90 courses with the subject GOV, each shown exactly as we captured it from the college's catalog, with every element we hold. Where the wording looks broken, that is our reading of the catalog, not the college's text.
GOV 100Foundations of Political Thinking4
A study of the leading ideas of the Western political tradition, focusing on such issues as justice, power, legitimacy, revolution, freedom, equality and forms of government--democracy especially. Open to all students. Entering students considering a major in government are encouraged to take the course in their first year, either in the fall or the spring semester. Enrollment limited to 30. {S}
A study of the politics and governance in the United States. Special emphasis is placed on how the major institutions of American government are influenced by public opinion and citizen behavior, and how all of these forces interact in the determination of government policy. Designation: American. {S}
GOV 201American Constitutional Law: Structures and Powers4
This course examines the structures of power in a constitutional democracy, exploring contests over authority from John Marshall and Thomas Jefferson to Donald Trump. Discussions include: the powers of the federal and state governments, the executive’s emergency powers, and the Supreme Court’s authority to nullify the acts of other branches. Under these general headings are to be found such issues as the power to regulate firearms, recognize foreign governments, overturn a judicial decision through congressional action, deprive citizens of rights during wartime, regulate immigration, and protect voting rights. By the end of the course, students should have an informed judgement on these questions. Enrollment limited to 35. {S}
GOV 202American Constitutional Law: Civil Rights and Liberties4
This course is concerned with the ways in which the Constitution protects individual rights against the often-competing claims of state, groups, and communities. The course examines rights claims related to property, privacy, and personhood; First Amendment protections regarding speech and religion; and equal protection of the laws based on race, gender, age, wealth, etc. Designation: American. Enrollment limited to 35. {S}
The fundamental problems in summarizing, interpreting and analyzing empirical data. Discussions include research design and measurement, descriptive statistics, sampling, significance tests, correlation and regression. Special attention is paid to survey data and to data analysis using computer software. Restrictions: Students do not normally earn credit for more than one course on this list: ECO 220, GOV 203, MTH 220, PSY 201, SDS 201, SDS 210, SDS 220 or SOC 204. Enrollment limited to 75. {M}{S}
A study of the role of religion in American politics, including the intersection of religion and partisan polarization, public law and civil liberties, electoral politics, civic engagement, and democracy. The course also examines the rise of secularism in the United States since the late 20th century and political causes and consequences of this trend. Designation: American. (E) {S}
A thorough introduction to the study of public policy in the United States. A theoretical overview of the policy process provides the framework for an analysis of several substantive policy areas, to be announced at the beginning of the term. Designation: American. {S}
An examination and analysis of electoral politics in the United States. Voting and elections are viewed in the context of democracy. Topics include electoral participation, presidential selection, campaigns, electoral behavior, public opinion, parties and Congressional elections. Designation: American. {S}
GOV 209Colloquium: Congress and the Legislative Process4
An analysis of the legislative process in the United States focused on the contemporary role of Congress in the policy making process. In addition to examining the structure and operation of Congress, the course explores the tension inherent in the design of Congress as the maker of public policy for the entire country while somehow simultaneously representing the diverse and often conflicting interests of citizens from 50 different states and 435 separate Congressional districts. Designation: American. Enrollment limited to 20. {S}
GOV 210Public Opinion and Mass Media in the United States4
This course examines and analyzes American public opinion and the impact of the mass media on politics. Topics include political socialization, political culture, attitude formation and change, linkages between public opinion and policy, and the use of surveys to measure public opinion. Emphasis on the media’s role in shaping public preferences and politics. Designation: American.
An examination of the application of the First Amendment in historical context. Special attention to contemporary speech rights controversies. Designation: American, Theory. Enrollment limited to 20. {S}
A critical introduction to government regulation of employment and to legal theories of freedom and justice in the workplace. Discussions include: 1) the development of laws granting workers the right to form labor unions and to collectively bargain, culminating with discussion of the current debate on labor rights in the "gig" economy and the upsurge of union organizing at Amazon, Starbucks and major tech companies; 2) Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and other anti-discrimination laws designed to protect women, persons of color, the disabled and LGBTQ individuals in the workplace as well as the rights of immigrant workers; 3) privacy at work, including how law impacts the use of social media like Facebook and Twitter in the employment context; and 4) other selected legal issues facing marginalized, low-wage workers. Designation: American. Enrollment limited to 30. {S}
This course introduces students to comparative political analysis and provides a foundation to better understand major political, economic and social forces in a diverse set of countries. The course first focuses on key methods and concepts such as state and nation, asking where states come from and how are nations built. Students then address questions including: Why are some countries democratic and others authoritarian? How do states promote or stymie economic development? What role do civil society and social groups play in political and economic transition? The course combines theoretical and conceptual analysis with cases drawn from around the world. Designation: Comparative. {S}
This course focuses on the development of European democratic institutions in the context of military and economic conflict and cooperation. Includes an introduction to the process of European integration. Designation: Comparative. {S}
GOV 222Colloquium: Politics and Government of Southeast Asia4
A comparative analysis of the politics and socio-economic issues of Southeast Asian states. The course recognizes both the patterns and the diversity of a region historically contested by major powers of the world and exerting important influences on global politics. Enrollment limited to 25. {S}
GOV 223The Politics of Russia and Post-Soviet Central Asia4
This course examines recurring issues facing the Russian state and its citizens focusing on the complex interplay between formal institutions and informal politics as well as patterns of cooperation and antagonism in relationships with other countries, in particular the former Soviet republics of Central Asia. Students examine history to provide sufficient background information for the class, but concentrate on the period between the end of the Soviet Union and the present day. Designation: Comparative. Enrollment limited to 40. {S}
GOV 224Colloquium: Globalization From an Islamic Perspective4
This course explores the complex challenges facing Muslim-majority states when it comes to their political, economic, and social development in the 21st century. In particular, the course explores the various Islamically-inspired ideas ("isms") that have emerged with the onset of globalization; from Islamic feminism and Islamic environmentalism to political Islam and Islamic banking. Designation: Comparative. Enrollment limited to 20. {S}
GOV 225Colloquium: Women Under Communism and Post-Communism4
This course provides a comprehensive analysis of women's experiences under communist and socialist regimes through to post-communist transition. The course explores the theoretical underpinnings of Marxist- Leninist views on gender equality and evaluates how these ideals translated into state policies vs. the lived experiences of women across the Soviet Union, the Eastern Bloc, and later Russia, Eastern Europe, China, and other socialist countries in the Global South. Students examine the ways in which communist policies transformed women's public and private lives, and how women shaped these societies. The second half of the course focuses on the dramatic changes women faced during and after the collapse of communism, including shifts in political participation, economic standing, and their societal roles and status. Designation: Comparative. Enrollment limited to 14.
A comparative analysis of Latin American political systems. Emphasis on the politics of development, the problems of leadership, legitimacy and regime continuity. A wide range of countries and political issues is covered. Designation: Comparative. {S}
This survey course examines the ever-changing political and economic landscape of the African continent. The course aims to provide students with an understanding of the unique historical, economic and social variables that shape modern African politics, and introduces students to various theoretical and analytical approaches to the study of Africa’s political development. Central themes include the ongoing processes of nation-building and democratization, the constitutional question, the international relations of Africa, issues of peace and security, and Africa’s political economy. Designation: Comparative. Enrollment limited to 35. {S}
An exploration of women’s participation in local, national and transnational politics. This course considers the expansion of women’s rights and representation and the role of women in international governance and transnational advocacy, while also investigating topics related to public health, security, work, the environment and development. Students discuss avenues for women’s political participation across the Global South, including cases from the Middle East, Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and Eastern Europe. Designation: Comparative. Enrollment limited to 25. {S}
The People’s Republic of China represents approximately one quarter of the world’s population, sustains the largest bureaucracy in the history of the world, and currently possesses of a system of political economy that combines elements of both communism and capitalism. This course introduces students to the basic concepts of political processes, political institutions and political events in China, primarily focusing on the reform era (1978-present). Specifically, the course examines China’s political institutions, political economy, state-society relations and the politics of Hong Kong and Taiwan. Designation: Comparative. {S}
GOV 231Colloquium: Women's Social Movements in the Middle East4
This course explores how women’s social movements emerge and sustain themselves in the Middle East and North Africa. The class covers issues ranging from women agitating for citizenship rights and the vote, to questions of personhood, family code, and women's labor rights. Throughout the class, students consider how mobilized women negotiate a world of both contemporary and traditional religious and secular values to pursue their agendas in the public arena. Students leave this course with a fuller appreciation of the variety of issues around which women mobilize in the region as well as an understanding of the diverse strategies they adopt to meet their chosen goals. Designation: Comparative. {S}
This course explores the practical meaning of the term "development" and its impact on a range of global topics from the problems of poverty and income inequality to the spread of democracy, environmental degradation, urbanization, and gender empowerment. The course examines existing theories of economic development and considers how state governments, international donors, and NGOs interact to craft development policy. Designation: Comparative. {S}
Judicial politics is the study of how political dynamics shape courts and how courts, in turn, shape politics and society. This course is an introduction to the comparative study of judicial politics, designed for students who want to learn more about the role of courts in the modern state and to better understand their growing importance as political actors. Students engage with different theories to compare and contrast how law, politics, and judiciaries interact around the world. Designation: Comparative. {S}
GOV 235Colloquium: Colonialism and Postcolonialism in East Asia4
Colonial legacies continue to shape East Asian politics today, from the effects of anti-Japanese sentiment on Asian regional politics to Chinese leaders’ frequent invocations of the “century of humiliation” as part of a nationalistic turn in China’s foreign policy. A growing body of literature in history and the social sciences explores both the practice of colonialism in East Asia and its implications for contemporary East Asian politics. Drawing on examples from both Northeast and Southeast Asia, this course helps students understand variation in colonial institutions in East Asia, contrast East Asian countries’ paths out of colonialism, and analyze the legacies of colonialism for contemporary domestic and regional politics. Designation: Comparative. Enrollment limited to 24. {S}
How has constitutional governance changed and adapted over time? What new innovations have countries brought to bear on constitutional design and implementation? This course explores these questions by introducing students to critical topics in global constitutional theory and design. The course covers the basics of constitutional theory, drafting, and amendment; political institutions; and constitutional rights and liberties. In addition to mastering a set of basic facts about constitutional systems, students learn theories addressing “big questions” in constitutional design. The course also explores critical assessments of the evidence brought to bear on these questions. {S}
GOV 237Colloquium: Politics of the U.S./Mexico Border4
This course examines the most important issues facing the U.S./Mexico border: NAFTA, industrialization and the emergence of the maquiladoras (twin plants); labor migration and immigration; the environment; drug trafficking; the militarization of the border; and border culture and identity. The course begins with a comparison of contending perspectives on globalization before proceeding to a short overview of the historical literature on the creation of the U.S./Mexico border. Though at the present time the border has become increasingly militarized, the boundary dividing the United States and Mexico has traditionally been relatively porous, allowing people, capital, goods and ideas to flow back and forth. The course focuses on the border as a region historically marked both by conflict and interdependence. Designation: Comparative. Preference to majors in government and/or Latin American studies. Enrollment limited to 20. {S}
Why and how are elections held? In this class, students study the rules that structure how leaders are selected and the subsequent political behavior in response to those rules. The examination of elections worldwide involves a global overview of modern elections including those held in authoritarian regimes. By the end of the course, each student is an expert on an election of their choice. The class has two questions motivating the journey in this course. First, do elections matter? Second, how should elections be held? Designation: Comparative. Enrollment limited to 50. {S}
Since the end of the Second World War, there has been an enormous growth in the number of NGOs active globally, some working across borders on issues as diverse as poverty, health, women’s rights and emergency relief. Both international and national NGOs have taken on new roles in areas once considered the government domain. This course elaborates on how NGOs became crucial actors in world politics. The course explores the definition and purpose of NGOs and their history, looks at case studies of NGOs worldwide and considers the critique of NGOs. Enrollment limited to 40. {S}
An introduction to the theoretical and empirical analysis of the interactions of states in the international system. Emphasis is given to the historical evolution of the international system, security politics, the role of international norms in shaping behavior and the influence of the world economy on international relations. Not a course in current events. Designation: International Relations. Enrollment limited to 50. {S}
This course begins with an examination of the broad theoretical paradigms in international political economy (IPE), including the liberal, economic nationalist, structuralist and Marxist perspectives. The course analyzes critical debates in the post-World War II period, including the role of the Bretton Woods institutions (World Bank group and IMF), international trade and development, the debt question, poverty and global inequality, and the broad question of "globalization." Designation: International Relations. Prerequisite: GOV 241 or equivalent. First-year students may enroll only if they have completed GOV 241. Enrollment limited to 40. {S}
GOV 243Colloquium: The Politics of Outer Space Exploration4
Now, more than ever, it is crucial to understand how international space policy and visions of outer space exploration intersect with the global political, commercial, and cultural context. This course aims to acquaint students with space exploration from a social scientific and policy perspective, while also considering how culturally specific notions of outer space reflect on the ability to envision a collective future on Earth and beyond.
Just what is "United States foreign policy"? By what processes does the United States define its interests in the global arena? What instruments does the U.S. possess to further those interests? Finally, what specific foreign policy questions are generating debate today? Designation: American, International Relations. Prerequisite: GOV 241 or equivalent. {S}
This course provides an introduction to the international relations of contemporary Africa. It explores how Africa has redefined our understanding of international relations and its role as a global actor. Core themes include the politics of post-independence international alignments, the external causes and effects of authoritarian rule, and the continent's role in the global political economy. The course concludes with a consideration of pressing current issues on the African continent, including state failure, health interventions, issues of peace and security, and China’s growing economic and political influence. Designation: International Relations. {S}
This course investigates the causes and consequences of the Arab-Israeli conflict as well as the viability of efforts to resolve it. Students consider the influence of Great Power Politics on the relationship between Arab states and Israel, and between Palestinian Arabs and Israelis. This exploration of the conflict touches on issues related to human security, terrorism and political violence, as well as broader questions of human rights, national identity and international governance. Designation: International Relations. {S}
This course examines international human rights and the legal regime designed to protect them. Beginning with a theoretical inquiry into the justification of human rights, the course moves into an analysis of the contemporary system, from the UN to regional associations to NGOs. With that background in place, the course turns to specific topics, including the rights of vulnerable persons (women, children, minority communities, internally and externally displaced persons); human rights concerns arising from globalization and corporate responsibility; environmental concerns; and issues of peacekeeping. It concludes by examining enforcement strategies, from humanitarian intervention to political mobilization to judicial enforcement of rights in both domestic and international tribunals. Designation: International Relations. {S}
What role do international organizations play in world politics, and what role should they play? Do international organizations represent humanity’s higher aspirations or are they simply tools of the wealthy and powerful? This course explores the problems and processes of international organizations by drawing on theoretical, historical and contemporary sources and perspectives. The course focuses on three contemporary organizations: the United Nations, the World Trade Organization and the European Union. Designation: International Relations. Prerequisite: GOV 241 or equivalent. Enrollment limited to 50. {S}
This colloquium is an introduction to global environmental politics (GEP). GEP is a relatively recent addition to the field of international relations – emerging at the end of the Cold War in the early 1990s. As a subfield of study, it examines central questions about the environment; state sovereignty; the international system; traditional concepts in political theory such as citizenship and justice; policy processes at the local, national, and international levels; and north-south politics. At bottom, it encourages an axamination of the political character of humanity’s interaction with the earth. Designation: International Relations. Prerequisite: GOV 241 or equivalent. Enrollment limited to 24. {S}
This course examines refugees--i.e., people displaced within their country, to another country or, perhaps, somewhere "in between." Refugee politics prompt a consideration of the cause of refugee movements; persecution, flight, asylum and resettlement dynamics; the international response to humanitarian crises; and the "position" of refugees in the international system. In addition to international relations theory, the seminar focuses on historical studies, international law, comparative politics, refugee policy studies and anthropological approaches to displacement and "foreignness." Although special attention is devoted to the Middle East, other cases of refugee politics are examined. Designation: International Relations. Enrollment limited to 20. {S}
A study of Machiavellian power-politics and of efforts by social contract and utilitarian liberals to render that politics safe and humane. Topics considered include political behavior, republican liberty, empire and war; the state of nature, natural law/natural right, sovereignty and peace; limitations on power, the general will, and liberalism’s relation to moral theory, religion and economics. Readings from Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Hume, Smith and others; also novels and plays. Designation: Theory. {S}
A study of the major liberal and radical political theories of the 19th century, with emphasis on the writings of Hegel, Marx, Tocqueville, Mill and Nietzsche. Designation: Theory. Restrictions: Not open to first-years. {S}
GOV 264Out of this World: Utopianism in Modern Political Thought4
This is a course on utopianism as an impulse and a disposition in modern political thought. The course examines the French Revolution and feminist and anti-colonial reappraisals of the “Rights of Man;” efforts to re-imagine the social organization of power in Central and Western Europe, the United States, and British colonies in North Africa and the Middle East; the critique and diagnosis of the alienating and repressive conditions of life within an alien “utopia;” the theoretical and practical dissolution of “utopianism” into national histories and movements; the post-colonial efforts to rebuild the colonies in the wake of the grisly history of “mass utopias;” and finally, the contemporary reflections on “utopia” as a way of life and program for the future. Prerequisite: GOV 100. Enrollment limited to 30. (E) {S}
A study of major themes in the political thought of the early 20th century to the present. Readings begin with a brief reflection on Hegel and Marx, before moving into considerations that animated the 20th and 21st century, such as fascism, anti-colonialism, the welfare state, movements for civil rights, and migration. Throughout, the course pays particular attention to the tensions between freedom, justice, and equality that mark this period of political thinking. Designation: Theory. Successful completion of GOV 100 or another political theory course is strongly suggested. {S}
This colloquium approaches the politics of sex from the perspective of political theory. Sex means different things at different times and places, but has been regulated by both formal government and informal social institutions. This course deals with both the politics of sex and how sex itself is political. Students read historical and contemporary political thought, legislation, court decisions, and popular political literature to get at the meaning of the question “What is sexual liberation?” Topics include: sexual orientation, the sexed body, sex act(s), regulation of childhood sexuality, perversion, sex work, queer sex, and transsexuality. Designation: Theory. Prerequisite: GOV 100. Enrollment limited to 22. {S}
Feminist political thought functions in two ways: first, to critique the masculinist and patriarchal forms of thought in mainstream political philosophy; and second, to generate forms of political thinking that advance the cause of liberation. This course develops these two strains of thinking. Students consider the politics of gender, sex and sexualities, law, formal and informal institutions, the political subject, and the roles that race, class, sexuality and nationality play feminist political thinking. {S}
GOV 270Colloquium: Race & the Problem of American Citizenship4
This course examines the relationship between race and the discourse, concept and practice of citizenship as it has developed in the United States. The course interrogates how ideologies and experiences of race and citizenship have constituted each other over time, enabling forms of unequal political belonging to coexist with claims to equality, liberty and democracy. The course also considers how the meaning of citizenship has been challenged and reformulated by those who have contested racialized hierarchies and exclusions. While this course covers texts from early settlement and antebellum periods, focus is on the modern era, from the late 19th century through the present, drawing on historical texts as well as political theory to analyze both race and U.S. citizenship. Designation: American, Theory. Enrollment limited to 20. {S}
This course studies different urban experiences across the world. The course introduces the process of urbanization and addresses the complex relationship between urbanization, globalization and inequality. Throughout the course, students explore a series of case studies to provide concrete examples of how different cities such as London, New York, Berlin, Shanghai, Stockholm and Istanbul responded to globalization by paying attention to different topics such as pandemics, migration and urban movements. In addition to the academic literature, students make use of newspapers and films to address the promises and political dilemmas of urban life. Designation: Comparative, International Relations. Enrollment limited to 24. {S}
In the contemporary world, democracy is often considered not merely a form of government or one type of regime among many, but the very condition of political legitimacy. But what exactly does democracy entail? Is it an institution, a practice, a value, a virtue? This lecture course provides a survey of different historical and theoretical answers to these questions, from the foundations of self-government in ancient Athens through the present day. Designation: Theory. Enrollment limited to 30. {S}
What is the origin and political meaning of capitalism, and might there be a better way to organize our common world? These are the broad questions of Marxism, which continue to press upon us today. This lecture course is a general introduction to the writings of Karl Marx, the diverse school of thought which goes by his name and a few friendly critics along the lines of race and gender. Although this course examines texts on history and political economy, this course treats Marx as a political thinker and Marxism as a school of political thought. Designation: Theory. Prerequisite: GOV 100. Enrollment limited to 40. {S}
This course approaches the core questions of democratic theory from the perspective of anticolonial political thought. What is democracy, and why is it valuable—not in general, but as a way of organizing postcolonial political society and as a horizon of future possibility? Course readings will be drawn from a wide range of anti-, post- and de-colonial thinkers from around the world, including both texts from figures within anticolonial movements as well as contemporary work in postcolonial and decolonial political theory. Texts include selections from MK Gandhi, BR Ambedkar, CLR James, Kwasi Wirendu, Zhang Shizhao, Amilrar Cabral, Laura Cornelius Kellogg, and Leanne Simpson. Designation: Theory. Prerequisites: GOV 100. Enrollment limited to 20. {S}
Are emotions a danger or a resource for political life? Are they inherently unreasonable, or do they contain a kind of rationality? Are some emotions more politically acceptable than others? And how are the emotions of some--and the people to whom those emotions belong--valued over others? These are a few of the questions this class investigates through readings of ancient, early modern, and contemporary political thought. Each offering of this course focuses on a particular emotion-- such as anger, fear, or sadness--as an entryway for thinking about its political function. Designation: Theory. Prerequisite: GOV 100. Enrollment limited to 20. {S}
Upon what visions of nature does modern political thought rest? When one looks back to the history of political thought, does one only find ideas of human dominion over nature or are there also buried alternatives? And what might these diverging pathways have to teach in the present moment? This course surveys the history of Western political thought from the seventeenth to the nineteenth century from the vantage point of the present ecological crises to track and understand these diverging pathways. Students read texts from agrarian republicanism, liberalism, socialism, anarchism, transcendentalism and other lesser-known schools of political thought. Designation: Theory. Prerequisite: GOV 100. Enrollment limited to 40. {S}
The desire for power is often the engine of politics (and much else). This class considers the relationship of desire, power and politics through the lens of psychoanalysis. It covers classic and contemporary work in psychoanalysis and texts in political thought, gender and sexuality studies, and critical theory. Throughout the semester, the course focuses on the role that desire and power play in political life through topics such as anxiety, trauma, the body, sexuality, group dynamics, aggression, colonialism and fascism. Enrollment limited to 20. {S}
This course explores the political implications of the Big Data era through a focus on how data has corresponded with power throughout history.Discussions include the development of statistics (“science of the state”) for taxation and government census; the parsing of the “deserving” and “undeserving” poor in social welfare programs; surveillance practices for policing and national security; data protection and regulation of online spaces; and the implications of machine learning and artificial intelligence. Special attention is given to the ways in which new data technologies have driven social change. Prerequisite: One course in quantitative methods, such as GOV 203. Enrollment limited to 20. {S}
This course covers the historical development of crucial American governing institutions, including Congress, the executive branch, the judiciary, political parties, the social welfare state, and institutionalized race and gender-based hierarchies. The course considers both how each institution has evolved over time, and also how they have interacted with and responded to one another to produce the particular structural arrangements in the 21st century. Designation: American. {S}
This class is a cross sectional exploration of the politics and major policy debates of the 21st century thus far. Organized around the George W. Bush, Obama and Trump presidencies, the course covers each president’s path to election, their relationships with Congress and the Supreme Court, their major domestic successes and failures, their foreign policies, and the politics of race and gender that permeated all three administrations. Designation: American. Enrollment limited to 20. {S}
GOV 291Colloquium: Government Lab: Designing and Conducting Research4
This course introduces students to the basic building blocks of political science research, including developing a research question, conducting a literature review, defining concepts, selecting cases and presenting results. While students read and discuss exemplary research in American and comparative politics and international relations, the course focuses on "learning by doing" via a series of short projects driven by students’ interests. This course is primarily intended for students who are considering writing an honors thesis or special studies in government, attending graduate school or pursuing research opportunities after graduation. At least two prior government courses strongly recommended. Enrollment limited to 24. Instructor permission required. {S}
GOV 303Seminar: The Least Dangerous Branch? The Supreme Course in US Politics4
This course examines theories of judicial decision making; the institutional design, makeup, and procedures of the Supreme Court; its interaction with the other courts and branches of government; and its relationship to public opinion and societal change. The goal of this course is to critically assess the role of the Supreme Court in American political life. Designation: American. Restrictions: Juniors and seniors only. Enrollment limited to 12. Instructor permission required. {S}
GOV 304PPSeminar: Topics in American Government-Pathologies of Power4
A comparative examination of McCarthyism, Watergate and Iran-Contra. A look at how our political institutions function under stress. Prerequisite: One 200-level course in American government. Restrictions: Juniors and seniors only. Enrollment limited to 12. Instructor permission required. {S}
GOV 305CTSeminar: Topics in American Government-The Conservative Tradition4
This course focuses on the history of conservative political thought and the conservative movement in the United States. Students read scholarship that analyzes and explains the movement from a historical erspective, and much of the focus is on the thinkers who directly defined and contoured what it means to be a conservative in America, from the "father of conservatism" Edmund Burke to the Anti-Federalists to Milton Friedman to William F. Buckley to Ayn Rand to Allan Bloom. This class takes conservatism seriously both as an intellectual and a political tradition as it assesses and critiques its canon. Restrictions: Juniors and seniors only. Enrollment limited to 12. Instructor permission required. {S}
GOV 305SFSeminar: Topics in American Government-Strange Bedfellows: State Power and Regulation of the Family4
This seminar explores the status of the family in American political life and its role as a mediating structure between the individual and the state. Emphasis is placed on the role of the courts in articulating the rights of the family and its members. GOV 202 recommended but not required. Restrictions: Juniors and seniors only. Enrollment limited to 12. Instructor permission required. {S}
GOV 306PSSeminar: Topics in American Government- Politics of U.S. States4
As national politics becomes increasingly polarized and dysfunctional the states have become a central focus for many groups to affect policy change. This seminar focuses on major topics in State Politics research including, direct democracy, the spread of policies, and the growth of political reforms, and the role of public opinion in determining state policies. Students complete research papers on a state politics topic of their choice. Prerequisite: One 200-level course in American government. Restrictions: Juniors and seniors only. Enrollment limited to 12. Instructor permission required.
GOV 307LPSeminar: Topics in American Government: Latinos the Politics of Immigration in the U.S4
An examination of the role of Latinos in society and politics in the U.S. Issues to be analyzed include immigration, education, electoral politics and gender. Restrictions: Juniors and seniors only. Enrollment limited to 12. Instructor permission required. {S}
GOV 312PBSeminar: Topics in American Government-Political Behavior in the United States4
An examination of selected topics related to American political behavior. Themes include empirical analysis, partisanship, voting behavior and turnout, public opinion and racial attitudes. Student projects involve analysis of survey data. Restrictions: Juniors and seniors only. Enrollment limited to 12. Instructor permission required. {S}
GOV 321Seminar: Power, Elections, and Regional Politics in Africa4
This research seminar examines the political and institutional dynamics of Electoral Integrity Peer Review Mechanisms (EIPRMs) within African Regional Organizations (ROs), with a focus on their role in promoting electoral transparency and accountability. Students engage with literature on regionalism, electoral integrity, and African political development, while also contributing to an ongoing, grant-funded research project. The course combines academic theory with practical research training, emphasizing qualitative research methods such as archival work, process tracing, and policy analysis. Designation: Comparative. Prerequisite: GOV 227, GOV 247, GOV 258, HST 135, HST 157 or HST 158. Restrictions: Juniors and seniors only. Enrollment limited to 12. Instructor permission required. {S}
GOV 340Seminar:Taiwan-Internal Politics and Cross-Strait Relations4
Regarded by some as a province of China, by others as a sovereign country, and by still others as somewhere in the middle, Taiwan is a longstanding source of tension in the US-China relationship. Taiwan has also undergone remarkable political and economic changes since the 1940s. This course in comparative politics and international relations addresses the historical roots, current challenges, and possible future of the US-PRC-Taiwan relationship. It also uses Taiwan as a case study to examine major themes in comparative politics: authoritarianism and democratic transitions, corruption, the political economy of rapid development, and identity politics. Prerequisites: One course in comparative politics, international relations, or East Asia. Restrictions: Juniors and seniors only. Enrollment limited to 12. Instructor permission required. {S}
GOV 341ISSeminar: Topics in International Politics-International Perspectives on Contemporary Security Issues4
This course examines major theories of war, conflict and political violence, and theories of international cooperation and governance. The class explores these theories, and their relationship to current trends in globalization and global governance, in the context of major international security challenges such as great power competition, nativism and irredentism; threats to democracy; proliferation; terrorism; insurgency; ethnic and racial conflict; failing states; environmental degradation; resource scarcity; demographic stress and migration; and global inequality and poverty. Students study the mechanisms and institutions designed to identify and manage these threats and the challenges of integrating and coordinating multiple international actors such as international organizations, NGOS, states and domestic actors in an era of dynamic complexity. Restrictions: Juniors and seniors only. Enrollment limited to 12. Instructor permission required. {S}
GOV 343CRSeminar: Topics in International Politics and Comparative Politics-Corruption4
How should political corruption be defined, and what can be done about it? This course explores the theoretical and practical dimensions of political corruption in a variety of different countries and contexts, and analyzes how governments, international organizations and activists have attempted to address the problem. Restrictions: Juniors and seniors only. Enrollment limited to 12. Instructor permission required. {S}
GOV 347CMSeminar: Topics in International and Comparative Politics-Climate Migration4
Humans have long migrated in response to environmental change, but in recent decades (in the context of climate change), “climate migration” has become the focus of intense ideological, normative and empirical debates. This seminar approaches these debates, how they have evolved, and what is at stake. The course treats the implications for various policy domains and issue areas – e.g., border control, refugee reception, adaptation to climate change already in the pipeline, reparations, constructions of ideological whiteness, future scenario-building and apocalypticism. The course focuses primarily on social science analyses, but also engages novels and feature and documentary films. Restrictions: Juniors and seniors only. Enrollment limited to 12. Instructor permission required. {S}
GOV 347CRSeminar: Topics in International and Comparative Politics-Comparative Regionalization4
This course investigates the role of international organizations as global actors and their involvement in the domestic politics of, and beyond, their member states. Areas of intervention include efforts in democracy promotion, economic development, peace and security, and regional integration. This course moves beyond the focus on the traditional, Western actors, like the United Nations and European Union, and incorporates the processes undertaken by the African Union, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Organization of American States, among others. The goal of this course is to understand how these continental and regional organizations navigate the complexities of international and domestic politics. Restrictions: Juniors and seniors only. Enrollment limited to 12. Instructor permission required. {S}
GOV 347ESSeminar: Topics in International and Comparative Politics-Environmental Security4
This advanced seminar examines the political implications of treating environmental events and trends as matters of (inter)national security. It approaches the issue historically—examining the conceptual evolution of security over time and the relatively recent incorporation of environmental issues into security frameworks. Primary focus is devoted to climate change, but other ecological issues are examined as well: development, natural resource use, waste and pollution, biodiversity, etc. Prerequisite: GOV 241, GOV 242, GOV 244 or GOV 252. Restrictions: Juniors and seniors only. Enrollment limited to 12. Instructor permission required. {S}
GOV 347GHSeminar:Seminar: Topics in International and Comparative Politics-Genocide, Mass Atrocities, and Human Rights4
This course provides students with the intellectual framework for understanding the numerous, complex, and often emotionally challenging issues related to genocide and other instances of mass atrocities. The course explores the theoretical, social, legal, and political basis in order to understand these events through thematic analysis and help frame genocide and mass atrocities as distinct analytical concepts in the social sciences. Examination of several major cases of genocide and mass atrocities from the turn of the 20th century to contemporary times provides the foundation for comparative analysis, as well as the exploration of selected broad themes. This course aims to provide a structured forum for analyzing universal questions relating to human rights and their gross violation. Prerequisite: GOV 220 or GOV 241. Restrictions: Juniors and seniors only. Enrollment limited to 12. Instructor permission required. {S}
GOV 347GTSeminar: Topics in International and Comparative Politics-The Politics of Global Tourism4
The tourism industry is arguably the world’s largest employer; it is undoubtedly the leading sector in trade in services. Although modern tourism has political, economic and social implications, it has been largely underexamined by political science and the subfield of international relations. This course examines the sector and its many complicated dimensions and effects: environment, security, development, consumerism, and cultural exchange and understanding. It approaches these issues historically and with careful attention to a variety of cases and sub-sectors--e.g., eco-tourism, adventure tourism, health tourism, etc. Prerequisite: One course in international relations or comparative politics. Designation: International Relations. Restrictions: Juniors and seniors only. Enrollment limited to 12. Instructor permission required. {S}
GOV 348CASeminar: Topics in International Politics-Conflict and Cooperation in Asia4
The seminar identifies and analyzes the sources and patterns of conflict and cooperation among Asian states and between Asian and Western countries in the contemporary period. The course concludes by evaluating prospects for current efforts to create a new “Asia Pacific Community.” Restrictions: Juniors and seniors only. Enrollment limited to 12. Instructor permission required. {S}
GOV 348CWSeminar: Topics in International Politics-Insurgencies and Civil Wars4
Since the end of the Second World War, intra-state warfare has become the predominant form of armed conflict around the world. This course provides students with the intellectual framework for understanding the numerous, complex, and often contentious, debates related to various aspects of intra-state armed conflict, or civil wars. The course explores concepts of civil war, insurgency, counterinsurgency, irregular warfare, among others, as analytical concepts in political science. This course thus provides students with the theoretical, social, historical, and political basis for understanding this unique category of armed conflict, as well as examines its causes, processes, and consequences. Prerequisite: GOV 220 or GOV 241. Restrictions: Juniors and seniors only. Enrollment limited to 12. Instructor permission required. {S}
GOV 367DSSeminar: Topics in Political Theory-Dissent4
This course in political theory examines contemporary theories and practices of dissent, from civil disobedience to armed resistance to political exit. Are citizens morally obligated to obey unjust laws? What makes a law or political arrangement unjust? What kinds of protest actions are justified? What are the promises and limitations of nonviolence -- or violence? What effect do different forms of resistance have, and what is their political value? Is exiting -- quitting politics or leaving the polity -- a meaningful form of resistance? This course engages with these questions by reading contemporary texts from political science, sociology and philosophy alongside works by practitioners of forms of disobedience and resistance. Prerequisite: One course in political theory, or equivalent. Restrictions: Juniors and seniors only. Enrollment limited to 12. Instructor permission required. {S}
GOV 367ETSeminar: Topics in Political Theory-Environmental Political Theory4
What is the political significance of nature? This course engages this question through a critical analysis of readings in classic and contemporary environmental political thought with special emphasis on the political relationship between human beings and nature. Discussions include wilderness conservation, political ecology, environmental justice and more. The question which emerges through these readings, which is in the background of the entire course, is whether a democratic and just response to the challenges of the climate crisis might be found. Restrictions: Juniors and seniors only. Enrollment limited to 12. Instructor permission required. {S}
GOV 367QSSeminar: Topics in Political Theory-Queering the State4
This course covers theoretical issues through the relationship between the state and queerness. The course begins with a historical theory of the state that emerges from its role in governing queer life. Students consider the social, economic, legal and biomedical implications of the straight state. Though mainstream LGBT politics advocates for more inclusion in the state apparatus, through rights and legal protections, radical queer thinkers insists thinking beyond the state and in resistance to it. Throughout, the students focus on whether it is possible to have a queer state, and if it is, whether that is desirable. Restrictions: Juniors and seniors only. Enrollment limited to 12. Instructor permission required. {S}
GOV 367TPSeminar: Topics in Political Theory-Trans Politics4
This political theory seminar offers students an in-depth consideration of the history of trans, transgender, transsexual, gender expansive, gender non-conforming, and agender people. The course investigates the politics they engage in, the political movements they’ve built, and the medical, psychiatric, and legislative attempts to discipline and eradicate their existence. Discussions include trans history and trans method, medical and psychiatric politics of diagnoses and pathologization, gender transition technologies, the politics of gender and sexual identity, violence against trans people, gender critical and trans exclusionary feminist politics, and intra community trans politics concerning topics like "assimilationism". Restrictions: Juniors and seniors only. Enrollment limited to 12. Instructor permission required. {S}
GOV 369Seminar: New Worlds in African American Political Thought4
African American political thought developed in response to the world-destroying and world-constructing forces of colonialism and racial slavery. Across three centuries, thinkers have worked to reconfigure the core projects of Western modernity to account for what has often been ignored: race-making and racial violence, as well as struggles to construct a new politics free from domination. Though this course focuses primarily on US thinkers, the course also explores the tradition’s global contours--examining how Black political thinkers responded to political dynamics within as well as beyond the United States and envisioned forms of liberation that required building new worlds. Prerequisite: One course in political theory or the history of political thought. Restrictions: Juniors and seniors only. Enrollment limited to 12. Instructor permission required. {S}
This course explores the political, demographic, social, and cultural dynamics of Washington, D.C. Political Washington has gone through regular upheavals, usually coinciding with changes in the administration in power. Students explore this evolution through scholarship, news coverage, and interactions with political and policy professionals based in Washington. Readings, written assignments, and class discussions help students understand the day-to-day realities of living and working in Washington, preparing them for a successful summer and fall experience in the Picker program. S/U only. Restrictions: Open to students accepted into the fall Picker Program. {S}
Policy making in the national government. Takes place in Washington, D.C. Restrictions: Members of the Semester-in-Washington Program only. Enrollment limited to 12. Department permission required.
GOV 413Washington Seminar: The Art and Craft of Political Science Research2
This seminar provides students participating in the Washington Internship Program with an overview of the various approaches to conducting research in the discipline of political science. Students are introduced to methods of quantitative and qualitative research, data acquisition and hypothesis testing. The seminar’s more specific goal is to help students understand the process of planning, organizing and writing an analytical political science research paper. Restrictions: Members of the Semester-in-Washington Program only. Enrollment limited to 12. Department permission require. {S}
