|
|
|
      
|
|
Political Science Courses
101 American Politics (SB) (both sem) Introduction to and overview of American government. Emphasis on understanding American political institutions such as the Congress, the presidency, and the courts in light of democratic theory and values. Examination of the electoral process; how government institutions respond to demands for public policies. 111 Comparative Politics (SBD) An introductory exploration of political systems in several nation states in various parts of the world. Coverage differs depending on the specialties and interests of instructor. Students learn about generalized comparative approaches and political development, political processes and political institutions in each state covered. 121 World Politics (SB) Introduction to the principles and practices of international relations in the political, military, economic, and environmental realms. Study of the development of the contemporary system to explore the effects of the structure of the international system, the institutions through which states conduct their relations, and domestic characteristics on the relations among states. 162 Introduction to Constitutional Law Introduction to the American constitution as law. The importance of the text and the traditions of interpretation. The courts, congress, and the presidency. Also local power, the bill of rights, and the fourteenth amendment. 163 Introduction to Civil Liberties A survey of constitutional rights to free expression, equality, due process, and other civil liberties; attention to contemporary policy issues such as pornography, sex discrimination, and student rights. 171 Introduction to Political Theory (SB) Introduction to the Western tradition of political theory; focus on particular problems and issues through a reading of classical and non-traditional texts. Topics include political obligation, justice, feminism, individuality, friendship, community, civil disobedience, power, others. Recommended for Political Science majors; not open to senior Political Science majors. 203 American Political Thought (HS) Origin and evolution of political ideas and ideals that have shaped the American constitutional system. Tensions within and between liberalism and democracy and the impact of changing social and economic conditions on political beliefs and values. 208 Political Parties and Elections Analysis of the roles of political parties in elections and in government. Emphasis on elections and democratic theory; voting behavior; party organizations, PACs, and money in congressional and presidential elections; political parties and the governmental process; and parties as sources of continuity and vehicles for change in American politics. 214 Urban Government and Politics Introduction to the study of city politics in the U.S., focusing on urban political economy including its relation to state and federal governments and the complexity of relations between public and private sectors. Topics include the evolution and structure of city government, decision making, service delivery, and topical issues such as housing, enterprise zones, and social services. 219 State and Local Government Problems, politics, and issues of state government in the U.S. The key factors inhibiting and facilitating the reemergence of the states in the political system. Significance of state government in the development and implementation of local and federal policies. 236 Russian Politics Historical and ideological influences on politics; the interconnection of social and political institutions and processes; membership, organization, and operation of political groups; the constitution and the governmental structure and their operation; the politics of change, reform, resistance, and ethnicity; contemporary foreign policy; and prospects for the future. 239 Government and Politics of West Europe Analysis of the political cultures, institutions, systems, and processes of selected West European countries. Emphasis on social and economic factors relating to contemporary political issues. 245 Government and Politics of the Caribbean Focus on the English-speaking Caribbean, formerly the British West Indies: Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana and Grenada. Analysis of the political institutions, processes and movements which give expression to the forces at work in these societies, expecially those of class, ethnicity, and relations of production. Regional economic integration and political federation examined: the utility or otherwise of CARICOM, failure of West Indies federation, etc. Recommended: POLSCI 111. 249 Canadian Politics A broad "North American" perspective is used to analyze the geographical, cultural, and governmental features of Canadian political life. Persistent contentious issues in Canada are examined, including national identity, French-English relations, regionalism, and Canadian-United States relations. 253 International Environmental Politics and Policies Focus on the social, political, and economic factors causing environmental threats and by which efforts have been taken to manage or ameliorate such threats. Introduction to the major actors involved in international environmental politics and the major patterns by which problems are approached internationally. 255 American Foreign Policy (SB) Principles of American foreign policy with an emphasis on the historical, political, and administrative sources of contemporary policies. Analysis of the foreign policy-making process with specific reference to illustrative case studies. Recommended: equivalent of POLSCI 101 or 121. 280 Introduction to Public Policy (SB) Introduction to contemporary American public policy analysis. Various perspectives on public policy including economic efficiency, equity, liberty, and political/organizational feasibility. Emphasis on evaluating the impacts of specific public policy changes. Applications may include environmental policy, affirmative action, immigration, international trade, education, health, and other public policies. 297 Special Topics Different seminars are offered under this general topic each semester. American Politics in Film The media's contents and consequences for the American public and the government, its depictions of race and gender, and its effect on public policy and political life. Modern Political Campaigning The techniques used to reach and persuade voters in political campaigns. Focus on Congressional races in which the techniques, if not the scale, are applicable to a wide range of campaigns. Race, Culture and American Politics The connections between "race" and the development of political culture, public law, social movements, and public policy in the U.S. Social and political construction of "race"; the alleged relationship between "culture" and poverty; and how race affected the War on Poverty. Politics of European Film A series of films for discussion and analysis of 20th-century revolution and reaction as a political and aesthetic phenomenon. Includes works of Eisenstein, Riefenstahl, Rossellini, Godard, Bertolucci, Tanner, and Pontecorvo. After Communism Examination of the processes of continuity and change in the former communist states, concentrating on Russia and East Central Europe. Focus on the attempts to form open societies, democratic political systems, and market economies, and the issues for the United States. Some historical overview, particularly on the nature of Leninist communism in power, the problems it faced, and the reasons for its end. Includes brief geocultural introduction to the major states. What the processes examined may mean for the study of politics. 302 The American Presidency Focus on the constitutional, political, institutional, and policy context of the presidency. The creation of the office, the selection process, the policy process, and pathology and reform. 305 Congress and the Legislative Process Analysis and evaluation of the U.S. Congress, its structure, procedures, and norms. Emphasis on congressional elections; representation; legislative behavior; the relationship between Congress and the executive branch; and Congress as a source of continuity and a vehicle for change in American politics. 307 Black Politics Introduction to black politics and ideology in the United States. Includes: the social and political construction of "Blackness"; blacks and social movement; voting and representation; and black popular culture and politics. 308 Public Opinion in Politics The origins, content, and impact of public opinion and the linkages of public opinion and public policy in the U.S. Conducting a sample survey of opinion. 317 Massachusetts Politics Massachusetts politics studied as a rich and colorful story, entailing corruption and virtue. Focus mainly on the present, covering the institutions of government and the political process. Students have the opportunity to pursue an aspect of the story that especially interests them. 320 Public Administration The politics of American public administration, policy formation and the challenge of implementation, organization theory and managerial technique, power of and controls over public bureaucrats. Recommended: POLSCI 101 or equivalent. 321 Democracy within Organizations The meaning and possibility of "democracy" within large-scale organizations. Organizations examined may include business, governmental agencies, churches, political parties, labor unions. Political science analysis applied especially to the internal governance of these organizations. 332 Government and Politics of Scandinavia The rise of the Scandinavian states (Denmark, Norway, and Sweden); emphasis on the interplay of political, social, and economic factors in shaping democracy. The Scandinavian welfare state model and its domestic and international dimensions. Prior course in modern European history and/or comparative politics (POLSCI 111) recommended. 335 Governments of East Central Europe Survey of the ethnic, religious, and historic infrastructure of East-Central Europe; focus on the character of the regimes, Communist Party rule, the divergencies between the various states of the area, and their relations with Russia and the changes of 1989 and later. Survey includes Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Albania, the Czech and Slovak republics, and the successor states of the former Yugoslavia. 340 Government and Politics of Latin America Introduction to South American government and politics. Context of political process, problems of public policies and of transitions to democracy emphasized. POLSCI 111 or previous study of Latin America suggested. 343 Government and Politics of East Africa Comparative analysis of the politics of change in Tanzania and Kenya. Economic dependency and underdevelopment; decolonization and liberation; ideology and practice; democratization and economic liberalization. Emphasis on interaction between domestic and external politics. Prerequisite: upper-division standing, POLSCI 111 or consent of instructor. 344 Government and Politics of Spain and Portugal Unique aspects of the process of political development in Spain and Portugal; emphasis on the heritage of these two nations as reflected in their New World colonies in the Americas and on the present-day pattern of politics in Iberian peninsula. 346 Government and Politics of West Africa Comparison of political economy of four former British colonies of West Africa: Nigeria, Ghana, the Gambia and Sierra Leone. Difficulties of nation-state formation, the politics of the military state, role of governments in promoting, altering or retarding economic growth; impact of IMF and other external institutions on development processes. The Gambia as deviate case: liberalism and electoral politics examined. Recommended: POLSCI 111. 351 International Security Policy Theories about the causes of war and peace, including efforts to identify foreign policies and institutional arrangments that foster war or peace, and the policy implications of these theories in the past, present, and future. International relations scholarship, science fiction novels, and films used to address these issues. 352 Inter-American Relations U.S.-Latin American relations, and Caribbean. The main institutions and groups included in policy making, the policy options available, issues in U.S. Latin American relations, and how the policy process works. 353 Representations of War and Peace Understandings of war and peace in historic and contemporary political thought. How war is explained in the works of many thinkers, male and female, past and present. Peace movements, strategies, and theories; war theory and war fighting doctrines. Historic images of the male soldier-citizen and warrior and the female embodying anti-militarist values. Diversity of perspective. 354 International Relations Advanced topics in international relations. Possible topics: historical and philosophical foundations of the state-system, post-1945 changes in the state-system, alternative levels of political analysis, recurring sources of conflict, instruments of national power, the role of international regimes and other institutions. POLSCI 121, 255 strongly recommended. 356 International Law Development of basic rules of public international law. Topics include sources of evidence for law, international legal personality, jurisdiction, treatment of individuals, law of treaties, law of the sea, re-sort to force, and peaceful settlement of disputes. POLSCI 121 or equivalent strongly recommended. 357 International Organizations The roles of intergovernmental organizations in the management of shared problems, particularly collective security, economic relations, use of common areas or resources, promotion of human rights, and protection of the environment. Contrasts the regional integration effort pursued in the European Community and the looser cooperation pursued through the UN system. POLSCI 121 or equivalent strongly recommended. 359 International Political Economy Study of the political management of international economic relations. Introduces a variety of theoretical approaches to the study of international political economy, stressing the role of power, institutions, knowledge and domestic politics in shaping international economic relations. 360 Constitutional Law Development of American constitutional law and a study of the Supreme Court as a policy-making institution. Emphasis on landmark cases and the substantive impact of the Supreme Court in the American polity during different political eras. Prerequisite: basic American politics course or equivalent. 361 Civil Liberties Development of constitutional law in the civil liberties sphere. First Amendment freedoms of speech, press, and religion, and certain rights of the accused; the rights of African-Americans and other minorites and women under the equal protection of the laws clause. Prerequisite: basic American politics course or equivalent. 362 Politics, Law, and Judicial Behavior The workings of the American judicial system within context of the larger political system. How demands are processed by trial and appellate courts; who uses courts and why; who judges are and how they get their jobs; why judges decide cases the way they do; the impact of court decisions. Prerequisite: basic course in American Politics or equivalent. 363 The Politics of Law How law, courts, and lawyers influence the substance and pace of political action. Attention to sanctions and regulations, ideological and institutional influences, and political transformation. Analysis of movements in law such as Critical Legal Studies, Law and Economics, Alternative Dispute Resolution, and forms of action like civil disobedience and terrorism. 365 Bill of Rights and Equal Protection Development and application to the states and the federal government of the provisions of the Bill of Rights and of the constitutional guarantee of equal protection of the laws. Readings from relevant Supreme Court decisions and supplementary materials. Prerequisite: POLSCI 101; POLSCI 360 recommended. 366 The First Amendment The development of constitutional law in the area of the speech and press guarantees of the First Amendment including the corollary rights to freedom of association, through examination of critical decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court. Prerequisite: POLSCI 101; POLSCI 360 recommended. 367 The Supreme Court Description and interpretation of the United States Supreme Court as a modern institution with attention to its constitutional foundations, traditional practices, and political significance. Includes: Court and Constitution, nomination and confirmation of justices, the "Marble Temple," work processes leading to Court opinions, and the consequences of opinions for public policy. 370 Ancient Political Thought Introduction to Western political thought. Classical Greek political philosophies; their evolution from Socrates to Stoicism; the confrontation of the Greek tradition and Hebraic outlook via Christianity as seen in Augustine and Aquinas. Exploration of the relationship of political theory to history, drama, prophecy, and theology. 371 Modern Political Thought Reading of selected political theorists from 16th to 19th centuries: Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Tocqueville, Marx, and Nietzsche. Emphasis on the nature of the political world and the forms of understanding and activity appropriate to it. 373 Contemporary Political Theory Survey of some of the central texts and themes in contemporary political theory. Authors include Arendt, Foucault, Habermas, Marcuse, Haraway. Themes include authority, modernity/postmodern-ity, identity, rights, totalitarianism, lib-eration, communicative ethics, deterrito-rialization, pluralism, multiculturalism, governmentality and rationalization. 374 Issues in Political Theory Rigorous consideration of topics of current and continuing importance to the study of political theory. 375 Feminist Theory and Politics A theoretical consideration of different feminisms including liberal-feminism, socialist-feminism, anarcha-feminism, radical feminism and eco-feminism. Also examines: the relation between feminist theory and practice; the historical development of feminism; feminist issues within the canon of political theory; the problem of identity and difference(s) as related to race, class, and gender. 380 The Politics of Public Welfare Policy The issues and politics surrounding public social provision in the U.S. Which citizens are deemed deserving of benefits and why. Who should be responsible for the problems of education, health, working conditions, housing, poverty. Prior knowledge of American government and/or the policy process strongly recommended. 382 Environmental Policy Analysis of domestic and international environmental policies, including air and water pollution, endangered species, wilderness preservation, toxic and hazardous wastes, pesticides, global warming, stratospheric ozone depletion, and others. Political, economic, legal, and ecological implications of various environmental policy measures, with emphasis on analyzing and improving public policy. In-class environmental policy debates. 385 Comparative Public Policy Some political aspects of economic and social policy in advanced industrial states. Focus on political economy and policy innovations in several Western industrial states. Areas compared include: economic management (taxation, stabilization, and distribution), labor relations, health, and education. Recommended prerequisite: course in comparative politics (e.g., POLSCI 111) and macroeconomics (e.g., ECON 104.) 397 Special Topics Revolutionary Nationalism and Imperialism in the Caribbean Politics of these countries assessed in regional Caribbean terms, identifying common factors in historical evolution and contemporary development. Attention to forces of colonialism, racial and class inequality, dependency, authoritarianism, political subordination, and decolonization. U.S. geopolitical and economic interests in the Caribbean. The U.S. and Post-Communism The attitudes, approach, and policy of the United States toward the ex-communist countries, concentrating on the period of the Clinton administration. An updated version of the instructor's long-standing course on U.S.-Soviet relations. Topics include the U.S. and the Cold War; Bosnia, the Yugoslav wars, and U.S. policy; NATO expansion in terms of opportunity and issues; and U.S.-Russian relations today. 399 Writing in Political Science 1 cr Fulfills Junior Year Writing requirement. For Political Science majors only. Political
Science | Courses | Faculty
| |
|
|