Approaches to Public Policy Analysis (3)

Stoker, Balla

Primarily for master's students. Empirical and normative foundations of systematic policy analysis: concepts, theories, models, issues, strengths, limitations, and uses and misuses in the policy process.

The Constitution: History and Ideas (3)

Kelts

With a focus on the history and ideas that influenced James Madison, consideration of ideas that formed the common heritage of all the framers of the Constitution. The separate traditions of liberty that were fused together in the Constitution. Early changes in American society that placed one of those traditions at the center of America's self-understanding.

Theories of Judicial Review (3)

Kelts

How and why the U.S. Supreme Court interprets the Constitution. The theory behind the practice of judicial review. Consideration of such questions as whether the Constitution intended judicial review and how the two wings of today's Court justify their own position on judicial review.

Executive-Legislative Relations (3)

Staff

Political and institutional relationships between the executive and legislative branches of the federal government. Offered off campus only.

Domestic Policy Analysis-Selected Topics (3)

Balla

Analysis of U.S. policy toward selected domestic problems.

Media and Politics (3)

Sides

Role of the media in American politics, with emphasis on television news coverage, political debates, political advertising, and their impact on the electorate.

Comparative Government and Politics (3)

McClintock, Dickson

Open to Elliott School students only. Examination of basic approaches to comparative politics.

Communism and Democratization (3)

Sodaro

Comparative analysis of transitions to democracy in communist and postcommunist systems, with applications of democratic theory.

Comparative Politics of Russia and Eurasia (3)

Hale

Comparative analysis of politics in the post-Soviet region. Theoretical and methodological approaches to understanding important issues, frequently including democracy/autocracy, ethnic conflict, political economy, center-periphery relations, and state building.

U.S. Foreign Economic Policy (3)

Nau

Exploration of ideas and issues involved in U.S. foreign economic policy, including relationship of economic and security issues, interdependence, protectionism, role of the dollar, industrial policy, and the debt crisis.

Comparative Foreign Policy (3)

Staff

The relationship of international actors with one another and with their external environment analyzed in a comparative framework. Focus on nation-states as well as non-state actors, such as international organizations. Differences and similarities in policies on economics, diplomacy, security, and global issues.

The Politics of U.S. Foreign Policy (3)

Saunders

Patterns and problems in contemporary U.S. foreign policy. Special attention given to the domestic political factors shaping foreign policy.

U.S. Foreign Policy Traditions (3)

Nau

Contemporary debate about the substance of American foreign policy through the lens of alternative theoretical approaches to the study of international relations. Classical realist (national interest), neorealist (balance of power), neoliberal (international interdependence and institutions), and constructivist (national identity) interpretations are compared.

Politics of U.S. National Security Policy (3)

M. Brown

Examines competing theoretical approaches to the study of national security policy and tests these on a variety of substantive issue areas in the United States. (May include such topics as nuclear non-proliferation, responses to regional conflicts, definition of new security goals, etc.)

International Security Politics (3)

Grynaviski

Overview of the major theoretical debates in international security. How different theoretical approaches inform policy decisions and options.

Foreign Policy Analysis-Selected Topics (3)

Staff

Analysis of U.S. foreign policy toward selected world regions.

Civil-Military Relations (3)

Staff

Substantive and theoretical issues and debates in the study of civil-military relations.

Western European Politics (3)

Feigenbaum

Examination of the principal characteristics of the British, French, German, and Italian political systems, comparing their institutional and behavioral adaptations to the problems of advanced industrial democracies.

Politics of European Integration (3)

Staff

The origins, institutions, and politics of West European integration, with emphasis on theories of regional integration and the development of the European Union.

Nation-Building in the Balkans (3)

Mylonas

The history, legacy, and practice of nation-building in the Balkans.

Comparative Governments and Politics of Eastern Europe (3)

Wolchik

Comparative analysis of domestic political processes and policies in Eastern Europe.

Government and Politics of Russia (3)

Staff

The politics and development of the Russian state.

Japanese Politics and Foreign Policy (3)

Mochizuki, Hughes

Japan's path to modernity and the impact its pattern of development has had on the nation's democratization, political economy, and political institutions in the post-1945 period. Consideration of Japan's foreign policy in terms of the interaction between international and domestic factors.

Politics of China (3-3)

Dickson, Shambaugh

PSc 6370: Readings and discussion of the political dynamics and policy process in contemporary China. PSc 6371: Research seminar on selected topics in Chinese politics, using official and other primary sources. Prerequisite to PSc 6371: PSc 6370 or permission of instructor.

Foreign Policy of China (3)

Shambaugh

Readings and research on the main approaches to analyzing China's foreign policy and foreign relations.

Political Economy of Industrializing Asia (3)

Bowie

Comparative analysis of the relationship between economic interests and politics in East and Southeast Asia. Emphasis on industrializing economies and their integration into global trade and investment networks.

Korean Politics (3)

Staff

An examination of Korean politics from the perspectives of four major research areas: authoritarian regime and economic growth; democratic transition and consolidation; the Asian financial crisis and its consequences; and the two Koreas and international relations.

Comparative Politics of the Middle East (3)

Reich, N. Brown

Readings and research on selected problems of the governments and politics of the Middle East.

Government and Politics of Africa (3)

Lambright

Major theories and themes of African politics considering the context shaping political and economic reforms, formal and informal institutions, and prospects for political reform.

Comparative Politics of Latin America (3)

McClintock

Readings and discussion on the politics of selected countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Emphasis on the possibilities for democracy and revolution.

Topics in Comparative Politics (3)

Staff

Politics and Culture (3)

Feigenbaum

An examination of the ways in which politics and culture intersect.

International Political Economy (3)

Sell, Hughes, Kaplan

Research seminar exploring alternative theoretical approaches to the study of international political economy and their application to the explanation and interpretation of historical and contemporary events in world political and economic affairs. Primarily for Elliott School degree candidates.

International Politics (3)

Lebovic, Nau

Open to Elliott School students only. Theories of international relations.

Politics and Practice of International Institutions (3)

Finnemore

The politics of international institutions in the areas of collective security, peace keeping, trade, money, development, environment, human rights.

Politics of International Law (3)

Staff

The political sources and consequences of international law and norms.

Origins of Major Wars (3)

Nau

An examination of the origins of major wars, including terrorism, from the 18th to the 20th centuries from the theoretical perspectives of realism, liberalism, and constructivism/identity.

Arms Control and Disarmament (3)

Staff

Major issues and trends in the postwar development of U.S. arms control and disarmament policy.

The Political Economy of Advanced Industrial States (3)

Feigenbaum

An examination of the relationship between economics and politics in areas such as political development, trade, and monetary policy.

The International Politics of Eastern Europe (3)

Wolchik

Major historical, political, social, and regional factors that have shaped the interwar, World War II, and postwar evolution of Eastern Europe; emphasis on foreign relations with outside powers and on regional East-West contacts.

Asian Security (3)

Mochizuki, Hughes

An examination of the major issues in Asian Security using various theoretical perspectives involving a mix of political science and policy analysis.

International Politics of East Asia (3)

Mochizuki, Shambaugh

Foreign policies and international behavior of the regional states (especially China, Japan, and Vietnam) and the extraregional powers (especially the U.S. and Russia).

The Arab-Israeli Conflict (3)

Reich

Readings and research on the origins, evolution, and issues of the Arab-Israeli conflict.

International Relations of the Middle East (3)

Reich, N. Brown, Lynch

Readings and research on the regional and international relations of the Middle East.

International Relations of Latin America (3)

McClintock

Readings and discussion on U.S.-Latin American relations and the foreign policies of selected states.

Topics in International Relations (3)

Staff

Legal Internship (3)

Kelts

Experiential learning in legal research, writing, and decision making. Each student chooses an internship in Washington, D.C., with a federal court, law firm, legal advocacy group, public defender's office, or legal think tank. A research paper is required.

Reading (3)

Staff

Limited to graduate degree candidates. Written permission of instructor required.

Research (3)

Staff

Limited to graduate degree candidates. Written permission of instructor required.

Thesis Research (3-3)

Staff

Introduction to Empirical Political Analysis (3)

Wahlbeck, Lawrence, Bartels

Statistical foundations of empirical political analysis and computer applications. Basic probability theory, exploratory and descriptive data analysis, statistical inference, and introduction to linear regression. Laboratory fee.

Wahlbeck, Lawrence, Bartels

Techniques of social science data analysis. Model building, estimation, and interpretation. Linear models and extensions. Introduction to discrete choice models. Prerequisite: PSc 8101 or permission of instructor. Laboratory fee.

Approaches to Policy Analysis (3)

Stoker

Primarily for doctoral students. Empirical and normative foundations of systematic policy analysis: concepts, theories, models, issues, strengths, limitations, and uses and misuses in the policy process.

Qualitative Research Methods (3)

Mylonas

Theoretical, practical, and ethical aspects of conducting qualitative research.

Readings in Political Theory (3)

Creppell, Kelts, Adcock

Selected major works, both ancient and modern, that illuminate basic problems and questions of political theory.

Topics in Political Theory (3)

Creppell, Kelts, Adcock

Advanced readings and group discussions. Analysis and interpretation of selected concepts and schools of thought.

Modern Political Thought and Ideologies (3)

Creppell, Adcock

Analysis of some main currents in modern political thought and ideologies.

Systematic Inquiry and Research Design (3)

Deering, Adcock

Study design, data collection, and models of analysis in political science.

Maximum Likelihood Estimation (3)

Lawrence

Introduction to maximum likelihood estimation interpretation of non-linear statistical models. Statistical inference, appropriate use, and presentation and interpretation of results.

Longitudinal Analysis (3)

Bartels

Examination of two classes of statistical models for longitudinal data-(1) models for time-series, cross-sectional and panel data and (2) modeling event history (i.e., duration, survival, hazard).

Multilevel Modeling (3)

Grynaviski

Statistical issues and models for multilevel (hierarchical) data structures, including the variance components, random intercept, and random coefficient models. Handling cross-level interactions.

Topics in Empirical and Formal Political Analysis (3)

Lebovic, Wahlbeck, Lawrence, Mylonas, Bartels

Selected topics in quantitative political methodology and formal political theory with varying emphasis on maximum likelihood estimation, nonlinear models, causal inference, formal theories, and mathematical/computational tools for the social sciences. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: PSc 8102 or equivalent. (Offered as the demand warrants)

Selected Topics in Political Theory (3)

Staff

In-depth coverage of significant issues in political theory, including such topics as justice, toleration, and political community. For advanced students. (Offered as the demand warrants)

American Political Process (3)

Deering, Maltzman

A survey of American political institutions, processes, and behavior.

Urban Politics (3)

Wolman

Comparative analysis of the context, institutions, processes, and policies of urban political systems.

Urban Policy Problems (3)

Wolman

Analysis of public policy issues confronting urban governments; emphasis on the theoretical roots and empirical impact of past and present programs in such areas as housing, education, poverty, and crime.

Judicial Politics (3)

Wahlbeck, Bartels

Introduction to the literature of judicial process and behavior studies; specific focus on selected topics. Emphasis on the major subfields of law, courts, and judicial process.

Law, Politics, and Society (3)

Wahlbeck, Bartels

Role of the judiciary in policy formulation; emphasis on the U.S. Supreme Court and civil liberties issues.

American Presidency (3)

Maltzman

Personalized and institutionalized aspects of the presidency, with particular emphasis on the politics of contemporary policymaking.

Executive Branch Politics (3)

Balla

Structure and operation of governmental bureaucracy with particular emphasis on the politics of formulating and implementing public policy.

Legislative Politics (3)

Deering, Maltzman, Binder

Theory, structure, and process of the U.S. Congress, with emphasis on member-constituency relations, individual and collective decision making, party and committee activities, executive-legislative relations, and interest-group activities.

Political Parties and Elections (3)

Binder

Nature and functions of American political parties: organizational status, nominating and electoral politics, and role in governing.

Public Opinion and Political Psychology (3)

Sides

Sources and dynamics of public opinion and political socialization.

Interest-Group Politics (3)

Deering

Theory, structure, and activities of interest groups in American politics.

Politics and Organizations (3)

Finnemore

Theoretical approaches to understanding organizational behavior and change; applications to specific political problems in U.S., international, and comparative politics.

Politics and Public Policy (3)

Stoker, Balla, Wolman, Lawrence

Examination of political processes that influence policy formulation, policy implementation, and the uses of policy analysis.

Selected Topics in American Politics (3)

Staff

In-depth coverage of significant theoretical and empirical issues in American politics, including such topics as political behavior, electoral politics, and race and politics. For advanced students. (Offered as the demand warrants)

Advanced Theories of Comparative Politics (3)

Feigenbaum, Dickson

Major concepts, methods, and theoretical debates in comparative politics, including cultural, rational, and institutional approaches.

Comparative Political Economy (3)

Teitelbaum

Current research agendas and issues of research design in the field of comparative political economy.

Democracy and Democratization in Comparative Perspective (3)

N. Brown, Dickson, McClintock

Theoretical approaches to processes of democratization. Evaluation of cultural, economic, institutional, and international-actor approaches. Case analysis of recently transitioned or transitioning nations. Primarily for Ph.D. students in political science.

The Politics of Industrialization (3)

Bowie, Lambright

Comparative analysis of politics as it has affected and been affected by the processes of industrialization, with special attention to cross-regional comparison of Latin America and East and Southeast Asia.

The Political Economy of Developing Areas (3)

Bowie

Comparative analysis of how development problems have been defined from both political and economic perspectives and the solutions proposed by outsiders and insiders. Emphasis on the rise, demise, and recovery of development orthodoxies.

Theories of Political Development (3)

Feigenbaum

Examination of how and why political systems develop the way they do. Why do some countries develop into democracies, while others become authoritarian? How do class conflict, the nature of the elite, and the political culture affect the development of political institutions?

Nationalism and Nation-Building (3)

Mylonas

Examination of prominent explanations for the emergence of nationalism across the world and the logic behind nation-building policy choices.

Authoritarianism (3)

Dickson

Examination of the scholarship on authoritarian regimes, including institutional features, strategies for survival, and prospects for change.

Selected Topics in Comparative Politics (3)

Staff

In-depth coverage of significant theoretical and empirical issues in comparative politics, including such topics as democratization, the politics of development, the role of the state in advanced industrial societies, gender and ethnicity, and the politics of nationalism. (Offered as the demand warrants)

Advanced Theories of International Politics (3)

Sell, Farrell, Lynch, Grynaviski, Talmadge

Perspectives examined range from realism to critical theory and focus upon a variety of explanatory variables.

Theories of International Security (3)

Lebovic, Glaser

Focus on conflict in different systems and scenarios and on causes and consequences of different strategies. The role of ethics in international security.

Advanced Theories of International Political Economy (3)

Sell, Kaplan

Major theories of political economy, from classical perspectives on problems of international cooperation to modern treatments of trade, finance, investment, and regulation.

Advanced Theories of Foreign Policy Decision Making (3)

Saunders

Selected Topics in International Politics (3)

Staff

In-depth coverage of significant theoretical and empirical issues in international politics, including such topics as comparative foreign policy, ethics and norms in international politics, the politics of military intervention, and theories of security in a post-Cold War environment. For advanced students. (Offered as the demand warrants)

Advanced Reading (3)

Staff

Limited to students preparing for the Doctor of Philosophy general examination. May be repeated for credit.

Advanced Research (arr.)

Staff

Limited to students preparing for the Doctor of Philosophy general examination. May be repeated for credit.

Dissertation Research (arr.)

Staff

Limited to Doctor of Philosophy candidates. May be repeated for credit.