Two-Part Courses: A hyphen indicates a full-year course with credit granted only for completing both terms. A comma indicates credit is granted for completing each term.

POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY AND THEORY

Advisers: Brams, Hardin, Landa, Manin, Ollman.

History of Political and Social Thought
G53.1100  Core course. 4 points.
Major political thinkers of past and present. Special reference to enduring problems in political theory.

Methods of Political and Social Analysis
G53.2106  4 points.
Nature and functions of theory, particularly Marxist dialectic, that attempt to analyze political phenomena systematically; historical, sociological, psychological, and phenomenological research; classical and current works.

Topics in Classical and Medieval Political Philosophy
G53.2111  4 points.
Examines selected political theories in the classical and medieval periods, from Plato to St. Thomas Aquinas.

American Political and Social Thought
G53.2120  4 points.
Nature and limitations of the liberal ethos that underlies American political and social institutions and experiences.

Topics in Contemporary Political Philosophy
G53.2130  4 points.
Introduction to contemporary political philosophies, both Anglo-American and Continental. Focuses on different thinkers and movements each year.

Topics in Modern Political Philosophy
G53.2132  4 points.
Examines selected political theories in the modern period, from Machiavelli to Nietzsche.

Communism
G53.2140  4 points.
Fundamentals of modern communist thought; writings of Marx, Engels, Lenin, and their major critics. Emphasis is on communism as the unrealized potential of capitalism and therefore more on what in capitalism suggests this potential and less on the precapitalist societies that called themselves “communist.”

French Political and Social Thought: 1750-1900
G53.2142  Identical to G46.1720. 4 points.
Political and social ideas and movements from before the Revolution to the Third Republic. Among the authors and movements studied are Montesquieu, Rousseau, revolutionary and counterrevolutionary thought, Constant, Tocqueville, Saint-Simon, and Comte.

Topics in 20th-Century French Political Thought
G53.2143  Identical to G46.2720. 4 points.
Introduction to the intellectual history of France since 1890. Examines major ideological crises beginning with the Third Republic and concluding with current developments in French thought.

Theories of Justice
G53.2180  4 points.
Survey of formal approaches to concepts of justice, fairness, and equity. Analysis of voting rules, apportionment systems, fair-division schemes, etc.

Seminar in Political Theory
G53.3100, 3101  Required of all Ph.D. candidates majoring in political theory. 4 points.
General seminar in political philosophy. The specific topic of the seminar varies, but this is an advanced seminar that assumes extensive background.

POLITICAL METHODOLOGY

Advisers: Beck, Brams, Cohen, Dickson, Downs, Gilligan, Gordon, Hafer, Landa, Morton, Nagler, Przeworski, Smith.

Approaches to Political Inquiry
G53.1000  Core course. 4 points.
Comprehensive survey of modern research techniques. Reviews competing approaches to political research. Evaluates strengths and weaknesses of alternative methods of dealing with various problems of political research.

Mathematics for Political Scientists
G53.1110  4 points.
Covers basic topics of mathematics—calculus, analytic geometry, matrix algebra, etc.—with wide application in political science.

Introduction to Quantitative Political Analysis I
G53.1120  4 points.
Introduces elementary statistical analysis and prepares the student for G53.2127. Topics include probability theory, distribution theory, estimation of simple statistical models, and hypothesis testing.

Formal Modeling in Political Science
G53.2105  4 points.
Introduction to formal modeling and deductive theorizing. Main tools of analysis used are decision theory, game theory, and social choice theory.

Methods of Political and Social Analysis
G53.2106
See description under Political Philosophy and Theory.

Game Theory and Politics
G53.2108  Prerequisite: one course in statistics or formal modeling. 4 points.
Survey of the main concepts and findings of game theory that are relevant to the study of politics.

Introduction to Quantitative Political Analysis II
G53.2127  4 points.
Builds on G53.1120. Provides working knowledge of some of the quantitative methods used in political science research. Emphasis is on using and critiquing the general linear model. Introduction to categorical data analysis and research methodology.

Quantitative Research Methodology
G53.2128  4 points.
Builds on G53.1120 and G53.2127. Concentrates more specifically on political science research methods. Emphasis is on problems of research design and data collection; statistical solutions; new approaches to research methods, data analysis, theories of data, and statistical theory.

Statistical Methods for Comparative Research
G53.2129  4 points.
Covers statistical models of discrete and limited dependent variables leading to the problem of nonrandom selection and appropriate ways of handling it. Focuses on selection models, using probit, logit, and tobit analysis and applying them to the origins of democracy and the impact of political regimes and institutions.

Math and Democracy: Designing Better Voting and Fair-Division Procedures
G53.2170  4 points.
Analysis of democratic procedures, or rules of play, that (1) reflect the interests of the citizens in elections and (2) respect due process and rule of law in the fair division of public and private goods. By making precise the properties of these procedures and clarifying trade-offs among them, mathematics strengthens the intellectual foundations of democratic institutions. While mathematical training is helpful in understanding some topics in the course, more important is the ability to think carefully and rigorously about the nature of democracy and its institutions.

Seminar in Political Methodology
G53.3200, 3201  Required of all Ph.D. candidates majoring in political methodology. 4 points.
The specific topic of the seminar varies, but this is an advanced seminar requiring extensive background.

AMERICAN POLITICS

Advisers: Beck, Gordon, Harrington, Harvey, Mead, Morton, Nagler, Randall, Rosenthal.

American Political Institutions and Processes
G53.1300  Core course. 4 points.
Overview of public policymaking process; political participation, organization, and structure; governmental institutions.

Strategies and Mechanisms of Political Communication
G53.1320  4 points.
Focuses on the specialized forms of communication options available to political managers to win public support. Emphasis is on implementation of a coordinated communications strategy, message development, persuasion tactics, advertising, and use of media.

American Politics—The Domestic Politics of the United States I
G53.1350  Core course. 4 points.
Broad overview of important topics in the study of the domestic politics in the United States. Examines in depth the analysis and merits of a selection of contemporary research on political participation, mass opinion, elections, legislative politics, interbranch relations, bureaucratic politics, judicial politics, federalism, inequality, and the role of money in politics. Course goals are to (1) introduce students to important controversies in the study of American domestic politics and (2) encourage students to think rigorously about the process of conducting political research.

American Politics—The Domestic Politics of the United States II
G53.1351  Core course. 4 points.
A more focused exploration of important topics in the study of the domestic politics of the United States. Examines in depth the analysis and merits of a selection of contemporary research on political participation, mass opinion, elections, legislative politics, interbranch relations, bureaucratic politics, judicial politics, federalism, inequality, and the role of money in politics.

American Legislative System
G53.2302  4 points.
Theory of councils and representation, legislative structures and behavior, reform of representative government.

Political Survey Research
G53.2303  Pre- or corequisite: G53.1120. 4 points.
Survey research and other important methodological approaches to empirical analysis in political science. Students are exposed to important political data sources and major computer programs used by social scientists.

American Presidential System
G53.2310  4 points.
The American presidency, its origins, processes, and roles: commander in chief; director of foreign policy; leader in legislation, public opinion, administration, party affairs; manager of the economy, etc.

American Political Parties
G53.2320  4 points.
Major and minor American parties; varieties of state and local systems; leadership patterns, structural characteristics, roles, functions, and behavior of electorate.

Campaigns and Elections
G53.2324  4 points.
Analysis of U.S. election processes through theoretical and practical approaches to the study of voting, campaigns, and elections. Studies role of parties, pressure groups, media, polls, etc.

Public Opinion, Media, and Politics
G53.2326  4 points.
Focuses on the current state of research in public opinion and in media. The course’s analytical focus is divided between psychological and rational choice-based explanations. Students also explore the role of experimental research methods.

The American Constitution
G53.2350  4 points.
Development of the American constitutional system. Distribution of power among the president, Congress, and the federal courts; between the national government and the states; and among the states.

Politics of the Legal Order
G53.2355  4 points.
Focuses on the political and ideological character of law, legal institutions, dispute processing, and litigation. Examines the major theoretical approaches and empirical studies in the politics of the legal order field.

Public Policy
G53.2371  4 points.
Advanced-level study of policymaking process in federal politics and research issues raised by it. Emphasis is on interaction of policy analysis and political institutions. Some prior knowledge of public policy is assumed.

Seminar in American Government and Politics
G53.3300, 3301  Required of all Ph.D. candidates majoring in American politics. 4 points.
General seminar in American government. The specific topic of the seminar varies, but this is an advanced seminar requiring extensive background.

Seminar in Public Policy
G53.3371  Prerequisite: a graduate course in public policy or equivalent professional experience approved by the instructor. 4 points.
Study of the political process. Assesses policy itself; analyzes faculty and student research-in-progress. A research paper is required.

POLITICAL ECONOMY

Advisers: Brams, Denoon, Downs, Gilligan, Gordon, Hafer, McGillivary, Przeworski, Smith.

Political Economy
G53.1400  Core course. 4 points.
Overview of the emerging field of political economy. Surveys three broad intellectual traditions prominent in the political economy literature: (1) the application of microeconomic, game theoretic, and public choice theory to politics, (2) a focus on institutions and the behavior of their related politics, and (3) Marxian and neo-Marxian approaches. The course requires an understanding of basic microeconomics.

Politics of Economic Growth
G53.2424  4 points.
Introduction to growth economics, the impact of intracountry inequality on growth, the effects of voter preferences and government policies on economic growth. Knowledge of some economics (microeconomics with calculus), game-theory (perfect Bayesian equilibrium), and statistics (OLS) is assumed.

Seminar in Political Economy
G53.3400, 3401  Required of all Ph.D. candidates majoring in political economy. 4 points.
General seminar in political economy. The specific topic of the seminar varies, but this is an advanced seminar that assumes extensive background.

Note: In addition to the required core course and seminar, courses toward a major or minor overlap with, and are drawn from, the remaining five fields. These courses are listed below. For course descriptions, refer to entries by number within the other field listings. Other courses may be included with the approval of the director of graduate studies.

Formal Modeling in Political Science
G53.2105

Theories of Justice
G53.2180

Analytical Introduction to Political Economy
G53.2502

The Political Economy of Development
G53.2536

Diplomacy and Negotiation
G53.2704

The Political Economy of North-South Relations
G53.2770

The Political Economy of National Security
G53.2772

The Political Economy of the Pacific Basin
G53.2774

International Political Economy
G53.2775

International Organization
G53.2800

COMPARATIVE POLITICS

Advisers: Cohen, Denoon, Hsiung, Kazemi, McGillivary, C. Mitchell, T. Mitchell, Przeworski, Schain.

Comparative Politics
G53.1500  Core course. 4 points.
Basic approaches to comparative political inquiry and the application of these approaches to specific problems of political analysis. Understanding of political phenomena in a comparative perspective.

Comparative Politics of Industrialized Democracies
G53.1550  Core course. 4 points.
Introduction to the comparative study of politics in different institutional and cultural settings. Themes covered include the role of institutional “veto players”; presidential and parliamentary government; bicameral and unicameral legislatures; the institutional structuring of legislative decision making; electoral systems; social capital/civic culture; social and political cleavages; dimensions of policy and ideology; voting; party competition; and the making and breaking of governments.

Comparative Politics of Developing Countries
G53.1551  Core course. 4 points.
Introduction to the methodology and to some of the main themes in comparative politics of developing countries. Prepares students to do comparative research through an in-depth coverage of current debate in comparative politics of developing countries and an introduction to the main methodological approaches.

Analytical Introduction to Political Economy
G53.2502  Prerequisites: G53.2105 and one semester of calculus. 4 points.
Introduction to mathematical approaches to political economy. The main question is why different governments do what they do and with what consequences for efficiency, equality, and growth. Topics cover decision-making mechanisms, a remedial introduction to neoclassical economics, the principal-agent framework, median-voter models, contrasting views of the trade-off between efficiency and equality, comparisons of political regimes, the role of governments in the economy, and the consequences of class conflict.

British and Irish Politics
G53.2518  Identical to G42.2030. 4 points.
Introduction to the political and social development of England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales; the growth of hegemony based in London; the politics of disintegration and decay; and the promise of rebirth.

The French Fifth Republic: Politics, Policies, and Institutions
G53.2523  Identical to G46.1730. 4 points.
Study of French political behavior and policies under the Fifth Republic. Focus is on the sources, organization, and institutional consequences of political conflict in France. Constitutional structures, voting, political parties, and pressure groups are explored.

French Politics, Society, and Culture
G53.2524  Identical to G46.1710. 4 points.
Emphasis is on political institutions, beliefs, and behavior in their social and cultural setting. Longevity of centralization, myth of the public good, and the quest for accountable and stable government are among the subjects examined.

Politics of Caribbean Nations
G53.2532  4 points.
Political development in major Caribbean societies. Outside influences (colonialism, trade, cultural forces, military intervention) are dealt with as a means to understanding general political trends in the region.

Collective Action and Social Movements
G53.2533  4 points.
The principal approaches (including rational choice, culturalist, and structuralist approaches) to the explanation of collective action and social movements. Drawing on literature in political science, anthropology, economics, and sociology, the course readings include theoretical works as well as case studies. Participants also discuss the relationship between theory and method in each approach.

The Political Economy of Development
G53.2536  4 points.
Assesses the issues and debates in the current literature on the political economy of development; analyzes principal characteristics of the contemporary world economy, especially patterns of inequality and the varying explanations for their emergence.

France and Maghreb
G53.2538  Identical to G46.2422. 4 points.
History of Maghreb countries from the 19th century to date. Emphasis is on France’s role and the underlying political, economic, and cultural factors.

Government and Politics of Northern Africa
G53.2540  4 points.
Comparative analysis of selected aspects of state formation, political identity, development, and political discourse in the countries of Arab North Africa.

East European Government and Politics
G53.2580  4 points.
Historical and institutional survey of East Central Europe, focusing on developments from Versailles to the present; strategies of political opposition under state socialism; transition to postcommunist society in the region.

Middle Eastern Government and Politics
G53.2590  4 points.
Political analysis of the Middle East, covering such issues as class and state formation, political economy of oil, problems of development, rural and urban politics, regional conflict, politics of gender, and religious identity.

Topics in Latin American and Caribbean Politics
G53.2620  4 points.
Specific subject matter varies from semester to semester. Topics may include politics of the Andean region, urban politics in Latin America, Brazilian politics, and redemocratization of Latin America.

Latin American Government and Politics
G53.2621  4 points.
Major forces affecting political development of Latin America; different approaches to comparative politics as applied to this area, with focused case studies pursued in detail.

The Politics of Transition in Mexico
G53.2622  Prerequisites: reading knowledge of Spanish and permission of the instructor. 4 points.
Reviews the process of transition from authoritarian rule to representative democracy in Mexico, in the context of economic reform and the end of the cold war. Special attention is paid to the Latin American context, to the U.S. factor, and to specific Mexican traits. A historical introduction helps place the contemporary process in perspective.

Seminar in Comparative Politics
G53.3500, 3501  Required of all Ph.D. candidates majoring in comparative politics. 4 points.
General seminar in comparative politics. The specific topic of the seminar varies, but this is an advanced seminar requiring extensive background.

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Advisers: Brams, Bueno de Mesquita, Denoon, Downs, Gilligan, Hsiung, Kazemi, C. Mitchell, T. Mitchell, Schain, Smith.

International Politics: Concepts and Theories
G53.1700  Core course. 4 points.
Objectives and scope of studies of international politics, research problems, global models of political action and reaction.

Normative Issues in International Politics
G53.1730  For M.A. students only. 4 points.
What values guide us as we make choices about using force, ending conflict, protecting human rights, promoting social justice, preserving the environment, and participating in international organizations? This course is designed to provide analytical rigor to the perennial question: What role does ethics play in the conduct of foreign affairs? Principles of realism, liberalism, cosmopolitanism, communitarianism, and supranationalism are considered in light of specific case studies.

Topics in International Organization
G53.1731-1735  For M.A. students only. 4 points.
Introduction to the practice of policymaking in the United Nations system. Taught by practitioners from the United Nations, its affiliated agencies, and regional subgroups, and, in some cases, related nongovernmental organizations. Topics change depending on the expertise of the practitioner teaching the course. Examples include peacekeeping operations, humanitarian assistance, regional integration, or economic development. Note: Ph.D. students may not take this course.

International Relations: Conflict
G53.1751  Core course. 4 points.
Survey of modern approaches to the study on international conflict. Emphasis is placed on rigorous scientific approaches that use models to derive testable implication as to conflict relations.

Strategy and Defense Policy
G53.2701  4 points.
Introductory course that examines the historical roots of strategic doctrine in the 20th century and contemporary nuclear and conventional defense. Also covers arms control and disarmament problems.

Diplomacy and Negotiation
G53.2704  4 points.
Analysis of negotiation and diplomatic processes based on an examination of different approaches (e.g., game-theoretic and cultural); application to specific cases.

Foreign Policy Decision Making
G53.2725  4 points.
Theory and practice of foreign policy decision making. Quantitative and formal methodologies used for three levels of analysis: individual choice and both intraorganizational and interorganizational (or governmental) decision processes.

U.S. Foreign Policy
G53.2750  4 points.
American foreign policy and the major international problems facing the United States today.

Contemporary Inter-American Relations
G53.2765  Identical to G10.1004. 4 points.
U.S. corporate and governmental policy toward Latin America; trends in Latin American and Caribbean migration to the United States; strategies of resource-rich Latin American nations toward technology-rich United States.

The Political Economy of North-South Relations
G53.2770  Identical to G31.2610. 4 points.
Major issues involved in restructuring the international economic system. Analyzes initiatives of the Western, Socialist, and developing countries. Emphasis is on trade and monetary questions. Acquaintance with international politics and economics is necessary.

The Political Economy of the Pacific Basin
G53.2774  Identical to G31.2620. 4 points.
Evaluates recent trends in East Asian and Pacific economic and political developments. The character of economic growth, the nature of the political systems, and implications of recent dynamism. Overall trends are analyzed with discussion focused on three distinct regions: Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands.

International Political Economy
G53.2775  4 points.
A general introduction to the field: evolution of the international political economy, international cooperation, international institutions, international trade and finance policy, macroeconomic policy coordination.

International Organization
G53.2800  4 points.
Functions, operation, structure, and accomplishments of the United Nations and the specialized organizations. Emphasis is on international organization as an approach to peace.

Business and American Foreign Policy
G53.2810  4 points.
Examination of competing theories about the relationship between business and government in the conduct of foreign policy.

International Law
G53.2900  4 points.
Rules that govern in the legal relationship and current development of law among nations, based on the study of cases. The use of the law for the regulation of international behavior and environment.

Seminar in International Politics
G53.3700, 3701  Required of all Ph.D. candidates majoring in international relations. 4 points.
General seminar in international politics. The specific topic of the seminar varies, but this is an advanced course requiring extensive background.

READING AND RESEARCH

Dissertation Research
G53.3951  Prerequisite: completion of comprehensive examination. 4 points.
Individual research related to the doctoral dissertation.

Reading and Research in Politics
G53.3991, 3992, 3993  Prerequisite: written petition stating the need for the course and including a preliminary bibliography, approved by the professor supervising the course and by the director of graduate studies. No more than 12 points of reading and research may be taken during a student’s graduate program, of which no more than 8 points may be taken during work on the master’s degree. 1-4 points per term.
Tutorial for students whose individual needs are not met by formal courses. A substantial research paper or final examination is required.

Workshop in Political Science
G53.3955  Prerequisite: Student must be engaged in research and must be ready to make a research presentation and receive comments on that research. 2 points.
Continues the student’s education in how to do political research and is seen as a key aspect in helping students to complete in a timely manner, and improve the quality of, their dissertation (and related) research.