Course Catalog

POLS 102

American National Government

An examination of the institutions, processes, values, and problems of American government and democracy. Included are constitutional foundations, federalism, political parties, Congress, the presidency, the judiciary, national administration, and basic issues of American government and democracy.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 103

Introduction to Comparative Politics

The main purpose of this course is to introduce the student to basic concepts and theories political scientists use to compare political systems. An analytical study will be made of such systems in selected countries of both Western and non-Western traditions.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 104

Introduction to International Relations

This course traces the evolution of the modern state system from 1648 to the present. It examines issues and concepts such as the balance of power, collective security, the nature of warfare, the role of international organizations and international law, globalization, human rights, overpopulation, global environmental devastation, etc.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 105

Introduction to Political Philosophy

An introduction to the philosophical study of political and moral life through a consideration of various topics of both current and historical interest. Topics include environmentalism, ancients and moderns, male and female, nature and nurture, race and ethnicity, reason and history, and reason and revelation.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 201

Formal Organizations

No Course Description Available.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 202

Pol Dynam Mid East

No Course Description Available.

1.00 units, Lecture

LEST 205

Trad Tribal Soc & Law

The course will examine the nature of tribal societies in the Middle East and Africa and the legal systems they have devised, in the absence of established governmental authority, to regulate human relations. The Bedouin of the Middle East and North Africa will be the core group studied.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 205

Trad Tribal Soc & Law

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 206

Interests and Positions in the Arab/Israeli Conflict

An examination of the dynamics of the Arab/Israeli conflict, especially since the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948. The Course will focus on the changing interests and positions of the parties involved: Israel, the Palestinians, the Arab states and the important international players. It will also highlight contradictions within the major camps.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 208

West European Politics

An examination of the political structures, processes, and cultures of the major Western European states and the socio-economic forces that shape them. Emphasis will be placed on Great Britain, France, West Germany and Italy, as well as on the European Economic community.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 209

Separation of Chrch & St

No Course Description Available.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 212

American, State, and Local Government

In this course, students will be exposed to the several layers of government specific to the United States, from small villages and municipalities, to counties, legislative districts, and states. Case studies in local government management will be read, as will studies of local government as a microcosm of social and political organization in America; Federalism as a desirable concept will be discussed, as will issues of routine public budgeting at all levels of government, concentrating on contemporary examples of partisan negotiations of statewide budgets in modern America.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 213

Transitional Justice in Theory and Practice:

What can be done to restore political, legal, and social order in the aftermath of war? What are the benefits of trials, reparations, and truth commissions? This course takes a philosophical approach to answer questions of justice, reparations, amnesty, and forgiveness through the writings of Hannah Arendt, Jon Elster, Martha Nussbaum, and others. The course will also focus on the historical cases of World War II, the Vietnam War, apartheid in South Africa and the Rwandan genocide.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 215

Politics and Film

This course will utilize the medium of film to explore topics central to political science, such as the nature of power, freedom, authority, and human nature. The films chosen for this course will span the period from the 1930s to the present, and represent numerous cinematic styles. The course aims not only to investigate core themes of politics and political thought but also to develop critical thinking skills in both written and oral form.

1.00 units, Lecture

AMST 216

Amer Political Thought

A study of the development of American political thought: the colonial period, the Revolution; Jeffersonian democracy; Jacksonian democracy; the defense of slave society; social Darwinism; the Populist and Progressive reform movements; current theories of conservatism, liberalism, and the Left.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 216

American Political Thought

A study of the development of American political thought: the colonial period; the Revolution; Jeffersonian democracy; the defense of slave society; social Darwinism; the Populist and Progressive reform movements; and current theories of conservatism, liberalism, and the Left.

1.00 units, Lecture

UBES 218

Urban Politics

No Course Description Available.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 220

History of Political Thought II

This course focuses on the development of modern political philosophy. All readings will be from primary sources that include, among others, Machiavelli, Descartes, Bacon, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Kant, Hegel, Nietzsche, and Marcuse. Enrollment limited.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 221

Health Care, Politics, and Policy in America

This course will examine health care in the American political and policy-making system. Students will learn about the roles and functions of key actors, institutions, concepts, and principles as part of a broad overview of health care in American politics, enabling us to consider the quintessential political question of “who gets what, when, and how" as it applies to this increasingly important part of public policy discourse. From this foundation, we will develop a theoretical and practical framework to ground our analysis of current health policy issues and reform movements. Topics will include ethics, finance, insurance, prescription drug regulation, Medicare/Medicaid, health epidemics, private markets, public interest, and the role of government.
Prerequisite: C- or better in Political Science 102 or permission of instructor.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 224

Public Policy Analysis: Theory and Practice

A general introduction to public policy, including the nature of social choice, the ends and means of policy, the justification of public regulation, and the evaluation of public policy.

1.00 units, Lecture

AMST 225

American Presidency

An explanation of the institutional and political evolution of the presidency with an emphasis on the nature of presidential power in domestic and foreign affairs. Attention is also given to institutional conflicts with Congress and the Courts. The nature of presidential leadership and personality is also explored.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 225

American Presidency

An explanation of the institutional and political evolution of the presidency with an emphasis on the nature of presidential power in domestic and foreign affairs. Attention is also given to institutional conflicts with Congress and the courts. The nature of presidential leadership and personality is also explored.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 228

Black Pols Urban America

This class will introduce students to the history of black involvement in city politics during the 20th century. Because most of the early 20th century politicization of blacks took place in northern urban areas, we will analyze in depth the involvement of northern blacks in machine politics. We will also compare the political situation of blacks in cities with those of white ethnic groups.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 229

Politics & The Internet

When former Vermont governor Howard Dean surprised political insiders by emerging as the Democratic frontrunner during the summer of 2004, the mainstream media attributed his dramatic success to his innovative internet-savvy campaign. This course examines the growing importance of the internet and similar technological innovations to politics in the United States and abroad. We will explore a variety of web tools, blogs, and on-line discussion boards and assess their impact on contemporary political life. Topics to be covered include the use of the internet by social movements, terrorist networks, separatist groups and a wide variety of political activists in recent years.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 231

The Politics of Human Rights in Contemporary Latin America

This course explores how and why human rights conditions have changed across Latin America. In particular, the course examines how international and domestic factors interact to explain political change. For example, what are the respective roles of international actors and social movements? How have human rights conditions fared in post-conflict situations? What is the relationship between human rights and democratization? How have governments throughout the region coped with past human rights violators? What explains the strengths and weaknesses of the inter-American human rights regime? Through systematic comparison of cases, including with other regions of the world, the course offers a critical survey of the human rights landscape in Latin America.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 233

Asian Politics

Many of the key political struggles and economic developments that have shaped the modern era originated in Asia. This course provides an introduction to the key themes, institutions, and issues in recent Asian politics, including the challenges of ethnic separatism and nation-building, the rise of peasant revolutions and state socialism, models of state-led economic development, post-colonialism, social movements, and the continuing problem of political corruption. The readings are designed to provide students with an understanding of the historical development of these issues, as well as of crucial events in Asia today. Texts and discussions will center on comparative governance in India, Pakistan, China, Japan, North and South Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore and the Philippines.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 236

Modern Turkey

This course will survey major developments in modern Turkish politics, including the Ottoman antecedents of constitutionalism and nationalism, the growth of the one-party state and national ideology in the 1920s and 1930s, the development model pursued by the Kemalists, the formation of foreign policy, the grip of the military and the destruction of the political Left in the 1980s, the impact of expatriate communities in Europe, and the transformation of the post-1945 political spectrum in the 1990s. Among the thematic questions we will consider are: Is there a Turkish model of development? Has Turkey yet to overcome a hideous legacy of ethnic intolerance? Why does Turkey tend to produce moderate Islamic political movements despite a social and urban experience superficially similar to that of Egypt or Iran? Should Turkey join the EU? If so, will this destabilize the delicate control mechanisms that are holding the country together, unleashing massive regional instability? Turkey’s evolving foreign relations will also be considered, from relations with the West to neighbors to the East, to its role in the protracted regional conflicts from neighboring Iraq to Israel.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 237

Building the European Union

As an intergovernmental and supranational union of 27 democratic member countries, the contemporary European Union is arguably the boldest experiment in inter-state economic and political integration since the formation of the contemporary nation-state system during the mid-17th century. Against this backdrop, this course considers the project for greater economic, political, and security integration within its appropriate historical context, its current economic and political setting, and its projected future ambitions. As such, it will very much be concerned with recent events and important events-in-the-making, including the continuing conflict over the Lisbon Treaty and the EU's projected enlargement by several new members.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 241

Empirical Political Methods and Data Analysis

An introduction to the design and execution of empirical political research involving computer analysis. The course covers the normative and empirical arguments at the foundation of the science of politics and the methods evolving from these arguments, and it trains students in the use of computers and statistical software. Course work includes reading, discussion, and completion of a research project in which the theory learned in class is put into practice. No programming experience required.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 252

The People and the Polls

This course will examine the unrolling of the 2010 Decennial Census. This most massive of surveys intended to gauge the numerical presence of American citizens almost always inspires controversy, especially in regard to how questions are asked and whether the Census provides an accurate account of the American population or rather an over-count of some groups and an undercount of others. Students will have ample opportunity to examine public opinion data and Census data throughout the semester. They will be asked to pay close attention to the media treatments of the Census as the Bureau gears up to distribute its questionnaires in March 2010 and to question head of households about their reaction to the Census forms once they receive them.

1.00 units, Seminar

POLS 255

Understanding Continental China

The course will examine the politics of revolution, development and change that has transformed China from a much-maligned backward nation into a rapidly modernizing, high profile global economic power. Some of the pertinent questions that will be taken up in the lectures and discussion sessions are: What were the pressures that forced China to remodel its traditional politics? Why did it choose communism over liberal democracy? What role did the great communist leader, Mao Zedong, play in restructuring Chinese government and society? How did his successors carry out the "second revolution" in the 1980's that managed to retain communism as the state ideology while repudiating most of Mao's politics? Will today's Chinese leaders succeed in liberalizing the nation's economy without liberalizing its politics?

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 260

Comparative Local Government Systems

This course aims to consider the context, theories and problems of comparing local government systems. It also examines key developments and debates in local government in a comparative context, paying particular attention to the historical development and reform in industrialized and developing countries.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 261

World Poverty: An Introduction

This class provides an introduction to world poverty by addressing three broad areas of inquiry: 1) What do we know about the causes of world poverty? How do we measure them? Who are the world's poor: where do they live, and what do they do? 2) What can—and do—governments do to address poverty? In this section we explore several core public policy issues, including problems of rural vs. urban poverty, gender, microfinance, and the delivery of basic social services. 3) What role do international actors have in mitigating poverty? What is the impact of aid and trade? How does the international community manage complex crises such as famines and civil wars? What, if anything, do the rich countries owe the poor of other countries?

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 266

Passions and Interests: American Political Development

This course focuses on various aspects of the evolution of the central state and civil society during the 19th century. Special attention is given to cultural, sectional and economic interpretations and sources of change and continuity and their expression via elections, political parties and interest groups. Policy issues will also be examined as both cause and consequence of state-society interaction and transformation.
Prerequisite: C- or better in Political Science 102 or 225.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 272

Introduction to Comparative Public Policy

This course investigates public policy from an historical and comparative perspective. It will attempt to treat public policy from the origin of public issues through the structures and agents that process policy to their consequences.
Prerequisite: C- or better in Political Science 102, 103 or 106.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 277

The Law, Gender Issues, and the Supreme Court

This course introduces students to contemporary gender issues as they are treated both in the law and in the decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court. We will explore some of the historical antecedents to contemporary legal gender questions and then examine in detail the following areas of controversy: affirmative action, the equal rights amendment, surrogate parenthood, abortion, and sex discrimination, including AIDS-related questions. For background, the following courses are recommended but not required: Political Science 102, 307, 316, Women’s Studies 301, or a course in U.S. history since the Civil War. The format of the course is primarily discussion.
Not open to first-year students.

1.00 units, Lecture

WMST 277

Law Gender & Supreme Crt

This course introduces students to contemporary gender issues as they are treated both in the law and in the decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court. We will explore some of the historical antecedents to contemporary legal gender questions and then examine in detail the following areas of controversy: affirmative action, the equal rights amendment, surrogate parenthood, abortion, and sex discrimination, including AIDS-related questions. For background, the following courses are recommended but not required: Political Science 102, 307, 316, Women's Studies 301, or a course in U.S. history since the Civil War. The format of the course is primarily discussion. Enrollment limited.

1.00 units, Lecture

WMST 278

Sexual Orientation & Law

The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the growing theoretical literature and case law in the area of sexual orientation and the law. We will study the historical treatment of gays and lesbians as a matter of law and public policy, and we will examine the particular discriminatory laws that have been enacted at the local, state, and national level. Texts will include books on a variety of policy issues concerning the legal status of gays and lesbians, as well as court cases, legal briefs, and law review articles. Topics will range from same-sex marriages to discrimination against individuals infected with the HIV virus.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 292

Trinity College Legislative Internship Program

The Trinity College Legislative Internship is a special program designed for those students who want to observe politics and government firsthand. Student interns will work full time for individual legislators and will be eligible for up to four course credits, three for a letter grade and one pass/fail. One of the graded credits will be a political science credit. In addition to working approximately 35-40 hours per week for a legislator, each intern will participate in a seminar in which interns present papers and discuss issues related to the legislative process. Although there are no prerequisite courses for enrollment in this program, preference will be given to juniors and seniors. Students majoring in areas other than Political Science are encouraged to apply. Candidates for this program, which is limited to 14 students, should contact the Political Science Department in April or September. The program will accommodate some students who wish to work part time (20 hours per week) for two graded course credits.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 294

Legislative Internship

No Course Description Available.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 296

Legislative Internship

No Course Description Available.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 298

Legislative Internship

No Course Description Available.

1.00 units, Lecture

PBPL 301

Amer Pol Parties & Int Grps

An analysis of American political parties, including a study of voting behavior, party organization and leadership, interest groups, and recent and proposed reforms and proposals for reorganization of existing party structures. Prerequisite: Political Science 102.
Prerequisite: C- or better in Political Science 102.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 301

American Political Parties

An analysis of American political parties, including a study of voting behavior, party organization and leadership, and recent and proposed reforms and proposals for reorganization of existing party structures.
Prerequisite: C- or better in Political Science 102.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 302

Government and Politics of Modern Japan

This course surveys the modern Japanese political system, focusing on the major institutions, political processes and issues which shape Japanese politics today. Topics to be covered include the legacy of the United States Occupation, the changing dynamics of party politics, social protest and mobilization, and the political impact of the so-called Japanese “economic miracle.”
Prerequisite: Political Science 103.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 303

Politics of Ethnicity and Immigration in Contemporary Western Europe

This senior seminar broadly surveys the politics of ethnicity and immigration in contemporary Western Europe. It thus includes both traditional ethnic or ethnoterritorial conflict (e.g. Spanish Basque separatism) and more recent manifestations of ethnic/religious tensions arising from the migration after 1950 of millions of Third World immigrants and asylum seekers to the major immigration-receiving countries (e.g. Turks in Germany, Algerians in France). Equal attention will be given to the effects of politics on the political and social incorporation of ethnic minorities as well as how their presence and demands are transforming the domestic politics and societies of Western Europe.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 304

Formal Analysis

The course applies social choice theory to the study of four components of the policy process in a democracy; voting, political strategy, governmental design, and bureaucracy. The course is organized around weekly readings and in-class discussion of key concepts. Examination of the formal properties of voting rules leads to a deeper understanding of representation and political outcomes. The analysis of institutions offers lessons on the problems of delegation, policy implementation, and democratic administration. Emphasis is placed on applying the insights of theory to the practice of politics and public service.

1.00 units, Seminar

POLS 305

Intl Organizations

This course explores the dynamics of international organizations, examining a broad range of institutions in world politics. In particular, we draw on a variety of perspectives—from mainstream International Relations theory to organizational analysis—to understand questions of institutional emergence, design, and effectiveness. Using case studies and simulations, students are encouraged to think concretely about the challenges facing international organizations.
Prerequisite: C- or better in Political Science 104.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 306

Governance in a Globalized World

This class will focus on the challenges of political authority in a world characterized by increasingly high levels of economic integration. The central focus will be on how economic integration has created new opportunities and challenges for the nation state, both nationally and internationally. It will address issues such as how states deal with the increasing importance of transnational issues (pollution, human trafficking, and criminal networks, etc.), the choice of formal vs. informal cooperation, and delegation of authority at the international, regional, and subnational level. Thus, the class will investigate formal international organizations, such as the IMF and United Nations, as well as less formal instances of international regulation and cooperation. It will also address issues of regional organizations like the EU and sub-national topics such as federalism, decentralization, and the challenges of dealing with failed states. Topics covered would include the organizational structure and governance of institutions as well as issues that arise from delegating authority, including democratic accountability and principal-agent problems.
Prerequisite: C- or better in Political Science 104 or Permission of the Instructor.

1.00 units, Lecture

AMST 307

Con Law: Federal Systems

An analysis and evaluation of leading decisions of the United States Supreme Court dealing with the granting of authority to national institutions. Although the major part of the course will deal with landmark cases bearing on the Federal System and Separation of Powers, attention will also be devoted to contemporary constitutional issues upon which students are expected to take normative positions. Prerequisite: Political Science 102.
Prerequisite: C- or better in Political Science 102.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 307

Constitutional Law I: The Federal System and Separation of Powers

An analysis and evaluation of leading decisions of the United States Supreme Court dealing with the allocation of power among federal government branches and institutions, and between federal and state governments. The emphasis will be on the federal system and separation of powers issues, as enunciated by the court, but attention will also be given to unadjudicated constitutional issues between the legislative and executive branches, and to the theoretical foundations of the United States’ constitutional system (Locke, Montesquieu, the Federalist papers, etc.).
Prerequisite: C- or better in Political Science 102.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 308

Russian and Post-Soviet Foreign Policy

This course examines the growth of multiple foreign policy trajectories in Russia and the former Soviet republics since 1991. Russian foreign policy is increasingly perceived as a threat to the West, often reminiscent of the Cold War pattern of tense global rivalry. How did the optimism of a decade ago turn into this pessimistic assessment? What are the dynamics behind Russian foreign policy? Who is in control of policymaking of one of the largest energy exporters in the world? Is the new Russian assertiveness simply a response to declining Russian prestige and power, or are there other explanatory models? This course will also examine why post-Soviet Eurasian republics have sometimes assisted Russian aims but at the same time often frustrated Moscow with divergent foreign policy paths. Comparisons will be made to regional state systems and foreign policy cultures in post-colonial Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Europe, among others.
Prerequisite: C- or better in Political Science 103 or 104.

1.00 units, Lecture

PBPL 309

Congress & Public Policy

No Course Description Available.
Prerequisite: C- or better in Political Science 102.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 309

Congress and Public Policy

A study of the structure and politics of the American Congress. This course examines the relationship between Congress members and their constituents; the organization and operation of Congress; the relationship between legislative behavior and the electoral incentive; and the place of Congress in national policy networks.
Prerequisite: C- or better in Political Science 102.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 310

Politics of Developing Countries

An examination of the success and failure of the various theories of economic and political developments which have been pursued in the post-colonial era; specific case studies will deal with examples from Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
Prerequisite: C- or better in Political Science 103 or 104.

1.00 units, Lecture

EDUC 311

Admin & Public Policy

No Course Description Available.
Prerequisite: C- or better in Political Science 102 or permission of instructor.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 311

Administration and Public Policy

A survey of American administrative practices. This course will use a textbook and a casebook to analyze and evaluate major administrative problems and policies. Particular attention will be given to the similarities and differences between public and private agencies. Students will use theoretical readings to prepare an analysis of a particular public or private organization.
Prerequisite: C- or better in Political Science 102.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 313

International Law

This course examines the sources and impact of international law: how it is made and implemented, why states comply with it, and what future it has in a globalizing world. In surveying the field, we cover a broad spectrum of topics, including the use of force and emerging developments in international criminal law.
Prerequisite: C- or better in Political Science 104.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 314

Elections and Voting Behavior

This course will cover the theory and practice of voting in Western democratic societies. Among the topics covered will be the impact of electoral systems, sociological and psychological explanations of voting behavior, and the meaning of the vote for the voter and for the political system in which he/she participates.
Prerequisite: C- or better Political Science 102 or 103.

1.00 units, Lecture

AMST 315

American Foreign Policy

No Course Description Available.

1.00 units, Lecture

PBPL 315

American Foreign Policy

No Course Description Available.

1.00 units, Lecture

AMST 316

Con Law:Civ Lib & Civ Ri

An analysis and evaluation of decisions of courts (and related materials) dealing principally with freedom of expression and equal protection of the laws. Prerequisite: Political Science 102.
Prerequisite: C- or better in Political Science 102.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 316

Constitutional Law II: Civil Rights and Civil Liberties

An analysis and evaluation of decisions of courts (and related materials) dealing principally with freedom of expression and equal protection of the laws.
Prerequisite: C- or better in Political Science 102, Public Policy 201or Public Policy 202 or Permission of Instructor.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 317

Govt & Pol in Latin Amer

No Course Description Available.
Prerequisite: Political Science 103.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 319

The Politics of Post-Communist Societies

With the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe and the subsequent break-up of the Soviet Union, the problems of the entire region have taken on new dimensions. In this course we will examine these issues in a comparative framework, including the creation of a multi-party system, the conversion to a market-driven economy, the resurgence of nationalism as well as ethnic conflicts within and between states.
Prerequisite: C- or better in Political Science 103 or 104.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 321

Concepts in Political Theory

Analysis of the meaning and uses of key concepts such as freedom, justice, and authority in the writings of political theorists and in recent political disputes. Readings from the standard texts in political theory and from contemporary analysts.
Prerequisite: C- or better in Political Science 105 or Permission of the Instructor.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 322

International Political Economy

This course examines the interplay of politics and economics in the current world system since the European expansion in the 16th century. Focus will be on the penetration and colonization of Latin America, Asia, and Africa; economic relations in the industrialized world and between the north and the south; the role of international institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund; the role of international trade and transnational corporations; the changing division of labor in the world economy; and current problems of the world economy.
Prerequisite: C- or better in Political Science 104.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 323

East Asian International Relations

This course will examine international relations among East Asian countries, including China, South and North Korea, Taiwan, and Japan. The main focus will be on security and economic issues after World War II, although we will also briefly discuss the historical background necessary to understand contemporary issues in the region. More specifically, this course will emphasize China’s emergence as a great power and its impact on regional and global stability; the North Korean nuclear issue; Japan’s military buildup; the prospect and implications of Korean reunification; economic interdependence and regional cooperation; as well as U.S. foreign policy toward East Asia. The course will employ a variety of international relations theories in order to facilitate a deeper understanding of contemporary issues and debates concerning the region.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 325

Communications and Politics

This course will have three goals: first, to give the students skills in effective oral communications (parliamentary procedure, formal speaking, debating, and group discussions); second, to provide them with a body of theory and literature focusing on communications, media, and politics; and third, to give them opportunities to apply the concepts and theory of communications to some empirical problems, issues, or activity related to politics (the ethics of campaign advertising, censorship of news during war time, etc.).
Prerequisite: C- or better in Political Science 102.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 326

Women and Politics

This course explores the role of women in American politics across the 20th century. We will examine the collective efforts made by American women to gain political rights, secure public policies favorable to women, and achieve an equal role for women in the political realm and society more broadly. We will try to understand how and why women’s political views, voting behavior, and the rates of participation have changed over the 20th century and why they remain distinctive from men’s. We will also explore the deep ideological divisions among American women, exploring the strikingly different ways that feminists and conservative women define what is in the best interest of women. Finally we end the course by studying women as politicians. We will assess the obstacles women face in getting elected or appointed to political positions, whether or not they act differently from their male counterparts, and the significance of their input.
Prerequisite: C- or better in Political Science 102 or permission of instructor.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 327

European Integration

This course is an examination of the theory, history, politics, and institutions of the European Union. A critical analysis of the theoretical attempts to explain European integration will be made. Further emphasis will be on the socioeconomic factors that influenced the formation and subsequent expansions of the European Union, particularly the regional differences and the international context.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 328

American Sectionalism: Northern and Southern Regional Identities in Politics

American Sectionalism: Northern and Southern Regional Identity in Politics This course seeks to compare and contrast the political dynamics of the several regions of the United States, with a primary focus on the partisan evolution of the Northeastern states and the Deep South, and the cleavages that result from the respective regional attitudes on Race, Gender, Class, and Religion. Students will read from a wide selection of works in political science that deal principally with the political behavior of voters in the two regions, and will be asked to think critically about questions of whether cultural differences from the Civil War to the Civil Rights Movement persist in modern American political conflict.
Prerequisite: C- or better in Political Science 102.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 330

Government and Politics of Contemporary China

This course will survey the domestic politics of the People’s Republic of China from 1949 to the present. The first half of the course will concentrate on the revolutionary socialist transformations of the Maoist years (1949-1976), while the second half of the course will explore the post-Mao reform period to the present day. Special attention will be paid to the manner in which irresolvable tensions within Chinese society and political economy (town vs. countryside, plan vs. market, center vs. periphery) have affected the course of political change.
Prerequisite: C- or better in Political Science 104.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 331

Transitions to Democracy: Fascism and Communism in Historical Perspective

This course examines the experiences of fascism and communism and the transitions from these regimes to democracy in Europe during the 20th century. What were the characteristics, agendas, and legacies of fascism and communism? How did transitional regimes come to terms with the crimes of fascism and communism—the shadow of the past? How did they meet the twin challenges of establishing constitutional democracy and rebuilding the economy? Case studies include Italy, Germany, and a select number of Eastern European states.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 334

Origins of Western Political Philosophy

This course examines the works of Plato with the aim of understanding the contribution he made to the transformation of thought that helped to lay the foundations of Western philosophic tradition. Readings will be from primary sources.
Prerequisite: C- or better in Political Science 105, 219, or 220.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 337

Democratic Theory

This course will focus on some of the main post-17th century movements in political and social thought that have contributed to the making of democratic theory; consideration will also be given to several modern critics of the theory. Prerequisite: Political Science 105, 219, or 220.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 338

Liberalism and Its Critics

This course will begin by examining the roots of modern liberal democracy in the works of such authors as Hobbes, Locke, Smith, Montesquieu, and Mill, and in the Federalist Papers. It will then shift attention to the attacks on liberal democracy by thinkers such as Marx, Neitzsche, and Heidegger. The final section of the course will deal with the contemporary debate on the subject and draw on the works of writers such as Rawls, Nozick, Hayek, Schumpeter, Walzer, Gailbraith, and Friedman.
Prerequisite: C- or better in Political Science 105 or Political Science 219 or Political Science 220.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 339

Contemporary and Post-Modern Thought

This course will deal with philosophical developments of moral and political significance in the 20th century. Using the writings of selected authors, such as Heidegger, Sartre, Gadamer, Marcuse, Strauss, Foucault, and Habermas, it will focus on various modern movements of thought: existentialism, critical theory, neomarxism, hermeneutics, feminism, deconstructionism, and postmodernism. Readings will be from primary sources.
Prerequisite: Political Science 105 or 219 or 220.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 340

International Conflict and Cooperation

This course examines instances of political and legal cooperation in response to large scale conflict in the international system. From classical to modern times, political and legal thinkers have used various forms of government as a means to create non-violent, enduring, and, ultimately, ever advancing civilizations. This course will examine the theories, patterns, and frameworks that have provided for the origins as well as the potential failure of governmental forms that have been intended as tools for stabilizing societies. Past solutions offered for territories such as Kashmir, the Palestinian Territories, Northern Ireland, and Bosnia will be explored. The course will also examine attempts at regional economic integration for Europe after the World War II as well as various regimes of collective security such as the United Nations.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 341

What is the Good Life?:

This course focuses on normative political philosophy by asking questions about the components of an ethical life in the areas of work, friendship, justice, art, and political participation. The aim of the course is to encourage reflection on individual ethical values through the theoretical frameworks offered by Plato, Aristotle, Hegel, Derrida, MacIntyre, and others.
Prerequisite: C- or better in Political Science 105 or Permission of the Instructor.

1.00 units, Seminar

POLS 342

The American Revolution and the Framing of the Constitution or The Political Science of the Founders

This course will explore the issues and principles that led Americans to declare their independence from England and, later, guided them in the writing of the Constitution. Topics covered will include: the Causes of the War of Independence, the Articles of the Confederation, Large vs. Small Republic, State Government, Slavery, the Anti-federalists, and the Bill of Rights. Apart from some basic texts, students will read speeches, articles, pamphlets, letters, and convention notes of contemporary statesmen.

1.00 units, Lecture

PBPL 343

Pols in Post-Indus State

An examination of public policy-making in Western Europe, the United States and Japan. Emphasis will be placed upon state institutions, political culture and socioeconomic structures and their role in shaping policy. Prerequisite: Political Science 103, 106, or 208.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 343

Politics in Post-Industrial States

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 344

Politics and Governance in Africa

This course is a survey of political, institutional, ideological, economic, social, and cultural factors affecting the politics and governance of African states. The course focuses on the key issues and events that are crucial to understanding the development of the modern contemporary African politics and governance. Through the study of systems of politics and governance in Africa, students will develop critical analytic skills that will enable a clearer and more comprehensive understanding of political issues and problems confronting the continent.
Prerequisite: Political Science 103.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 349

Nation-Building

Is it possible to create stable states in the international system by force? This course examines typologies, theories, and case studies of forcible attempts to create secure and economically productive states. The class will critically assess state-building processes such as internal security, political legitimacy, interim governance, multiethnic institutions, and economic development. It will examine territories that were administered by the British Empire, those that have been administered by the United States (such as the Philippines, Japan, Germany, Vietnam, and Iraq), and those that have been administered by the United Nations (such as Kosovo and East Timor).

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 350

Religion and Politics: Separation of Church and State

This course will begin with an examination of the issues raised by the contemporary constitutional debate on school prayer and pu]blic funding for religious education. Students will then proceed to investigate the theoretical foundations of the distinction drawn between religion and politics by thinkers such as Augustine, Spinoza, Hobbes, and Locke, as well as in the writings of early American theorists who contributed to the doctrine of the separation of church and state in the United States. The course will conclude by reviewing the attack on the doctrine mounted in the name of culture, particularly by the post-modern left.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 354

International Relations Theory

This course is structured around key theoretical debates in international relations and social science. Through intensive reading, analytically informed writing, and class discussions, we assess how well the leading theoretical paradigms—realism, liberal institutionalism, constructivism, and critical approaches—can explain international outcomes.
Prerequisite: C- or better in Political Science 104.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 355

Urban Politics

This course will use the issues, institutions, and personalities of the metropolitan area of Hartford to study political power, who has it, and who wants it. Particular attention will be given to the forms of local government, types of communities, and the policies of urban institutions. Guest speakers will be used to assist each student in preparing a monograph on a local political system.
Prerequisite: C- or better in Political Science 102 or permission of instructor.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 356

The Domestic Sources of American Foreign Policy

An examination of how the influences arising from the structure of the American political, social and economic systems affect the content and conduct of American foreign policy. While this course will discuss changes over time, special emphasis will be placed on the post-World War II period. Prerequisites: Political Science 102 and permission of the instructor.
Prerequisite: C- or better in Political Science 102.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 359

Feminist Theory

An exploration of the main currents in American feminism, with occasional excursions into European thought. The course readings assume (rather than demonstrate) women's historical subordination to man and put forward various explanations and strategies for change. Readings in J.S. Mill, C. P. Gilman, Emma Goldman, Simone de Beauvoir, Adrienne Rich, bell hooks, Mary Daly, Audre Lorde, and others. Primarily for sophomores and juniors. Permission of the instructor is required.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 362

Political Corruption

This course explores definitions, causes, consequences, and major types of political corruption around the world. What kinds of activities are corrupt? Do different cultures evaluate corruption differently? Why does corruption happen, how can it be stopped, and what are its outcomes? Case material will be drawn from early modern Europe, colonial Nigeria, and post-Mao China, as well as from American political history.
Prerequisite: Political Science 103.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 363

Educations in Liberty: Locke and Rousseau

Two of the most thoughtful and influential proponents of modern democratic constitutionalism, Locke and Rousseau, wrote extensively on the education of children, suggesting that attention to such education is central to the success of their political projects. This course will consist of a close reading and comparison of Locke’s Thoughts on Education and Rousseau’s Emile, with emphasis on the relation of these works to the more explicitly political writings of each author and to contemporary theories and debates about education.
Prerequisite: C- or better in Political Science 105 or Political Science 219 or Political Science 220.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 366

Passions & Interests: American Political Development

No Course Description Available.
Prerequisite: C- or better in Political Science 102 or 225.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 367

Twentieth Century Liberalism

In this course, we will examine twentieth century theories of liberalism. After a brief survey of important classical liberal theorists (Locke, Smith, Kant, and J.S. Mill), we will look at how the ideas of these authors have been incorporated and utilized by contempory liberal theorists trying to develop and, in some instances, re-define the goals and purposes of classical liberalism. Berlin, Rawls, Habermas Nozick, Walzer, Hayek,and Kymlicka will be among the authors considered. We will also examine contemporary criticisms, including those of Michael Sandel, of the modern variant of liberalism.
Prerequisite: C- or better in Political Science 105 or Political Science 219 or Political Science 220.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 369

International Human Rights Law

This course offers a comprehensive survey of the evolution of international human rights law, focusing on the major actors and processes at work. Which rights do individual human beings have a vis-a-vis the modern state? What is the relationship between domestic and international legal processes? Are regional human rights mechanisms like the European system more influential than international ones? More generally, how effective is contemporary international human rights in securing accountability and justice? We use specific cases and contemporary debates to study a range of treaties and emerging institutions, including ad hoc war crimes tribunals and the International Criminal Court.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 370

Resistance, Revolution & Repression

This course introduces students to various theoretical approaches to the study of social unrest, its causes, origins and outcomes. The first part of the course serves as a general introduction to the phenomenon of revolution in social science literature, and explores both the concepts and processes associated with social and political upheaval. The second part of the course involves a comparative study of historical revolutions and rebellions and seeks to raise questions about how resistance movements and revolutionary inversions of political power have traditionally been expressed in various political systems. Prerequisite: Political Science 103 or 106.
Prerequisite: C- or better in Political Science 104 or Permission of the Instructor.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 372

Intro Comp Public Policy

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 373

Law, Politics, and Society

This course examines the role of law in American society and politics. We will approach law as a living museum displaying the central values, choices, purposes, goals, and ideals of our society. Topics covered include: the nature of law; the structure of American law; the legal profession, juries, and morality; crime and punishment; courts, civil action, and social change; and justice and democracy. Throughout, we will be concerned with law and its relataion to cultural change and political conflict.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 374

The Political Subject: Agency and Ideology

The constitution of political subjectivity is a perennial issue in political theory. This course will examine the nature and scope of political agency and the role played by ideology in its construction. Authors guiding this exploration will include Arendt, Gramsci, Schmitt, Weber, Lenin, Lukacs, Althusser and Zizek.

1.00 units, Seminar

POLS 375

Traditional Tribal Society and Law

The course will examine the nature of tribal socieities in the Middle East and Africa and the legal systems they have devised in the absence of established governmental authority to regulate human relations. The Bedouin of the Middle East and North Africa will be the core group studied.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 376

Pol Dynam Mid East

No Course Description Available.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 378

International Security

This course examines the problem of international security, addressing both traditional and emerging concerns. After debating the appropriate normative and analytical unit of analysis—individuals, states, or the global community—we review the dominant perspectives in security studies and apply them to issues like interstate war, weapons proliferation, terrorism, ethnic conflict, environmental degradation, and global health threats.
Prerequisite: C- or better in Political Science 104.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 379

American Foreign Policy

This course offers an examination of postwar American foreign policy. After reviewing the major theoretical and interpretive perspectives, we examine the policymaking process, focused on the principal players in the executive and legislative branches, as well as interest groups and the media. We then turn to contemporary issues: the "war on terror," the Iraq war, humanitarian intervention, U.S. relations with other major powers, and America's future prospects as the dominant global power.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 380

War and Peace in Middle East

This course addresses the causes and consequences of nationalist, regional, and international conflict in the Middle East. We use theoretical perspectives from political science to shed light on the dynamics of conflict, the successes and failures of attempts to resolve it, and the roles played by the United States and other major international actors. The course is organized on a modified chronological basis, starting with the early phases of the Arab-Israeli conflict and ending with current developments in Iraq.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 381

Liberalism, Marxism, and the European Political Tradition

The history of modern European politics has been dominated by the sharply divided political and economic visions of Liberalism and Marxism. This course will compare the central tenets of both ideologies and their evolution into the present era. What has been the impact of the collapse of Communism on the future of socialism in Europe? Do Marxism and socialism have a future in Europe? Has liberalism finally won?

1.00 units, Seminar

POLS 382

Integration and Division in Modern Europe

Since World War II, many European states have experienced unprecedented levels of regional integration. On the other hand, they have also had to confront ethnic cleansing in Bosnia, violence in Northern Ireland, rebellion in Spain, civil war in Moldova, and demands for greater autonomy from a wide range of minorities in Belgium, Finland, France, Denmark, Ukraine, Armenia, and Georgia. This course critically assesses the forces of integration and division in Europe and explores their impact on the stability of European politics at the regional, state, and sub-state levels.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 383

Non-Western Political Thought

This course will provide an overview of non-Western political thought, including Islamic, African, and Hindu traditions. Similar to Occidental forms of political theory, these forms of political thought have advanced in response to socio-political crisis. However, the approaches afforded by non-Western traditions to questions of justice, authority, human nature, and the constitution of the best political order provide compelling alternatives to Western constructs, as well as rich insight into perennial issues of political thought. The course will also address the overarching question of universality—namely, whether principles asserted by political theorists are universally valid, or an expression of the values and presuppositions of a particular political association.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 384

The Political Economy of Financial Regulation

In today's increasingly integrated global market, prudential regulation of financial markets is an important issue. This class will explore the political dynamics involved with regulating international financial markets. We begin with fundamental questions of how and why countries choose to intergrate themselves into international capital markets, both historically and contemporaneously. Second, we will look at attempts by governments to create institutions at the local, national, and international level to ensure stability of markets. Third, we will seek to understand variation in regulations on banking, investment, and taxation. Finally, the class will address public policy challenges related to dealing with increasingly complex international financial markets. Prerequisite: C- or better in POLS 105 or ECON 101, or permission of the instructor.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 385

Crossing Borders: Logics and Politics of Transnational Migration

This course investigates the primary economic, humanitarian, and political forces that are driving and sustaining the complex phenomenon of contemporary transnational migration. Within this context, several key questions are addressed: Have the forces of globalization and the entanglements of international commitments and treaty obligations significantly compromised the policy making prerogatives of the traditional nation state? What are the benefits and costs of migration for the immigration receiving countries? Is a liberal immigration regime desirable and, if so, can it be politically sustained?

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 386

Political Trials

Political trials are often seen as dangerous challenges to the rule of law: politics trumps law, theater trumps reason, and collective concerns supersede judgment of the individual on trial. However, bringing politics, theater, and collective concerns into the courtroom can also sometimes support the rule of law, as we have seen in contemporary efforts at transnational justice in countries like South Africa and Rwanda. In this class, we will look at several political trials (from the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries) in which politics in the courtroom appear ambivalent—as not only dangerous to law and the justice it is supposed to promote, but also as potentially promising. Through examining these trials, we will ask what the relationship between politics and law should be: is "politicizing" law always dangerous, or might it sometimes be important to sustaining law? Do drama and theatricality impede justice, or might they sometimes aid it?

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 387

Publics, Mobs, and Masses: Theorizing Democracy in Times of Globalization

Both ancient and modern thinkers have tended to theorize democracy as a form of government for a discrete territorial entity. In this class, we will ask how we should theorize democracy in a situation of globalization in which transnational corporations, movements, and social ties seem to challenge our ability to rule ourselves in the mode of classical democracy. We will examine this question by looking not only at contemporary texts that address it, but also at 17th-, 18th-, and 19th-century thinkers who experienced moments of "globalization" in their own time, for example, the globalizing moments of imperial expansion and capitalism.

1.00 units, Seminar

POLS 391

Comparative Federalism

Since federalism’s advent in the late 18th century, federations and federacies have been some of the most widely used systems of government around the globe. This course addresses key issues, structures, and concepts of comparative federalism. It also looks at federalism’s role in state integration and disintegration, political identity, ethnic conflict, and economic stability. Case studies include the United States, Canada, India, Spain, Switzerland, and Germany. The course also examines the experience of federal units that are not part of federations such as the historic British Dominions, the Åland Islands, Kurdistan, Puerto Rico, Hong Kong, New Caledonia, and Greenland.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 392

Trinity College Legislative Internship Program

The Trinity College Legislative Internship is a special program designed for those students who want to observe politics and government firsthand. Student interns work full time for individual legislators and are eligible for up to four course credits, three for a letter grade and one pass/fail. One of the graded credits is a political science credit. In addition to working approximately 35 to 40 hours per week for a legislator, each intern participates in a seminar in which interns present papers and discuss issues related to the legislative process. Although there are no prerequisite courses for enrollment in this program, preference will be given to juniors and seniors. Students majoring in areas other than political science are encouraged to apply. Candidates for this program, which is limited to 14 students, should contact the Political Science Department in April or September. The program will accommodate some students who wish to work part time (20 hours per week) for two graded course credits.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 394

Legislative Internship

No Course Description Available.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 396

Legislative Internship

No Course Description Available.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 398

Legislative Internship

No Course Description Available.

1.00 units, Lecture

POLS 401

Senior Seminar: American Political Development

Research will focus on various aspects of the political development of the United States to World War I. Among the possible topics to be considered are the growth of the national state, party system transformation, electoral realignments, policy agenda changes, the evolution of the political culture, sectionalism and social movements. Enrollment limited.
Course open only to senior Political Science majors.

1.00 units, Seminar

POLS 402

Senior Seminar: American Government-Democratic Representation

This seminar consists of an investigation of the nature and processes of representation of individuals and groups at the level of American national government, especially within the U.S. Congress. Topics dealt with include the concept of representation, the goals of representatives and represented, means by which government is influenced from the outside, and the implications for representation of recent campaign finance and congressional reforms. Enrollment limited.
Course open only to senior Political Science majors.

1.00 units, Seminar

POLS 405

Senior Seminar: Women and Globalization

This senior seminar takes a gendered look at globalization and its impact on the lives of women around the world. What is the impact of gender, race, class, ethnicity, and nation on the global division of labor? Why are women a significant factor in human trafficking and global migration? What is the changing role of men, both in the formal economy and within individual household units? What role do national and international policymakers play in this gendered global economy? What is the impact of the present global economic crisis on women? The seminar will address these and other questions in order to assess the nature and impact of globalization from a gendered perspective.

1.00 units, Seminar

POLS 406

Senior Seminar: Why Political Philosophy?

This seminar will be devoted to a close reading of a major political philosopher in the Western tradition.
Course open only to senior Political Science majors.

1.00 units, Seminar

POLS 407

Perceptions of Conflict: Understanding Different Conceptions of "The Political"

At different times and in different places we find different conflicts to have become politicized. For example, violence in the household is now considered a crime in many societies. Fifty years ago it was a domestic affair in which the state had no role. There is an extensive political science literature on such topics upon which the course will build. Enrollment limited.
Course open only to senior Political Science majors.

1.00 units, Seminar

POLS 408

Senior Seminar: Racial and Ethnic Politics

This course examines the role of African Americans, Asian Americans, Latinos, and Native Americans in all areas of the American political system. We study each group and their roles as voters, party activists, candidates and public officials. By exploring the socio-historical context within which each group acts, we will also consider the non-traditional forms of political participation embraced by some of these groups and the reasons that minority groups have resorted to such strategies. The process of political socialization will also be considered, as will the political behavior, attitudes, and public policy opinions of these groups. Finally, we will also explore theories of racial and ethnic political coalitions and conflict.
Course open only to senior Political Science majors.

1.00 units, Seminar

POLS 409

Senior Seminar: Political Machines, Kleptocracies, and Predatory States

This seminar makes use of the social science literature on political corruption to introduce students to a variety of methodological approaches to conducting research in political science. The concepts explored include political patronage, bureaucratic malfeasance, rent-seeking, and the emergence of sultanistic regimes. Each class meeting will involve both a discussion of theoretical and case study material, and a practicum designed around a particular methodological approach.
Course open only to senior Political Science majors.

1.00 units, Seminar

POLS 411

Senior Seminar: Transnational Networks

This seminar will explore the role of “networks” as innovative modes of organization in world politics. Why do these networks arise, and what distinguishes them from other forms of global organization (hierarchies and markets)? How do transnational networks interact with sovereign states, and under what conditions do actors within the network succeed in furthering their political aims? Drawing on emerging theoretical debates, we will address these questions by examining in-depth case studies of both transnational advocacy networks (e.g., human rights, the environment) and criminal networks (e.g., terrorist groups, drug cartels)
Course open only to senior Political Science majors.

1.00 units, Seminar

POLS 412

The Politics of Judicial Policy Making

This course explores a constant tension in the work of courts. While courts are not “supposed” to make policy, they often do. In examining this tension, the course will focus on the origins of judicial intervention, the nature of specific court decisions on policy questions, and the effectiveness of those decisions in producing social change.

1.00 units, Seminar

POLS 413

Senior Seminar: Democracy

This seminar is designed to equip students with the ability to engage key questions related to democracy, including: what is the best form of representational government in a democratic society? How should a democracy organize the relation between the government and the economy? What is the cultural and psychological nature of democratic power? What are the limits of the democratic form of polity? Our examination of democracy will utilize a broad range of theoretical approaches, including the writings of John Locke, Jean-Jacque Rousseau, the Federalists, Alexis de Tocqueville, Karl Marx, and Sigmund Freud, among others. The empirical field complementing our theoretical explorations will include the United States, as well as various European and non-European democracies.

1.00 units, Seminar

POLS 417

Senior Seminar: Theories of Empire

“Empire” has reemerged in recent years as a potent political concept, both in popular political life and debates in contemporary political theory. In this class, we will ask: what kind of domination or form of rule is empire and why is it a continuing trope in ancient and modern politics? To answer these questions, we will examine the changing concept of empire in ancient Roman, modern, and contemporary political thought. What have theorists been trying to capture when they call something “empire” and how has it changed and shifted in each epoch? We will also consider the entanglement of Enlightenment concepts of freedom, equality, and democracy with imperial practices: How have imperial concepts and practices shaped our democratic aspirations to freedom and equality? Did imperialism corrupt Enlightenment aspirations, or were these aspirations haunted by imperialism from within? Finally, we will ask what it means to be imperial. What kinds of practices and relationships among citizens sustain empire? What kinds of practices and relationships might engender resistance to empire?

1.00 units, Seminar

POLS 425

Research Assistantship

No Course Description Available.

1.00 units, Independent Study

POLS 460

Tutorial

Individual research and reading under the guidance of a department member. Submission of the special registration form, available in the Registrar’s Office, and the approval of the instructor and chairperson are required for enrollment. (Hours by arrangement)

1.00 units, Independent Study

POLS 466

Teaching Assistantship

Submission of the special registration form, available in the Registrar’s Office, and the approval of the instructor and chairperson are required for enrollment.

0.50 units min / 1.00 units max, Independent Study

POLS 490

Research Assistantship

Submission of the special registration form, available in the Registrar’s Office, and the approval of the instructor and chairperson are required for enrollment.

1.00 units, Independent Study

POLS 497

Senior Thesis

For honors candidates: (see description of Honors in Political Science following the “Areas of Concentration” section). Submission of the special registration form, available in the Registrar’s Office, and the approval of the instructor and chairperson are required for enrollment in honors.

1.00 units, Independent Study