Department of Political Science

Please Note: The information given in the Course Atlas is subject to change.
For final schedule information, please refer to OPUS.
(Information on this page was last updated 10/15/2008)

POLS 100: National Politics in the U.S.
Abramowitz, MW (Plus Lab) 12:50-1:40 pm, MAX: 120

Content: Introduction to American national government. The course will cover the constitutional framework of American government, the social and cultural context of American politics, as well as public opinion, parties, elections, interest groups, Congress, the presidency and the courts.

Texts:
O'Connor, Sabato & Yanus, Essentials of American Government: Continuity and Change (9th Edition)
Canon & Coleman, The Enduring Debate: Classic and Contemporary Readings in American Politics (5th Edition)

Particulars: Examinations: midterm and final. Paper: 8-10 page paper analyzing 2008 presidential election. Grading: midterm 25%, paper 25%, participation and attendance 10%, final 40%. _____________________________________________________________________________________
POLS 110: Introduction to International Politics
Taulbee, MW (Plus Lab) 8:30-9:20 am, MAX: 120

Content: The primary purpose of this course is to help the student understand the world politics of today and tomorrow. It will explain and develop the fundamental concepts and materials essential to an intelligent analysis of international political behavior. The course will focus first on what the condition of anarchy, defined as the absence of political rule, means for state behavior at the international level. The course will then address the strategies states use in coping with the consequences of anarchy in dealing with contemporary transnational problems.

Texts: Kegley, World Politics (12th Edition)

Particulars: Examinations: three - two one hour exams and a comprehensive final Writing Assignments: 10 short (2 page) papers based upon the lecture topic for the week. Grading: First hour examination 15% Second hour examination 20% Final examination 35% Discussion Sections/Writing 30% _____________________________________________________________________________________
POLS 120: Introduction to Comparative Politics
del Aguila, MWF 8:30-9:20 am, MAX: 90

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: Magstadt, Nations and Governments: Comparative Politics in Regional Perspective (5th Edition)

Particulars: Examinations- midterm and final Papers - 10 page paper Grading - mid-term 25%; paper 30%; final 45% _____________________________________________________________________________________
POLS 190: Science Fiction and Politics
Brown, TT 10:00-11:15 am, 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:
Isaac Asimov, Foundation
Isaac Asimov, Foundation and Empire
Isaac Asimov, Second Foundation
David Brin, The Uplift War
Orson Scott Card, Ender's Game
Neal Stephenson, The Diamond Age: or a Young Lady's Illustrated Primer
Marge Piercy, He, She and It
Ursula Le Guin, The Dispossessed
Ursula Le Guin, The Left Hand of Darkness
Philip K. Dick, Ubik
Aldous Huxley, Brave New World
Lee Smolin, The Trouble with Physics

Particulars: Attendance 10%, Class Participation 10% & Writing assignments 80%(40% style and 40% content, only one of which can be handed in late without penalty) _____________________________________________________________________________________
POLS 190: Modern Israel
Stein, Tu 2:30-5:00 pm, MAX: 4

Same As HIST 190 / JS 190 / MESAs 190

Content: This undergraduate freshmen seminar will review the history of modern Israel from the inception of Zionism to the present. The four periods of study will be the ideological formations (to 1917), Zionist autonomy in Palestine and nation-building (to 1949), the problems and successes of sovereignty (to 1977), and the quest for identity and normalization (to the present). Issues to be discussed will include the new and old Yishuv, great power diplomacy, immigrations, sociological associations and cleavages, Israel-Diaspora relations, political and economic systems, Arab-Israeli wars, American-Israeli relations, the negotiating process, and quest for recognition from Arab neighbors.

Texts:
Dowty, The Jewish State: A Century Later
Hertzberg, The Zionist Idea: A Historical Analysis and Reader
Stein, Heroic Diplomacy: Sadat, Kissinger, Carter, Begin, and the Quest for Arab-Israeli Peace

Particulars: There will be a one hour examination and a final examination. Students may write a 10-page paper to satisfy the writing requirement. Papers are due the last day of class. If students opt to write a paper, then the hour examination and paper will count for two-thirds of the final grade, the final examination, one-third. If students choose only to take the examinations, grading will be one-half for the hour examination and half for the final examination. _____________________________________________________________________________________
POLS 302: Modern Political Thought
Klehr, TT 8:30-9:45 am, 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: midterm and final
_____________________________________________________________________________________
POLS 304: Major Texts in Political Theory
Bartlett, TT 1:00-2:15 pm, MAX: 45

Content: This course will examine the moral and political significance of God's providential concern for human beings. We will read the authoritative examination of providence in the Book of Job; the classic foundation of biblical critique in Hobbes' Leviathan, named after the creature mentioned in Job; and finally Herman Melville's astonishing examination of the "leviathan" in Moby Dick.

Texts: The New Oxford Annotated Bible; Hobbes Leviathan; Herman Melville Moby Dick. Selections from St. Thomas Aquinas and Moses Maimonides.

Particulars: 3 papers, quizzes. _____________________________________________________________________________________
POLS 305: 20th Century Political Ideologies
Klehr, TT 10:00-11:15 am, MAX: 45

Content: An examination of several important ideologies-communism, fascism, anarchism and democratic socialism.

Texts:
Cohen, Communism, Fascism & Democracy
Berman, Terror & Liberalism
Arendt, Eichmanm in Jerusalem
Koestler, Darkness at Noon
Hayek, Road to Serfdom

Particulars: TBA _____________________________________________________________________________________
POLS 308: Political Science Methods
Esarey, TT 4:00-5:15 pm, MAX: 90

Content: This course introduces students to the style of analytical thinking involved in the conduct of political science research. It covers experimental and observational research designs, case selection and simple sampling techniques, and measurement of theoretical concepts. It also covers basic statistical procedures for describing and analyzing quantitative data. The course applies these techniques to analyze numerous political examples. Students will learn some basic statistical computing skills, which the instructor will demonstrate in class and which students will use for some homework and a paper assignment. (The instructor will hold an optional Friday lab session, at the regular course time, at various points during the semester; students are advised to keep this part of their schedule free to allow them to attend such sessions if needed.)

Texts:
Johnson, Political Science Research Methods
Pollock, Stata Companion for Political Analysis

Particulars:
Midterm Exam
Final Exam
Homework Assignments
Research paper analyzing political data provided by instructor _____________________________________________________________________________________
POLS 312: International Law
Taulbee, MW 3:00-4:15 pm, 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, Law Among Nations (8th edition)

Particulars: Two, one hour examinations (15% each) and a comprehensive final (30%). The first hour examination will be essay in format. The second examination and the final, will consist of hypothetical problems. Two writing assignments (20% each) based upon extended hypothetical problems. _____________________________________________________________________________________
POLS 322: Politics of Southeast Asia
Liu, MWF 9:35-10:25 am, MAX: 45

Content: This course is designed to introduce students to Southeast Asian politics. In the first half of the course, we will study the historical developments of Southeast Asia broadly and the political developments of Singapore, Indonesia, and the Philippines in depth. In the second half of the course, we continue our study of the region by shifting our attention to two broader, thematic issues: ethnic conflict and economic development.

Texts: None required.

Particulars: Grading Details: Weekly Quizzes (50%); Research Paper (50%) _____________________________________________________________________________________
POLS 326: Western European Politics
Palazzolo, MWF 9:35-10:25 am, MAX: 30

Content: This course on West European politics is meant to provide a more thematic and theoretical approach to the study and analysis of West European politics, rather than an in-depth exploration of specific countries. Country examples and cases will be incorporated throughout the course as means of more substantive illustrations of political concepts. Topics under consideration will include electoral and party systems, executive power, territorial representation, and state-society relations. We will also focus on recent social and political developments in Western Europe, including immigration, globalization, regionalism, and the development of the European Union. Although this class focuses on West European politics, we will devote a class session or two to the post-communist countries of Eastern and Central Europe with a specific focus on the institutional dynamics and developments that have characterized their democratic transformation.

Texts:
Steiner, European Democracies
Rhodes, Developments in European Politics.

Particulars: Two exams, research assignment, quizzes, response papers (possibly). _____________________________________________________________________________________
POLS 332: Latin American Revolutions
del Aguila, MWF 11:45 am-12:35 pm, MAX: 35

Same As LAS 385

Content: Survey of major theories of revolution and in-depth analysis of Mexican, Nicaraguan and Cuban cases.

Texts:
Gladstone, Revolutions
Gonzalez, Cuba after the Revolution
Montaner, Journey to the Heart of Cuba
Ruiz, Great Rebellion: Mexico 1905-1924
Booth, The End and the Beginning

Particulars:
Examinations: midterm and final
Papers: one 15-17 page research paper
Grading: midterm 30%, final 40%, paper 30% _____________________________________________________________________________________
POLS 338: Middle East Politics
Wickham, TT 2:30-3:45 pm, MAX: 40

Content: This course offers students a thematic introduction to politics in the Arab Middle East. It begins with an overview of the region's history, beginning with the advent of Islam and continuing through the eras of colonialism and national independence. It examines the formation of the modern Arab state system; the creation of Israel and the origins of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; and the rise of Arab nationalism. The second part of the course explores major issues in contemporary Arab politics: the organization of the Arab state and the causes of state violence; the political economy of development; Islamic social movements and political protest; and the dynamics of regime-led economic and political reform. The third part of the course assesses future prospects for conflict-resolution and democratization in the region. It examines progress and setbacks in recent efforts to resolve the conflict over Palestine; prosecute the "war on terrorism"; and build democratic institutions in Iraq. Finally, it examines the prospects for democratic reform in other Arab states, and assesses how U.S. policies might strengthen (or undermine) local reform initiatives. Throughout the course, analysis of general trends will be integrated with case-studies of individual Middle Eastern states, including Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, Jordan, Israel, Syria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait.

Texts:
Cleveland, History of Modern Middle East (3rd Edition)
Gelvin, Israel-Palestine Conflict
Wittes, Freedom's Unsteady March
Ottaway, Beyond the Facade
Lust-Okar, Political Participation in the Middle East

Particulars:
Examinations: mid-term and final Papers -- 8-10 page analytic essay _____________________________________________________________________________________
POLS 342: Congressional Politics
Strahan, TT 8:30-9:45 am, MAX: 40

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:
Loomis and Schiller, Comtemporary Congress (5th Edition)
Dodd and Oppenheimer, Congress Reconsidered (9th Edition)
Strahan, Leading Representatives
Oleszeck, Congressional Procedures and the Policy Process (7th Edition)

Particulars:
Examinations- midterm and final
Papers- 10 page research paper
Prerequisites-POLS 100 strongly recommended, but not required. _____________________________________________________________________________________
POLS 346: African American Politics
Gillespie, TT 2:30-3:45 pm, MAX: 35

Same As AAS 346

Content: Students will study the origins and evolution of the study of African American politics, comparing and contrasting it with the study of American politics generally, and discerning the unique contribution that studies of African American politics have made to our understanding of the American political system. Topics to be covered include (but are not limited to) comparisons between African American and white ethnic politics, African Americans and federalism, electoral politics, political participation, representation inter-group competition, group consciousness, and secondary marginalization.

Texts:
Cohen, The Boundaries of Blackness
Dawson, Behind the Mule
Barker, African Americans and the American Political System (5th Edition)
Philpot, Race, Republicans and the Return of the Party of Lincoln
Johnson, Black Political Organizations in the Post-Civil Rights Era
Harris, Countervailing Forces in African American Civic Activism, 1973-1984
Tate, Black Faces in the Mirror: African Americans and Their Representatives in Congress
Dyson, Is Bill Cosby Right?
Williams, Enough
Hajnal, Changing White Attitudes Toward Black Political Leadership
Cosby, Come on People: On the Path from Victims to Victors

Particulars: TBA _____________________________________________________________________________________
POLS 351: U.S. Supreme Court
Giles, MWF 10:40-11:30 am, MAX: 45

Content: This course focuses on the institutional history, processes and behaviors associated with the United States Supreme Court. It is NOT a constitutional law course and cases will only be treated to illustrate points. Greater attention will be given to such questions as shifts in the jurisdiction of the court over-time, changes in the structure (e.g. size) of the court, the selections of justices, structures for processing of cases (e.g. certiorari decisions, oral argument..), groups interacting with the court (e.g. the Solicitor General, legal lobbyists, the Supreme Court Bar) and theories concerning the factors influencing the decision-making of judges.

Texts:
Segal & Spaeth, Supreme Court & the Attitudinal Model Revisited
Esptein & Knight, The Choices Justices Make

Particulars: TBA _____________________________________________________________________________________
POLS 353: Civil Liberties
Walker, TT 8:30-9:45 am, 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.

Texts: Lee Epstein and Thomas G. Walker, Constitutional Law for a Changing America: Rights, Liberties and Justice 6th edition (Washington: Congressional Quarterly Press, 2007).

Particulars: Lecture and discussion format. 2-3 examinations. Class participation required. _____________________________________________________________________________________
POLS 354: Criminal Justice
Walker, TT 1:00-2:15 pm, 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 (2008 Edition)
Vincent Bugliosi, Helter Skelter
Thomas Walker, Eligible for Execution: Daryl Atkins and the Death Penalty

Particulars: Examinations - 2-3 exams _____________________________________________________________________________________
POLS 366: Southern Politics
Black, MW 2:00-3:15 pm, MAX: 45

Content: The South is the largest region in the United States. Its politics have changed more than any other part of the nation. In this course we deal with the civil rights movement, the rise of the Republican party, and the possibility of a Democratic party comeback in the region. We examine important trends among voters and elected officials in the Deep South, Upper South, Florida, and Texas.

Texts:
Earl Black and Merle Black, Divided America: Ferocious Power Struggle in American Politics
John Lewis, Walking with the Wind: A Memoir of the Movement
Earl Black and Merle Black, The Rise of Southern Republicans

Particulars: Mid-term exam and final exam _____________________________________________________________________________________
POLS 367: Urban Politics
Owens, TT 4:00-5:15 pm, MAX: 40

Content: This course will introduce you to the history, theories, and practical implications of urban politics. It will explore through lectures, class discussions, readings, and documentaries the definition, possession, and use of political power by groups within cities in the United States of America, especially its major cities. A fundamental question we will seek to answer is which group(s) or interest(s) have the power to consistently influence, if not bias, public policies to their benefit in large American cities. Our central question will be who rules consistently and routinely? Primarily, we will be concerned with the exercise of power to address individual and community needs and values, and how the "powerful" wield it. We will search for answers among a set of works from the urban political power scholarship published over the last half of the twentieth century, entertaining various theories and considering their empirical relevance. We will pay a good deal of attention to politics in the City of Atlanta, using both historic and contemporary accounts of power-wielding in the state of Georgia.

Texts:
Pelissero, Cities, Politics & Policy
Ross, Urban Politics (7th Edition)

Particulars: 3 exams and class participation. _____________________________________________________________________________________
POLS 370BWR: Planning Community Initiatives
Rich, TT 2:30-3:45 pm, MAX: 12

Same As SOC 370B / CBSC 370B

Content: This course overviews the history, development, and activities of the community building movement in the United States. Specifically, it examines the contemporary use of cross-sector collaboration to address complex public problems that sap the vitality, deplete the resources, or stymie the improvement of urban communities at all levels. All across the country, this kind of collaboration among organizations in the business, government, nonprofit, civic, and faith-based sectors is transforming neighborhoods, cities, and entire metro regions. Collaborative, cross-sector, community-based problem solving is being used to increase the availability of affordable housing, promote school reform, expand access to health care, encourage sustainable development, promote economic self-sufficiency for all, decrease the devastation of poverty and more. It also considers the processes through which "community builders" attempt to foster social change. The course has five primary goals: (1) introduce students to the principles that support community building as an approach to addressing important public problems in metropolitan communities; (2) provide students with a set of analytic perspectives for examining important public problems and fostering social change; (3) assist students in identifying the interconnections among demography, culture, economy, and polity, and the global, national, state, regional, and neighborhood forces affecting metropolitan communities; (4) lay a foundation for students to engage in critique, introspection, and reflection about the need and means of community building and social change; and (5) prepare prospective Community Building and Social Change Fellows to recognize, understand, and contribute to the eventual resolution of real world issues in metropolitan communities.

Texts: Bardach, Practical Guide for Policy Analysis (3rd Edition)

Particulars: Two examinations, a team-based reflection paper, and a final synthetic essay _____________________________________________________________________________________
POLS 385: The Politics of Oil Dependency
Creekmore, W 2:00-5:00 pm, MAX: 10

Same As HIST 385

Content: This course examines the role energy plays in national and international politics. It assesses how dependency on oil import affects the U.S.'s economy, its national security, and its efforts to deal with global warming. After studying the issues, the students will prepare group policy papers recommending how the U.S. administration should deal with the imported oil issue in the short -, medium-, and long term.

Texts: The following three books will be required reading; other readings will be put on reserve.
Jay Hakes, A Declaration of Energy Independence: How Freedom for Foreign Oil can improve National Security, Our Economy, and the Environment (2008)
Robert Bryce, Gusher of Lies: The Dangerous Delusions of "Energy Independence" (2008)
Thomas L. Friedman, Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution - And How It Can Renew America. (2008)

Particulars: TBA _____________________________________________________________________________________
POLS 385: Political Economy of African Development
Streeb, TT 11:30 am-12:45 pm, MAX: 30

Same As AFS 389

Content: A discussion of development in Sub-Saharan Africa frequently begins with the question: "Why has Africa fallen behind?" Too often the critics of African development fail to address questions such as: "Which other regions in the world suffered the ravages of the slave trade?" or, "chafed under colonial rule well into the 20 the Century?" or, "witnessed their natural resources extracted by the developed powers?" This course will seek to address these and questions regarding development in Sub-Saharan Africa by examining the ways in which African economies have evolved from their colonial legacy, only to be buffeted again by the Cold War. While Africa's current situation cannot be properly understood outside the historical perspective, most of the semester will be devoted to contemporary issues in Africa (HIV/AIDS, growth of cities, education reforms, drought, democratic governance). The basic question: "Why are some countries succeeding and others failing?" will be addressed through the study of the experience of selected countries with differing colonial legacies and representative of the several geographic/political regions of Africa. The instructor will provide practical examples from his thirty years of experience in the Foreign Service, which included tours in Mexico, India, and the United Nations and as US ambassador to Zambia. In addition he served ten years at The Carter Center as the first director of the Global Development Initiative and then as director of peace programs.

Texts: Emmanuel Nnadozie, African Economic Development

Particulars: Two quizzes (20% each), Final Exam (30%), 10-page term paper (20%) and attendance and classroom participation (10%) _____________________________________________________________________________________
POLS 385: U.S.-China Relations
Bullock, TT 10:00-11:15 am, MAX: 10

Same As HIST 385

Content: This course will examine US-China relations from the American Revolution to the lead-up to the 2008 Olympics. While the course will focus on the period since President Nixon's opening to China, it will include attention to earlier political, economic and social antecedents, especially the complex World War II, Civil War and Korean War period. Cultural relationships as well as traditional diplomatic and economic trends will be explored. The different roles of Congress, the Executive branch and corporate America in making China policy will be examined. The course will conclude by examining the major strategic, economic, technological and political challenges being encountered by China's rise to great power status.

Texts: TBA

Particulars: This course will include a mid-term and a final, several short written and oral assignments and a 10-12 page research paper. Students will have the opportunity to use Jimmy Carter's Presidential Archives for their research paper. _____________________________________________________________________________________
POLS 385: Comparative Constitutional Law
Staton, TT 1:00-2:15 pm, MAX: 40

Content: This course is an introduction to comparative constitutional law and politics. We will consider how constitutional courts around the world have resolved questions of judicial authority, federalism, emergency powers, religious liberty, privacy and discrimination. In addition, we will address the relationships between these courts and other political actors, focusing on the causes and consequences of judicial independence.

Texts:
Jackson, Vicki C. and Mark V. Tushnet. Comparative Constitutional Law, 2nd Ed. New York: Foundation Press.
All other readings for this course will be online or on reserve at the library

Particulars: TBA _____________________________________________________________________________________
POLS 385: The American Founding
Schneider, MWF 2:00-2:50 pm, MAX: 40

Content: Americans' support for their constitution has not prevented disagreement about what it means. Many have looked to the founding generation to validate their views. But were the founders' concerns the same as our own? This course examines the work of the American founders, with a view to better understanding their achievement and the lessons it may hold. Special attention is given to the ratification debate.

Texts:
Wood, The American Revolution: A History
Larson, The Constitutional Convention: A Narrative History
Hamilton, The Federalist
Storing, The Anti-Federalist
Storing, What the Anti-Federalists Were For
Yarnbrough, The Essential Jefferson

Particulars: Paper, journal, participation, midterm and final exams. _____________________________________________________________________________________
POLS 385WR: New Black Political Leadership
Gillespie, TT 4:00-5:15 pm, MAX: 25

Same As AAS 385WR

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:
Smith, We Have No Leaders
Reed, The Jesse Jackson Phenomenon
Obama, The Audacity of Hope
Dawson, Behind the Mule
Thomas, My Grandfather's Son
Dyson, Is Bill Cosby Right?
Simpson, The Ties that Bind
Harris-Lacewell, Bibles, Barbershops and BET
Cosby, Come on People!
Obama, Dreams From My Father
Ifill, The Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama
Smiley, The Covenant with Black America
Ifill, The Covenant in Action
Hajnal, Changing White Attitudes Toward Black Political Leadership

Particulars: Weekly papers and a final 20 page paper on a contemporary African American leader. _____________________________________________________________________________________

POLS 385WR: International Environmental Policy
Yandle, TT 8:30-9:45 am, MAX: 7

Same As ENVS 377WR

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: Axelrod, Downie, The Global Environment: Institutions, Law, and Policy (2nd Edition)

Particulars: Prerequisite: ENVS 131, 132, or POLS 110 or permission of instructor. _____________________________________________________________________________________
POLS 490S: Political Economy of the Middle East
Hajj Parks, TT 10:00-11:15 am, MAX: 12

Content: This course situates the Middle East and North African countries into a broader debate on the political economy of development. In many cases, the experiences of the Middle East complement existing approaches to economic growth and development. However in some cases, the Middle East experiences contradict our existing approaches. This course represents an effort to insert the Middle East and North Africa into the political economy fray in order to enhance not only our understanding of the region but also to sharpen existing theories in political economy.

Texts: Henry and Springborg, Globalization and the Politics of Development in the Middle East
Richards and Waterbury , A Political Economy of the Middle East (3rd Edition)

Particulars: This is a discussion- based course that hinges on the active participation of every student. All students must keep up with the weekly readings and come to class prepared to contribute meaningfully to class discussions.
Class Participation: 25%
In-class Quiz: 10%
Mid-Term: 15%
Analytic Essay: 20%
Final Exam: 30% _____________________________________________________________________________________
POLS 490S: Comparative Mass Behavior
Linzer, Tu 1:00-4:00 pm, MAX: 6

Content: How do people around the world think about and participate in politics and government? In this seminar, we will address questions relating to public opinion formation, ideology and partisanship, voting behavior, democratic representation, and mass social movements. Our approach will be broadly comparative in scope, examining evidence for and against various theories of mass behavior in countries with different political institutions, different historical and cultural backgrounds, and at very different levels of economic development. A large amount of reading will be expected, consistent with the large amount of research that has been conducted in these areas of study.

Texts: TBA

Particulars: TBA _____________________________________________________________________________________
POLS 490S: Courts, Politics and Public Policy
Giles, W 1:00-4:00 pm, MAX: 8

Content: This seminar focuses on courts as political institutions. How are courts like and unlike other institutions of government? What roles do courts play in democratic political systems? What influence do courts have over public policy? How do they constrain the policymaking of other institutions? How are they constrained by other institutions? These are some of the kinds of questions to be addressed in the seminar. A research paper will be required.

Texts:
Bosworth, Courts as Catalysts
Derthick, Up in Smoke (2nd Edition)
Rosenberg, Hallow Hope (2nd Edition)

Particulars: TBA _____________________________________________________________________________________
POLS 490 SWR: Contemporary Issues in Israeli Politics
Shultziner, M 2:00-4:00 pm, TBA 6

Same As HIST 489WR

Content: This seminar explores new developments and trends in Israeli politics, society and constitutional arrangements beginning at the end of the 1980s. We will explore contemporary issues in view of their historical evolution. The course covers the nature and evolving ideologies of the main contemporary Israeli political parties: Labor, Likud, Ultra-orthodox parties, the National Religious party, and Arab parties. We will also explore issues in the changing composition and nature of Israeli society through the lens of Russian, Ethiopian, and Overseas Workers groups, Mizrahi-Ashkenazi politics, and Gender politics. Finally, new political players in the system are also discussed: the Israeli Supreme Court, the business community, and the growing power of the IDF in shaping public policy from the 1990s onward.

Texts:
Mahler, Politics and Government in Israel: The Maturation of a Modern State.
Shafir, Being Israeli: The Dynamics of Multiple Citizenship.

Particulars: Students will write two short papers (maximum 1500 words) during the semester, each constitutes 20% of the final grade. First short paper is due in late February and the second paper is due in early April. A final paper (about 20 pages) will constitute 60% of the final grade. The final paper is early May, 2009. Active class participation is necessary and may count up to an additional 10% bonus to the final grade. The students will send weekly reflection paragraphs on the readings. Students are strongly advised to follow current events on the Israeli daily Haaretz: www.haaretz.com _____________________________________________________________________________________
POLS 490 SWR: Modeling Social Phenomena
Brown, TT 1:00-2:15 pm, MAX: 8

Content: This advanced seminar satisfies the post-Freshman writing requirement of the GERs, and it is designed for juniors and seniors who seek an introduction to theory construction and dynamic modeling in the social sciences. The course content covers a range of theory-driven and easy-to-use tools that are used to construct mathematical models that are relevant to a wide range of important applications in fields such as political science, international studies and development, public health, public policy, economics, business, the environment, and even law. High school algebra is all that is required to begin. (Honest!) This course is also useful for honors students who desire to develop a theory about society for their final thesis paper. Check out the syllabus and other course materials at www.courtneybrown.com. Click on "Student Area (Emory)" in the navigation menu.]

Texts:
Brown, Chaos and Catastrophe Theories
Huckfeldt, Dynamic Modeling: An Introduction
Brown, Graph Algebra: Mathematical Modeling with a Systems Approach
Brown, Differential Equations: A Modeling Approach

Particulars:
10% Attendance (Three absences are permitted without penalty.)
60% Writing assignments (Regular shorter assignments, plus a writing requirement longer paper)
30% Class participation (students will make presentations to the class) _____________________________________________________________________________________
POLS 490 SWR: History of Israeli Foreign Policy
Tal, W 4:00-6:00 pm, MAX: 4

Same As HIST 489/ JS 490/ MS370SWR

Content: This course will concentrate on Israel's diplomatic history. It will discuss Israel international orientation in the 1950s', the role of the diplomats in the pursuit of security alliance with a great power, first with France and later with the United States; the search for peace and the diplomats role in the preparation to war, before and after the 1956, 1967 and 1973 wars; and the role of diplomacy throughout the Israeli- Palestinian rapprochement and conflict.

Texts: TBA

Particulars: TBA

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