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Please Note: The information
given in the Course Atlas is subject to change.
For final schedule information, please refer OPUS.
Giles, MW 2:00-2:50, MAX: 135
Content: The goal of this course is
to provide students with an understanding of the contemporary American
political system. In addition, the course will introduce students to some
of the approaches that political scientists use to study political institutions,
processes and behavior. The course will examine the major institutions
of American national government including Congress, the Presidency, and
the Supreme Court, and the relationships among these institutions. In
addition, the course will investigate the role of non-governmental groups
and actors that influence political decision-making such as voters, political
parties, and interest groups.
Texts:
Particulars:
Papers- Weekly discussion papers
Examinations - three exams (essay and objective)
Grading - exams 70%, discussion group 30%
Tillman, TT 8:30-9:45, MAX: 60
Content: This course is intended to introduce
students to the study of international relations (defined as relations
between states). This course has three major objectives: to expose students
to the major theories and controversies in the study of IR, to deepen
their understanding of current and past world events, and to develop their
abilities to think systematically about world politics. This introductory
course is designed to provide a survey of a wide range of topics in international
relations that will provide students with the background to take advanced
courses in the field. The course will primarily follow the lecture format,
with a number of opportunities for in-class discussion.
Texts: TBA
Particulars:
Attendance and Participation 10%
Map Quiz 10%
First Test 25%
Second Test 25%
Final Exam 30%
Yuen, MWF 8:30-9:20, MAX: 45
Content: This introductory course is designed to give
students a broad understanding of how political scientists study international
politics. Using important past and current events to enhance understanding,
I will introduce students to several theories of international politics,
relating specifically to conflict, cooperation and the political economics
of nation states. We will also devote some time to the study of civil
conflict and state interaction with non-state actors, such as international
organizations and terrorist groups. The course provides a basic foundation
for how thinking about international level interaction has developed,
with the intention of preparing students for more detailed study in subsequent
semesters.
Texts: TBA
Particulars:
Midterm 1 - 20%
Midterm 2 - 20%
Final Exam - 30%
Final Paper - 30%
del Aguila, MWF 8:30-9:20, MAX: 60
Content: A basic introduction to comparative politics,
starting with a theoretical review and followed by in-depth discussion
of four widely different political systems. Cases studied are the United
Kingdom, Russia, Mexico and Cuba.
Texts:
- Thomas Magstadt, Nations and Governments,
Fifth Edition (2005)
Particulars:
Examinations - midterm and final
Papers - one 10 page paper
Grading - mid-term 25%; paper 30%; final 45%
Moore, MWF 3:00-3:50, MAX: 45
Content: This introductory course in Political Science
will provide a basic understanding of the fundamental concepts, processes,
institutions, and issues in comparative politics. As with all comparative
politics, as opposed to international relations, emphasis will be placed
on domestic and internal politics of different countries. Students will
be taught to think about similarities and differences in the way different
political systems operate, to ask why this is so, and to determine likely
outcomes and consequences. Students will thus be encouraged throughout
the course to draw comparisons between the governmental institutions and
processes of different political systems.
Texts:
Particulars:
Remington, TT 8:30-9:45, MAX: 60
Content: The comparative study of political systems is
a fundamental branch of political science. In this course students learn
the concepts and methods used in comparative politics, and will use them
to study the political institutions and processes of six countries: Great
Britain, France, Germany, Russia, India, and Mexico. These cases are chosen
to represent different types of political system: multi-party liberal
democracies of the parliamentary and presidential types, developing countries,
and transitional regimes.
Texts:
- Almond, Dalton, Powell, and Strom, Comparative Politics
Today: A World View (8th edition, updated) (Pearson Longman, 2006).
- Supplementary readings will also be assigned
and will be available on reserve and on Learnlink.
Particulars:
One mid-term and one final exam. Both will combine multiple-choice with
essay questions. In addition, students will be required to write one 5-page
paper on an assigned topic. The mid-term exam and the paper will be weighted
approximately 30% each, and the final exam 40%, in determining the final
grade.
[freshmen only]
Brown, TT 8:30-9:45, MAX: 15
Content: This freshman seminar examines the role of science
fiction as a powerful vehicle for social and political commentary, especially
as it relates to the evolutionary tendencies of human societies. Check
out the detailed syllabus at www.courtneybrown.com (to be updated at beginning
of term).
Texts: TBA
Particulars:
Grading is based on the following factors:
10% Attendance
60% Writing assignments
10% Class participation
20% Final paper
[freshmen only]
Owens, M 2:00-5:00, MAX: 15
Content: This freshman seminar will introduce and engage students
in the political history of cities (and suburbs) in the United States,
core issues in defining and determining who has political power in the
metropolis, and how well filmmakers and documentarians capture the use
(and perhaps abuse) of political power. It will explore through readings
(e.g., academic books, journal articles, and excerpts from biographies,
autobiographies, and novels), films, documentaries, photography, and music,
as well as class discussions and guest lectures, the definition, possession,
and use of political power by groups within cities in the United States
of America. Primarily, we will be concerned with the exercise of power
to address individual and community needs and values, and how the “powerful”
wield it and the “powerless” respond. Beyond learning about
the intersections of power, politics, and policy, students will learn
to critique films and documentaries from academic and popular perspectives,
as well as try their hand at crafting written reviews and possibly create
and screen their own mini movies about power in cities. At a minimum,
student performance will be judged by the level and quality of class preparation
and discussion and written assignments.
Texts: TBA
Particulars:
[freshmen only]
Tworzecki, Th 2:30-4:30, MAX: 15
Content: Communism may seem like something that happened long ago
and far away, the stuff of grainy newsreels and chapters in history texts:
images of parades, steel mills and prison camps that may be twenty, but
might as well be fifty or a hundred years old. This era is so far removed
from our everyday experience that it may be difficult to believe that
it happened at all. At the same time, our television screens are filled
with daily accounts of economic hardships, rampant crime, ethnic violence
and political demagoguery that appear to prevail in the post-communist
world. This course will seek to bridge the gap between the almost fictional
quality of pre-1989 communism and its real, present-day consequences for
the lives of ordinary people. It will explore the nature of communist
and post-communist politics by combining seminar discussions with weekly
screenings of full-length, non-documentary films. In doing so, it will
bring into sharp focus the types of choices, dilemmas and commitments
that were part of everyday life in communist systems and which continue
to shape the mind sets of many individuals to this day.
Texts: TBA
Particulars:
Papers: one 10-12 page paper
Grading: in-class presentations 50%, paper 30%, participation 20%
Owen, TT 2:30-3:45, MAX: 45
Content: We will take as our focus the central question of classical
political philosophy, namely what the best way of life is for a human
being. According to the classical philosophers, there were but two serious
possibilities: the political life and the philosophic life. We will examine
the claims of each of these ways of life to be the best, as well as the
profound tension between them, in works by the two greatest classical
philosophers, Plato and Aristotle, and by the greatest (and perhaps bawdiest)
comic playwright, Aristophanes.
Texts:
- Aristophanes, The Clouds
- Plato, The Republic and shorter works
- Aristotle, The Politics
Particulars:
Examinations: Weekly quizzes, midterm and final examination
Papers: One 5-7 pp. paper, one 7-10 pp. paper
Klehr, TT 8:30-9:45, MAX: 45
Content: This course examines in depth several of the most profound
and influential political theorists of the modern age. Our major emphasis
will be upon the content of their theories but we shall also consider
their relevance to an understanding of contemporary politics.
Texts:
- Niccolo Machiavelli, The Prince and Discourses
- Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan
- John Locke, Second Treatise of Government
- Charles de Montesquieu, The Spirit of the Laws
- Jean-Jacques Rousseau, The Social Contract
- John Stuart Mill, On Liberty
- Karl Marx and Frederick Engels, The Communist Manifesto
Particulars:
Examinations: midterm and final
Abramowitz, TT 10:00-11:15, MAX: 18
Content: This course will introduce students to the style of analytical
thinking involved in the conduct of political science research, to experimental
and observational research designs, and to basic statistical techniques
for describing and analyzing quantitative data.
Texts:
- Janet Johnson and Richard Joslyn, Political Science
Research Methods, paperback, CQ Press, 4th edition
- Philip Pollock III, An SPSS Companion to Political
Analysis, paperback, CQ Press
Particulars:
The course grade will be determined on the following basis:
Class participation and homework 20%
Midterm examination 20%
Data analysis paper 30%
Final examination 30%
Data Analysis Paper:
Each student will complete a 10-12 page (typed, double-spaced) paper analyzing
data from the American National Election Studies' surveys.
Taulbee, MWF 9:35-10:25, MAX: 45
Content: This course offers a survey of international law: the
body of formal rules generally considered by states to constitute legal
rights and duties in their relations with each other. The study of these
rules will be preceded by consideration of the nature and purpose of international
law, its sources, strengths and weaknesses and the manner of its growth
through judicial interpretation and legislative formulation.
Texts:
- Gerhard Von Glahn and James Larry Taulbee, International
Law (8th ed.)
Particulars:
Examinations-six electronic quizzes on cases and terminology, a mid-term
hour exam and a final based upon a hypothetical case.
Grading- quizzes, 30%, hour exam 20%, final 40%, participation 10%
Tworzecki, MWF 10:40-11:30, MAX: 45
Content: This is an introductory course on the politics and governments
of Eastern Europe. It assumes no prior knowledge of the region, but students
are expected to have some background in political science (for example,
POLS 110 or 120). The course is structured chronologically, with emphasis
on the democratization processes initiated in 1989. Both domestic politics
(institution-building, parties and ideologies, economic transformation)
and trans-national issues (European integration, migration, security)
will be discussed. The geographic focus will be mainly on East-Central
Europe (Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary) and the Balkans (Bulgaria,
Romania, Albania and former Yugoslavia).
Texts: TBA
Particulars:
Examinations: midterm and final
Papers: one 15 page research paper
Grading: midterm 20%, research paper 30%, final exam 30%, take-home assignments
10%, participation 10%
Suggested Prerequisites: POLS 110 (Intro to International Relations) or
POLS 120 (Intro to Comparative Politics)
[same as LAS 385]
del Aguila, MWF 10:40-11:30, MAX: 35
Content: This course offers a broad interpretation of Latin American
politics and government from developmental and cultural perspectives.
Significant issues shaping contemporary politics will also be discussed,
namely democratization, neoliberal economic models, human rights and the
tension between militarism and democratic legitimacy.
Texts:
- Charles Blake, Politics in Latin America (2005)
- Thomas Skidmore and Peter Smith, Modern Latin America,
6th edition (2005).
Particulars:
Examinations - midterm and final
Papers - one 15-17 page research paper
Grading - midterm 30%, final 40%, paper 30%
Prerequisites-Some background in comparative politics or Latin American
Studies is useful.
[Same as ENVS 339]
Hirsch, TT 1:00-2:15, MAX: 10
Content: The course examines the connection between political activity
and environmental management. Focus ranges from regulatory activity to
the environmental consequences of particular electoral forms of democratic
governance.
Text(s): TBA
Particulars:
Strahan, TT 8:30-9:45, MAX: 45
Content: An overview of the historical origins and contemporary
politics of the U.S. Congress. Particular emphasis on the politics of
representation, congressional leadership, and legislative-executive relations.
Texts: TBA
Particulars:
Examinations- midterm and final
Papers- 10 page research paper
Prerequisites-POLS 100 strongly recommended, but not required.
Walker, TT 10:00-11:15, MAX: 45
Content: A study of the portions of the United States Constitution
protecting civil liberties and civil rights as interpreted by the United
States Supreme Court. Topics include: freedom of religion, freedom of
speech and press, obscenity and libel, privacy rights, the right to keep
and bear arms, and unconstitutional forms of discrimination. Readings
include opinions from Supreme Court decisions and constitutional commentary.
Text:
- Lee Epstein and Thomas G. Walker, Constitutional
Law for a Changing America: Rights, Liberties and Justice 5th edition
(Washington: Congressional Quarterly Press, 2004).
Particulars:
Lecture and discussion format. 2-3 examinations. Class participation required.
Walker, TT 1:00-2:15, MAX: 45
Content: An examination of the criminal justice process in the
United States and the constitutional rights extended to the criminally
accused.
Texts:
- Lloyd Weinreb, Leading Constitutional Cases on Criminal
Justice
- Vincent Bugliosi, Helter Skelter
Particulars:
Examinations - 2-3 exams
[same as HIST 385]
Klehr, TT 10:00-11:15, MAX: 35
Content: This course deals with various aspects of the radical
tradition in America and reactions to it. Among the topics a groups to
be covered are American socialism, the Communist Party, the Industrial
Workers of the World, the New Left, McCarthyism and anti-communism, the
Hiss-Chambers case, etc. In addition to lectures and readings, there will
be several films.
Texts:
- John Steinbeck, In Dubious Battle
- Several other books TBA
Particulars:
Examinations-one final
Papers- 10-20 page research paper
Black, MW 2:00-3:15, MAX 45
Content: The politics of the modern South, with special emphasis
on the growth of middle class society, the impact of the civil rights
movement, the transformation of the southern electorate, and two-party
competition between Democrats and Republicans.
Texts:
- Earl Black and Merle Black, Politics and Society
In The South
- Earl Black and Merle Black, The Rise of Southern
Republicans
- Charles Bullock and Mark Rozelle, The New Politics
of the Old South, 2nd ed.
Particulars:
Examinations - an hour exam and a final exam
Owens, TT 10:00-11:15, MAX: 45
Content: This course will offer a comprehensive overview of many
of the major problems confronting contemporary American cities, emphasizing
those issues associated with urban social and economic decline. The class
will examine the relevant public policies of urban, state and national
governments working to address these problems, as well as the initiatives
of community-based organizations. Topics that will be examined during
the semester include urban poverty, education, housing, community development,
crime and the tensions between cities and suburbs.
Text:
Particulars:
Topic Title: Socratic Political Philosophy
Bartlett, TT 2:30-3:45, MAX: 45
Content: This course will examine the enigmatic figure of Socrates
as he appears in a selection of writings left us by his best students,
Plato and Xenophon. We will consider in particular the reason why Socrates
apparently abandoned his youthful interest in natural science--an interest to
which he confesses only on the day of his execution--and turned instead
to "the speeches," that is, to the critical analysis of moral
and political opinion. What, in other words, is the chief purpose
of Socratic political philosophy? And is there any reason for us
to have more than a merely antiquarian interest in it?
Texts:
- Xenophon, Memorabilia and The Shorter Socratic Writings
- Plato, Four Texts on Socrates and Phaedo
Particulars:
3 essays, regular attendance/participation, a keen intellect
Prerequisite: POLS 301 or permission of the instructor
Topic Title: Political Economy of Development
Doner, TT 1:00-2:15, MAX: 45
Content: The challenge for developing counties is no longer whether
to participate in the global economy but how to do so in a way that provides
for sustainable and equitable growth. This class focuses on the political
factors influencing economic development with an eye to the following
two questions: How do countries reconcile national autonomy, sustainability
and equity on the one hand, with engagement with foreign firms and markets
on the other? How do we explain why some countries and regions have
done better than others in taking advantage of the opportunities provided
by the global economy? The course begins with a discussion of different
concepts of development and of globalization, especially with regard to
specific economic sectors. After examining contending explanations
for what one economist has termed the surprising “divergence, big
time” in economic growth rates among countries, the course proposes
an explicitly political approach. The rest of the course (around
two thirds) uses this approach as a lens through which to examine specific
development issues. These will include: 1) industrial development,
viewed through the auto industry; 2) agricultural development, including
land reform, agricultural extension, and agro-exports; 3) education/training;
4) the role of labor, including unionization, and job loss; and 5) health
issues, especially HIV/AIDS. The course should be of interest not
only to political science students, but also majors in econ, anthropology,
sociology, and business. More than half of the course’s
empirical material will be drawn from Asian cases.
Texts: TBA
Particulars:
Examinations: Midterm and Final
Research Paper: 15-20 pages
Suggested Prerequisites: POLS 120, 110, or 319. ECON course
in economic development
Topic Title: Public Policy and NGOs
[same as HIST 385]
Creekmore/Hochman W 2:00-5:00, MAX: 20
Content: In the post-Cold War world, nongovernmental organizations
(NGOs) are playing more active and consequential roles in public policy
than ever before. This course will examine how and why NGOs have become
more influential within the context of increasing globalization. It will
focus on selected issues in conflict resolution, democratization, human
rights, economic development, the environment, and global health, and
examine how NGOs are involved in these areas. Some sessions will be devoted
to the work of specific NGOs. In addition to the course coordinators,
the course will feature guest lecturers, including former U.S. President
Jimmy Carter; officials from The Carter Center, CARE, and other NGOs;
and other Emory professors.
Texts: TBA
Particulars:
Examinations: midterm and final; quizzes
Papers: team written term paper
Topic Title: Comparative Political Regimes
Gandhi, TT 8:30-9:45, MAX: 45
Content: The course focuses on the distinction between democracy
and dictatorship, reviewing controversies in the defining of these regimes,
in determining the factors that give rise to these regimes, and in evaluating
the impact of these regimes on diverse outcomes ranging from economic
development to interstate conflict. Towards the end of the course, we
go beyond the dichotomous distinction, distinguishing among types of democracies
and dictatorships and their impact on political outcomes.
Texts: TBA
Particulars:
Two in-class midterms (25% each), final exam (35%), and participation
(15%).
Topic Title: Globalization and National Politics
Moore, MWF 12:50-1:40, MAX: 45
Content: How do national politics impact the positions of national
economies in the global production system? What impact do political
movements in one country have on people in another? This course
examines responses by national governments to issues posed by the international
movement of goods, services, finance, labor, & ideas. Some of
the topics covered will include: development and global value chains,
the service economy and the welfare state, institutional homogenization
or varieties of capitalism, consumer movements and workers issues.
Texts: NA
Particulars:
NA
Topic Title: Political Economy of African Development
[same as AFS 389]
Streeb, TT 11:30-12:45, MAX: 35
Content: This course shares much of its content with a parallel
course, ECON 390SWR: Development Issues for Africa, examining issues related
to the economic development of Sub-Saharan Africa. While development studies
today are far more inclusive, ranging from good governance to the application
of economic principles to address poverty, this course will focus relatively
more attention on the political context in which development efforts are
undertaken in Sub-Saharan Africa. The course will begin with an overview
of the economic situation in pre-colonial Africa, followed by an appraisal
of the impact of colonialism on African development. Study of the post-colonial
period will encompass discussion of specific sectors (rural-urban migration,
agriculture, health, education, etc.) in relation to the evolving political
context in which sector-specific policies are being implemented. The basic
question: “Why are some countries succeeding and others failing?”
will be addressed through the study of the experience of selected countries
from the various regions of Sub-Saharan Africa.
Texts: Readings will be drawn from books and articles on African
political and economic development, including from recently published
collections of articles by African scholars. The World Bank’s study,
“Can Africa Claim the 21 st Century?” and a recently completed
Africa Action Plan in conjunction with the “Decade of Africa”
will provide the foundation for the other readings and classroom discussion.
Particulars:
Examinations: Two quizzes. Final examination
Papers: One 7 – 10 pp. paper
Grading: attendance and participation (10%); quizzes (20% each); final
(30%), Paper (20%)
Topic Title: Terrorism, Freedom and Security
Taulbee, MWF 8:30-9:40, MAX: 45
Content: “To get anywhere you have to walk over corpses.”
(Ilyich Ramirez Sanchez – “Carlos the Jackal”). Terrorism
as a phenomenon has become a pervasive part of our everyday lives. It
has become the tactic of religious and nationalist groups, of those on
the political left as well as the political right. In some instances it
has been used as a deliberate instrument of state policy. The course will
examine the history of terrorism, the ideologies and methods of various
groups, the psychology of terrorists and the problems for liberal democracies
posed by counter-terrorist operations.
Texts: TBA
Particulars:
Two examinations: an hour mid-term and a comprehensive final
Three short analytical papers (5 - 7 pp.)
Topic Title: The Supreme Court and Conflict
Vining, MWF 2:00-2:50, MAX: 45
Content: This course examines the circumstances in which the Supreme
Court of the United States and its justices have become involved in political
conflict – either as subject, participant, or arena for settlement.
The focus will be on the interaction of the Supreme Court with other governmental
institutions and actors; this is not a constitutional law course. Specific
topics to be addressed include judicial behavior, judicial nominations,
interaction between the courts and the elected branches, and the role
of the Court in the American political system.
Texts: TBA
Particulars:
Lecture and discussion format. Grading based on two exams, short papers,
participation.
Suggested Prerequisite - POLS 100
Topic Title: Comparative Parties and Elections
Tillman, TT 11:30-12:45, MAX: 45
Content: Elections are the characteristic institutions of democracies
in which citizens have the opportunity to choose representatives to govern
them. Yet there is great variety across countries in how such elections
are conducted, with important consequences for the politics of each country.
In this course, we seek to examine the role of elections in the selection
of political leaders and the subsequent process of governing. To address
these questions, we will examine the design of electoral systems, parties
and party systems, and the sources of electoral behavior. Many of the
examples covered in this course come from Western Europe, but we also
consider the development of democratic politics in the post-communist
systems of Eastern Europe.
Texts: TBA
Particulars:
Attendance and Participation: 20%
First Test: 25%
Second Test: 25%
Final Paper: 30%
Topic Title: Political Regions in the US
[Departmental Permission only; Junior and senior majors and graduate students
only]
Black, Tu 1-4, MAX: 12
Content: The United States is a federal system in which national
political power is built up from local, state, and regional bases of support.
Each party has developed important regional strongholds. To better understand
national politics, this seminar examines the party battles in the nation's
principal geographic areas: the Northeast, Pacific Coast, Midwest, Mountains/Plains,
and South.
Texts:
- Michael Barone, The Almanac of American Politics
2006
- Earl Black and Merle Black, The Rise of Southern
Republicans
Particulars:
Regular attendance, mid-term examination, and 10-15 page research paper
Topic Title: Public Opinion in Advanced Industrial Democracies
[Departmental Permission only; Junior and senior majors and graduate students
only]
Brzinski, M 1-4, MAX: 12
Content: In democracies, the preferences and views of the public
are important elements in shaping government control and public policy
debates. This course looks at what we know about public opinion
in a variety of established democracies, how that opinion is measured
by survey research, and differences in beliefs and attitudes in different
democracies. The primary text for the course, Russell Dalton's Citizen
Politics, focuses on four countries: the United States, Great Britain,
Germany, and France. In addition to looking in depth at these four
case studies, students in the class will use the same datasets (the World
Values Surveys) to look at four other established democracies. Right
now, the countries I am considering include Sweden, Netherlands, Italy,
Spain Japan, New Zealand or Canada. Students will be required to
generate and analyze data on these other countries. Much of the
written work in the course will involve this data analysis or comparison
of these new cases with those in the Dalton book.
Texts:
- The primary text will be Russell Dalton, Citizen
Politics: Public Opinion and Political Parties in Advanced Industrial
Democracies 4th edition. Other readings and texts will supplement
this core book.
Particulars: Grading will be based on a term project
involving data analysis, writing during the semester, and a final exam.
This class meets once a week and will utilize a seminar format, so attendance
and participation is very important.
Topic Title: Modeling Social Phenomena
[Departmental Permission only; Junior and senior majors only]
Brown, TT 1:00-2:15, MAX: 8
Content: This seminar is designed for students who want to have
an exciting and fun introduction to nonlinear and dynamic modeling of
social and political phenomena. The subject is taught with an extremely
user-friendly approach, and students should have little or no trouble
mastering the course content. High school algebra is all that is required
to begin. What is really needed of all students is a sense of adventure
and a love of beauty. Nothing is more beautiful in this universe than
the mathematics that describe it, and this course is a good way for students
to see some of that beauty first hand. One potential application of this
course to a student's curriculum is with respect to honors students who
desire to develop a theory about society for their final thesis paper.
Other students may simply want to know how to develop and investigate
their own theories for other reasons or purposes, perhaps to prepare for
graduate school in political science, or perhaps just out of curiosity.
Check out the syllabus and other course materials at www.courtneybrown.com.
[Click on "Student Area (Emory)" in the navigation menu.]
Texts: TBA
Particulars: Written assignments (graded as "done" or
"not done," see the syllabus at the above url)
Class presentations (students develop and present their own theories)
Topic Title: The European Union
[Departmental Permission only; Junior and senior majors only]
Hallerberg, TT 1:00-2:15, MAX: 12
Content: This seminar provides an introduction to the politics
of the European Union (EU). This international organization has
existed in some form or another for half a century. It began
its life as the European Coal and Steel Community in 1952 when it coordinated
policies in these militarily important sectors in six countries. Today,
there are twenty-five member states, and the EU deals with a variety of
policy issues. We begin with a consideration of why the European Union
has assumed the shape it has today. We need some history, and we
focus on the post-World War II period and the creation of the European
Coal and Steel Community. We spend two weeks discussing the origins
of the Union in the 1950’s. We then fast-forward to the 1990’s.
After the stage is set, we explore the main institutions of the European
Union, what they do and do not do, and what parallels there are to national
politics. We also consider rival theories that seek to explain the
progression of European integration.
Texts: TBA
Particulars:
Assignments include a term paper, presentation, and one or more midterms.
Topic Title: From Hegemony to Partnership: Problems in Inter-American
Relations
[Departmental Permission only; Junior and senior majors and graduate students
only]
McConnell, M 4:00-7:00, MAX: 8
Content: This course will examine inter-American relations from
Latin America independence to the end of the twentieth century. We will
track the development of the inter-American system in a context of U.S.
hegemony and show how this has influenced resolution of key problems in
regional relations. Texts will emphasize new regional approaches to policy
through multilateral organizations such as the Organization of American
States as well as non-vernmental organizations. Students will explore
the strengths and weaknesses of the inter-American system through its
responses to policy problems that have arisen over time, such as the debt
crisis, immigration, illicit drug flows, corruption, and the overthrow
of elected governments. They will look at specific international crises
that tested inter-American relations such as the Cuban revolution, and
also evaluate proposed remedies such as the inter-American Democratic Charter.
The class will feature occasional guest lectures, and will seek to incorporate
opportunities for students to engage policy-makers through extra-curricular
events.
Texts:
- Michael LaRosa and Frank O. Mora, eds. Neighborly
Adversaries: Readings in U.S.-Latin American Relations, Rowman and
Littlefield Publishers, Inc., Lanham , Maryland 1999
- G. Pope Atkins, Latin America and the Caribbean
in the International System, Westview Press,Boulder Colorado, 1999
(Fourth edition)
- Carolyn Shaw, Cooperation, Conflict and Consensus
in the Organization of American States, Palgrave MacMillan, 2004
Particulars:
Grades will be based on in-class presentations, a mid-term, a final and
a research paper.
Topic Title: Gender, Islam and Politics
[Departmental Permission only; Junior and senior majors and graduate students
only]
Wickham, Tu 1-4, MAX: 12
Content: This seminar examines the rights and status of women in
contemporary Muslim societies, as well as recent and past initiatives
to advance them. The seminar will consider how Western social scientists
-- including some with an explicit feminist agenda -- define the issues
facing Muslim women today, but special attention will be paid to the diverse
perspectives and strategies of action which have been adopted by Muslim
women themselves. To what extent are the challenges facing Muslim women
akin to those confronting women elsewhere in the developing world, and/or
in the industrialized societies of the West, and to what extent are they
inflected by local history and culture? How and why have post-colonial
states advanced gender equality in some instances, and tolerated -- or
actively reinforced -- gender discrimination in others? Are the beliefs
and traditions of Islam a source of women's oppression, and/or a resource
which can be enlisted for women's empowerment? How do the rights and status
of Muslim women vary by ethnicity, social class, age and education, and
what are the implications of such differences for campaigns to enhance
women's rights in general? Finally, how -- if at all -- can and should
international women's rights activists and NGOs intervene to advance women's
rights in Muslim societies? Analysis of these issues will be woven with
discussion of case study material from Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, Palestine,
Jordan, Kuwait, Iraq, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Turkey and Iran.
Texts: TBA
Particulars:
Class participation (including 1 oral presentation): 25%
Two analytic essays (7-8 pages each): 40%
Final Exam: 35%
Topic Title: Political Institutions in Latin America
[Departmental Permission only; Junior and senior majors and graduate students
only]
[same as LAS 490S]
Levitt, W 2:00-4:30, MAX: 9
Content: How do political institutions work in Latin America, roughly
two decades after most of the region experienced transitions to democracy?
Are theories of political institutions that were developed in the context
of Europe or North America useful for understanding these institutions
in Latin America, or should we be using more “homegrown” approaches?
In this seminar, we begin by reading theoretical and comparative work
on political institutions around the world. We will then focus our attention
on the political parties, legislatures, electoral systems, and other political
institutions of Latin America. In a part of the world with a troubled
history of political instability, these are more than just academic questions:
the future of Latin American democracy itself may be at stake.
Texts: We will read all or part of the following volumes:
- Mainwaring, Scott and Timothy Scott, Eds. Building
Democratic Institutions: Party Systems in Latin America
- Mainwaring, Scott and Timothy Scott, Eds. Presidentialism
and Democracy in Latin America
- Schedler, Andreas, Larry Diamond and Marc Plattner,
Eds. The Self-Restraining State
- Morgenstern, Scott and Benito Nacif. Eds. Legislative
Politics in Latin America
- Mainwaring, Scott and Christopher Welna, Eds. Democratic
Accountability in Latin America
- Additional articles/chapters TBA
Particulars:
All course readings are in English. The prerequisite for this class is
LAS 101 or any course on political institutions or Latin American politics.
This course satisfies the College’s General Education Requirement
(GER) for an advanced seminar.
Topic Title: International Environmental Policy
[Departmental Permission only; Junior and senior majors and graduate students
only]
[same as ENVS 377]
Yandle, TT 8:30-9:45, MAX: 6
Content: An advanced course designed to introduce students to the
complexity of policy problems surrounding international environmental
issues. We begin with the difference between national and international
policy issues, and why international environmental issues present unique
challenges. The class will then address the fragility of international
environmental institutions and the history of this topic. The second half
of the course will focus on specific policy problems such as: free trade,
sustainable development, population growth, climate change, and endangered
species. Students will also develop an expertise in the positions and
problems of one nation outside the US.
Texts:
- The Global Environment, Axelrod, Down
& Vig, CQ Press.
Particulars:
Topic Title: Might and Right
[Departmental Permission only; Junior and senior majors and graduate students
only]
Owen, TT 10:00-11:15, MAX: 12
Content: Analysis of some of some of the greatest works of political
philosophy on questions of war and justice. The chief theme of the course
will be the place (or absence) of morality or justice in affairs between
nations. Is justice a luxury no nation can afford when dealing with other
countries? Is justice an obstacle to effective foreign policy? Or are
the demands of justice absolute even for nations? Does it matter to foreign
policy what view of justice other countries hold? Are countries that share
our moral views natural allies? Or must all other nations be viewed with
equal suspicion? Is war a permanent part of human life? Or can humanity
achieve "perpetual peace"?
Texts:
- Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War
- Immanuel Kant, Perpetual Peace and other selections
from Political Writings
- Michael Walzer, Just and Unjust Wars
- Hans Morganthau, Politics Among Nations
- William Strunk and E. B. White, The Elements
of Style
Particulars:
This is a writing intensive course. Evaluation will be based on four five-page
papers, including outlines and a rough draft for each paper, class participation,
and quizzes. We will discuss the art of writing in class and students
will be tested on Strunk and White.
Topic Title: 21st Century African American Politics
[Departmental Permission only; Junior and senior majors only]
[same as AAS 270SWR]
Gillespie, Th 1-4, MAX: 8
Content: Is there a crisis or dearth of political leadership in
the African American community? Who are the up-and-coming leaders in African
American politics, and how are they ascending to national prominence?
What is the implication of the ascent of these "leaders" for
the advancement of African American political interests? In this course,
students will examine contemporary African American politics to determine
whether and how the new generation of African American leaders, (i.e.
Barack Obama and Harold Ford, etc.) promote an African American agenda
in a post-civil rights, multi-cultural environment. Students will apply
their knowledge to an in-depth research project which probes the relationship
between the leadership styles of individual African American politicians
or political groups and the substantive representation that these leaders
provide on important policy issues.
Texts: TBA
Particulars: TBA
Topic Title: Globalization and Its Discontents
[Departmental Permission only; Junior and senior majors and graduate students
only]
Reinhardt, W 1:00-4:00, MAX: 12
Content:This course examines debates about the globalization of
international trade, investment, and finance, directly taking up issues
raised by the anti-globalization protest movement. How does globalization
affect important values such as labor standards, the environment, public
health, and human rights? Does globalization foster or impede democratization
in the developing world? Does it increase or decrease the possibility
of internal or international conflict? Have global bureaucracies like
the World Trade Organization and the International Monetary Fund run roughshod
over the sovereignty of democratically-elected governments? How are the
prospects for sustainable development in poor countries affected by their
place in the global trade and financial regime? What policy choices can
and should governments make in these circumstances? We draw on social
scientific theory and method to gain a more informed understanding of
these questions.
Texts:
- Dani Rodrik, Has Globalization Gone Too Far?
- Kenneth Scheve and Matthew Slaughter, Globalization
and the Perceptions of American Workers
- Douglas Irwin, Free Trade Under Fire
- Joseph Stiglitz, Globalization and Its Discontents
- William Easterly, The Elusive Quest for Growth:
Economists’ Adventures and Misadventures in the Tropics
Particulars:
TBA
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