DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE

This course provides an introduction to the empirical methods political scientists use to answer questions about politics, and the reasons why such methods matter. We begin by considering how we use data and information in social science in general and political science in particular. We then examine three basic strategies for overcoming the obstacles to reliable knowledge about the political world: experimentation, quantitative studies (statistics) and smaller case studies with a qualitative emphasis. This course will prepare you to take a more in-depth look into these methods in subsequent coursework.

The course is divided in three parts. In part I we will focus on explaining the causes of war, and reflect on current security problems, particularly in terms of inter-state conflicts. In part II we turn to how we have moved from traditional inter-state relations to a globalized economic environment in which states, non-state actors, and international organizations interact.  Part III discusses some global problems that we are facing and possible solutions.

More specifically the emphasis in part I will be on achieving a theoretical understanding of how one might explain the occurrence of war or peace. This course is not a discussion of current events, although they might be introduced to clarify particular perspectives. In other words, the emphasis is on developing a “toolkit” which you can use to understand international relations in general. The emphasis is not on memorizing details and empirical data, although of course you will need to understand key concepts and definitions. Instead you should ask yourself what caused war in this instance but not others? What are the underlying causes behind these observations?

Explanations of conflict occur at the individual level; at the state level; and at the level of the international system.  We will use these different levels of analysis, or different images, to explain the outbreak of WW I. Analyzing this conflict will demonstrate the various approaches to understanding complex, macrohistorical phenomena in general. We will then apply some of these methodological insights to understand the absence of super power conflict during the Cold War, and to study security issues that have emerged since then.

In Part II we turn to global issues in the areas of international economic management (particularly trade).  How did the post-war international economic order differ from the 1930s? How will the rise of economic powers such as China possibly affect this international order?  

How racist is the average American, and what makes some more racist than others? Why can’t Democrats and Republicans just get along? Does a country’s colonial experience shape its future political and economic possibilities? These questions, and many more, have been addressed by statistical research in political science. This course explores quantitative/statistical research methods in the social sciences, with the goal of determining what makes a good descriptive or causal inference about politics. For the first half of the course, we will review the basics of statistical theory and quantitative research design. In the second half, we will examine applications of these methods to various topics in political science. For each application, we will consider the technical requirements and properties of the method being employed, as well as the available evidence regarding how these requirements and properties fit with the specific application at hand. With this information, we will determine what we can legitimately claim to have learned from the application and consider alternative designs that might serve to supplement or improve our learning. Throughout the quarter, you will work on hands-on projects involving a research question and data set of your own choosing. Thus, you will learn how to evaluate other people’s statistical work, but also how to design, execute, and interpret their own statistical models.

This course examines the policymaking process in the contemporary United States. Our study of the politics of public policy relies on two core analytical claims. First, policy is the prize that animates political conflict in the United States. The reasons why are straightforward. Policy entails using the coercive power of the state to shape the economy and society, whether by directing the government or private sector to undertake new activities, or by constraining what the government is allowed to do. Policy decisions can have profound effects on society, influencing everything from our life choices to the future of our planet. Those who control the government have the ability to shape these decisions. Second, once enacted, policies help to constitute the terrain on which future political battles are waged. This is because policies channel resources (material and symbolic) towards some groups or individuals and away from others. Policies set new defaults. They can shift people’s expectations about the government, as well as the political implications of future stalemates. In addition to considering how these two claims help us to understand the politics of policymaking more broadly, we will consider how they inform our understanding of the prospects for the Trump Administration’s policy agenda specifically.

How US foreign policy is formulated, executed, legitimated, and contested. Topics include 9/11 and its aftermath, covert action, interventionism, trade, US respect for international norms, and US engagement with the Middle East.

This course explores the comparative politics of the Middle East and North Africa. The first half of the course focuses on the historical and institutional context of politics and government. Here we examine the emergence of independent nation-states, the consolidation of regimes, issues of identity and religion, and patterns in the relationship between state, society, and economy. We compare explanations for the endurance of authoritarian regimes in Arab countries, as well as political systems in Turkey and Iran. The second half of the course concentrates on dynamics of mobilization and conflict. Here we explore the Arab uprisings that began in late 2010 and political developments in their aftermath, including the war in Syria and emergence of ISIS. We also study the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, as well as their respective domestic politics. The two halves of the course are interconnected and students are encouraged and expected to use the material presented each week to inform their engagement with material presented during the weeks that follow. The goals of this course are to assist students (1) to acquire basic knowledge about the politics of the modern Middle East and North Africa; (2) to engage in critical reading and analysis of a range of sources; (3) to employ scholarly theories and concepts to promote a nuanced analysis of events in the region and debates about those events; and (4) to develop an appreciation for how politics in the region is shaped by history and institutions on the one hand and a dynamic multiplicity of identities and interests on the other. Assignments are designed to assess progress toward the achievement of these goals.

This class will examine presidential elections and how they have evolved since 1952, the first year TV advertising began to have an impact on the races. This class will challenge some of the myths about elections and their outcomes. We will also examine the 2008 campaign, which was dubbed the “YouTube” election and was historic by virtue of its outcome, the candidates who ran and the impact the Internet and new technologies had on the race. In 2012 the Obama campaign had the most intense “ground game” of any campaign in history, we will examine how the campaign succeeded in this effort. In 2016 Donald Trump bypassed typical advertising methods of reaching voters by unleashing a torrent of Twitter messages and finding a willing press that was, at least in the primaries, willing to give him uncritical or challenging coverage. We will also examine the historical roles of Shirley Chisholm, Jesse Jackson and Hillary Clinton in presidential races.

Energy is one of the driving forces of the modern world. Derived from fossil fuels, nuclear power, and a growing range of alternative sources, energy is tightly linked to economic development and military power. In spite of efforts to achieve “energy independence,” no major economy is able to claim energy self-sufficiency. Moreover, energy supply choices have implications for the global climate, while technological innovations are creating new opportunities and risks for governments, firms, and other international actors.

The course draws on an interdisciplinary literature, with the goal of bringing academic research into dialogue with real-world policy problems. It explores such questions as: What factors shape the geopolitical landscape for energy? How have producing/exporting and consuming/importing countries sought to advance their economic and security goals in the energy sphere? What are the prospects for international cooperation on energy and climate governance? While the course does address numerous sources of energy, the primary emphasis is on oil and gas.

This seminar will pose a straightforward and critical question, can you have national security without human rights and can you have human rights without national security. To address this we will consider three topics: Human Rights, Political Strategy and Military Strategy.  Needless to say, these are not autonomous categories, especially as the military is being asked to engage in state building which clearly implicates political strategies. And how states are built engages with topics that fall under the rubric of human rights. We will not address this in a theoretical manner but rather using examples drawn from the books as well as participants will choose countries that irrelevant to the topic.

This seminar concerns economic and political inequality in the United States:  the nature of gaps between the rich and the poor in this country, and how those gaps relate to political power.  Who has how much influence over policy making?  Average citizens?  Affluent citizens?  The truly wealthy?  Business corporations and other organized interest groups?  How much impact do they have on various kinds of public policies?  Under what circumstances?  What are the techniques and mechanisms of influence?

The chief requirement of the course (for 60% of the grade) will be a substantial research paper related to one or more of these questions.  The hope is that students will build on these papers for honors theses, writing samples for grad school applications, publication as journal articles, or other purposes.  Papers may focus on the United States or any other country or political subdivision (state, city, etc.).   Methods may involve analytical or normative theory, literature review, personal observation, interviewing, quantitative data analysis, and/or any other generally accepted technique for advancing knowledge.  No length requirement.  Write as much – but only as much – as is appropriate to your project.

Spring quarter will zoom by quickly.  IMMEDIATELY begin to THINK ABOUT YOUR PAPER TOPIC.  As soon as possible, begin relevant readings from any part of this syllabus and also from outside it.  Volunteer to help lead discussion sessions on relevant topics.  Write short papers that will help your main paper.

Be sure to read the assigned readings before each class session, and pick one or two sessions to help lead discussions.  (Participation will count for roughly 20% of your grade.)  Addition requirements include two very short (two page, double-spaced) papers on any aspect of our subject – preferably related to our readings and/or to your research paper (for roughly 20% of your grade); and one ungraded substantive outline of your research paper, so that you can receive feedback before you complete the paper.