This course explores the evolution of modern international society from its historical roots in long-distance trade systems and empires up through recent globalization. We will examine the roles of industrialization, capitalism, nationalism, individualism, and other elements of modernity in propelling and directing the flow of wealth, people, and ideas between different regions of the world. In addition to studying general political and economic changes, we will consider various local and personal perspectives, giving life to otherwise abstract forces and complicating attempts to construct a single overarching narrative of "modernization," "Westernization," or "development." Among the issues to be examined are the causes and effects of international economic disparities, migration, cultural tensions, and stresses on the environment. In surveying major viewpoints and illustrative cases within these themes, the course is meant to serve as an introduction to international studies, utilizing a variety of academic disciplines and providing a foundation for further study of relations between different nations and peoples of the world. As part of the course, students will complete a research paper related to the geographic area where they plan to go for their off-campus experience. Prerequisite: sophomore standing or permission of the instructor. Offered every year.

This course explores the relationship between the individual and society as exemplified in the writings of political philosophers, statesmen, novelists, and contemporary political writers. Questions about law, political obligation, freedom, equality, and justice and human nature are examined and illustrated. The course looks at different kinds of societies such as the ancient city, modern democracy, and totalitarianism, and confronts contemporary issues such as race, culture, and gender. The readings present diverse viewpoints and the sessions are conducted by discussion. The course is designed primarily for first-year students. Offered every year.

This course explores the relationship between the individual and society as exemplified in the writings of political philosophers, statesmen, novelists, and contemporary political writers. Questions about law, political obligation, freedom, equality, and justice and human nature are examined and illustrated. The course looks at different kinds of societies such as the ancient city, modern democracy, and totalitarianism, and confronts contemporary issues such as race, culture, and gender. The readings present diverse viewpoints and the sessions are conducted by discussion. The course is designed primarily for first-year students. Offered every year.

This course explores the relationship between the individual and society as exemplified in the writings of political philosophers, statesmen, novelists, and contemporary political writers. Questions about law, political obligation, freedom, equality, and justice and human nature are examined and illustrated. The course looks at different kinds of societies such as the ancient city, modern democracy, and totalitarianism, and confronts contemporary issues such as race, culture, and gender. The readings present diverse viewpoints and the sessions are conducted by discussion. The course is designed primarily for first-year students. Offered every year.

This course explores the relationship between the individual and society as exemplified in the writings of political philosophers, statesmen, novelists, and contemporary political writers. Questions about law, political obligation, freedom, equality, and justice and human nature are examined and illustrated. The course looks at different kinds of societies such as the ancient city, modern democracy, and totalitarianism, and confronts contemporary issues such as race, culture, and gender. The readings present diverse viewpoints and the sessions are conducted by discussion. The course is designed primarily for first-year students. Offered every year.

This course explores the relationship between the individual and society as exemplified in the writings of political philosophers, statesmen, novelists, and contemporary political writers. Questions about law, political obligation, freedom, equality, and justice and human nature are examined and illustrated. The course looks at different kinds of societies such as the ancient city, modern democracy, and totalitarianism, and confronts contemporary issues such as race, culture, and gender. The readings present diverse viewpoints and the sessions are conducted by discussion. The course is designed primarily for first-year students. Offered every year.

This course explores the relationship between the individual and society as exemplified in the writings of political philosophers, statesmen, novelists, and contemporary political writers. Questions about law, political obligation, freedom, equality, and justice and human nature are examined and illustrated. The course looks at different kinds of societies such as the ancient city, modern democracy, and totalitarianism, and confronts contemporary issues such as race, culture, and gender. The readings present diverse viewpoints and the sessions are conducted by discussion. The course is designed primarily for first-year students. Offered every year.

This course explores the relationship between the individual and society as exemplified in the writings of political philosophers, statesmen, novelists, and contemporary political writers. Questions about law, political obligation, freedom, equality, and justice and human nature are examined and illustrated. The course looks at different kinds of societies such as the ancient city, modern democracy, and totalitarianism, and confronts contemporary issues such as race, culture, and gender. The readings present diverse viewpoints and the sessions are conducted by discussion. The course is designed primarily for first-year students. Offered every year.

The course explores the guiding principles, major institutions, and national politics of the American political system. The Founders' view of liberal democracy and of the three branches of our government (presented in the Federalist Papers) will provide the basis for consideration of the modern Supreme Court, presidency, bureaucracy, Congress, news media, and political parties and elections. The course concludes with Tocqueville's broad overview of American democracy and its efforts to reconcile liberty and equality. The themes of the course will be illustrated by references to current political issues, events, and personalities. Prerequisite: sophomore standing or PSCI 101Y. Offered every year. This course is the same as AMST 200D, listed in the American Studies Program.

The course explores the guiding principles, major institutions, and national politics of the American political system. The Founders' view of liberal democracy and of the three branches of our government (presented in the Federalist Papers) will provide the basis for consideration of the modern Supreme Court, presidency, bureaucracy, Congress, news media, and political parties and elections. The course concludes with Tocqueville's broad overview of American democracy and its efforts to reconcile liberty and equality. The themes of the course will be illustrated by references to current political issues, events, and personalities. Prerequisite: sophomore standing or PSCI 101Y. Offered every year. This course is the same as AMST 200D, listed in the American Studies Program.

This course introduces students to classical political philosophy through an analysis of Plato's Apology and Republic and Aristotle's Ethics and Politics. The course addresses enduring questions about the community, the individual, happiness, and justice. Other themes to be discussed include the ideal political order, the character of virtue or human excellence, the relationship between politics and other aspects of human life (such as economics, the family, and friendship), the political responsibility for education, and philosophy as a way of life. Prerequisite: sophomore standing. Offered every year.

This course introduces students to classical political philosophy through an analysis of Plato's Apology and Republic and Aristotle's Ethics and Politics. The course addresses enduring questions about the community, the individual, happiness, and justice. Other themes to be discussed include the ideal political order, the character of virtue or human excellence, the relationship between politics and other aspects of human life (such as economics, the family, and friendship), the political responsibility for education, and philosophy as a way of life. Prerequisite: sophomore standing. Offered every year.

Representative democracy came to be the most common form of government in Europe and the Americas in the twentieth century, and in the last half of the century it became increasingly popular among the peoples of the rest of the world. Representative democracy takes many forms and confronts many constraints in its implementation. This course will explore the institutional variety of representative democracy, the causes of political stability and instability in democratic regimes, and the possibility of successful creation of democratic regimes in countries in which the political culture has not traditionally supported democracy. Case studies may include Great Britain, Germany, Japan, Russia, Brazil, and Mexico. Prerequisite: sophomore standing or PSCI 101Y. Offered every year.

This course provides a brief introduction to the study of international relations. It focuses on three central themes: (1) contending theories of international relations; (2) the rise of the modern international system; and (3) recent developments in the international arena. Other topics will include the causes of war and the chances of peace, the shift from politics based primarily on military power to more complex relations rooted in politics among democracies, economic interdependence and dependency, and the recent resurgence of nationalism and ethnic conflict. Issues such as nuclear proliferation, human rights, peaceful conflict resolution, and the role of ethics in international politics may also be covered. Prerequisite: sophomore standing or PSCI 101Y. Offered every year.

This course provides a brief introduction to the study of international relations. It focuses on three central themes: (1) contending theories of international relations; (2) the rise of the modern international system; and (3) recent developments in the international arena. Other topics will include the causes of war and the chances of peace, the shift from politics based primarily on military power to more complex relations rooted in politics among democracies, economic interdependence and dependency, and the recent resurgence of nationalism and ethnic conflict. Issues such as nuclear proliferation, human rights, peaceful conflict resolution, and the role of ethics in international politics may also be covered. Prerequisite: sophomore standing or PSCI 101Y. Offered every year.

Political scientists increasingly employ quantitative tools to analyze politics. In this course students will be introduced to the fundamentals of quantitative political analysis. The core of the course will be devoted to the basic linear regression model and its variants, which are used widely in political science research. We will also cover hypothesis formation and hypothesis testing, basic descriptive statistics, and the presentation via tables and charts of the findings of quantitative analysis. To better situate quantitative analysis within the discipline, we will also introduce qualitative methods and discuss research design. Prerequisite: sophomore standing.

Does the U.S. Congress possess the capacity for independent and effective law-making, budgeting, and oversight of the executive? To what extent has Congress ceded policymaking responsibility to the president? How does Congressional performance vary across policy areas and what accounts for these variations? How have recent reforms affected Congressional performance? This course explores these questions by examining the historical development and contemporary performance of the U.S. Congress. We will analyze the factors that influence the policymaking process, including the electoral setting in which legislators operate, the relationship of Congress to interest groups, and the party and committee systems within the institution. We will also analyze the performance of Congress in several policy areas. This course can be used to complete the requirement in American politics for political science majors. Prerequisite: sophomore standing. Offered every two years.

This course studies various views of the policymaking process in our national government and considers the different stages of policymaking, including how problems are defined, how new proposals emerge, and how certain solutions make it onto the national agenda and are debated before adoption, altered during implementation, and subsequently evaluated. We will also consider the role of politicians, experts, and bureaucrats in policymaking, study why specific policies were adopted, and debate whether these were the best possible policies. This course will analyze the policymaking process through case studies such as welfare reform, education, and national health insurance. This course is one of the required foundation courses for the Public Policy Concentration and is also open to other upperclass students. This course can be used to complete the requirement in American politics for political science majors. Prerequisite: sophomore standing. Offered every year.

Alternative strategies of economic development pose the most difficult political choices for those countries of Africa, Asia, and Latin America not yet blessed by economic prosperity. This course seeks to accomplish three related goals. First, it will explore the contending theories of development that have shaped the debate about development in the past half century: modernization theory, dependency theory, theories that emphasize state-led development, and theories that seek to define sustainable development. Second, it will compare alternative strategies of development, especially as exemplified by successful (or thought-to-be successful) developing and developed countries. Third, it will consider a set of contemporary issues that complicate the efforts of countries to develop: globalization, environmental catastrophe, population growth, and human rights considerations. Throughout, the definition of development and the desirability of economic growth will be questioned. Prerequisite: sophomore standing. Offered every two years.

The European Union is viewed by many as a model of international economic and political integration. The twenty-seven member states have pooled their sovereignty in a way that is unique in the history of political systems. They have not only removed barriers to trade between the countries, but they have implemented a common currency and gradually developed a common foreign and security policy. This course is designed to provide students with knowledge of the history, structure, and policymaking process of the European Union. It also is designed to provide students with an understanding of the motivations that led independent nation states to pool their sovereignty, the theoretical debates and issues surrounding integration, and the current issues and challenges facing the European Union. This course can be used to complete the upper-level comparative politics/international relations requirement for political science majors. Prerequisite: sophomore standing. Offered every four years.

Migration is a worldwide phenomenon posing both opportunities and challenges for immigrants, their families, their countries of origin and the countries to which they move. Immigration policy often inspires virulent debates over border control, national identity, admission and citizenship policies, "guest" workers, and bilingualism. The issues raise fundamental questions about human rights and about a political community's rights to define and defend itself. What does it mean to be an American? Who can be German? What obligations do we have to people fleeing tyranny? Fleeing poverty? The challenges are exacerbated by the facts that contemporary immigration is managed by nation-states, while migrants move in response to global economics and transnational relationships. This course deals with these issues by examining the social, economic, and political forces giving rise to immigration today; the different ways nations have chosen to define citizenship and how those rules affect immigrants; the different strategies nations have used to incorporate immigrants, ranging from multiculturalism to assimilation; attempts to control immigration and their consequences; and the implications of immigration for recipient societies' well-being. About half of the course deals with the immigration experience and controversies in the United States, particularly with respect to migration from Mexico. The other half looks at these issues from a variety of other perspectives, in Western Europe as well as in the developing world. Prerequisite: sophomore standing. Offered every two years.

The struggle for human rights presents several problems for modern international politics. While human rights activists often claim to promote universal moral values, many non-Westerners regard international human rights norms as tools of Western cultural imperialism. Thus, the diffusion of human rights norms raises tensions between Western and non-Western societies. Moreover, since states derive power and legitimacy from their ability to control their citizens without external scrutiny, the fight for individual rights threatens the sovereign power of the state. In this course, we examine the politics of human rights in international relations. We begin by considering whether human rights reflect universal ethical values or whether they are culturally relative, and we consider how the struggle for human rights raises tensions between Western and non-Western societies. Second, we discuss the history of human rights, focusing on how the spread of human rights norms has affected modern international politics. Finally, we discuss a series of topical issues, including debates over humanitarian intervention, genocide, torture, the death penalty, women's rights, universal jurisdiction, and the International Criminal Court. Throughout, we will discuss legal and theoretical issues, and we will also examine a range of empirical case studies. Prerequisite: sophomore standing.

This seminar is intended to prepare students to undertake and successfully complete a senior honors project. To do so, we will read and discuss past examples of successful senior theses. Then we will consider different approaches to senior honors research, including close textual analysis and comparative, institutional, or policy analysis. We will emphasize the formulation of tractable research questions and how to define research objectives in ways likely to lead to successful research projects. Students will design a research project on a topic of their interest and complete a major paper on that theme. Students will read and critique each other's work. Prerequisite: permission of instructor. Offered every year.

During the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries, the advanced industrialized democracies in Europe and North America set up extensive social welfare systems in order to reduce class inequalities and eliminate risks across the life cycle. These included income support, family benefits, health care, pensions, unemployment, disability insurance, and child care programs. Beginning in the 1970s, these social welfare programs faced a variety of social and economic challenges, including the aging of the population, globalization, changes in family structure, the feminization of the labor force, and de-industrialization. This has led to welfare retrenchment and restructuring. In this seminar, we examine the different welfare regimes across the United States and Europe and discuss the challenges confronting postwar welfare arrangements. We explore at the politics surrounding the creation and retrenchment of welfare states across different political settings and in specific policy areas including pensions, health care, and family policy and we look at the future of the social welfare state. Prerequisites: junior standing or permission of instructor. Offered every two years.

This course presents an overview of the concepts, operation, genesis, and content of international law and organizations, both respecting the international community generally and with particular reference and application to the United States. Our primary focus is public international law--those legal regimes and apparatus made by and for states and the handful of nongovernmental organizations endowed with international legal personality--we will also touch upon private international law, as respects corporations and individuals in such areas as trade and crimes. Contemporary issues covered include the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the law of armed conflict (LOAC), international trade, and human rights law (HRL) and emerging issues such as environmental and outer space law. Students will be familiarized with the current state of the international legal order, situate international law among competing theoretical approaches, and provide a toolkit for analyzing contemporary international controversies.

In this seminar we will examine Emile, which Rousseau considered to be his most important and most comprehensive work--in brief, as the reply, point to point, to Plato's Republic. Whereas Plato became famous for presenting an imaginary city, Rousseau presents an imaginary soul or person; his philosophical novel covers the education of Emile from birth until just after marriage. Our discussion will conform to the scope of the themes of the book: nature, economics, morality, religion, sexuality, aesthetics, and politics. Prerequisite: junior standing.Offered every two years.

It is not unusual to find scholars singing the praises of Plato’s political philosophy. And a number of Plato’s longer dialogues, like the Republic, get a lot of deserved attention. But Plato’s genius is as evident in his short and often overlooked dialogues as it is in the longer and well-studied ones. Some of his shorter dialogues contain arguments that are considered nowhere else. Some contain discussions that go farther or deeper into a topic than similar discussions in the more famous dialogues, and some contain statements that provide new perspective on Plato’s most famous doctrines. In this course, we will examine four of Plato’s smaller works: the Hipparchus on greed, the Minos on law, the Euthyphro on piety, and the Lovers on philosophy.

Through evocative imagery and narrative, stories can be powerful media for conveying political ideas and arguments. This course explores how works of fiction from Latin America portray political, social, and economic realities and contribute to the political debates of their time and place. Selections draw from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Cuba, Mexico, and possibly Peru, with an emphasis on film and the period after the Cuban Revolution. We will compare and contrast national and international reviews of the works and, where applicable, examine the contexts of censorship, regime change, transnationalism, or commercialization in which the works were produced. The works engage themes of human rights, social class, democracy, revolution, justice, national identity, development and globalization, and discrimination. Our goals are: * to develop a deeper understanding of these political themes in Latin America through the eyes of major writers and directors from the region * to analyze how writers and directors use fictional works to engage the political, social, and economic debates of their time and nation, and * to examine the extent to which the themes are universal, successfully connecting with the political concerns of international audiences. Films are in Spanish or Portuguese with English subtitles. Novels or plays will be read in translation. The course includes a textbook and articles on Latin American political fiction, as well as watching a film outside of class time or reading a work of fiction each week. A prior course on modern Latin America, such as PSCI 347, HIST 121, HIST 322, is preferred, but not required.

The senior honors candidate works with two members of the department to prepare a major essay on a topic of his or her choice, which is then defended before an outside examiner in May. Prerequisite: permission of department chair.