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; Social Sciences; offered Fall 2009, Winter 2010 -- C. Heurlin, 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; Social Sciences; offered Fall 2009, Winter 2010, Spring 2010 -- 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; Social Sciences; offered Fall 2009, Winter 2010, Spring 2010 -- L. Cooper, J. Schlosser, K. Smith

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; Social Sciences; offered Winter 2010, Spring 2010 -- R. Grow, T. Myint

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; Social Sciences; not offered 2009-2010

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; Social Sciences; offered Fall 2009 -- B. Allen

POSC 204: Media and American Politics: Special Election Edition

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 election 2008 using content analysis and other research methods. Students interested in further political analysis should also take POSC 230 special version (Marfleet) same term. 6; Social Sciences; not offered 2009-2010

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; Social Sciences; not offered 2009-2010

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; Social Sciences; not offered 2009-2010

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; Social Sciences; offered Fall 2009 -- R. Keiser

POSC 209: The Power of Citizenship: Neighborhood Mobilization

Neighborhood-based community organizing can be an effective form of action for citizens at the same time that it reinvigorates democratic practices. In this course we will explore concepts of democracy, power and identity as we examine cases of community organizing in the U.S. When and why do people in a neighborhood come together to take political action? What are the obstacles to community-based political action? What are its limits? Possibilities? What is the role of experts? What should it be? What about the role of government? How do governmental structures, particular circumstances, and social expectations interact? 6; Social Sciences; offered Winter 2010 -- P. Cavanaugh

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; Social Sciences; not offered 2009-2010

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; Social Sciences; not offered 2009-2010

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 U.S. 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; Social Sciences; not offered 2009-2010

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; Social Sciences; not offered 2009-2010

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; Social Sciences; offered Fall 2009 -- R. Keiser

POSC 219: Protest, Power & Grassroots Organizing: American Social Movements

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 U.S., European, Asian, and Latin American experiences. 6; Social Sciences; offered Winter 2010 -- C. Huerlin

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; Social Sciences; not offered 2009-2010

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 U.S.-Latin American relations. 6; Social Sciences; not offered 2009-2010

POSC 224: Migration Politics: Asian American and Latino Experiences

Exploration of forces that shape U.S. immigration and refugee policy. How do politics centered on economic interest and identity politics interact in the making of immigration policy? Do powerful business interests mainly determine the vicissitudes of immigration policy? Or do naturalized immigrant voters, organized ethnic groups and grassroots movements for immigrant rights play an important role? Comparison of experiences of entry, exclusion, and incorporation of Hmong, Vietnamese, Chinese, Indian, Mexican, and Salvadoran migrants. 6; Social Sciences; not offered 2009-2010

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; Social Sciences; not offered 2009-2010

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; Social Sciences; offered Winter 2010 -- B. Allen

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; Social Sciences; offered Fall 2009 -- T. Myint

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; Does not fulfill a distribution requirement; offered Fall 2009, Spring 2010 -- G. Marfleet

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; Social Sciences; not offered 2009-2010

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; Social Sciences; offered Spring 2010 -- A. Montero

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; Social Sciences; not offered 2009-2010

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; Social Sciences; offered Spring 2010 -- 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; Social Sciences; not offered 2009-2010

POSC 245: Comparative Environmental Politics and Policy

Environmental politics and policy can differ significantly in different national contexts. When countries take divergent approaches to defining and addressing environmental problems, it can lead to tensions at the international level. We will compare national approaches to environmental politics and policymaking, exploring the impact of institutions, culture, economic interests and the historical development of national environmental and other civil society movements on these processes. 6; Social Sciences; not offered 2009-2010

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; Social Sciences; not offered 2009-2010

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; Social Sciences; not offered 2009-2010

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; Social Sciences; offered Winter 2010 -- J. Schlosser

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; Social Sciences; offered Spring 2010 -- R. Grow

POSC 257: American Environmental Thought

The development of American thinking about nature and humanity's relationship to it covering from the nineteenth century to the present. Representative figures include Henry David Thoreau, John Muir, Aldo Leopold, Rachel Carson, and Barry Commoner. 6; Social Sciences; not offered 2009-2010

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 support­or 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; Social Sciences; not offered 2009-2010

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; Social Sciences; offered Spring 2010 -- J. Schlosser

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; Social Sciences; not offered 2009-2010

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; Social Sciences; not offered 2009-2010

POSC 264: China on the Rise: The Politics of Contemporary China

This course examines the political, social and economic transformation of China over the past thirty years. Students will explore the transformation of the countryside from a primarily agricultural society into the factory of the world. Particular emphasis will be placed on economic development and how this has changed state-society relations at the grassroots. The class will explore these changes among farmers, the working class and the emerging middle class. Students will also explore how the Chinese Communist Party has survived and even thrived while many other Communist regimes have fallen and assess the relationship between economic development and democratization. 6; Social Sciences; offered Fall 2009 -- C. Heurlin

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; Social Sciences; offered Winter 2010 -- 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; Social Sciences; offered Winter 2010 -- 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; Social Sciences; offered Fall 2009 -- 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; Social Sciences; offered Fall 2009 -- 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; Social Sciences; offered Winter 2010 -- 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 U.S. 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; Social Sciences; not offered 2009-2010

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; Social Sciences; not offered 2009-2010

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; Social Sciences; offered Winter 2010 -- B. Allen

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; S/CR/NC; Social Sciences; offered Winter 2010 -- S. Schier

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; Social Sciences; offered Fall 2009 -- B. Allen

POSC 305: 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; Social Sciences; not offered 2009-2010

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; Social Sciences, Recognition and Affirmation of Difference Requirement; not offered 2009-2010

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; Social Sciences; not offered 2009-2010

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; Social Sciences; offered Fall 2009 -- 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; Social Sciences; not offered 2009-2010

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; Social Sciences; offered Spring 2010 -- 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 U.S. 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; Social Sciences; not offered 2009-2010

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; Social Sciences; offered Spring 2010 -- R. Keiser

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; Social Sciences; offered Fall 2009 -- 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; Social Sciences; not offered 2009-2010

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; Social Sciences; offered Winter 2010 -- G. Marfleet

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; Social Sciences; not offered 2009-2010

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; Social Sciences; not offered 2009-2010

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; Social Sciences; not offered 2009-2010

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; Social Sciences; not offered 2009-2010

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; Social Sciences; not offered 2009-2010 -- 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; Social Sciences; not offered 2009-2010

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; Social Sciences; offered Fall 2009 -- R. Grow, B. Levin

POSC 350: Political Philosophy and the Book of Genesis*

Much of the moral and political architecture of the post-modern, secular world traces back to pre-modern, religious scriptures--especially Genesis, the first book of the Bible. For this reason alone Genesis deserves attention. But there are even stronger reasons: With its accounts of creation, humanity’s relation to nature and the divine, human aspiration and failure, the origins of community, and the good life for both individuals and societies, Genesis offers enormous riches even for those who approach it from an "external" philosophic standpoint (as we will in this class) rather than an "internal" religious one. Readings include Genesis and commentary. 6; Social Sciences; offered Fall 2009 -- L. Cooper

POSC 351: Political Theory of Martin Luther King, Jr.*

This seminar will examine the speeches, writings, and life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Students will study King as an example of the responsible citizen envisioned by the theory expressed in The Federalist, as a contributor to the discourse of civil religion, and as a figure in recent American social history. Prerequisites: Political Science 122 or introductory history course. 6; Social Sciences, Recognition and Affirmation of Difference Requirement; not offered 2009-2010

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; Social Sciences; not offered 2009-2010

POSC 355: Contemporary Feminist Thought: 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. Prerequisites: Women's and Gender Studies 110 or any political theory, feminist philosophy, or political philosophy course. 6; Social Sciences; not offered 2009-2010

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; Social Sciences; not offered 2009-2010

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; Social Sciences; not offered 2009-2010

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; Social Sciences; offered Winter 2010 -- T. Myint

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; Social Sciences; not offered 2009-2010

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; Social Sciences; not offered 2009-2010

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; Social Sciences; offered Winter 2010 -- 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; Social Sciences; not offered 2009-2010

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; Social Sciences; not offered 2009-2010

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; Social Sciences; not offered 2009-2010

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; Social Sciences; not offered 2009-2010

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; Social Sciences; not offered 2009-2010

POSC 383: Maastricht Program: 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; Social Sciences; not offered 2009-2010

POSC 400: Integrative Exercise

6; S/NC; Does not fulfill a distribution requirement; offered Fall 2009, Winter 2010, Spring 2010 -- Staff