All information in this guide is tentative and subject to change. Check the Political Science Department Office for updates. Current Information on rooms and times for the classes listed can be obtained from the university-wide Time Schedule of Classes or from the Political Science office.
“Cross listed” Courses: These may apply to a Political Science major or minor without a petition, regardless of the departmental prefix. For example, if you take African-American Politics as AAS 306, you do not need to petition to apply it to your Political Science major.
"Meets With” Courses": If you take a “Meets With” course under a departmental prefix other than PSC, you will need to petition to count that course towards your Political Science major or minor.
PSC 121 m100 American National Government and Politics
Instructor: Baobao Zhang
Class #: 30651
Offered: T/Th 3:30 pm – 4:25 pm
Frequency Offered: Every semester
Prerequisites: None
This course is required for all students who are majoring in Political Science.
Note: All students must also enroll in a discussion section listed for this course.
Discussion # 32278 (Section 101) Fridays 10:35 am-11:30 am
Discussion # 32279 (Section 103) Thursdays 5:00 pm-5:55 pm
Discussion # 32675 (Section 105) Thursdays 5:00 pm-5:55 pm
Discussion # 32676 (Section 106) Fridays 9:30 am-10:25 am
Course Description
How does the American political system operate? This course provides an introduction to American political institutions, behaviors, and processes. Topics include (among other things) public opinion, elections, Congress, the presidency, the mass media, civic participation, the Constitution, federalism, and public policy. Although we will cover the “nuts and bolts” of American government, our focus is on political science rather than civics, which means our task is to analyze and interpret political phenomena.
PSC 121 m200 American National Government and Politics
Instructor: Mark Brockway
Class #: 31214
Offered: T/Th 5:00 pm-5:55 pm
Frequency Offered: Every semester
Prerequisites: None
This course is required for all students who are majoring in political science.
Note: All students must also enroll in a discussion section listed for this course.
Discussion # 31215 (Section 201) Thursdays 3:30 pm-4:25 pm
Discussion # 33312 (Section 202) Fridays 12:45 pm-1:40 pm
Discussion # 33313 (Section 203) Thursdays 6:300 pm-7:25 pm
Discussion # 31216 (Section 204) Fridays 9:30 am-10:25apm
Discussion # 31503 (Section 206) Thursdays 2:00 pm-2:55 pm
Discussion # 31609 (Section 207) Fridays 10:35 am-11:30 am
Course Description
How does the American political system operate? This course provides an introduction to American political ideas, institutions, behaviors, and processes. Topics include (among other things) the Constitution, Congress, the presidency, the mass media, civic participation, and public policy. Although we will cover the “nuts and bolts” of American government, our focus is on political science rather than civics, which means our task is to analyze and interpret political phenomena.
PSC 123 m100 Comparative Government and Politics *
Instructor: Erin Hern
Class #: 31499
Offered: M/W 11:40 am - 12:35 pm
Frequency Offered: Yearly
Prerequisites: None
Note: All students must also enroll in a discussion section listed for this course.
Discussion # 31500 (Section 101) Thursdays 3:30 pm-4:25 pm
Discussion # 31501 (Section 102) Thursdays 5:00pm-5:55 pm
Discussion # 32677 (Section 103) Fridays 12:45pm-1:40 pm
Discussion # 31502 (Section 104) Fridays 9:30 am-10:25 am
Course Description
Why are some countries wealthier than others? Why do some countries become democratic while others remain authoritarian? Do certain democratic institutions work better than others? Comparative politics is the study of variation in political outcomes across and within countries. This course provides a broad introduction to the various topics covered under comparative politics, including issues of economic development, regime type, and management of social and political conflict. This course presents theory and comparative case analysis to help students deepen their understanding differences in important outcomes between countries and world regions.
PSC 124 m100 International Relations *
Instructor: Terrie Northrup
Class #: 30652
Offered: M/W 11:40 am-12:35 pm
Frequency Offered: Every semester
Prerequisites: None
Note: All students must also enroll in a discussion section listed for this course.
Discussion # 30653 (Section 101) Thursdays 9:30 am-10:25 am
Discussion # 30654 (Section 102) Fridays 10:35 am-11:30 am
Discussion # 30655 (Section 103) Thursdays 3:30 pm-4:25 pm
Discussion # 30656 (Section 104) Thursdays 12:30 pm-1:25 pm
Discussion # 31504 (Section 105) Fridays 9:30 am-10:25 am
Discussion # 31505 (Section 106) Thursdays 2:00 pm-2:55 pm
Meets with PSC 139 m001
Course Description
This course introduces students to the main issues and actors in contemporary international relations, organized around three major topical perspectives: world structure and theoretical views of that structure; international political economy; and international conflict, cooperation and security. It will focus on current debates around global topics such as human rights, economic interdependence, nationalism, the global environment, and economic disparities. During section meetings, students are encouraged to explore and discuss how states, international institutions, and non-state actors shape current international affairs and future forms of global governance.
PSC 124 m300 International Relations *
Instructor: TBD
Class #: 30855
Offered: M/W 10:35 am-11:30 am
Frequency Offered: Every semester
Prerequisites: None
Note: All students must also enroll in a discussion section listed for this course.
Discussion # 30856 (Section 302) Fridays 12:45 pm-1:40 pm
Discussion # 32678 (Section 304) Thursdays 9:30 am-10:25 am
Discussion # 31373 (Section 305) Fridays 9:30 am-10:25 am
Discussion # 32679 (Section 306) Thursdays 11:00 am-11:55 am
Discussion # 34297 (Section 307) Fridays 10:35 am-11:30 am
Discussion # 34298 (Section 308) Thursdays 12:30 pm-1:25 pm
Course Description
This course introduces students to the main issues and actors in contemporary international relations, organized around three major topical perspectives: world structure and theoretical views of that structure; international political economy; and international conflict, cooperation and security. It will focus on current debates around global topics such as human rights, economic interdependence, nationalism, the global environment, and economic disparities. Students are encouraged to explore and discuss how states, international institutions, and non-state actors shape current international affairs and future forms of global governance.
PSC 125 m001 Political Theory
Instructor: Dennis Rasmussen
Class #: 31765
Offered: M/W 10:35 am -11:30 am
Frequency Offered: Yearly Prerequisites: None
Note: All students must also enroll in a discussion section listed for this course.
Discussion # 32991 (Section 002) Fridays 9:30 am-10:25 pm
Discussion # 32992 (Section 003) Fridays 10:35 am-11:30 am
Discussion # 32993 (Section 004) Fridays 12:45 pm-1:40 pm
Discussion # 32994 (Section 005) Fridays 2:15 pm-3:10 pm
Meets with PHI 125
Course Description
This course examines some of the most important thinkers and concepts of modern political philosophy, including the rejection of ancient political philosophy and the rise of liberalism (Hobbes, Locke, and Mill) as well as critiques of the liberal outlook in the name of nature and virtue (Rousseau), tradition and custom (Burke), equality and liberation (Marx), and creativity and greatness (Nietzsche). In addition to exploring the various conceptions of nature, human nature, justice, freedom, history, and the good life in the works of these thinkers, we will also use their arguments to reflect on the health or illness of liberal democracy in today’s world.
PSC 139 m001 International Relations (Honors) *
Instructor: Terrie Northrup
Class #: 31217
Offered: M/W 11:40 am-12:35 pm
Frequency Offered: Yearly
Prerequisites: None
Meets with PSC 124 m100
Note: All students must also enroll in a discussion section listed for this course.
Discussion # 33195 (Section 002) Thursdays 9:30 am-10:25 am
Course Description
This course explores diverse world views and theoretical perspectives on issues in contemporary international relations, including foreign policy, global political economy, international conflict and cooperation, international law & organizations, and global issues such as health and the environment. Learning methods include lectures, readings, analytic writing, case analysis, and group discussion. This course is offered ONLY for students currently enrolled in the Syracuse University Renee Crown Honors Program. Students not enrolled in the Crown Honors program must enroll in PSC 124 International Relations. Academic credit is given for PSC 124 or PSC 139, but not both.
PSC 202 m100 Introduction to Political Analysis
Instructor: Maraam Dwidar
Class #: 31115
Offered: M/W 2:15 pm-3:10 pm
Frequency Offered: Every semester
Prerequisites: None
This course is required for all students who are majoring in political science.
All students must also enroll in a discussion section listed for this course.
Discussion # 31116 (Section 101) Fridays 10:35-11:30 am
Discussion # 31117 (Section 102) Fridays 10:35-11:30 am
Discussion # 31118 (Section 103) Fridays 2:15 pm-3:10 pm
Discussion # 31119 (Section 104) Fridays 2:15 pm-3:10 pm
Discussion # 33749 (Section 105) Fridays 9:30 am-10:25 pm
Discussion # 33750 (Section 106) Fridays 9:30 am-10:25 pm
Course Description
The purpose of this course, required for political science majors, is to build skills for conducting, interpreting, and presenting political science research. These skills include: basic research and data collection practices, techniques for measuring political science concepts quantitatively, hypothesis testing, interpretation of statistical evidence, and the presentation of findings in a clear and compelling manner. Tying these components together is a thematic focus on important political science concepts such as democracy, power, or representation.
PSC 300 m101 Policy Implementation
Instructor: Zachary Huitink
Class #: 33756
Offered: T/Th 2:00 pm-3:20 pm
Frequency Offered: Special Offering
Prerequisites: None
Meets with PAI 305.001
Course Description
This course is about how public policy gets put into action, with a focus on developing knowledge and skills essential for addressing some of society’s most complex problems. The course will help you understand what we really mean when we say “policy implementation,” as well as some realities of implementation as it is done in practice. The course will stress, in particular, the widespread roles of not only government but also the private and nonprofit sectors at all levels in the implementation process, and how these actors use policy tools like regulations, grants, vouchers, and public-private partnerships to get things done. Government and non-governmental actors have taken numerous approaches to achieving public policy goals, from (among many others) reducing poverty and improving education to ensuring public health and safety, protecting the environment, and recovering from disasters. What are the trade-offs of different strategies to pursuing goals like these, and why has the record of achievement been mixed? How do government, business, nonprofits, and individual members of the public contribute to implementation efforts? How can they work better with one another to make public policy successful? How do we assess whether policies have had their intended impacts on people and communities? Students will consider these questions through a mix of lecture, discussion, examples, and hands-on exercises, and develop abilities in areas including policy field mapping, logic modelling, planning, and applied implementation analysis.
PSC 300 m103 Black Feminist Policies *
Instructor: Jenn Jackson
Class #: 33309
Offered: M/W 2:15pm- 3:35 pm
Frequency Offered: Special Offering
Prerequisites: None
Meets with WGS 300m003
Course Description
This seminar critically examines key issues, assumptions, and debates in contemporary, post-civil rights Black Feminist thought, action, and behavior. As such, we will understand that Black Feminism is global and diasporic. We will begin with a survey and broad analysis of Black Feminist history and origins. We will pay particular attention to how Black Feminists make use of standpoint theory, Black nationalism, Black liberalism, liberal feminism, Black Marxism, and radical feminist thought. We will also investigate the simultaneity of race, gender, class, and sexual oppression and its relationship to power. This means that we will draw connections between Black Feminist models and contemporary queer and trans politics. In this course, we will also focus on Black feminist understandings of intersectionality, the history of this analytical frame, and how this framework has contributed to today’s politics. The particular questions we will analyze include but are not limited to the following: How do we evaluate Black movements and leadership using a Black Feminist lens? What is the relationship between racism, gender based oppression, homophobia, and classism in Black women’s lives? What forms of resistance do many Black women engage in? How do these decisions shape politics?
PSC 300 m104 US Intelligence Community *
Instructor: Robert Murrett
Class#: 33776
Offered: M/W 2:15 pm-3:35 pm
Frequency Offered: Special Offering
Prerequisites: None
Meets with PAI 300m004 & IRP 300m001
Course Description
This course will focus on the practice, structure and governance of the intelligence field, and material that has a direct bearing on its current posture. Students will study the functional elements of intelligence tradecraft (human intelligence, signals intelligence, imagery analysis, etc.), and engagement with international counterparts. The course will review governance and oversight of the Intelligence Community (I.C), and in order to understand the full range of today’s intelligence activities, students will examine the evolution of the I.C. since its inception in 1947 through the present day. Key phases and specific events will be explored, including I.C. efforts throughout the Cold War, The Cuban Missile Crisis, The Vietnam Conflict, the Church Committee, the Balkans Conflicts, pre and post-9/11 operations, the 911 and WMD Commissions and the subsequent executive and legislative changes implemented over the past decade. The class will participate in case studies, in which the students will evaluate, provide briefings and recommend decisions in realistic scenarios, both in terms of analysis and intelligence-driven decision-making on policy and operational matters
PSC 300 m105, White Nationalism/Right Populism in Modern America
Instructor: Margaret Thompson
Class#: 42360
Offered: T/Th 11:00 am – 12:20 pm
Frequency Offered: Special Offering
Prerequisites: Honors Students
Meets with HST 300.m002 and HNR 369.m010
Course Description
This course will examine why White Nationalism and Right-wing Populism have become so prominent on the early 21st-century American political landscape. Although such tendencies have long been evident (consider the Second KKK in the 1920s and the Dixiecrats of the 1940s and '50s as two examples), we will explore why they have achieved such significance in recent years. Among the questions we will consider are these:
To what extent is there continuity between earlier forms of right-wing radicalism and those we see today?
Was the emergence and ongoing influence of Donald Trump (and pro-Trump groups like QAnon, Proud Boys, Militias, and America First) a cause or consequence of the surge in such beliefs?
In what ways are US developments distinctive, and how are they part of a global authoritarianist wave?
How has social media enabled the development of movements like these?
We will begin by reading Richard Hofstadter's "The Paranoid Style in American Politics" and Ruth Ben-Ghiat's Strongmen to provide historical and global context. The remainder of the term will focus on reading broadly in the emerging literature and journalistic explorations on this subject, and in extensive (and often student-led) class discussion.
PSC 300 m201 Comparative Free Speech
Instructor: Thomas Keck
Class#: 42376
Offered: T/Th 3:30 pm – 4:50 pm
Frequency Offered: Special Offering
Prerequisites: None
Course Description
This course will focus on the practice, structure and governance of the intelligence field, and material that has a direct bearing on its current posture. Students will study the functional elements of intelligence tradecraft (human intelligence, signals intelligence, imagery analysis, etc.), and engagement with international counterparts. The course will review governance and oversight of the Intelligence Community (I.C), and in order to understand the full range of today’s intelligence activities, students will examine the evolution of the I.C. since its inception in 1947 through the present day. Key phases and specific events will be explored, including I.C. efforts throughout the Cold War, The Cuban Missile Crisis, The Vietnam Conflict, the Church Committee, the Balkans Conflicts, pre and post-9/11 operations, the 911 and WMD Commissions and the subsequent executive and legislative changes implemented over the past decade. The class will participate in case studies, in which the students will evaluate, provide briefings and recommend decisions in realistic scenarios, both in terms of analysis and intelligence-driven decision-making on policy and operational matters
PSC 300 m202 Making Democracy Work
Instructor: Margarita Estevez-Abe
Class #: 42370
Offered: T/Th 11:00 am-12:20 pm
Frequency Offered: Special Offering
Prerequisites: None
Course Description
Scholars used to believe that mature democracies would withstand economic and political crises. Today we are no longer so sure. Many mature democracies are witnessing the weakening of well-established political parties, a rise of political extremism (even political violence), spread of disinformation and the growing voter discontent. In fact, studies of democratic erosion and backsliding constitute a new burgeoning genre in political science. This course does three things. First, it considers what democracy is and why we need to defend it. Second, it considers possible reasons why democracy is under siege. Third, it considers what citizens can do to protect democracy. The course uses multiple types of materials including academic articles, documentary films, movies and personal interviews.
PSC 300 m401 Introduction to Original Research
Instructor: Erin Hern
Class #: 42377
Offered: M/W 2:15 pm-3:35 pm
Frequency Offered: Special Offering
Prerequisites: None
Course Description
How should a local government agency figure out the needs of its constituents? Why do Republicans and Democrats watch different sources of news? Are positive or negative campaign ads more effective? Whether your research question is relevant for the non-profit world, government functioning, or academic inquiry, answering these questions requires an understanding of original research methods: tools for gathering original data from people or primary sources in “the field”—in other words, IRL. This course will take you through practical instruction on best practices in interviews, surveys, ethnography, experiments, and more, culminating in a final research design. While the course draws explicitly on political science literature and methods, it is applicable across the social sciences.
PSC 300 m402 Politics of Shakespeare/Law/War
Instructor: Glyn Morgan
Class#: 42378
Offered: T/Th 6:30 pm-7:50 pm
Frequency Offered: Special Offering
Prerequisites: None
Course Description
This class rests on the premise that William Shakespeare (1564-1616) could not (to misappropriate a quote of Stanley Cavell) “be who he is—the burden of the greatest writer in the language, the creature of the greatest ordering of English—unless his writing” engaged with the most challenging and important political question of his age and ours. How does a Government establish peaceful relations in the face of religious disagreement, national rivalries, and social inequalities (of race, ethnicity, gender, and class)? Political philosophers typically propose answers to that question by drawing upon a rational-cognitive mode of inquiry. Shakespeare employs a poetic-dramatic mode. We will read a number of philosophical and political texts widely-read in Shakespeare’s era—Machiavelli’s The Prince, Thomas More’s Utopia, James the First’s, True Law of Monarchies and Basilikon Doron, and the Essays of Montaigne and Seneca. We will also watch half a dozen or so of Shakespeare’s plays, including Measure for Measure, Julius Caesar, Henry V, Richard II, Macbeth, and The Tempest. Students will write three substantial essays.
PSC 300 u201 The Politics of Populism *
Instructor: Dan Jackson
Class#: 42317
Offered: T/Th 3:30 pm-4:50 pm
Frequency Offered: Special Offering
Prerequisites: None
Course Description
This course examines varieties of populism around the world, as well as the causes and effects of populist politics. Particular attention is paid to the relationship between populism and globalization.
PSC 303 m001 The Development of the American State
Instructor: Steven White
Class#: 42404
Offered T/Th 3:30 pm-4:50 pm
Frequency Offered: Special Offering
Prerequisites: None
Course Description
This course addresses major themes in the historical development of American politics, while also introducing students to the American political development (APD) approach to political science research. The first part of the course examines APD perspectives on the American national state and U.S. political culture. We will consider whether the American federal government is smaller or merely different than that of other countries, as well as the extent to which U.S. political culture is characterized by a distinctly individualistic liberalism. The second part of the course focuses on the development of major national political institutions, including Congress, the presidency, political parties, and interest groups. The third part of the course examines U.S. social policy and the question of why the American welfare state takes the form that it does. Among other topics, we will look at programs like Social Security and the debate over the national government's role in health care. We will conclude by examining how APD perspectives might help us make sense of contemporary American politics.
PSC 304 m001 The Judicial Process
Instructor: Domenic Trunfio
Class #: 30657
Offered: T/Th 3:30 pm-4:50 pm
Frequency Offered: Yearly
Prerequisites: None
Course Description
This course will take an in-depth examination of the Criminal Justice System from arrest to appeal, taught by an experienced prosecutor. Students will get a practical, realistic view of criminal justice and the court system through readings, lectures, class discussion and guest speakers who work in the legal system. This course is designed to give students a basic understanding of constitutional law and criminal procedure and will attempt to improve analytical ability and critical thought process. It will examine how the rights of those accused of a crime are balanced against the rights of those who are victims of crime. This course will also explore how the judicial process affects average citizens, their communities and American society, and how the system is often inaccurately portrayed in the media and by Hollywood.
PSC 306 m001 African American Politics
Instructor: S.N. Sangmpam
Class #: 34214
Offered: M/W 12:45 pm-2:05 pm
Frequency Offered: Yearly
Prerequisites: None
Cross-listed with AAS 306
Course Description
This course is an examination of the African American Political experience in the United States with a focus on the nature of the American political system and the status of African Americans in it. The approach will be analytical and theoretical, but the main focus will be on the historical and contemporary political dynamic. Special attention will be given to the interplay of society, state, ideology, and political struggles.
PSC 308 m001 The Politics of U.S. Public Policy
Instructor: Sarah Pralle
Class #: 33302
Offered: T/Th 2:00 pm-3:20 pm
Frequency Offered: Irregularly
Prerequisites: None
Course Description
This course examines the process of policymaking in the United States. We will ask such questions as, how do particular issues become framed as public policy priorities and placed on the political agenda. How are certain policy alternatives chosen for consideration to the exclusion of others? Why are some issues considered to be appropriate for government action, and others left to market forces? How do democratic institutions shape the policymaking process? And we'll consider how policies can be designed so that they play a positive role in solving problems and shaping our society. As we grapple with these concerns, we will focus on a number of case studies. While these questions are often approached in a technical fashion, as if public policy was created and implemented in a scientific laboratory, our approach will acknowledge that public policy is inherently political and cannot be understood apart from the political processes and institutions in which it is created and implemented.
PSC 317 m001 Local Internship
Instructor: Grant Reeher
Class #: 30658
Offered: M/W/F 11:40 am-12:35 pm
Frequency Offered: Every semester
Prerequisites: The internship program is intended for juniors and seniors only
Course Description
The course is based on a local internship experience in politics, public affairs, or the law. Placements are found at the beginning of the semester based on a list provided by the professor. Students also meet once a week in the classroom for organizational discussions, Q&A sessions with local political figures, and advice from professional development experts. Interested students are advised to review a FAQ sheet and recent syllabus, which can be found in 100 Eggers Hall or by contacting the professor
PSC 318 m001 Technology, Politics, and Environment
Instructor: William Lambright
Class #: 31120
Offered: M/W 3:45 pm-5:05 pm
Frequency Offered: Yearly
Prerequisites: None
Course Description
This course analyzes the relation of government to policymaking in the domain of environment, where technology and politics intersect in many crucial ways. Attention is given primarily to politics and administration of environmental policy in the US at all levels of government. Comparative and international aspects of the problem are also examined. Particular emphasis is given to the processes by which policy is formulated, implemented and modified.
PSC 319m001 Gender & Politics
Instructor: Jenn Jackson
Class #: 43402
Offered: T/Th 2:00 pm-3:20 pm
Frequency Offered: Yearly
Prerequisites: None
Cross-listed with WGS 319
Course Description
This course examines the intersection of gender and politics in the United States with an emphasis on women and formal political processes like elections, political institutions and legislation, public opinion formation, running for elected office, and political participation. We will begin the course by examining gender formation, the history of gender in political struggle, gender as an organizing category for both politics and Political Science, and the work of conforming to or transgressing gender norms in electoral politics. In the remainder of the course, we will cover the following topics: gender in society; media, politics, and gendered expectations and stereotypes; women’s social movements; gender and power, political engagement and political participation; voice, choice and party identification; the gender gap in running for office; political representation and policy-making; the effects of public policy on gender; and the political intersection of gender with race, class, sexual orientation, and embodiment.
In this course, we will use gender and identity politics as a way to enter debates about inclusion and democracy in political life. Although gender is the primary lens through which we will examine efforts of underrepresented groups to achieve equality, students are encouraged to examine how gender is mediated by multiple and overlapping identities such as race, class, sexuality, and religion both within the U.S. and in other national contexts.
PSC 320 m001 Comparative Law & Courts *
Instructor: Yuksel Sezgin
Class #: 42196
Offered: M/W 12:45 pm-2:05 pm
Frequency Offered: Yearly
Prerequisites: None
Course Description
This course will introduce students to major legal traditions of the world. Among the legal systems to be covered are the Common Law, Civil Law, Islamic Law, and African and Asian legal traditions. The course will specifically look at the role and function of courts in both national and international contexts (e.g., European Court of Human Rights, and the International Criminal Court).
PSC 325 m100 Constitutional Law II
Instructor: Thomas Keck
Class #: 31256
Offered: T/Th 9:30 am-10:50 am
Frequency Offered: Yearly
Prerequisites: Sophomore or above (taken PSC 324 preferred)
Course Description
This course, a continuation of the course sequence that began with Constitutional Law I (PSC 324), focuses on a variety of significant political and legal conflicts regarding the US Constitution from the mid-twentieth century to the present, including civil rights for racial minorities, women, and LGBT persons; reproductive rights; gun rights; religious freedom; free speech; and presidential power during wartime.
PSC 326.001 Foundations of American Political Thought
Instructor: Dennis Rasmussen
Class #: 33673
Offered: M/W 2:15 pm-3:35 pm
Frequency Offered: Yearly
Prerequisites: None
Cross-listed with HST 383
Course Description
This course examines American political thought through the mid-nineteenth century, concentrating on the founding debate, the development of Lincoln’s thought and the Civil War, and Alexis de Tocqueville’s Democracy in America. Topics include the nation’s founding documents, the challenges posed by the Anti-Federalists, the defense of the large republic in The Federalist, the problems presented by slavery, the proper role of a democratic statesman, and Tocqueville's hopes and worries about liberal democratic society and government (especially its American variant).
PSC 338.001 Race. Ethnicity & American Politics
Instructor: Steven White
Class #: 42410
Offered: T/Th 5:00 pm-6:20 pm
Frequency Offered: Irregularly
Prerequisites: None
Course Description
This course examines race and ethnicity in American politics, with particular attention to African Americans, Latinos, and Asian Americans as voters, activists, and policymakers. Among other topics, we will examine public opinion, trends in partisanship and voting behavior, the link between traditional civil rights organizations and new social movements, debates about “pan-ethnicity,” descriptive and substantive representation in political institutions, and intersectionality.
PSC 341 m001 Politics of Africa *
Instructor: Horace Campbell
Class #: 32999
Offered: T/Th 11:00 am-12:20 pm
Frequency Offered: Irregularly
Prerequisites: None
Cross-listed with AAS 341 and meets with PAI 500
Course Description
The objective of the course is to introduce students to the foundations of the politics in Africa. The focus will be to bring to life the struggles for self-determination and self-emancipation in Africa. Empiricism and immediatism in the study of Africa reinforce the old conceptions of the need to civilize and modernize Africa, the need for ‘good governance’ and the establishment of a ‘reform agenda’ to bring Africa into the ‘global’ economy. The focus will be to bring to life the humanity of the African peoples and to understand the ideation system and social processes that had evolved in the process of developing a Healing Spirit.
How can the African knowledge systems inspire new political formations to repair humans and the natural environment? These questions are now more urgent in the face of daily warnings that humans have passed a tipping point with respect to the future of global warming and the attendant disasters. Drawing from the ideas of healing and the interconnections between humans and nature will lead us to study the importance of African Fractals. While there is the understanding that fractal geometry can take us into the far reaches of ‘modern computing,’ its patterns are common in African design and some of its basic concepts are fundamental to African knowledge systems. What has been understood in the fields of the natural sciences has not yet been grasped in the social sciences. One of the many challenges for us is to grasp how alternative approaches to knowledge can open new directions in the study of African politics and society. How are symbols and divination processes linked to a cosmology that influenced social and political relations? In what ways was the palaver a reflection of democratic relations in the village community? How did the matricentric production unit guarantee the autonomy of women? These questions arise in the present period as African scientists, activists, intellectuals and ordinary producers seek the ideas and organization necessary to break from domination and exploitation in order to develop new concepts of politics and community.
In this course, we will seek to deconstruct liberal conceptions of modernization, idealistic visions of the salvation of the market and the equation of democracy with elections. From the outset, the effort will be to interrogate the intellectual foundations of the present output on Africa from the academy. Questions of the politics of radical African feminism, genocidal politics, militarism and absolutism of the colonial order will form the foundation of the understanding of contemporary politics. In so far as the principal theoreticians of Modern Political Thought developed the ideas of citizenship and the state in the era of the victory of capitalist expansion, there will be an examination of the relationship between the ideas of the enlightenment and contemporary social and economic devastation of Africa. The core ideas of individualism and private accumulation will be interrogated in relation to the environmental destruction, the politics of underdevelopment, and the traditions of militarism, war and genocide.
Because there are 55 states in the African Union it would be unrealistic to cover this vast continent in one semester. Thus, the emphasis of the course will be on themes and methodological tools, which would sharpen our analytical skills. Students are encouraged to use their term paper to focus on one society.
The lectures and visual presentations will draw from the material and intellectual culture of the region to provide an understanding of the dynamic of African peoples.
PSC 347 m001 Politics of Russia *
Instructor: Brian Taylor
Class #: 42411
Offered: T/Th 5:00 pm-6:20 pm
Frequency Offered: Yearly
Prerequisites: None
Course Description
This course provides an overview of Russian politics. The course is divided into two, unequal parts. The first, shorter part is organized chronologically and covers the period up to the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. The goal for this part of the course is to provide some minimal, essential background for those who have never had a course in Russian or Soviet history. The second, longer part of the course is organized thematically and covers the three decades since the Soviet collapse. We study the basic institutional structure of Russian politics, learn about Vladimir Putin and his worldview, investigate some important challenges facing Russia today, assess the political, economic, and social order created over the last three decades, and seek to understand Russia’s current place in the world and where the country is going.
PSC 352 m001 International Law *
Instructor: Audie Klotz
Class #: 34313
Offered: T/Th 11:00 am-12:20 pm
Frequency Offered: Irregularly
Prerequisites: None
Course Description
If might makes right, as skeptics often claim, why do states comply with most of their many international commitments? And why, if international law is fundamentally flawed, would states invest any resources in negotiating treaties and conventions in the first place? In this course, we go beyond cynical clichés, but without resorting to excessive optimism, by concentrating on questions embedded in the politics of international law, such as:
What leads to bilateral or multilateral agreements on certain issues but not others?
Why do some legal principles remain resilient in the face of criticism but others ebb?
When do states and non-state actors seek to bolster or undermine such commitments?
We will seek answers to these questions by looking at well-known legal disputes involving territorial boundaries, laws of war, human rights conventions, and environmental principles.
PSC 353 m001 International Organization *
Instructor: Sobia Paracha
Class #: 42372
Offered: T/Th 5:00 pm-6:20 pm
Frequency Offered: Irregularly
Prerequisites: None
Course Description
In this course we examine the origins and operations of international organizations in international relations. We begin with an exploration of the membership, structure, purpose, and function of the United Nations Organization (UNO), then undertake a comparative analysis of three multipurpose regional intergovernmental organizations (IGOs): the European Union (EU), the Organization of American States (OAS), and the African Union (formerly the Organization for African Unity-OAU). We will also investigate several nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) engaged in work on human rights and globalization. Our goal is to understand the role and significance of each organization in contemporary international relations.
PSC 357 m001 U.S. Foreign Policy *
Instructor: Ryan Griffiths
Class #: 33736
Offered: T/Th 12:30 pm-1:50 pm
Frequency Offered: Irregularly
Prerequisites: None
Course Description
A survey and critique of US foreign policy for advanced undergraduate majors in Political Science and International Relations. In this course we examine the evolution of foreign policy since the birth of the country. We investigate why American primacy came to be, what its consequences are, and what will drive US foreign policy in the future. Attention will be given to historical analysis, grand strategy, and a range of contemporary policy issues from the rise of China to the threat of terrorism. In addition, we will examine the challenges of decision-making from the perspective of the practitioner who must deal with problems of individual choice, small groups, bureaucratic politics, organizational constraints, and public opinion. The aim of the course is to give students the theoretical and analytical tools necessary to think critically about the past, present, and future of US foreign policy, and its implications for international relations.
PSC 377 m001 Religion & Politics *
Instructor: Mark Brockway
Class #: 42375
Offered: T/Th 3:30 pm-4:50 pm
Frequency Offered: Irregularly
Prerequisite: None
Meets with REL 300.001
Course Description
Religions and governments are arguably the two most important and powerful forces that connect people and societies. Religious ideas garner the following of billions, political leaders have transformed nations, and each wields incredible influence over the thoughts and actions of individuals. As two powerful forces, they often cooperate and collide with momentous consequences. We begin by examining the tumultuous relationship between religion and politics throughout history, asking if efforts to separate these two fundamental human experiences have been successful or worthwhile. In the second part of the course, we examine the wide variety of strategies that religions and governments pursue to coexist throughout the world. From the theocracies of Iran and Vatican City to the militant secularism of France and China, governments use religion (or irreligion) to influence individuals, justify policies, and bolster claims to their own legitimacy. Finally, we try and find the utility of religion in international institutions and NGOs, peacebuilding efforts, and transnational justice. How governments and citizens navigate religious and political institutions and identities is at the heart of our investigation.
PSC 381 m001 Islamic Law & Society *
Instructor: Yuksel Sezgin
Class #: 42198
Offered: M/W 2:15 pm – 3:35 pm
Frequency Offered: Irregularly
Prerequisites: None
Course Description
This course introduces classical and modern Islamic law that guides the lives of hundreds of millions of Muslims in the contemporary world. It explores classical Islamic law's origins, sources, institutions, and historical evolution and discusses Islamic constitutionalism, Islamic criminal laws, Islamic family laws, gender, political violence, Islamic banking, and human rights.
PSC 382 m001 Contemporary Political Philosophy
Instructor: Verena Erlenbusch Anderson
Class #: 42673
Offered: T/TH 11:00 am-12:20 pm
Frequency Offered: Yearly
Prerequisites: None
Cross-listed with PHI 417
Course Description
This course examines the works of prominent contemporary theorists of politics through the lens of basic issues central to the organization of social and political life. In particular, we will consider the costs and benefits of digital technology with regard to the democratic process as well as its effects on equality and fundamental rights like freedom and privacy. Readings will include both theoretical works and immediately relevant political case studies.
PSC 392 m001 Islamism and Islamist Movements *
Instructor: Hossein Bashiriyeh
Class #: 33304
Offered: M/W 12:45 pm-2:05 pm
Frequency Offered: Irregularly
Prerequisites: None
Cross-listed with MES 392 and REL 362
Course Description
The purpose of this course is to explain various aspects of Islamism as a major contentious political ideology in the world today. Islamism has been described as a traditionalist, militant ideology and movement trying to preserve and reinvent a religious tradition against the forces of secularization, modernization, democratization and globalization. Since its emergence, Islamism has been challenging various aspects of Western modernity. It has emerged out of a deep sense of hostility and indignation and anger against various aspects of modern life. In this course we will study the origins, various generations, types, internal tendencies and trends, as well as the impact of Islamism and Islamist movements in a number of countries in the Middle East as well as in a number of non-Muslim nations.
PSC 395 m001 Democratization in the Muslim World *
Instructor: Hossein Bashiriyeh
Class #: 34293
Offered: M/W 3:45 pm-5:05 pm
Frequency Offered: Irregularly
Prerequisites: None
Cross-listed with MES 395.001
Course Description
The aim of this course is to study the ongoing process of democratization which has begun recently in the Islamic world. With the rising wave of democratic transitions in the last quarter of the 20th Century, the question has been raised as to whether the world of Islam could also experience a similar development. As a matter of historical fact a number of Muslim nations are in a process of making a transition to at least electoral democracy and are striving to consolidate the new institutions despite formidable obstacles. On the one hand a number of forces and variables favor democratization, but on the other hand several variables and forces impede the process. Like elsewhere, transition to democracy in the Muslim nations is taking different forms and modes, including reform from above, revolt from below and conclusion of pacts between regimes and oppositions. We assume that theories explaining transition to democracy elsewhere must be instrumental in understanding the process of democratization in the Muslim world as well. Hence, we will first review the general theories of democratization, in terms of their possible relevance to the study of democratization in the Muslim world.
PSC 400 m001 Poverty Policy
Instructor: Colleen Heflin
Class#: 33757
Offered: W 9:30 am -12:15 pm
Frequency Offered: Special Offering
Prerequisites: None
Meets with PAI 415m003 & SOC 400m002
Course Description
This seminar will examine the nature and extent of poverty in the U.S., its causes and consequences, and the antipoverty effects of existing and proposed government programs and policies. The following questions will be addressed: What is poverty? Why is poverty so persistent? Why are poverty rates for minorities so high? What are the dynamics of rural poverty? What are the goals and purposes of social welfare programs? How has welfare reform changed the playing field? Is marriage a viable antipoverty strategy? Is there a culture of poverty? How are immigration and demographic trends changing the U.S. demographic profile? How do the current economic and public health crises impact people in poverty?
PSC 400 m201 Social Movements & Political Conflict
Instructor: Yael Zeira
Class#: 42417
Offered: T/Th 2:00 pm -3:20 pm
Frequency Offered: Special Offering
Prerequisites: None
Course Description
This course offers an introduction to the systematic study of social movements and nonviolent resistance. Drawing on research in both political science and sociology, we will study how and why social movements form, attract participants, select tactics, and engage in effective resistance against dominant political regimes and/or social orders. To do so, we will examine both the key theories developed to answer these questions, as well as prominent cases of nonviolent and/or unarmed resistance, including the American civil rights movement, the first Palestinian intifadah, and the South African anti-apartheid struggle. In addition, students will also study other social movement or protest campaign(s) of their choosing as part of an independent research paper due at the end of the semester.
PSC 400 m301 Revolutions
Instructor: Ryan Griffiths
Class#: 42418
OfferedT/Th 3:30 pm -4:50 pm
Frequency Offered: Special Offering
Prerequisites: None
Course Description
This class will explore the topic of revolution. It will examine theories for the cause of revolution, including greed, grievance, and the desire for independence. It will discuss the problem of collective action that revolutionaries face. It will also look at changing historical patterns with respect to revolutionary activity, the role that the international system plays, and the potential for revolution in contemporary global politics. Readings in the current academic literature, participation in class discussions, and submission of written assignments will provide students with an opportunity to think critically on these matters. The unit has both policy-oriented and theoretical dimensions, and it should complement other units of study in political science and international relations.
PSC 400 m401 Data Analytics for PoliSci
Instructor: Simon Weschle
Class#: 34311
Offered: M/W 2:15 pm -3:35 pm
Frequency Offered: Special Offering
Prerequisites: None
Course Description
Data and data analysis are increasingly important for political science research, but also in the public discourse and the workplace. In this class, you will learn how to conduct data analysis yourself. We’ll cover topics such as finding data, data cleaning and data manipulation, data visualization, and data analysis. Along the way, we’ll learn basic statistical functions and plots in the powerful (and free) statistical program R. Throughout, the class takes an applied approach, so students will develop their own research project and conduct their own data analyses.
PSC 435 m001 Humanitarian Action in World Politics *
Instructor: Lamis Abdelaaty
Class#: 34315
Offered: T/Th 12:30 pm-1:50 pm
Frequency Offered: Special Offering
Prerequisites: None
Course Description
This course deals with the global politics of humanitarianism. Topics covered include the historical evolution of humanitarian norms and principles, key actors in the humanitarian sector, and institutional frameworks governing humanitarian action. We also explore the challenges associated with emergency relief, development aid, and military intervention. The emphasis throughout the course is on critically assessing the underlying foundations, dilemmas, and consequences of international humanitarianism.
PSC 496 m001 Distinction Thesis II
Instructor: Daniel McDowell
Class #: 31374
Offered: W 3:45-6:30 pm
Frequency Offered: Yearly
Prerequisites: PSC 495 Distinction I
Course Description
The program requires the student to produce a senior thesis that reflects an understanding of the contemporary literature relevant to the thesis topic, advances an original argument, and presents evidence appropriate to the underlying inquiry. The thesis should generally be modeled after a typical academic journal article in the field of Political Science. The thesis will be read and evaluated by a committee of three, consisting of the main advisor and two additional readers. Two of the readers must be members of the Political Science department. One of the readers may be a graduate student in Political Science. An oral defense will determine if the thesis meets the departmental requirements for distinction.