POSC 100: Cosmos or Chaos: Views of the World, Views of the Good Life

This seminar is based on the premise that what we believe about the fundamental metaphysical questions inevitably shapes what we believe about living a good life as human beings. Is the world naturally harmonious, or full of strife? Is it governed by divine will, or is there nothing that outranks human will? Does existence have an intrinsic purpose? We will investigate several classic answers to these questions and their implications for human life. Readings will be drawn from ancient, modern, and contemporary texts, from Homer, Plato and the Bible to Nietzsche and the current day. 6 credit; AI, WR1; offered Fall 2011 -- L. Cooper

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 credit; Social Sciences, WR, SI, WR2, IS; offered Winter 2012, Spring 2012 -- D. Gupta

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 credit; Social Sciences, SI, QRE, IDS; offered Fall 2011, Winter 2012, Spring 2012 -- 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 credit; Social Sciences, HI; offered Fall 2011, Winter 2012, Spring 2012 -- 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 credit; Social Sciences, WR, SI, WR2, IS; offered Fall 2011, Winter 2012, Spring 2012 -- R. Grow, G. Marfleet, T. Myint

POSC 201: National Policymaking

We will explore factors that influence public policy in the U.S., beginning with the politics of the policy formation process, including nongovernmental actors (corporations, media, nonprofit organizations, citizens, interest groups), and major governmental institutions. We will discuss fundamental American political concepts such as liberty, power, and democracy, and the role of citizens. Our goals are to increase understanding of the wide array of political factors that determine the feasibility and/or desirability of a particular course of action in response to a perceived problem, and to evaluate the status of various kinds of knowledge claims, including sources of credibility. Prerequisites: POSC 122 or sophomore standing 6 credit; Social Sciences, SI, IDS; offered Winter 2012 -- P. Cavanaugh

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 credit; Social Sciences, SI, IDS; offered Spring 2012 -- 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 credit; Social Sciences, LA, QRE; not offered 2011-2012

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 credit; Social Sciences, SI, QRE; not offered 2011-2012

POSC 205: Issues in American Democracy

Cross-listed with POSC 305. 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 credit; Social Sciences, SI; offered Winter 2012 -- 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 credit; Social Sciences, WR, SI, WR2; not offered 2011-2012

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 credit; Social Sciences, SI, IS; not offered 2011-2012

POSC 209: Place, Politics, and Citizen Mobilization

Citizen mobilization often centers around environmental problems or other controversies about the shape of community landscapes. We will explore concepts of democracy, power, identity, and sense of place as we examine cases of citizen mobilization. The class will research a current case study of an environmental controversy that gave rise to citizen mobilization. When and why do people in a community mobilize? What are the obstacles to community-based political action? How do local communities mobilize to meet the challenge of broader issues, such as climate change? Are the Occupy protests similar to community-based mobilization? 6 credit; Social Sciences, SI, IDS; offered Spring 2012 -- P. Cavanaugh

POSC 211: Institutional Diversity and Environmental Complexity

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 credit; Social Sciences, SI, IS; not offered 2011-2012

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 credit; Social Sciences, SI, QRE, IS; offered Winter 2012 -- K. Smith

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 credit; Social Sciences, LA, QRE; not offered 2011-2012

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 credit; Social Sciences, SI, QRE, IS; not offered 2011-2012

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 credit; Social Sciences, SI, IDS; not offered 2011-2012

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? Prerequisites: Sophomore Standing 6 credit; Social Sciences, SI, IDS; offered Fall 2011 -- 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 credit; Social Sciences, SI, IDS; not offered 2011-2012 -- 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 credit; Social Sciences, LA, IS; not offered 2011-2012

POSC 222: The Politics of Food: Producers, Consumers and Citizenship

Although what we eat everyday is familiar and biologically intimate, it is also a part of a complex political system. In this course we will learn about and reflect upon the political aspects of food in the U.S. Topics include food history, agribusiness, local food movements, food policy, and social justice. What influences the way we eat? How did ignorance about food become the norm in the U.S.? The course will include guest speakers and possibly field trips. 6 credit; Social Sciences, SI, IDS; offered Spring 2012 -- P. Cavanaugh

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 credit; Social Sciences, SI, QRE; not offered 2011-2012

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 credit; Social Sciences, SI, QRE; not offered 2011-2012

POSC 228: Foucault: Bodies in Politics

Are human bodies the sites where political power is constituted and legitimized? Are they sites of resistance and change, through which the construction of alternative identities and forms of discourse is incited and made possible? Drawing on philosophical, historical, and literary resources this course will explore different ways in which human bodies become politically significant. While the course will take its leading idea from Foucault’s notion of biopolitics, it will expand its approach in a direction that will include feminist perspectives, as well as prison memories from survivors and witnesses of totalitarian/authoritarian political regimes. 6 credit; Social Sciences, HI; offered Fall 2011 -- M. Czobor-Lupp

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 credit; Social Sciences, WR, SI, WR2, QRE, IS; not offered 2011-2012

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, 215, 245, 265, 275 or AP Statistics (score of 4 or 5). 6 credit; WR, Does not fulfill a distribution requirement, SI, WR2, QRE; offered Fall 2011, Winter 2012, Spring 2012 -- G. Marfleet, D. Gupta, 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 credit; Social Sciences, SI; offered Winter 2012 -- 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 credit; Social Sciences, SI, QRE, IS; not offered 2011-2012

POSC 234: State, Society and International Relations of the Middle East

The course introduces students to social and political realities in the Middle East. A central theme is the "state," a relatively new form of social and political organization shaped largely by European colonialism. Though varying in their degree of "stateness" and capabilities, states in the Middle East have been pivotal agents of modernization as well as of shaping the region's political order in the face of revisionist ideologies, domestic and regional conflicts, international interference, and the constant quest for security. 6 credit; Social Sciences, SI, IS; offered Fall 2011 -- A. Sela

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 credit; Social Sciences, WR, SI, WR2, QRE, IS; not offered 2011-2012

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 credit; Social Sciences, SI, IS; offered Fall 2011 -- B. Levin

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 credit; Social Sciences, SI, QRE, IS; offered Fall 2011 -- 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 credit; Social Sciences, SI, IS; not offered 2011-2012

POSC 249: Theories of International Relations

This course will acquaint students with the most important approaches in the study of international relations. It does so, first, by exploring a range of theoretical approaches to international politics and the empirical and normative challenges they raise; and second, by locating these approaches in a wider disciplinary, historical and geographical context. We will consider the ways in which historians, philosophers and sociologists have attempted to understand phenomena that are beyond the purview of the nation state. The course will also focus on the history and emergence of modern International Relations theory and introduce non-Western approaches to international questions. 6 credit; Social Sciences, HI; offered Spring 2012 -- P. Petzschmann

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 credit; Social Sciences, HI; not offered 2011-2012

POSC 251: Modern Political Philosophy

The modern age has been characterized by the unprecedented advance of natural science and the attempt to achieve technological mastery of nature. How did this come about? What worldview does this express, and how does that worldview affect the way we live and think? We will investigate these questions by studying classic works by some of modernity’s philosophic founders (including Bacon, Descartes, and Hobbes) and some of its most penetrating interpreters and critics (including Jonathan Swift and Nietzsche). 6 credit; Social Sciences, HI; offered Fall 2011 -- L. Cooper

POSC 252: Herodotus and the Origin of Political Philosophy

Cross-listed with POSC 350. This course will be devoted to close study of Herodotus' Histories, a rich and delightful book that defies easy description. Herodotus has much to teach us about great questions of freedom and despotism, war and peace, and empire. He was also arguably the first great thinker to explore cultural diversity and the larger questions it raises, including questions of particularism versus universalism and nature versus convention. Students will write three 7-8 page papers and give informal class presentations. 6 credit; Social Sciences, HI, IS; not offered 2011-2012 -- L. Cooper

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 credit; Social Sciences, HI; not offered 2011-2012

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 credit; Social Sciences, SI; not offered 2011-2012

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 credit; Social Sciences, HI; not offered 2011-2012

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. Prerequisites: Recommend prior coursework in Political Philosophy or Philsophy. 6 credit; Social Sciences, HI; not offered 2011-2012

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 credit; Social Sciences, HI; not offered 2011-2012

POSC 259: Justice Among Nations

This course will attempt to bring to bear great works of political philosophy on the central questions of international relations, questions concerning both the moral basis of power and the character of international politics. Readings will be drawn from ancient and modern political philosophy and will culminate in an analysis and evaluation of contemporary international relations theory in light of these earlier thinkers. 6 credit; Social Sciences, SI; offered Spring 2012 -- L. Cooper

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 credit; Social Sciences, HI; not offered 2011-2012

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 credit; Social Sciences, SI, QRE, IS; not offered 2011-2012

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 credit; Social Sciences, SI, QRE, IS; offered Winter 2012 -- A. Montero

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 credit; Social Sciences, SI, IDS; not offered 2011-2012

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 credit; Social Sciences, WR, SI, WR2, QRE, IS; offered Winter 2012 -- T. Myint

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 credit; Social Sciences, SI; offered Fall 2011 -- K. Smith

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 credit; Social Sciences, SI; offered Winter 2012 -- K. Smith

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 credit; Social Sciences, SI, IS; not offered 2011-2012

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 credit; Social Sciences, SI, IDS; not offered 2011-2012

POSC 276: Arendt: Imagination and Politics

We will investigate Hannah Arendt’s conception of the political power of imagination, and explore the role hyperactive aesthetic imagination plays in the creation and mass dissemination of extreme political ideologies (i.e., tribal nationalism, racism, and Antisemitism). We will also examine how a benign active imagination, which is, nevertheless, essential to political judgment and political thinking in general, is possible at all. Readings will include The Origins of Totalitarianism, Eichmann in Jerusalem, The Jewish Writings, The Human Condition, and several of Arendt’s essays on writers, such as G. E. Lessing, Heinrich Heine, Franz Kafka, Isak Dinesen, Bertolt Brecht, and Hermann Broch. 6 credit; Social Sciences, HI; offered Spring 2012 -- 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 credit; Social Sciences, SI, QRE, IS; offered Winter 2012 -- B. Allen

POSC 288: Washington D.C.: A Global Conversation Part I

Students will participate in a seminar involving meetings with leading Washington figures in areas of global policy making and regular discussions of related readings. 6 credit; Social Sciences, SI, IS; offered Spring 2012 -- G. Marfleet

POSC 289: Washington D.C. Seminar: A Global Conversation Part II

Students will engage with leading scholars and practitioners in the field of political communication to learn how mass media, particularly TV news, influences politics. We will be especially attentive to United States news coverage of international events in new and old media and its importance in international relations, domestic perceptions of global political concerns (e.g. climate change and universal declarations of human rights). Our seminar readings will draw on research in political psychology and democratic theory. 6 credit; Social Sciences, SI, IDS; offered Spring 2012 -- B. Allen

POSC 293: Washington D.C. Seminar: Global Conservation Internship

6 credit; Does not fulfill a distribution requirement, NE; offered Spring 2012 -- B. Allen, G. Marfleet

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 credit; Social Sciences, SI, QRE; not offered 2011-2012

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 credit; Social Sciences, SI; offered Winter 2012 -- 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 credit; Social Sciences, Recognition and Affirmation of Difference Requirement, SI, IDS; offered Spring 2012 -- R. Keiser

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 credit; Social Sciences, SI, IDS; not offered 2011-2012

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 credit; Social Sciences, SI, IDS; not offered 2011-2012

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, 270, 271. 6 credit; Social Sciences, SI; not offered 2011-2012

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 credit; Social Sciences, SI, IDS; not offered 2011-2012

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. 6 credit; Social Sciences, SI, IDS; not offered 2011-2012 -- 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 credit; Social Sciences, SI, QRE, IS; not offered 2011-2012

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 credit; Social Sciences, SI, IS; not offered 2011-2012

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 credit; Social Sciences, SI, IS; not offered 2011-2012

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 credit; Social Sciences, SI, QRE; not offered 2011-2012

POSC 329: Vietnam and American Policy*

This course will examine the factors that shaped America's involvement in the Vietnam War of the 1960’s. Comparisons with America’s role in the Afghan and Iraq Wars in the twenty-first century. 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 look at the impact of all three conflicts on the course of American foreign policy. 6 credit; Social Sciences, SI, IS; offered Spring 2012 -- R. Grow, B. Levin

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 credit; Social Sciences, SI, QRE; offered Fall 2011 -- 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 credit; Social Sciences, SI, IS; offered Fall 2011 -- D. Gupta

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 credit; Social Sciences, WR, SI, WR2, QRE, IS; offered Spring 2012 -- T. Myint

POSC 342: War, Diplomacy and Peacemaking

The course begins with a review of the theoretical literature explaining the causes of war and the conditions determining their management and settlement. This process is particularly complex in cases of shifting from protracted conflict to diplomacy, stabilization of coexistence and peace in domestic, regional and international contexts. The second part of the course examines the case of the Arab-Israeli conflict and American involvement in an effort to bring about its settlement. This part assumes a regional approach which examines the ability of individual Arab and Muslim states to act autonomously of supra-state pan-Arab and pan-Islamic ideologies. 6 credit; Social Sciences, SI, IS; offered Fall 2011 -- A. Sela

POSC 344: Black Masks and Bombs: The Logic of Political Terrorism*

The "war on terror" has changed the logic and direction of America's foreign policy. This course examines the logic and practice of political terror, the theoretical arguments that shape the use of terror as a political instrument, and the debates about counter-terror policies. 6 credit; Social Sciences, SI, IS; not offered 2011-2012

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 credit; Social Sciences, SI, IS; offered Fall 2011 -- R. Grow

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 credit; Social Sciences, SI, IS; not offered 2011-2012

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 credit; Social Sciences, SI, IS; not offered 2011-2012

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 credit; Social Sciences, HI; not offered 2011-2012

POSC 350: Herodotus and the Origin of Political Philosophy

This course will be devoted to close study of Herodotus' Histories, a rich and delightful book that defies easy description. Herodotus has much to teach us about great questions of freedom and despotism, war and peace, and empire. He was also arguably the first great thinker to explore cultural diversity and the larger questions it raises, including questions of particularism versus universalism and nature versus convention. Students taking the course at the 300-level must write a twenty page seminar paper and a shorter interpretive paper and must give a formal class presentation. 6 credit; Social Sciences, HI, IS; offered Winter 2012 -- 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 credit; Social Sciences, WR, HI, WR2, IS; offered Fall 2011 -- B. Allen

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 credit; Social Sciences, WR, SI, WR2, IS; not offered 2011-2012

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 credit; Social Sciences, SI, IS; not offered 2011-2012

POSC 359: Cosmopolitanism*

Is cosmopolitanism just a form of disguised imperialism or does it represent a genuine recognition and incorporation of diversity in ways that make the world a moral community? How are we to deal with strangers and foreigners? Do we have duties to strangers? Is hospitality a human right? Is it realistic to think that we can develop trans-national forms of democracy? This course will address these and other questions through a dialogue with thinkers as diverse as: Im. Kant, J. G. Herder, J. Habermas, S. Benhabib, A. Appiah, S. Muthu, J. Derrida, and B. Honig. 6 credit; Social Sciences, HI; offered Winter 2012 -- M. Czobor-Lupp

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 credit; Social Sciences, WR, SI, WR2, QRE, IS; offered Winter 2012 -- T. Myint

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 credit; Social Sciences, SI, QRE, IS; offered Fall 2011 -- A. Montero

POSC 365: Political Economy of Global Tourism*

As manufacturing has migrated to places with cheaper labor, many cities have turned to tourism to attract capital, employ low-skilled labor, and develop a niche in the global economy. We will pay particular attention to the consequences, for cities and their inhabitants, of the policy of tourism-driven economic development. We will also consider what it is that is being manufactured, marketed and sold in the tourist economy. Our investigation will proceed in an interdisciplinary manner, with inquiry into the political, sociological, anthropological, and economic consequences of tourism. Prerequisites: There are no prerequisites but participation in a college-level study abroad program will be an asset. 6 credit; Social Sciences, SI, IS; offered Winter 2012 -- R. Keiser

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 credit; Social Sciences, SI, IS; not offered 2011-2012

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 credit; Social Sciences, SI, IS; not offered 2011-2012

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. Prerequisites: Admission to the European Political Economy Program 6 credit; Social Sciences, SI, IS; not offered 2011-2012

POSC 400: Integrative Exercise

6 credit; S/NC; Does not fulfill a distribution requirement; offered Fall 2011, Winter 2012, Spring 2012 -- Staff