Politics and International Relations

Politics: Professors Marks; Associate Professors Evans, A. Karreth (Chair), J. Karreth; Assistant Professor Reed; Instructor Morrow.

International Relations: Associate Professors Evans (Coordinator), A. Karreth, J. Karreth, Nicoara, Onaci, Wynne; Assistant Professor Mellis.

The general objectives of the department of politics and international relations are:

1) To challenge students to evaluate their conceptions of the good life for the individual and for society.

2) To prepare students for lives of enlightened and responsible citizenship.

3) To help students attain knowledge of the theory and practice of politics.

4) To help students develop the faculties of expression and critical thinking.

The professional objectives are:

1) To prepare students for graduate work in politics, law, and public service.

2) To prepare students for examinations required for governmental service.

3) To prepare students to be political leaders.

Politics

POL-050. Trial Advocacy

The class follows the preparation and production of a hypothetical yet intricate civil or criminal trial, including allowing students to research the issues to be addressed, drafting opening and closing statements, and practicing direct and cross examination of witnesses. Other topics taught are persuasive oral advocacy, the rules of evidence, jury psychology, and legal ethics. Students review and analyze legal briefs and court cases and learn to argue a position, even if it is different from their own. Culminates in a trial competition, based on the material and structure provided annually by the American Mock Trial Association. Course can only be taken once. Two to three hours per week. Two semester hours.

POL-101. Introductory Special Topics in Politics 

An introductory social science course that provides students an opportunity to focus on topics related to politics and government. This course is an excellent introduction for students considering the Politics major, but is designed for any student with an interest in politics and government and will help students develop skills useful to all majors, including critical reading, analytical and writing abilities. Open to all first-year and second-year students, or by permission of instructor. Three hours per week. Four semester hours. (DN, GN, SS if so designated, contingent upon the topic.)

POL-218. American Government 

A critical examination of the institutions, processes, policies, and underlying principles of the American political system. Topics include the Constitution, interest groups, parties and elections, the presidency, Congress, the bureaucracy, and the judiciary. Three hours per week. Four semester hours. (SS.)

POL/PHIL-237. Political Philosophy 

This course examines the nature of justice through a careful reading of major works in the history of political philosophy. Specifically, we will consider selected political writings of Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, and Marx. Three hours per week. Four semester hours. (H, O, SS.)

POL-242. Comparative Politics

The structure and function of governments and political groups will be compared to develop basic theory. Themes considered include the nation-state, political economy, democracy, authoritarianism, and political violence. Three hours per week. Four semester hours. (GN, SS.)

POL-252. International Politics

Theory, simulations, games, and case studies explain the politics and roles of states, individuals, and international law and organizations in the making and resolving of conflict over issues such as war, globalization, or climate change. Three hours per week. Four semester hours. (GN, SS.)

POL-299. Tutorial in Politics and International Relations

Individual study and directed reading of a particular topic or book within the discipline. Students will work closely with a member of the department in selecting, reading, and discussing the topic, and in determining a proper written assignment. Prerequisites: prior permission of the instructor. One hour per week. One semester hour.

POL-300. Thinking with Data in Politics and International Relations

This course examines quantitative and qualitative methods used in political science, providing students with the knowledge and skills needed to engage in critical analysis, and to understand and conduct basic research. The knowledge and skills learned in this course are helpful for future undergraduate or graduate course work, as well as for students interested in public policy and political campaigns. It is recommended that students take STAT-140 or STAT-141 before or at the same time as POL-300. Three hours per week. Four semester hours. (Q, SS.)

POL-305. Politics and the Arts

This course analyzes the political messages in selected works of art and relates these to works in political science. Works of art may include, among other things, novels, plays and films. Prerequisite: a 200-level Politics class or permission of instructor. Four hours per week. Four semester hours. (SS.)

POL-310. Congress and the Presidency

The decision-making process in Congress and the executive branch with emphasis on the interaction of the branches in their struggle to make and apply policy. Three hours per week. Four semester hours. (SS.)

POL-314. Political Parties and Elections

An examination of the evolution of the American two-party system and the increasingly volatile nature of the American electorate. Topics include the dynamics of party realignment, the changing characteristics of the American voter, the politics of presidential selection, and the consequences of party and electoral reform. Three hours per week. Four semester hours. (SS.)

POL-316. African American Politics in the United States

A survey of the philosophical perspectives and political strategies adopted by African Americans in their efforts to obtain equality in the United States. In addition to analyzing the approaches and techniques undertaken by African American political leadership, the course will investigate and evaluate mass based political efforts such as protests and voting. Three hours per week. Four semester hours. (DN, SS.)

POL-320. Legal Writing and Argument

In an appellate court format, students analyze arguments presented in a series of court cases, apply those arguments to concrete legal situations, and write legal briefs. Three hours per week. Four semester hours.

POL-321. Constitutional Interpretation I

The role of the Supreme Court in the interpretation and enforcement of the Constitution is examined through analysis of leading cases. Judicial review, powers of Congress and the President, and the division of powers between the national and state governments are among the topics considered. Three hours per week. Four semester hours. (SS.)

POL-322. Constitutional Interpretation II

The role of the Supreme Court in the interpretation and enforcement of individual rights within a system of limited government. Substantive and procedural due process, freedom of expression and conscience, and equal protection of the law are among the topics considered. Three hours per week. Four semester hours. (SS.)

POL-325. The Judicial Process

Proceeding from the idea that the judicial process is essentially a political process, this course will examine the ways in which participants in the judicial process—particularly judges—reach decisions, engage in politics, and affect public policy. Three hours per week. Four semester hours. (SS.)

POL-330. American Political Thought

This course examines the founding principles of our regime and the problems inherent in those principles as revealed by the great crises of our history. Accordingly, we will examine carefully the speeches and writings of those statesmen who founded the regime as well as those who guided it through its crises. Readings may include the works of Jefferson, Madison, Hamilton, the Anti-Federalists, Lincoln, Frederick Douglass, Wilson, and F.D.R. Three hours per week. Four semester hours. (DN, H, O, SS.)

POL-331. Studies in American Political Thought

Focus on an individual American thinker/political actor (e.g. Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglass, Jane Addams) or group of thinkers/political actors (e.g. Federalist/Antifederalist Debate). We consider how the principle of equality plays out in a democratic polity that is full of inequalities and differences and for which equality is not the sole aim. We consider, too, the problem principle and prudence: how can principles be articulated and advanced amidst constraints? Three hours per week. Four semester hours. (DN, H.)

POL/IDS-336. Science and the Common Good

This is the core course for the fellows of the Center for Science and the Common Good. It examines the philosophic bases and critique of modern science through the works of such authors as Francis Bacon, Rene Descartes, Friedrich Nietzsche and Martin Heidegger. The course also considers the ethical, political, and religious implications of contemporary developments in science such as advancements in genetic and information technologies. Three hours per week. Four semester hours. (CCAP, O, SS.)

POL/PHIL-337. Classical Political Philosophy

This course examines the classical understanding of politics through a careful reading of selected works of Plato and Aristotle. We will consider such issues as the nature of justice, the meaning of moral and intellectual virtue, and the relation between philosophy and politics. Three hours per week. Four semester hours. (H, O, SS.)

POL/PHIL-338. Modern Political Philosophy

This course examines and evaluates the world-revolutionary challenge to classical and medieval political philosophy posed by such writers as Machiavelli, Hobbes, Spinoza, Locke, Rousseau and Hegel. Three hours per week. Four semester hours. (H, O, SS.)

POL/PHIL-339. Contemporary Political Philosophy

This course examines selected authors and issues in contemporary political philosophy. We will read the works of such authors as Nietzsche, Heidegger, Kojeve, Rawls and Foucault. We will consider such issues as historicism, contemporary liberalism, feminism, and Marxism. Three hours per week. Four semester hours. (H, O, SS.)

POL-343. Poverty, Welfare, and Public Policy

An inquiry into the processes that shape social policy across the United States, Western Europe and East Asia. The course examines, in comparative perspective, different government policies that address problems related to poverty and inequality in advanced democracies and the political dynamics that undergird their creation and implementation. The course also offers a foundational understanding of the general processes of public policy-making in democratic settings. Three hours per week. Four semester hours. (DN, O, SS.)

POL-344. Political Development

An analysis of political change in developed and less-developed countries, focusing on the various theories used to explain socioeconomic and political conditions, and development strategies among several political systems in the international community. Three hours per week. Four semester hours. (DN, GN, SS.)

POL-345. Democracy and Politics in Latin America

An examination of political and economic change in Latin America with particular emphasis on the reasons why democracy, prosperity and equality have been difficult to achieve. The course focuses on common historical and institutional legacies as well as the different political and economic trajectories of major Latin American countries. Three hours per week. Four semester hours. (GN, SS.)

POL-346. Politics of the Middle East

This course examines the politics, economies, and societies of the Middle East and North Africa. We will explore the colonial roots of the modern Middle East, the political dynamics of current regimes, and the basis of various political and sectarian conflicts in the region, all while asking a fundamental question: why do so few democracies exist in the Middle East? Some specific topics we explore include: Political Islam, Gender in the Middle East, the Arab-Israeli conflict, Oil Politics, and the Arab Spring. Three hours per week. Four semester hours. (GN, SS.)

POL-348. African Democracy

This course offers an introduction to contemporary African politics through an exploration of democratization on the continent. It will examine the concepts, meanings, and measurements of democracy broadly, the history of democratization throughout Africa and the variance of democratic institutions found across the continent. Specific topics include, but are not limited to, legal, legislative and corruption reform across Africa, the role of civil society in democratization, public opinion, election processes, and human rights regimes. Three hours per week. Four semester hours. (GN, SS.)

POL-349. European Politics

An examination of modern European economic and political systems and the different ways in which various European countries have sought to preserve social stability, promote economic prosperity and guarantee democracy in the post-WWII period. The course also focuses on European integration and democratization in Southern and Eastern Europe. Three hours per week. Four semester hours. (SS.)

POL-350A. International Organizations and Diplomacy

A study of governmental international organizations and diplomacy with particular emphases on functions of the United Nations and other intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and multilateral political affairs. Students must take both POL-350A and B to receive credit for one elective course in the major. Two hours per week. Two semester hours.

POL-350B. International Organizations and Diplomacy

A continuation of POL-350A. This course also prepares students to participate in the National Model United Nations conference. Prerequisite: POL-350A or permission of the instructor. Students must take both POL-350A and B to receive credit for one elective course in the major. Two hours per week. Two semester hours.

POL-351. Politics of the End of the World

When it seems like the world is about to end, what are your options, and what does politics have to do with it? In this course, we explore the role of the individual in a world of existential crises and seeming hopelessness. We consider this question in three global settings: climate change, repressive governments, and a highly unequal economy. As a core capstone course, the course entertains core questions about how we should live together, how we should consider the impact of our own actions on others, and how any knowledge we acquire (during college and beyond) should shape our behavior. As a political science course, it approaches these questions with a focus on strategic behavior, representation, and institutions. Offered every other year. Three hours per week. Four semester hours. (CCAP, GN, SS.)

POL-352. Theories of International Relations

This course explores the theories that have been used to study international relations from ancient times to the present. Particular attention is given to the roots of contemporary theories, especially realism, neoliberalism, constructivism, feminism and critical theories. Three hours per week. Four semester hours. (SS.)

POL-354. Global Health

This course considers contrasting views on health as a human right and explores how social, economic and political forces influence who gets sick, what diseases afflict them, which treatments are available to them, and what the outcome of those treatments are. It examines a number of global health problems, including malaria, tuberculosis, AIDS, polio, global obesity and global hunger as well as mental health. The roles of global public health organizations and private foundations are also studied. Three hours per week. Four semester hours. (DN, GN, O, SS.)

POL-355. U.S. Foreign Policy

Analysis of the process and substance of U.S. foreign policy. Attention is paid to the roles and limitations of the Presidency, Congress, the State Department, the National Security Council, public opinion and nongovernmental actors. Emphasis will be placed on current controversial global issues. Three hours per week. Four semester hours. (O, SS.)

POL-356. Human Rights

This course examines the theory and practice of human rights, examining historical and contemporary cases of human rights violations drawn from various regions of the world. The course will include study of international documents that govern human rights practice and mechanisms that protect human rights found in the UN system as well as regional organizations and domestic legal systems. Three hours per week. Four semester hours. (CCAP, DN, GN, O, SS.)

POL-357. War and Peace

An examination of the nature of war, including debates over the causes and inevitability of war. The course also explores the question when, if ever, war is justified and analyzes how recent changes in military technology and doctrine have affected the way that war is fought, including in the contemporary “war on terror.” Various theories and perspectives on how to end war and build peace are discussed as well. Three hours per week. Four semester hours. (GN, O, SS.)

POL-358. Terrorism and Political Violence around the World

An inquiry into the origins and effects of political violence, including terrorism, beyond of the context of formal interstate war. The course focuses on violence perpetrated by both states and non-state actors in Western and non-Western contexts. Topics include individual-level and group-level motivations for using violence for political goals, the organizational behavior of non-state actors, and the evaluation of counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency policies. Students use theoretical and empirical tools and a simulation to analyze key questions of contemporary policy debates on terrorism and political violence. Three hours per week. Four semester hours. (GN, SS.)

POL-359. The Politics of Markets, Money, and Migration

An inquiry into the causes and effects of the movement of goods (international trade), money (currency, investment, foreign aid), and people (migration). The course will explore how these international economic processes have developed over time, and how they affect people locally in different countries. It will highlight the political forces that shape economic interactions and explore the trade-offs linked to different economic policies. Students will learn and practice how to evaluate and use data to examine theories and arguments about global and local political-economic phenomena. Three hours per week. Four semester hours. (DN, GN, Q, SS.)

POL-382. Internship

Internship in a public or governmental organization or participation in an overseas study program. Students must document their experience according to the requirements delineated in the College catalogue section on Internships. A 2.67 grade average and permission of the department are required. Open to juniors and seniors. The term during which the internship work is performed will be noted by one of the following letters, to be added immediately after the internship course number: A (fall), B (winter), C (spring), or D (summer). Internships undertaken abroad will be so indicated by the letter I. The intern must complete a minimum of 160 hours of work. Four semester hours. (XLP.)

POL-399. Topics in Law and Politics

An occasional course dealing with special subject areas or events. Four semester hours. (SS, GN, or DN, depending on topic.)

POL-418W. Seminar in American Government

Intensive study of a special topic in American government emphasizing original research and substantial oral and written work. Prerequisites: junior or senior status and one 300-level course in American government. Three hours per week. Four semester hours. (SS.)

POL-437W. Seminar in Political Philosophy

Intensive study of a special topic in political philosophy emphasizing original research and substantial oral and written work. Prerequisites: junior or senior status and one 300-level course in political philosophy. Three hours per week. Four semester hours. (SS.)

POL-442W. Seminar in Comparative Politics

Intensive study of a special topic in comparative politics emphasizing original research and substantial oral and written work. Prerequisites: junior or senior status and one 300-level course in comparative politics. Three hours per week. Four semester hours. (SS.)

POL-452W. Seminar in International Politics

Intensive study of a special topic in international politics emphasizing original research and substantial oral and written work. Prerequisites: junior or senior status and one 300-level course in international politics. Three hours per week. Four semester hours. (SS.)

POL-491. Research/Independent Work

This course is open to candidates for departmental honors and to other students with the permission of the departmental chair. Four semester hours. (XLP.)

POL-492W. Research/Independent Work

A continuation of POL-491. Prerequisite: POL-491. Four semester hours. (XLP.)

International Relations

IR-400W. Research in International Relations

This capstone course will require a series of short papers and a major research project. An oral presentation will be made before an upper-division course on the subject. Three hours per week. Four semester hours. (XLP.)