scientific inquiry as they are employed in the discipline. The course will consider the philosophy of scientific research generally, the philosophy of social science research, theory building and theory testing, the components of applied (quantitative and qualitative) research across the major sub-fields of political science, and basic methodological tools. Intended for majors only. Prerequisite: Mathematics 115 or 215. 6 cr., ND, WR; SI, WR2, QRE, Winter,Spring—G. Marfleet, C. Wong

POSC 231. American Foreign Policy An introduction to the actors and processes of American foreign policymaking and to the substance of American foreign policy. The course aims to provide students with an understanding of how knowledge of the past, the global policy environment, the processes of foreign policymaking, and the specifics of a foreign policy issue come together to help determine modern American foreign policy. The course will review the structure of the international system of states, state power and interests, the historical context of American foreign policy, actors in American foreign affairs, models of foreign policy decision making, and the instruments of foreign policy. Prerequisite: Political Science 122 highly recommended. 6 cr., SS; SI, Spring—G. Marfleet

POSC 233. Corruption, Authoritarianism, and Democracy After three decades of democratization, most countries are democratic. But the quality of these democracies is questionable as many suffer from continuous problems of corruption, poor elite accountability, human rights violations, and even policies that can only be described as semi-authoritarian. This course investigates the classic regime types (totalitarianism, authoritarianism, democracy), transitions between them, and the problems of deviations from democratic norms and processes. Special attention will be paid to problems of democratic governance such as electoral fraud, campaign finance malfeasance, the corruption of the judiciary, political violence, and violations of human and civil rights. 6 cr., SS; SI, IS, QRE, Not offered in 2010-2011.

POSC 237. Southeast Asian Politics This course will cover key thematic issues of Southeast Asian politics, including the challenges of democracy, regional integration, environmental politics, the rise of the power of non-state actors, and struggles for citizen-sovereignty of the people. We will examine these frontier issues against the background of Southeast Asia’s societal evolution through kingdoms, colonial eras, emergence of nation-states, and the influence of globalization on politics. 6 cr., SS, WR; SI, WR2, IS, QRE, Not offered in 2010-2011.

POSC 239. The Diplomat's Craft: Three Case Studies Diplomacy is the means by which states find common ground and resolve differences. Former ambassador Burt Levin uses three cases studies from his career to evaluate the relationships between diplomacy and policy implementation. 3 cr., SS; SI, IS, Not offered in 2010-2011.

POSC 241. Ethnic Conflict Ethnic conflict is a persistent and troubling challenge for those interested in preserving international peace and stability. By one account, ethnic violence has claimed more than ten million lives since 1945, and in the 1990s, ethnic conflicts comprised nearly half of all ongoing conflicts around the world. In this course, we will attempt to understand the conditions that contribute to ethnic tensions, identify the triggers that lead to escalation, and evaluate alternative ideas for managing and solving such disputes. The course will draw on a number of cases, including Rwanda, Bosnia, and Northern Ireland. 6 cr., SS; SI, IS, Winter—D. Gupta

POSC 247. Comparative Nationalism Nationalism is an ideology that political actors have frequently harnessed to support a wide variety of policies ranging from intensive economic development to genocide. But what is nationalism? Where does it come from? And what gives it such emotional and political power? This course investigates competing ideas about the sources of nationalism, its evolution, and its political uses in state building, legitimation, development, and war. We will consider both historic examples of nationalism, as well as contemporary cases drawn from Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and the United States. 6 cr., SS; SI, IS, Fall—D. Gupta

POSC 250. Ancient Political Philosophy In this course we will examine ancient political philosophy through the intensive study of Plato's Republic, perhaps the greatest work of political philosophy ever written. What is morality? Why should a person behave morally? Wouldn't it be more satisfying to be a tyrant? What is the best way of life? What would a perfect society look like? What would be its customs and institutions, and who would rule? What would it demand of us, and would that price be worth paying? These are some of the politically (and personally) vital questions addressed by the book. 6 cr., SS; HI, Fall—L. Cooper

POSC 251. Modern Political Philosophy Modern political philosophy initiated many of the ways of thinking about politics that remain salient today: balancing individuality and community; negotiating liberty and equality; and questioning the relationship of politics and morality. In this course we will focus on the Continental tradition of modern political philosophy from Kant to Hegel to Marx, which has had particular influence on politics and culture in Europe, Latin America, and China. 6 cr., SS; HI, IS, Not offered in 2010-2011.

POSC 253. Marxist Political Thought A discussion seminar introducing the economic and political themes in Marxist literature, concentrating on the works of Marx, Engels, Lenin, and Mao. The course looks at theories of economic development, the role of the state, social conflict, political action, and revolution in the writings of each of these thinkers. 6 cr., SS; HI, Not offered in 2010-2011.

POSC 254. Freedom, Excellence, Happiness: Aristotle’s *Ethics* What does it mean to be morally excellent? To be politically excellent? To be intellectually and spiritually excellent? Are these things mutually compatible? Do they lie within the reach of everyone? And what is the relation between excellence and pleasure? Between excellence and happiness? Aristotle addresses these questions in intricate and illuminating detail in the Nicomachean Ethics, which we will study in this course. The Ethics is more accessible than some of Aristotle’s other works. But it is also a multifaceted and multi-layered book, and one that reveals more to those who study it with care. 6 cr., SS; HI, Offered in alternate years. Winter—L. Cooper

POSC 255. Post-Modern Political Thought The thought and practice of the modern age have been found irredeemably oppressive, alienating, dehumanizing, and/or exhausted by a number of leading philosophic thinkers in recent years. In this course we will explore the critiques and alternative visions offered by a variety of post-modern thinkers, including Nietzsche (in many ways the first post-modern), Heidegger, Foucault, and Derrida. 6 cr., SS; HI, Spring—M. Czobor-Lupp

POSC 256. Nietzsche and Political Philosophy Perhaps no thinker has influenced the thought of the current age as much as Friedrich Nietzsche, whose critique of rationalism, modernity, and liberalism gave rise to what we now know as post-modernism. In this course we will engage in a close study of Beyond Good and Evil, Nietzsche’s most overtly political major work and perhaps his most beautiful one. Selections from some of his other work will also be assigned. Students will be required to write three 7-8 page papers and participate in seminar discussions. The latter will include informal presentations. Prerequisite: Recommended: prior coursework in Political Philosophy or Philosophy. 6 cr., SS; HI, Winter—Laurence Cooper

POSC 258. Politics and Ambition Is personal ambition a threat to peace and the public good or is it a prod to nobility and heroism? Does it exemplify the opposition between self and society or does it represent their intersection and mutual support­--or both? Drawing on literary, philosophical, and historical works this course will take up these and other questions as part of a broad examination of the role of ambition in politics. 6 cr., SS; HI, Spring—L. Cooper

POSC 259. Justice Among Nations This course will bring classic works of political philosophy into conversation with the central questions of international relations, questions concerning both the moral basis of power and the character of international politics. Using the thought of Thucydides and Herodotus as our starting point, we will think through problems of contemporary international relations theory in light of these earlier thinkers, attempting to use the lucid thinking of the past to illuminate the present. 6 cr., SS; HI, IS, Not offered in 2010-2011.

POSC 260. The Political Philosophy of Jean-Jacques Rousseau In this course we will study what Rousseau considered his greatest and best book: Emile. Emile is a philosophic novel. It uses a thought experiment--the rearing of a child from infancy to adulthood--to explore human nature and the human condition, including their political dimensions. Among Emile’s themes are natural goodness and the origins of evil; self-love and sociability; the differences and relations between the sexes; citizenship; and the principles of political right. The book also addresses the question of how one might live naturally and happily amid an unnatural and unhappy civilization. 6 cr., SS; HI, Not offered in 2010-2011.

POSC 263. European Political Economy An introduction to the politics of the European region during the post-World War II period. Students will examine the political conditions that gave impetus to the creation, maintenance, crisis, and decline of Keynesian economic policies, social welfare states, social democratic partisan alliances, and cooperative patterns of industrial relations. The course will examine the rise and reform of the project of European integration. The course will also address the particular problems faced by the East European countries as they attempt to make a transition from authoritarian, command economies to democratic, market-based economies. 6 cr., SS; SI, IS, QRE, Winter—A. Montero

POSC 265. Politics of Global Economic Relations This course examines the interaction of national politics and international economic activity. Topics include the relationship between national and international finance, global competitiveness, and economic development. Case studies drawn from every continent. 6 cr., SS; SI, IS, QRE, Not offered in 2010-2011.

POSC 266. Urban Political Economy Cross-listed with POSC.366. City revenue is increasingly dependent on tourism. Cities manufacture identity and entertainment, whether we think of Las Vegas or Jerusalem, Berlin or Bilbao, the ethnoscapes of Copenhagen or the red light district of Amsterdam. As cities compete in the global economy to become playgrounds for a transnational tourist class, what is the role of urban residents? Who governs? Who benefits? Short essays or exams will be required. 6 cr., SS; SI, IS, Spring—R. Keiser

POSC 268. International Environmental Politics and Policies International environmental politics and policy is the most prominent field that challenges traditional state-centric ways of thinking about international problems and solutions. This course will cover five arenas crucial to understanding the nature and origin of international environmental problems and policymaking mechanisms: (1) international environmental law; (2) international political orders; (3) human-environment interactions through politics and markets; (4) paradigms of sustainable development; and (5) dynamics of human values and rules. 6 cr., SS, WR; SI, WR2, IS, QRE, Not offered in 2010-2011.

POSC 271. Constitutional Law I Covers American constitutional law and history from the founding to the breakdown of the constitution in secession crisis. Extensive attention will be paid to the constitutional convention and other sources of constitutional law in addition to Supreme Court cases. 6 cr., SS; SI, Not offered in 2010-2011.

POSC 272. Constitutional Law II Covers American constitutional law and history from Reconstruction to the contemporary era. Extensive attention will be paid to the effort to refound the American constitution following the Civil War as manifest in the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments, and to the successive transformations which the Supreme Court worked in the new constitutional order. Political Science 271 is not a prerequisite. 6 cr., SS; SI, Not offered in 2010-2011.

POSC 273. Citizen and Immigration Politics This course examines the politics of citizenship and immigration policy in the United States from a comparative perspective. In addition, to the United States case, the class also examines policy in Australia, Britain, Canada, France, and Germany. What foundational political ideals and traditions shape a nation's laws on citizenship and immigration? How do public opinion, political elites, and interest groups affect the path of immigration controversy over time? What effect do national political institutions have on policy-making? In what ways do domestic and foreign policy concerns interact? As more immigrants become citizens, how does their voice and participation alter the public discourse and politics of immigration? 6 cr., SS; SI, IS, Winter—C. Wong

POSC 275. Identity Politics in America: Ethnicity, Gender, Religion This class explores the goals, forms, and impact of identity politics in America. Groups engage in identity politics when their members collectively strive for recognition for the group's particular culture, history, language, or identity. How do movements concerned with recognition of particular groups define "insiders" and relate to "outsiders"? How do groups define a group interest when memberships are heterogeneous and individuals hold multiple group memberships? To what extent do race-ethnicity, gender, and religion shape people's outlook, values, and political choices in the United States? 6 cr., SS; SI, IDS, Fall—C. Wong

POSC 276. Arendt: Imagination and Politics Imagination, a complex and powerful human faculty, can lead one astray in fantasy/delusion or enlarge power to grasp the different/foreign. We will investigate Hannah Arendt’s conception of the political power of imagination, exploring its role, as a device for escaping reality, in generating extreme ideologies (anti-Semitism, racism). We will try to understand how a benign active imagination, essential to political judgment, is possible at all. Readings include fragments of The Origins of Totalitarianism, Eichmann in Jerusalem, The Life of the Mind, and Lectures on Kant’s Political Philosophy, and several of Arendt’s essays on writers, such as Heine, Kafka, and Brecht. 6 cr., SS; HI, Offered in alternate years. Fall—M. Czobor-Lupp

POSC 281. Global Society: An Approach to World Politics One of the features of the Post-Cold War world has been the increased salience of issues such as terrorism, the environment, the influence of transnational corporations, the world-wide AIDS epidemic, the drug trade, and the crisis of refugees. The proliferation of such problems illustrates the limitations of state-centric international relations theory. This course examines new theoretical approaches to global politics that seek to understand how non-state actors and structures influence emerging patterns of global governance. We will debate as a class the extent to which a global society approach to world politics helps us to understand these transnational problems. 6 cr., SS; SI, IS, Not offered in 2010-2011.

POSC 289, 293. Washington D.C. Program: Seminar A study of national and international political institutions and processes conducted in Washington, D.C. Seminar participants include national and international reporters, foreign diplomats, members of Congress, career civil servants, White House staff, political party leaders, and interest group representatives. Program participants will also earn four credits from directed reading during the winter break and six credits from a Washington internship, and six credits for the seminar during winter term. Senior political science majors may elect to take this seminar as a 3 credit course along with 3 credits of comps. (293 S/CR/NC) 9 or 12 cr., S/CR/NC, SS; SI, IDS, Not offered in 2010-2011.

POSC 303. Political Communication: Election Campaign Advertising and Public Opinion* Cross-listed with POSC 203. How does political advertising influence the electorate? Do "negative ads" turn voters off? Can advertising be used strategically to influence turnout, decreasing the participation of one of the major parties, while increasing the likelihood that others will vote? Election ads along with the six second "sound bite" are now among the major forms of political communication in modern democracies. We will study how ads are created and "work" from the standpoint of political psychology and film analysis. The course includes a research component and students enrolled at the 300 level will conduct more extensive analysis of data for their seminar papers. 6 cr., SS; SI, QRE, Not offered in 2010-2011.

POSC 305. Issues in American Democracy* Cross-listed with POSC.205. Is direct citizen rule through participatory democracy or a reliance on policymaking by officeholders the best way to govern America? This seminar addresses the question by examining several topics--the levels of political knowledge and interest among the public, the impact of interest groups in national government, and the operation of popular rule through initiatives and referendums in American states. 6 cr., SS; SI, Spring—S. Schier

POSC 306. How Race Matters in American Politics* How do the politics of race and ethnicity influence the modern development of American democracy? Problems of inequality and social marginalization. Racial attitudes and progress toward equality from the civil rights movement of the 1960s to the present. The relationship between protest and electoral politics in African American, Latino, and Asian American communities. Mechanisms for representation of racial-ethnic minorities at the national, state, and local levels of government. Controversies over racial-ethnic policy, such as affirmative action and bilingual education. 6 cr., SS, RAD; SI, IDS, Spring—C. Wong

POSC 308. Poverty and Public Policy* This course will focus on the causes of urban poverty in the United States and the public policy strategies at the state and federal levels for reducing poverty. 6 cr., SS; SI, IDS, Not offered in 2010-2011.

POSC 309. The American Presidency* A study of the contemporary Presidency, with a focus on the development of the institutional Presidency, presidential personality and the presidency's relations with other structures in the American political system. The equivalent of a large research paper will be among the requirements for this course. 6 cr., SS; SI, IDS, Winter—S. Schier

POSC 310. Politics Across Borders* Cross-listed with POSC.210. We live in an age of interdependent national economies. The costs of international travel and communication have declined in recent decades. Do the international political economy and modern technology make it easier for political actors in civil society to extend the reach of their influence across borders? Does the transmission of cultural ideas and practices across borders change the nature of domestic politics? In examining these questions, we will pay particular attention to the politics of human rights, migration, refugees, and labor in the advanced industrial democracies. 6 cr., SS; SI, IS, Not offered in 2010-2011.

POSC 311. Topics in Constitutional Law* This seminar will explore selected themes in constitutional law, examining the historical development of doctrine, the philosophical issues raised by the issues and the contemporary political controversies surrounding the Court's decisions. Topics may include the separation of church and state, freedom of speech, reproductive rights, criminal justice, voting rights, and gender and sexuality in the law. Prerequisite: One of the following: Political Science 206, 271 or 272. 6 cr., SS; SI, Winter—K. Smith

POSC 313. Labor Politics in a Global Age* Cross-listed with POSC 213. How are American unions coping with globalization? As capital mobility puts growing pressures on unions, how are United States labor institutions changing at the national, local, and workplace level? The course compares wage-bargaining institutions and the political representation of unionized labor in North America, Western Europe, and East Asia. Topics include the politics of job loss; the informal economy; gendered labor; and the stance of unions on issues of migration and race. 6 cr., SS; SI, IS, Not offered in 2010-2011.

POSC 316. The Initiative, Referendum and Public Policy* Cross-listed with POSC.216. This course focuses on the direct democracy tools of initiative and referendum. What are the origins of these institutions and in what historical circumstances do citizens turn to them? Policy conflicts over gay marriage, regulation of tobacco, financing of sports stadiums, and the externalities of economic development will be among our topics. Students will be required to write a research paper. 6 cr., SS; SI, IDS, Not offered in 2010-2011.

POSC 319. Protest, Power and Grassroots Organizing: American Social Movements Cross-listed with POSC.219. Why do protest movements form and who joins? How do grassroots movements achieve their aims? This class examines the strategies of grassroots political actors as they organize protest movements in civil society, forge coalitions, and give a voice to the voiceless. Comparisons are drawn between the United States, European, Asian, and Latin American experiences. SS; SI, IDS, Winter—C. Wong

POSC 322. Political Economy of Latin America* A research seminar that focuses on politics and economic development Latin America. Topics include: macroeconomic crisis and industrialization, poverty and inequality, regional integration, state reform and decentralization. Students work on individual research projects of their choosing. 6 cr., SS; SI, IS, QRE, Not offered in 2010-2011.

POSC 323. Cuban Politics Seminar The seminar will examine the major political and economic transitions in Cuban history, beginning with the wars of independence and culminating in the post-Cold War period of the Communist era. Students will engage in original research projects related to the major themes in the course. 6 cr., SS; SI, IS, Winter—A. Montero

POSC 326. America's China Policy* This course examines the factors that shape United States policies toward China. Topics include the early relationships in the 1800s, the problems of the war years, and the strains of the People's Republic era. 6 cr., SS; SI, IS, Fall—R. Grow, B. Levin

POSC 328. Foreign Policy Analysis* Foreign policy analysis is a distinct sub-field within international relations that focuses on explaining the actions and choices of actors in world politics. After a review of the historical development of the sub-field, we will explore approaches to foreign policy that emphasize the empirical testing of hypotheses that explain how policies and choices are formulated and implemented. The psychological sources of foreign policy decisions (including leaders' beliefs and personalities and the effect of decision-making groups) are a central theme. Completion of a lower level IR course and the stats/methods sequence is recommended. 6 cr., SS; SI, QRE, Not offered in 2010-2011.

POSC 329. Vietnam, Iraq, and American Policy* This course will examine and compare the factors which led to America's involvement in the Vietnam War of the 1960’s and the Iraq War that began in 2003. Discussions will focus on the domestic and foreign policy issues that shaped American public perceptions, and investigate both government policies and military strategies. The class will also discuss the impact of both conflicts on the course of American foreign policy. 6 cr., SS; SI, IS, Not offered in 2010-2011.

POSC 330. The Complexity of Politics* Theories of complexity and emergence relate to how large-scale collective properties and characteristics of a system can arise from the behavior and attributes of component parts. This course explores the relevance of these concepts, studied mainly in physics and biology, for the social sciences. Students will explore agent-based modeling to discover emergent properties of social systems through computer simulations they create using NetLogo software. Reading and seminar discussion topics include conflict and cooperation, electoral competition, transmission of culture and social networks. Completion of the stats/methods sequence is highly recommended. 6 cr., SS; SI, QRE, Fall—G. Marfleet

POSC 332. Religion and Politics* In this class, we will investigate the relationship between politics and religion around the world. It is not a class on theology or belief systems. Instead, we will focus on describing and explaining how religious beliefs and organizations affect political outcomes and vice-versa. Topics will include the relationship between religion and the state, the political dimensions of religious movements, the religious dimensions of political movements, and how religious perspectives on such issues as gender, sexuality, race, and war reinforce or clash with political values and policy. 6 cr., SS; SI, IS, Not offered in 2010-2011.

POSC 333. Sustainability Science* This course is about the science of integrating social changes and environmental changes to understand and to be able to advance analytical concepts, research methods, and theories of society-nature interactions. Scholars in the field of sustainability science work to understand, explain, and predict both qualitative and quantitative changes that have occurred in society and nature. Students will learn fundamental theories and concepts that explain linkages between social change and environmental changes; gain methods and skills to measure social changes qualitatively and quantitatively; and gain critical thinking and writing skills by using climate change data and social change data. 6 cr., SS, WR; SI, WR2, IS, QRE, Not offered in 2010-2011.

POSC 345. Guerillas, Warlords and Bandits: The Art of Asymmetric War* Guerilla insurgencies are a special kind of war and present special problems for foreign policy formation and military response. This course looks at historical cases and theoretical propositions that range from Sun Zi The Art of War to Mao Zedong, Vo Nguyen Giap, and Che Guevara. Case studies from China, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, early United States, and South America. Examination of strategies based on Chinese game of WeiQi (Go) as opposed to western Chess. 6 cr., SS; SI, IS, Not offered in 2010-2011.

POSC 346. Spies, Rogues and Statesmen: Intelligence and the Formation of Foreign Policy* Collecting and interpreting information--real and not-so-real--ripples across the making of defense strategy and foreign policy. This seminar examines the link between intelligence gathering and policy formation. Case studies from WWII, the Cold War, the Vietnam era, and the Iraqi Wars. 6 cr., SS; SI, IS, Fall—R. Grow

POSC 347. America and Its Wars* War has a special place in American history and this course will look at the changing role of armed conflict in American foreign policy. The course will be based on a series of case studies and the class will look at "large wars" such as World War II and smaller "limited engagements" in Asia and Latin America. Students will examine the debates about strategies and tactics in each of these conflicts and then merge their insights from the case studies with arguments from the larger theoretical literature about war and its role in foreign policy. 6 cr., SS; SI, IS, Not offered in 2010-2011.

POSC 349. Ideology and Power* Ideology is a rather new concept (end of the eighteenth century), but it already has an intense, turbulent, still unfolding history. We will discuss and analyze different theories of ideology from the nineteenth and twentieth century: How do social structures and interests shape ideas? How do ideas affect political practice and how do they help legitimize political power? Can politics overcome ideology and develop a more scientific outlook on society? What role do intellectual and political elites play in these processes? We will read authors such as K. Marx, M. Weber, K. Mannheim, J. Habermas, M. Foucault, and P. Ricoeur. 6 cr., SS; HI, Offered in alternate years. Not offered in 2010-2011.

POSC 350. Nietzsche and Political Philosophy* Perhaps no thinker has influenced the thought of the current age as much as Friedrich Nietzsche, whose critique of rationalism, modernity, and liberalism gave rise to what we now know as post-modernism. But Nietzsche was not only a critic. He also propounded a positive political teaching grounded in a comprehensive interpretation of human life. In this course we will engage in a close study of Beyond Good and Evil, Nietzsche's most overtly political book and perhaps his most beautiful one. Selections from some of his other books will also be assigned. 6 cr., SS; HI, Winter—L. Cooper

POSC 352. Political Theory of Alexis de Tocqueville* This course will be devoted to close study of Tocqueville's Democracy in America, which has plausibly been described as the best book ever written about democracy and the best book every written about America. Tocqueville uncovers the myriad ways in which equality, including especially the passion for equality, determines the character and the possibilities of modern humanity. Tocqueville thereby provides a political education that is also an education toward self-knowledge. 6 cr., SS, WR; HI, WR2, IS, Not offered in 2010-2011.

POSC 355. Identity, Culture and Rights* This course will look at the contemporary debate in multiculturalism in the context of a variety of liberal philosophical traditions, including contractarians, libertarians, and Utilitarians. These views of the relationship of individual to community will be compared to those of the communitarian and egalitarian traditions. Research papers may use a number of feminist theory frameworks and methods. 6 cr., SS, WR; SI, WR2, IS, Offered in alternate years. Winter—B. Allen

POSC 358. Comparative Social Movements* This course will examine the role that social movements play in political life. The first part of the course will critically review the major theories that have been developed to explain how social movements form, operate and seek to influence politics at both the domestic and international levels. In the second part of the course, these theoretical approaches will be used to explore a number of case studies involving social movements that span several different issue areas and political regions. Potential case studies include the transnational environmental movement, religious movements in Latin America and the recent growth of far right activism in northern Europe. 6 cr., SS; SI, IS, Fall—D. Gupta

POSC 360. Political Economy Seminar* This seminar will use a number of contemporary theories to evaluate political economy phenomena. The class will include case studies, simulation exercises and field trips. 6 cr., SS; SI, IS, QRE, Spring—R. Grow

POSC 361. Approaches to Development* The meaning of "development" has been contested across multiple disciplines. The development and continual existence of past civilizations has been at the core of the discourse among those who study factors leading to the rise and fall of civilizations. Can we reconcile the meaning of development in economic terms with cultural, ecological, political, religious, social and spiritual terms? How can we measure it quantitatively? What and how do the UNDP Human Development Indexes and the World Development Reports measure? What are the exemplary cases that illustrate development? How do individual choices and patterns of livelihood activities link to development trends? 6 cr., SS, WR; SI, WR2, IS, QRE, Not offered in 2010-2011.

POSC 362. Globalization and the State* We will examine how and to what extent the processes of globalization are changing notions and practices of state sovereignty. Given that scholars do not agree on the definition of either state sovereignty or globalization, this is no easy task. We will begin by examining the historic development of state since the seventeenth century and how notions of state sovereignty have changed, to better understand how economic integration, the communications revolution and the growing importance of global civil society (globalization) are (re)shaping states. We will explore how globalization influences state behavior in the international realm and within its own borders. 6 cr., SS; SI, IS, Not offered in 2010-2011.

POSC 364. Capitalism and Its Critics* This research seminar examines the major debates in studies of contemporary capitalism in advanced capitalist and developing countries around the world. Moving beyond the classic theoretical debates of liberal, Marxist, developmentalist, and post-industrial arguments, the seminar will focus on recent debates concerning changes in labor markets, class structures, production systems, political institutions and social distribution, corporate governance, the multilateral system (e.g., IMF, the World Bank), supranational entities such as the European Union, and critical approaches on economic development, including new studies of the informal labor market. 6 cr., SS; SI, IS, QRE, Fall—A. Montero

POSC 366. Urban Political Economy* Cross-listed with POSC.266. City revenue is increasingly dependent on tourism. Cities manufacture identity and entertainment, whether we think of Las Vegas or Jerusalem, Berlin or Bilbao, the ethnoscapes of Copenhagen or the red light district of Amsterdam. As cities compete in the global economy to become playgrounds for a transnational tourist class, what is the role of urban residents? Who governs? Who benefits? A research paper will be required. 6 cr., SS; SI, IS, Spring—R. Keiser

POSC 367. Suburbanization in America* The process of suburbanization transformed the United States in a revolutionary way, yet this was a quiet revolution. Both the causes and consequences of suburbanization can be found in the country's politics, race relations, economy, literature and popular imagery, architecture and design, and our definition of community. This course will take an explicitly interdisciplinary approach to these topics. Prerequisite: Political Science 122 or American Studies 345. 6 cr., SS; SI, IDS, Not offered in 2010-2011.

POSC 378. Beijing Program: Chinese Social and Political Institutions On-site examination and evaluation of important institutions (i.e., banks, hospitals, environment offices, middle schools, etc.) that shape the Chinese economic and political process. Students may take this course or optional 3-credit Chinese language course that is taught at three levels­depending on the student's proficiency. 3 cr., SS; SI, IS, Not offered in 2010-2011.

POSC 379. Beijing Program: Chinese Decision Making This course would be based on simulation exercise­--which is already part of the seminar--but restructured and expanded to place exercise in more exact theoretical frame. 3 cr., SS; SI, IS, Not offered in 2010-2011.

POSC 381. Beijing Program: Politics of Economic Development This is a cross-disciplinary program in which students from different academic departments analyze the economy of China, investigate the government institutions that develop and shape Chinese policy, and meet the people who make policy work. The seminar will combine classroom study with visits to economic agencies, government organizations, and industrial and commercial sites. 6 cr., SS, RAD; SI, IS, Not offered in 2010-2011.

POSC 382. Beijing Program: Chinese Economics in Transition This course introduces the student to China's historical, political, and economic development in the twentieth century. The primary framework applied is an analysis of the strategies and outcomes of economic development within the context of a particular socialist economic and political system. While focusing mainly on political-economic philosophies within real economic constraints. Prerequisites: Economics 110 and 111. 6 cr., SS; SI, IS, Not offered in 2010-2011.

POSC 383. European Political Economy Seminar in Madrid and Maastricht: Politics of the European Union This course examines the formation, development, institutions, laws, and policies of the European Union, with special emphasis on current issues arising from the Maastricht and Amsterdam Treaty revisions in the 1990s. Students will be divided into smaller groups to focus on different policy areas during the last two weeks of the course. 6 cr., SS; SI, IS, Spring—A. Montero

POSC 388. European Political Economy Seminar in Madrid and Maastricht:Spanish Politics and Political Economy This seminar will examine the institutions, actors, and movements that made Spanish democracy possible and that govern this country today. Students will explore class, gender, ethnic, and nationalist cleavages in Spanish society and learn how they have shaped institutions at the national and subnational levels. Instruction will include travel to sites outside the Madrid region. Instruction in this course will also complement the research assignment of the Spanish portion of POSC 392. 6 cr., SS; SI, IS, Spring—A. Montero

POSC 392. European Political Economy Seminar in Madrid and Maastricht: Comparative Field Research Methods Students will be divided into teams to conduct two sustained research projects. The first will take place in Spain during the first half of the program and will involve systematic interviewing of Spanish political party and government elites in several regions of Spain. The second-half assignment will focus on an elite survey in Brussels as part of Political Science 383. As part of the regular instruction for these projects, students will be coached on how to prepare contacts, work with official sources, research and use of primary documents, conduct on-site interviews and visits, find solutions to the language barrier problem, and deal with other aspects of fieldwork research in comparative politics. 6 cr., S/CR/NC, ND; NE, Spring—A. Montero

POSC 400. Integrative Exercise 6 cr., S/NC, ND; NE, Fall,Winter,Spring—Staff