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Courses – Fall 2009
Political Science [top]IR/PSC 101 Introduction to Comparative PoliticsJUMP TO TOPFall 2009 – MWF 10:00-10:50
Political Science Field: Comparative Politics, Introductory Courses International Relations Track: Governance of Nations (C) Typically offered every year This course is an introduction to the study of political science and comparative politics. It focuses on how citizens may be able to control public policies in different modern democracies. The course begins by applying some of these ideas briefly to the American political system. It then turns explicitly to the politics of contemporary Britain, Russia and Germany, examining the political culture, the basic institutional arrangements, the party system, the voters' choices, and the policymaking system in each country. These systems will be compared to each other, to the United States and, occasionally, to other democracies. This course is recommended for those thinking about a major, minor, or cluster in political science, or international relations, and others who are simply interested in learning more about the politics of democracies. PSC 105 Introduction to American PoliticsJUMP TO TOPFall 2009 – MWF 11:00-11:50
Political Science Field: American Politics, Introductory Courses Typically offered every year This course will introduce students to the foundations of American government. Students will examine important political institutions and the linkage mechanisms that connect institutions, political actors, and ordinary American citizens. This course is appropriate for majors and non-majors with an interest in understanding how and why the American political system works as it does. Students will be graded on two midterms, a final exam, and short writing assignments. PSC 201 Political InquiryJUMP TO TOPFall 2009 – TR 11:05-12:20
Political Science Field: Techniques of Analysis Typically offered every year This course introduces students to data analysis in political science. We begin by learning how to describe political data, and then move on to making inferences about political phenomena. Along the way, we address the "science" in political science and the development of hypotheses about political behavior. We will read published research from political science journals that use the techniques we discuss in class. No mathematical knowledge beyond high school algebra is assumed. PSC 201 satisfies the Techniques of Analysis requirement for undergraduate majors and minors in Political Science. PSC 202 Argument in Political ScienceJUMP TO TOPFall 2009 – MWF 11:00-11:50
Political Science Field: Required Course Typically offered every year Students generally take PSC 202 in their sophomore year, but the course is also open to juniors and seniors. The course introduces students to the questions, concepts, and analytical approaches of political scientists. This version of the course focuses on the tension between majority rule and minority rights in the American political tradition. Issues include tyranny of the majority, slavery, individual rights, civic engagement, parties and interest groups, international diplomacy, legislative organization, and representation. Readings are drawn from classic texts in American thought--the Declaration of Independence, "The Federalist," Tocqueville's "Democracy in America," the Gettysburg Address--as well as from books and articles written by contemporary political scientists. PSC 211/211W Public Opinion and VotingJUMP TO TOPFall 2009 – TR 09:40-10:55
Political Science Field: American Politics Typically offered every year Through lecture, readings, and discussion, we will consider major questions involving public opinion and voting. How much do citizens know about government and politics? Does participation make a difference? Do elected officials do what the public wants? We will pay special attention to generational matters. Today's young people (that's you) are said to be uninterested and uninvolved in politics, yet voluntary community service has never been higher. How do we reconcile these facts, and what do we make of it? We will also cover sampling techniques and the interpretation of poll results: when you hear that 70% of the respondents to a national survey support gun control, can you believe it? What else do you need to know in order to interpret results? PSC 216/216W Legislative PoliticsJUMP TO TOPFall 2009 – W 15:25-18:05
Political Science Field: American Politics Typically offered every year This seminar will examine Congress in its dual roles as both a national lawmaking institution and as the nexus of public representation in the policymaking process. We will survey some of the major theories and concepts used to understand and explain the operation of Congress and the behavior of its members. Students will gain a basic understanding of Congress through an examination of the role Congress plays in policymaking and representation, the formal rules that govern its operation, and the interaction that takes place between Congress and other political actors. This course is writing intensive and is most appropriate for juniors and seniors. Students will be graded on class participation, short writing assignments, and a research paper. PSC 222/222W The PresidencyJUMP TO TOPFall 2009 – TR 12:30-13:45
Political Science Field: American Politics Typically offered every 2-3 years This course introduces the major topics and theoretical perspectives in the study of the U.S. presidency. Topics include: rationales for and effects of separation of powers; the presidency in comparative perspective; the nature and origin of the president's influence on policy; the president's role in lawmaking and the veto; presidential management of the executive branch; war powers and the president's role in national security. PSC 223 Constitutional Structure and RightsJUMP TO TOPFall 2009 – T 14:00-16:40
Political Science Field: American Politics Typically offered every year In this course, through the lens of the Constitution and Supreme Court cases, we examine the essential structure of the American legal system (both separation of powers at the federal level and the authority of, and relationship among, states and the federal government), as well as the essential nature of civil rights of citizens vis-à-vis the political order. Topics covered include the nature of the Supreme Court's authority; separation of powers; federal limits on state powers; and individual rights, including economic rights, certain of the rights embraced by the First, Fourth, and Fifth Amendments, and equal protection rights under the Fourteenth Amendment. The ability to read and discuss (as well as place in perspective and disagree with) Supreme Court opinions is an essential part of the course. PSC 237/237W Domestic Social PolicyJUMP TO TOPFall 2009 – MW 15:25-16:40
Political Science Field: American Politics Typically offered every year An examination of major policy issues at the federal level. The normative justifications for governmental actions are discussed as well as the limitations imposed by bureaucracy and the decision-making process. Governmental programs that affect the poor are examined in detail, with special attention paid to an assessment of their impact and alternatives now under consideration. PSC 238 Business and PoliticsJUMP TO TOPFall 2009 – TR 11:05-12:20
Political Science Field: American Politics Typically offered every year In this course we will use the tools of political science and economics to study how corporations affect and are affected by politics. Each meeting will feature a general topic as well as in-depth analysis of cases related to that topic. We will cover a broad range of issues affecting the business world, including regulation, lawmaking, the mass media, interest group mobilization, and corporate social responsibility. Cases will be drawn from areas such as antitrust, transportation,health care, and the environment. Course meetings will generally begin with a short lecture followed by extensive class discussion. PSC 243/243W Environmental PoliticsJUMP TO TOPFall 2009 – TR 11:05-12:20
Political Science Field: American Politics Typically offered every year An examination of environmental issues from a social scientific perspective. Topics covered include the reasons for environmental regulation, the history of environmental policy, the state of contemporary environmental policy, the role of state and local governments, the impact of environmental activists, and a comparison of domestic and international regulation of environmental affairs. Although there is considerable time devoted to lecture, students are encouraged to participate. Each student will also develop and briefly present a research paper which investigates a relevant issue of interest. PSC 246 Women in PoliticsJUMP TO TOPFall 2009 – MW 12:30-13:45
Political Science Field: Associated Courses Typically offered every year This course will explore women's evolving roles in American politics. Topics include: a brief historical review of women's rights; women's roles in social movements; and women in electoral politics and as elected officials. Students will examine the quality of women's political leadership, comparing and contrasting it to the traditional gender-based models. Course readings will be supplemented by video presentations and guest lectures. IR/PSC 261/261W Latin American PoliticsJUMP TO TOPFall 2009 – W 14:00-16:40
Political Science Field: Comparative Politics International Relations Track: Governance of Nations (C) Typically offered every 1-2 years This course provides an introduction to political institutions and institutional reform in contemporary Latin America. The central theme of the course will be to focus on the emergence and functioning of key political institutions in Latin America, including the presidency, the legislature, the system of electoral rules, political parties, the judiciary, and the bureaucracy. The course will draw on a broad range of theoretical perspectives to analyze institutional choice and performance. In addition, the course will consider competing definitions of institutions, evaluate the trade-offs posed by institutional choice, and consider the prospects for institutional reform in the region. IR/PSC 270/270W Mechanisms of International RelationsJUMP TO TOPFall 2009 – T 14:00-16:40
Political Science Field: International Relations International Relations Track: Global Security (A) Typically offered every year The last ten years or so have seen a major revolution in the social sciences. Instead of trying to discover and test grand "covering laws" that have universal validity and tremendous scope (think Newton's gravity or Einstein's relativity), the social sciences are in the process of switching to more narrow and middle-range theories and explanations, often referred to as causal mechanisms. Mechanisms play a crucial role in this new conception of theory in the social sciences. In this course we will examine one particular mechanism each week and see how it has been applied in international political economy and/or security studies. Students will be introduced to formal reasoning in an informal manner. We will explore several substantive themes, such as the "democratic peace," ethnic conflict and international trade to illustrate the mechanisms and cumulative potential of this research approach. IR/PSC 274 Introduction to International Political EconomyJUMP TO TOPTatiana V. Vashchilko
Fall 2009 – MWF 10:00-10:50
Political Science Field: Comparative Politics, International Relations International Relations Track: Political Economy and Development (B) Typically offered every other year This course explores the interaction between politics and economics at the international level as well as between the international and domestic levels, involving various actors such as governments, interest groups, and multinational corporations. As an interdisciplinary field related to both international politics and international economics, international political economy examines the management and openness of the international economy, the determinants of foreign economic policy-making on topics such as trade, foreign exchange, capital controls, the politics of economic development, the effects of domestic political competition on international trade and capital flows, the determinants of regional integration, as well as the spread or containment of international financial crises. Students are expected to complete oral and written assignments which are designed to help them develop their problem solving, writing and presentation skills. IR/PSC 277W International SecurityJUMP TO TOPFall 2009 – MW 14:00-15:15
Political Science Field: Associated Courses International Relations Track: Global Security (A) Typically offered occasionally This course surveys the field of international security. It starts by examining the nature of security, force and the threat of force in the international realm. It then examines the international security problems that emerge from the interactions of the great powers, and considers important historical cases including the August 1914 crisis, the initiation of the Second World War, and the end of the Cold War. During the second half of the course, it examines asymmetric international security problems, including wars with weak states, nuclear proliferation, terrorism, ethnic conflicts, and rising powers. It concludes by considering some of the solutions that have been proposed for the problems of international security, including international organizations, democracy promotion, and integration. IR/PSC 278W War and Political ViolenceJUMP TO TOPFall 2009 – MWF 11:00-11:50
Political Science Field: Associated Courses International Relations Track: Global Security (A) Typically offered occasionally This class addresses several key questions about war and political violence: What is war? How does it relate to other forms of political violence? How do states decide how to fight a war? Why do wars end when they do? How should we think about the nature of war? We will delve into these issues by addressing the theoretical and empirical literature on how wars are fought and how they are ended. Then we will address non-traditional forms of political violence like guerilla warfare and insurgency, civil wars, terrorism, and rioting. The domestic politics of war-fighting, particularly those involving public opinion and civil-military relations will also be examined, as will some of the challenges of conflict resolution. Readings will include both classics of military theory by the likes of Clausewitz, Sun Tzu, and Mao, and work on ethnic conflict, rioting, genocide, and the nature of war and war termination by modern political scientists. IR/PSC 279 War and the Nation StateJUMP TO TOPCross-listed as PSC479
Fall 2009 – R 16:50-19:30
Political Science Field: International Relations International Relations Track: Global Security (A) Typically offered every 2-3 years This course examines the development of warfare and the growth of the state from the French Revolution to the end of the Second World War. We examine the phenomenon of war in its broader socio-economic context, focusing on nationalism, bureaucratization, industrialization and democratization. We will go into some detail on the two major conflicts of the twentieth century, the First and Second World Wars. Students are required to do all the reading. Every student will make a presentation in class on the readings for one class (25% of the grade), and there will be one big final (75%). PSC 283/283W Contemporary Political TheoryJUMP TO TOPFall 2009 – MW 12:30-13:45
Political Science Field: Political Philosophy Typically offered rarely This course deals with the role of vision and representation in current political thought. This is a broad theme. To explore it we will read a variety of critics and theorists such as John Dewey, Michel Foucault, and Susan Sontag. We also will explore efforts in a broad range of visual media such as graphics and photography to envision such matters as race and color, migrations and boundaries, material inequality, and so forth. By analyzing these resources, students will develop their skills, both oral and written, at formulating their own arguments on important political themes. PSC 288 Game TheoryJUMP TO TOPCross-listed as ECO288 Paulo Barelli
Fall 2009 – TR 09:40-10:55
Political Science Field: Positive Theory Typically offered every year The course is an introduction to the application of econometric methods. It covers the basic tools of estimation, inference and forecast of cross-section, time-series and panel data models. The course emphasizes the intuitive understanding and practical application of these basic tools of econometric analysis. IR/PSC 350 Comparative Politics Field SeminarJUMP TO TOPFall 2009 – T 12:30-15:15
Political Science Field: Comparative Politics International Relations Track: Governance of Nations (C) Typically offered every other year This course provides general conceptual background and an introduction to some major works in the comparative field and subfields. Comparative politics is a field that attempts to develop and test theories that can be used to explain political events and patterns across political systems, especially nation-states. Topics include political culture, development and democratization, political regimes, violence and revolution, elections, social movements, parties, coalitions, institutions, and comparative public policy. The works are discussed and compared both in terms of the major substantive arguments and the methodological approaches taken to enhance the credibility of the arguments. The reading load is heavy and students are expected to write a number of short papers, which are presented in class, as well a midterm and one longer analytic essay. PSC 394 Local Law and Politics InternshipsJUMP TO TOPFall 2009 – TBA
Political Science Field: Internship Typically offered every semester Most internship placements are in the District Attorney's or Public Defender's offices. Occasionally one or two other law placements are available. Students may also propose an alternative political or law placement. Interns work 10-12 hours per week through the entire semester. Grades are primarily based on a research paper. Applicants should have an appropriate course background for the internship and at least a B average. Students must be accepted in the course before approaching an agency for an internship. Students interested in an internship should pick up an application in the Political Science office (Harkness 333). Applications are available a week before registration starts, and an interest meeting is also held at that time. PSC 397 European Political InternshipJUMP TO TOPFall 2009 – TBA
Political Science Field: Internship Typically offered every semester Internships are available for students in Edinburgh, London, Brussels, Bonn, Berlin and Madrid. Internships are in English in Edinburgh, London, and Brussels: students need proficiency in the language for the latter four placements. For applications and information, students should contact the Study Abroad Office in Lattimore 206. PSC 404 Probability and InferenceJUMP TO TOPFall 2009 – TR 15:25-16:40
Graduate Course Political Science Field: Techniques of Analysis Typically offered every year This course in mathematical statistics provides graduate students in political science with a solid foundation in probability and statistical inference. The focus of the course is on the empirical modeling of non-experimental data. While substantive political science will never be far from our minds, our primary goal is to acquire the tools necessary for success in the rest of the econometrics sequence. As such, this course serves as a prerequisite for the advanced political science graduate courses in statistical methods (PSC 405, 505, and 506). PSC 407 Mathematical ModelingJUMP TO TOPFall 2009 – MW 10:00-12:00
Graduate Course Political Science Field: Positive Theory Typically offered every year This course is the first half of a two-course sequence consisting of PSC 407 and PSC 408. The goal of the sequence is to give a rigorous introduction to the main concepts and results in positive political theory. At the same time, we will teach you the mathematical tools necessary to understand these results, to use them and (if it suits you) to surpass them in your own research in political science. The course will emphasize rigorous logical and deductive reasoning – this skill will prove valuable, even to the student primarily interested in empirical analysis rather than modeling. The sequence is designed to be both a rigorous foundation for students planning on taking further courses in the positive political theory field and a self-contained overview of the field for students who do not intend to do additional coursework in the field. The sequence will cover both social choice theory, which concerns finding an axiomatic basis for collective decision making, and game theory, which analyzes individual behavior in strategic situations. Students should have, at a minimum, a sound familiarity with basic algebra (solving equations, graphing functions, etc.) and a knowledge of basic calculus. Consistent with department policy, students are required to attend the “math” camp offered in the weeks before the first fall semester. PSC 479 War and the Nation StateJUMP TO TOPCross-listed as PSC279
Fall 2009 – R 16:50-19:30
Graduate Course Political Science Field: International Relations International Relations Track: Global Security (A) Typically offered every 2-3 years This course examines the development of warfare and the growth of the state from the French Revolution to the end of the Second World War. We examine the phenomenon of war in its broader socio-economic context, focusing on nationalism, bureaucratization, industrialization and democratization. We will go into some detail on the two major conflicts of the twentieth century, the First and Second World Wars. Students are required to do all the reading. Every student will make a presentation in class on the readings for one class (25% of the grade), and there will be one big final (75%). PSC 505 Maximum Likelihood EstimationJUMP TO TOPFall 2009 – R 12:30-15:15
Graduate Course Political Science Field: Techniques of Analysis Typically offered every year The classical linear regression model is inappropriate for many of the most interesting problems in political science. This course builds upon the analytical foundations of PSC 404 and 405, taking the latter's emphasis on the classical linear model as its point of departure. Here students will learn methods to analyze models and data for event counts, durations, censoring, truncation, selection, multinomial ordered/unordered categories, strategic choices, spatial voting models, and time series. A major goal of the course will be to teach students how to develop new models and techniques for analyzing issues they encounter in their own research. PSC 523 American Politics Field SeminarJUMP TO TOPFall 2009 – M 12:30-15:15
Graduate Course Political Science Field: American Politics Typically offered every other year This seminar will introduce you to classic as well as contemporary research in American politics. We will discuss the literature both in political institutions (e.g., Congress) and in political behavior (e.g., voting). By covering an array of topics in these areas, the course will provide a foundation for developing a comprehensive understanding of the field and the various directions in which it is now moving. PSC 550 Comparative Politics Field SeminarJUMP TO TOPFall 2009 – T 12:30-15:15
Graduate Course Political Science Field: Comparative Politics Typically offered every other year This course provides general conceptual background and an introduction to some major works in the comparative field and subfields. Comparative politics is a field that attempts to develop and test theories that can be used to explain political events and patterns across political systems, especially nation-states. Topics include political culture, development and democratization, political regimes, violence and revolution, elections, social movements, parties, coalitions, institutions, and comparative public policy. The works are discussed and compared both in terms of the major substantive arguments and the methodological approaches taken to enhance the credibility of the arguments. The reading load is heavy and students are expected to write a number of short papers, which are presented in class, as well a midterm and one longer analytic essay. PSC 575 Political Economy IJUMP TO TOPFall 2009 – MW 10:00-12:00
Graduate Course Political Science Field: Positive Theory Typically offered every year We will take up several foundational topics in theoretical political economy. We begin with the analysis of fundamental concepts used throughout the course: binary relations, preferences, and choice. We then study social choice theory, where we view collective decisions as arising from a social preference relations determined in some arbitrary way by the preferences of individuals. We will prove Arrow’s impossibility theorem and others, which inform us of inherent limitations on the rationality of collective decisions. We then change perspective, viewing collective decision as outcomes of a game played by individual decision-makers. We will consider game-theoretic models of static elections, sequential voting, bargaining, and repeated elections, with a special focus on connections to social choice. PSC 581 Philosophical Foundations of Political ScienceJUMP TO TOPFall 2009 – W 14:30-17:15
Graduate Course Political Science Field: Political Philosophy Typically offered every year This seminar addresses different topics in different years. This year (2007) the broad focus is on the role of vision and representation in politics. We will start be reading the debate between John Dewey and Walter Lippmann in order to identify why vision and representation are central to democratic politics. We then will explore a wide variety of efforts to represent broadly political phenomena and events such as famine, epidemics, torture, migration and so forth across a broad spectrum of media. The aim of our explorations will be to cultivate a broadly instrumental view of how vision and representation figure in the "art" of politics. PSC 584 Game TheoryJUMP TO TOPFall 2009 – TR 10:50-12:10
Graduate Course Political Science Field: Positive Theory Typically offered every year This course is the third semester of the formal theory sequence for graduate students. It focuses on teaching students more sophisticated tools for modeling more complex games. Specifically, the course concentrates on games of incomplete information such as signaling games and communication games and develops analytical tools such as Bayesian-Nash equilibrium, perfect Bayesian equilibrium, and equilibrium refinements. The course also covers repeated games, bargaining games and equilibrium existence in a rigorous fashion. The prerequisites for the course are PSC 407 and 408, or an equivalent background in complete information game theory. Grading is based on homework assignments and a midterm and final exam. International Relations [top]IR/PSC 101 Introduction to Comparative PoliticsJUMP TO TOPFall 2009 – MWF 10:00-10:50
Political Science Field: Comparative Politics, Introductory Courses International Relations Track: Governance of Nations (C) Typically offered every year This course is an introduction to the study of political science and comparative politics. It focuses on how citizens may be able to control public policies in different modern democracies. The course begins by applying some of these ideas briefly to the American political system. It then turns explicitly to the politics of contemporary Britain, Russia and Germany, examining the political culture, the basic institutional arrangements, the party system, the voters' choices, and the policymaking system in each country. These systems will be compared to each other, to the United States and, occasionally, to other democracies. This course is recommended for those thinking about a major, minor, or cluster in political science, or international relations, and others who are simply interested in learning more about the politics of democracies. IR 201 Comparative Legislatures and ExecutivesJUMP TO TOPOlesya Tkacheva
Fall 2009 – MW 12:30-13:45
Political Science Field: Associated Courses International Relations Track: Governance of Nations (C) This course examines how political institutions affect public policy outcomes. It answers such questions as why incumbents choose one policy over another, whose preferences matter for policy outcomes, and how institutions interact to structure the incentives and capabilities of policymakers. As a way of introduction, we begin with the topics of preference formation and collective action, which are extremely important for understanding a series of organizational issues. Then we concentrate our attention on the analysis of institutions: constitutional structure, the bureaucracy, electoral rules, and the party system. IR 220 Non-State Actors in World PoliticsJUMP TO TOPTatiana V. Vashchilko
Fall 2009 – M 14:00-16:40
Political Science Field: Associated Courses International Relations Track: Political Economy and Development (B) Global foreign direct investment inflows reached a record $1,833 billion in 2007 (UNCTAD 2008). Roughly half of the world’s largest 200 governing entities are multinational corporations (MNCs). Crossing the boundaries between theories of international political economy, globalization, international business, and development, this course offers an introduction to the international political economy of MNCs and their interaction with governments. The main themes cover theories to explain why firms invest abroad, the effects of foreign direct investments on domestic and foreign policy, the bargaining between MNCs and host governments, the expropriation of assets by host countries, “dependency,” corporate political activities, and the regulation of foreign investment. Students are expected to complete weekly reading assignments, contribute to class discussion, and design a semester-long research project. IR 222 Preventive WarsJUMP TO TOPThomas Chadefaux
Fall 2009 – R 14:00-16:40
Political Science Field: Associated Courses International Relations Track: Global Security (A) Prevention is perhaps the most common justification for war. Both world wars, and more recently the invasion of Iraq and concerns over China’s economic and military rise, illustrate its historical and present relevance. In this seminar, we analyze the theory, history, and practice of preventive wars – wars fought to avoid negotiating in a position of weakness in the future. When and why do states fight them, and what lessons can we draw from history to avoid them in the future? IR 225 International NegotiationsJUMP TO TOPThomas Chadefaux
Fall 2009 – TR 09:40-10:55
Political Science Field: Associated Courses International Relations Track: Global Security (A) This lecture analyzes the logic and practice of international negotiations. What strategies do states use? What works, what does not and why? And, how can we learn from theory and history to advise current negotiators? The course relies heavily on game-theoretic notions but doesn't require any proper exposure to mathematical background. Commitment, credibility and bargaining power are some of the concepts that will be central in this class. Applications to the real world (WTO, crisis negotiations) will be particularly emphasized to illustrate the theoretical notions introduced. IR/PSC 261/261W Latin American PoliticsJUMP TO TOPFall 2009 – W 14:00-16:40
Political Science Field: Comparative Politics International Relations Track: Governance of Nations (C) Typically offered every 1-2 years This course provides an introduction to political institutions and institutional reform in contemporary Latin America. The central theme of the course will be to focus on the emergence and functioning of key political institutions in Latin America, including the presidency, the legislature, the system of electoral rules, political parties, the judiciary, and the bureaucracy. The course will draw on a broad range of theoretical perspectives to analyze institutional choice and performance. In addition, the course will consider competing definitions of institutions, evaluate the trade-offs posed by institutional choice, and consider the prospects for institutional reform in the region. IR/PSC 270/270W Mechanisms of International RelationsJUMP TO TOPFall 2009 – T 14:00-16:40
Political Science Field: International Relations International Relations Track: Global Security (A) Typically offered every year The last ten years or so have seen a major revolution in the social sciences. Instead of trying to discover and test grand "covering laws" that have universal validity and tremendous scope (think Newton's gravity or Einstein's relativity), the social sciences are in the process of switching to more narrow and middle-range theories and explanations, often referred to as causal mechanisms. Mechanisms play a crucial role in this new conception of theory in the social sciences. In this course we will examine one particular mechanism each week and see how it has been applied in international political economy and/or security studies. Students will be introduced to formal reasoning in an informal manner. We will explore several substantive themes, such as the "democratic peace," ethnic conflict and international trade to illustrate the mechanisms and cumulative potential of this research approach. IR/PSC 274 Introduction to International Political EconomyJUMP TO TOPTatiana V. Vashchilko
Fall 2009 – MWF 10:00-10:50
Political Science Field: Comparative Politics, International Relations International Relations Track: Political Economy and Development (B) Typically offered every other year This course explores the interaction between politics and economics at the international level as well as between the international and domestic levels, involving various actors such as governments, interest groups, and multinational corporations. As an interdisciplinary field related to both international politics and international economics, international political economy examines the management and openness of the international economy, the determinants of foreign economic policy-making on topics such as trade, foreign exchange, capital controls, the politics of economic development, the effects of domestic political competition on international trade and capital flows, the determinants of regional integration, as well as the spread or containment of international financial crises. Students are expected to complete oral and written assignments which are designed to help them develop their problem solving, writing and presentation skills. IR/PSC 277W International SecurityJUMP TO TOPFall 2009 – MW 14:00-15:15
Political Science Field: Associated Courses International Relations Track: Global Security (A) Typically offered occasionally This course surveys the field of international security. It starts by examining the nature of security, force and the threat of force in the international realm. It then examines the international security problems that emerge from the interactions of the great powers, and considers important historical cases including the August 1914 crisis, the initiation of the Second World War, and the end of the Cold War. During the second half of the course, it examines asymmetric international security problems, including wars with weak states, nuclear proliferation, terrorism, ethnic conflicts, and rising powers. It concludes by considering some of the solutions that have been proposed for the problems of international security, including international organizations, democracy promotion, and integration. IR/PSC 278W War and Political ViolenceJUMP TO TOPFall 2009 – MWF 11:00-11:50
Political Science Field: Associated Courses International Relations Track: Global Security (A) Typically offered occasionally This class addresses several key questions about war and political violence: What is war? How does it relate to other forms of political violence? How do states decide how to fight a war? Why do wars end when they do? How should we think about the nature of war? We will delve into these issues by addressing the theoretical and empirical literature on how wars are fought and how they are ended. Then we will address non-traditional forms of political violence like guerilla warfare and insurgency, civil wars, terrorism, and rioting. The domestic politics of war-fighting, particularly those involving public opinion and civil-military relations will also be examined, as will some of the challenges of conflict resolution. Readings will include both classics of military theory by the likes of Clausewitz, Sun Tzu, and Mao, and work on ethnic conflict, rioting, genocide, and the nature of war and war termination by modern political scientists. IR/PSC 279 War and the Nation StateJUMP TO TOPCross-listed as PSC479
Fall 2009 – R 16:50-19:30
Political Science Field: International Relations International Relations Track: Global Security (A) Typically offered every 2-3 years This course examines the development of warfare and the growth of the state from the French Revolution to the end of the Second World War. We examine the phenomenon of war in its broader socio-economic context, focusing on nationalism, bureaucratization, industrialization and democratization. We will go into some detail on the two major conflicts of the twentieth century, the First and Second World Wars. Students are required to do all the reading. Every student will make a presentation in class on the readings for one class (25% of the grade), and there will be one big final (75%). IR 280 Communism and Democracy in Eastern EuropeJUMP TO TOPBarbara Klich-Kluczewska
Fall 2009 – TR 12:30-13:45
Political Science Field: Associated Courses International Relations Track: Global Security (A), Governance of Nations (C) The course will provide an introduction to the post-war political and social history of Eastern Europe from the establishment of the Communist regime until the present. The aim of the course is to explore and explain the nature of communist dictatorship, its impact on Eastern European societies, and the process of transformation toward democracy taking place since 1989. The course will analyze the complexity of the present situation in the region and the prospects for future development of the European Union. It will be illustrated by fragments of documentaries and feature films. IR/PSC 350 Comparative Politics Field SeminarJUMP TO TOPFall 2009 – T 12:30-15:15
Political Science Field: Comparative Politics International Relations Track: Governance of Nations (C) Typically offered every other year This course provides general conceptual background and an introduction to some major works in the comparative field and subfields. Comparative politics is a field that attempts to develop and test theories that can be used to explain political events and patterns across political systems, especially nation-states. Topics include political culture, development and democratization, political regimes, violence and revolution, elections, social movements, parties, coalitions, institutions, and comparative public policy. The works are discussed and compared both in terms of the major substantive arguments and the methodological approaches taken to enhance the credibility of the arguments. The reading load is heavy and students are expected to write a number of short papers, which are presented in class, as well a midterm and one longer analytic essay. |