Curriculum

Introductory Courses
American Politics and Law
Comparative Politics
International Relations
Political Theory
Research or Individual Study
Senior Thesis

Introductory Courses

POL 100/WRIT 125 Introduction to Political Science
NOT OFFERED IN 2006-07.Politics is a struggle for power – and questions about power are at the heart of political science: How is power gained? How is it lost? How is it organized? How is it used? How is it abused? This course introduces students to the concerns and methods of political scientists and to the major subfields of the discipline: American politics, comparative politics, international relations, and political theory. The course is centered on several major books in the field, some describing important political events, such as the rise of the Nazi party in Germany and the collapse of apartheid in South Africa, and some illustrating how political scientists analyze and evaluate the world of politics. This course satisfies the WRIT 125 requirement and counts as a unit towards a major in political science. Includes a third session each week.
Prerequisite: None. Open only to first-year students.
Distribution: Social and Behavioral Analysis
Semester:N/O Unit: 1.0

POL 199 Introduction to Research Methods in Political Science
Han, Staff
An introduction to the collection, analysis, interpretation and presentation of data. Using examples drawn from the subfields of political science, the course provides the skills needed to understand, interpret, and critically assess empirical data presented by the news media and in academic journals. Topics include research design, hypothesis-building, measurement, data gathering, hypothesis-testing and a wide range of methods appropriate for analyzing and interpreting data. The course provides a solid foundation for conducting empirical analysis and is strongly recommended for students interested in independent research, particularly the senior honor thesis.
Prerequisite: Two courses in political science. Fulfillment of the basic skills component of the Quantitative Reasoning requirement. Not open to students who have taken or are taking MATH 101, MATH 101Z, ECON 103/SOC 190, QR 180, or PSYC 205.
Distribution: Social and Behavioral Analysis. Fulfills the Quantitative Reasoning overlay course requirement.
Semester: Spring Unit: 1.25

American Politics and Law

POL1 210 Political Participation and Influence
NOT OFFERED IN 2006-07. How do citizens express their interests, concerns, and preferences in politics? Why and how do some groups achieve political influence? Why are some issues taken up and others ignored? The roles played by public opinion polls, interest groups, political parties, PACs, elections, the mass media, protests, riots, and demonstrations in articulating citizen concerns to government. Special attention to problems of money in politics, low voter participation, and inequality of race, class, and gender. Course work includes reading, discussion, and direct political participation in an interest group or election campaign.
Prerequisite: One unit in political science.
Distribution: Social and Behavioral Analysis
Semester: N/O Unit: 1.0

POL1 212 Urban Politics
Rich
Introduction to contemporary urban politics. Study of policy-making and political leadership in the areas of public education, city bureaucracies, housing, welfare, fiscal management, and economic redevelopment. Consideration of population shifts, racial and ethnic conflicts, and the impact of federal policy on urban planning.
Prerequisite: One unit in political science, economics, or American studies.
Distribution: Social and Behavioral Analysis
Semester: Fall Unit: 1.0

POL1 213 Washington Decision-Making
Schechter
Intensive Wintersession course on American politics. Analysis of the political process based on readings and discussions of contemporary political and legal issues and interaction with members of Congress, congressional staff, executive department officials, activists in nonprofit organizations, Supreme Court law clerks, political campaign professionals, and reporters. This course will meet for the first week of Winter¬session in Wellesley and then will move to Washington for two weeks of briefings, seminar, and policy research. Mandatory credit/non credit. Not offered every year. Subject to Dean’s Office approval.
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor required. Enrollment limited to juniors and
seniors. One unit in American politics or law strongly recommended. Interested
students must fill out a course application available in the political science office.
Distribution: Social and Behavioral Analysis
Semester: Wintersession Unit: 0.5

POL1 215 Courts, Law, and Politics
Burke, Scherer
Fundamentals of the American legal system, including the sources of law, the nature of legal process, the role of courts and judges, and legal reasoning and advocacy. Examination of the interaction of law and politics, and the role and limits of law as an agent for social change.
Prerequisite: 200 or permission of instructor.
Distribution: Social and Behavioral Analysis
Semester: Fall, Spring Unit: 1.0

POL1 311 The Supreme Court in American Politics
Staff
Analysis of major developments in constitutional interpretation, the conflict over judicial activism, and current problems facing the Supreme Court. Emphasis will be placed on judicial review, the powers of the president and of Congress, federal-state relations, and individual rights and liberties.
Prerequisite: 215 or one other unit in American legal studies, or permission of the instructor.
Distribution: Social and Behavioral Analysis
Semester: Fall Unit: 1.0

POL1 313 American Presidential Politics
Rich
Analysis of the central role of the president in American politics and the development and operation of the institutions of the modern presidency. The course will focus on sources of presidential power and limitations on the chief executive, with particular emphasis on relations with the other branches of government and the making of domestic and foreign policy.
Prerequisite: 200 or 210 or permission of instructor.
Distribution: Social and Behavioral Analysis
Semester: Spring Unit: 1.0

POL1 314 Congress and the Legislative Process
NOT OFFERED IN 2006-07.Analysis of the representative and lawmaking capabilities of the contemporary United States Congress. Examination of how candidates for Congress run for office, with an emphasis on the use of the mass media and campaign finance. Exploration of the roles of Congress members as representatives and lawmakers; the structures and dynamics of legislator-constituent relations; the influence of the public, political parties and interest groups in the policymaking process; the institutional arrangements of Congress and its relations with other branches of government. Discussion about how internal and external opportunities and constraints affect the public policy-making process of the Congress.
Prerequisite: 200 or 210 or permission of instructor.
Distribution: Social and Behavioral Analysis
Semester:N/O Unit: 1.0

POL1 315 Public Policy and Analysis
Rich
The first part of the course will examine how domestic public policy is formulated, decided, implemented, and evaluated, at both the federal and local levels. Both moral and political standards for making policy will be examined. Factors that promote or impede the development and realization of rational, effective, and responsive public policy will be reviewed. The second part of the course will be devoted to student research and presentations on selected policy topics, including public schools, public transportation, homelessness, the environment, and drug enforcement.
Prerequisite: 200 or 210 or permission of instructor.
Distribution: Social and Behavioral Analysis
Semester: Fall Unit: 1.0

POL1 316 Mass Media in American Democracy
Just
Focus on the mass media in the American democratic process, including the effect of the news media on the information, opinions, and beliefs of the public, the electoral strategy of candidates, and the decisions of public officials. Discussion of news values, journalists’ norms and behaviors, and the production of print and broadcast news. Evaluation of news sources, priorities, bias, and accessibility. Attention to coverage of national and international affairs, as well as issues of race and gender. Questions of press freedom and journalistic ethics are explored.
Prerequisite: 200 or 210 or permission of instructor.
Distribution: Social and Behavioral Analysis
Semester: Spring Unit: 1.0

POL1 317 Health Politics and Policy
NOT OFFERED  IN 2006-07. The American system of health care is distinctive. Financing is provided through voluntary employer contributions, tax subsidies, individual payments and an array of public programs, principally Medicare and Medicaid – but despite the variety of funding sources, Americans, unlike citizens of other affluent democracies, are not guaranteed health care coverage. How did the American approach to health care develop? How is it different from that of other affluent nations? What explains the differences? What are the strengths and weaknesses of the American health care system? Issues of cost containment, technological innovation, quality of care, and disparities in health outcomes are explored.
Prerequisite: 200 or 210 or permission of instructor.
Distribution: Social and Behavioral Analysis
Semester:N/O Unit: 1.0

POL1 318 Religion and Politics in Contemporary America
NOT OFFERED IN 2006-07.
This course examines the relationship between religion and politics. From the founding of the United States to President Bush’s faith-based initiative, the role of religion in American political behavior has been the subject of great debate. Special attention will be paid to how religion serves as a form of political socialization, often informing political participation, voting behavior and political attitudes. Relevant policy and legal decisions will be reviewed. First Amendment topics such as the separation between church and state, religious freedom and the Establishment Clause will also be addressed.
Prerequisite: 200 or 210 or permission of the instructor.
Distribution: Social and Behavioral Analysis
Semester:N/O Unit: 1.0

POL1 319S Seminar. Campaigns and Elections
Just
Exploration of the issues in campaigns and elections: Who runs and why? Do elections matter? The impact of party decline and the rise of campaign consultants, polls, advertising, and the press. Candidate strategies and what they tell us about the political process. How voters decide. The “meaning” of elections. Attention to the rules of the game (the primaries, debates, the Electoral College), recent campaign innovations (talk shows, town meetings, infomercials), third party candidacies, and prospects for political reform. Course work includes campaign participation.
Prerequisite: 200 or 210 or by permission of instructor. Enrollment limited; interested students must fill out a seminar application available in the political science department office or on the department Web site.
Distribution: Social and Behavioral Analysis
Semester: Fall Unit: 1.0

POL1 320  Inequality and the Law
Burke
Analysis of statutory and Constitutional law regarding inequalities based on gender, race, class, sexual orientation, and disability, and the effect of this law on society. Do anti-discrimination laws reduce social inequality? To what extent have the legal rights won by groups such as African Americans, women, and disabled people been translated into social practices? Focus on the equal protection and due process clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment, statutes such as the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act, and recent Supreme Court decisions. Examination of the role of law and litigation in public policies regarding affirmative action, school desegregation, employment discrimination, housing, and welfare.
Prerequisite: 215, 311, or another unit in American legal studies and permission of instructor. Enrollment limited; interested students must fill out a seminar application available in the political science department office or on the department Web site.
Distribution: Social and Behavioral Analysis
Semester:Fall Unit: 1.0

POL1 330S African Americans and the U.S. Political System
NOT OFFERED IN 2006-07.This course examines the nature of political ideology, public opinion, and political participation within the African American community. In addition to these topics, current developments in electoral politics, public policy, political representation, government responsiveness, and coalition-building will also be examined. Various theoretical approaches to the study of participation and identity — such as rational choice and political psychology—will be applied. Exploration of these behavioral and policy-related topics will provide a broader perspective on the current and future political strategies of African Americans in contemporary politics, and more broadly, the future of democracy and pluralism and the United States.
Prerequisite: POL1 200 or POL1 210 and by permission of the instructor. Enrollment limited; interested students must fill out a seminar application available in the political science department office or on the department Web site.
Distribution: Social and Behavioral Analysis
Semester:N/O Unit: 1.0

POL1 333S Seminar. Ethics and Politics
NOT OFFERED IN 2006-07.An exploration of ethical issues in politics, public policy, and the press. Critical questions include deception (is it permissible to lie?), “bedfellows” (does it matter who your friends are?), and means and ends (do some purposes justify deception, violence, or torture?) Consideration of moral justifications of policies, such as cost-benefit analysis, risk ratios, and social justice, as well as the proper role of journalists in holding public officials to an ethical standard.
Prerequisite: One 200 level unit in American politics. Enrollment limited; interested students must fill out a seminar application available in the political science department office or on the department Web site.
Distribution: Social and Behavioral Analysis
Semester:N/O Unit: 1.0

POL1 334S Seminar. Disability in American Society: Politics, Policy, and Law
Burke
The preamble of the Americans with Disabilities Act declares that 43 million Americans are disabled, but some believe the number is a ridiculous overestimate while others consider it a vast understatement. What exactly is “disability”? How is this concept used in American public policy and law? What is life like for Americans with disabilities? This seminar examines the politics of disability in the United States, paying particular attention to the perspectives of people with disabilities and to the history of the disability rights movement.
Prerequisite: Open to juniors and seniors by permission of instructor. Enrollment limited; interested students must fill out a seminar application available in the political science department office or on the department Web site.
Distribution: Social and Behavioral Analysis
Semester:Spring Unit: 1.0

POL1 335S Seminar. The First Amendment
NOT OFFERED IN  2006-07.A study of some of the classic legal cases and continuing controversies that have arisen out of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Examination of contemporary First Amendment issues such as flag-burning, hate speech, pornography, libel, invasion of privacy, school prayer, creationism, and government aid to religious institutions. Comparisons with the legal doctrines of other nations regarding freedom of speech and religion.
Prerequisite: 215, 311, or another unit in American legal studies and permission of instructor. Enrollment limited; interested students must fill out a seminar application available in the political science department office or on the department Web site.
Distribution: Social and Behavioral Analysis
Semester: N/O Unit: 1.0

POL1 336S Seminar. Judicial Politics
NOT OFFERED IN 2006-07. An examination of judges as political actors in a democratic system, with a focus on judicial selection, judicial behavior, and theories of judicial interpretation. Comparison of popular election of judges with political appointment; consideration of recent issues about campaign contributions to judicial candidates and the role of interest groups in the confirmation process. Analysis of various theories of judicial behavior, such as attitudinal, strategic, psychological and institutional approaches, as explanations of judicial decisionmaking. Study of interpretive theories in constitutional and statutory lawmaking as a means of discussing the appropriate role of judges in the broader democratic policymaking process.
Prerequisite: 215, 311, or another unit in American legal studies and permission of instructor. Enrollment limited; interested students must fill out a seminar application available in the political science department office or on the department Web site.
Distribution: Social and Behavioral Analysis
Semester: N/O Unit: 1.0

POL1 337S Seminar. The Politics of Minority Groups in the United States
NOT OFFERED IN 2006-07. An examination of office-holding, voting patterns, coalition formation, and political activities among various racial, ethnic, and religious minority groups in the United States, including Black Americans, Mexican Americans, Native Americans, Puerto Ricans, Jews, Arabs, Asians, Central and South Americans.
Prerequisite: Open to juniors and seniors by permission of instructor. Enrollment limited; interested students must fill out a seminar application available in the political science department office or on the department Website.
Distribution: Social and Behavioral Analysis
Semester: N/O Unit: 1.0

POL1 338S Seminar. Representation
NOT OFFERED IN 2006-07. Analysis of the theory and practice of political representation. Examination of what constitutes “good” representation, how much control the people should have over their elected leaders and the public policymaking process, and what factors (i.e., public opinion, political parties, interest groups, the media, the common good, etc.) influence legislators’ policy and legislative decisions. Exploration of how the possibilities for making our representative institutions more participatory are related to our notions of human nature, citizenship, and community.
Prerequisite: Open to juniors and seniors by permission of instructor. Enrollment limited; interested students must fill out a seminar application available in the political science department office or on the department Web site.
Distribution: Social and Behavioral Analysis
Semester: N/O Unit: 1.0

POL1 339S/EDUC 339 Seminar. The Politics of Urban Public Schools
Rich
This seminar examines recurrent issues in public school management and governance. Critical questions include the changing demographics of inner city schools, the evolving role of school boards, big city mayors, urban superintendents, teachers unions, and school finance. We will also discuss alternatives to public schools (parochial, private, and charter schools), high-stakes testing, and district-state relations. The seminar will also analyze the increasing intervention of state and federal governments in local school administration and the role of the courts in curriculum controversies, student life, and security. Students may register for either POL1 339S or EDUC 339 and credit will be granted accordingly.
Prerequisite: One unit in POL or EDUC.
Distribution: Social and Behavioral Analysis
Semester: Spring Unit: 1.0

POL I 3xx Seminar The Practice of Political Organizing
Han
Fulfilling the democratic promise of equity, inclusion and accountability requires an “organized” citizenry with the power to articulate and assert its interests effectively. Organizing is about identifying, recruiting, and developing leadership;building community around leadership; and building power from community.Students will engage with social, economic, and political problems as participants in political organizing by mapping power and interests, developing leadership, building relationships, motivating participation, devising strategies, and mobilizing resources to create organization and promote political change. Community, electoral, union and social movement organizing will be explored.
Prerequisites:200
Distribution: Social and Behavioral Science
Semester: Fall Unit: 1.0

Comparative Politics

POL2 204 Political Economy of Development and Underdevelopment
Candland
An analysis of political and economic issues in the Third World with special emphasis on the major explanations for underdevelopment and alternative strategies for development. Topics discussed include colonialism, nationalism, the Third World in the international system, state-building and political change, rural development, and gender perspectives on underdevelopment.
Prerequisite: One unit in political science. Open to juniors and seniors without prerequisite. By permission of instructor to other qualified students.
Distribution: Social and Behavioral Analysis
Semester: Fall/Spring Unit: 1.0

POL2 205 The Politics of Europe and the European Union
NOT OFFERED IN 2006-07. A comparative study of contemporary West European states and societies. Primary emphasis on politics in Germany, Britain, and France, and the political challenges posed by the European Union and pressure for regional integration. The course will focus on topics such as the rise and decline of the welfare state and class-based politics; the implications of the end of the Cold War and German reunification; tension between national sovereignty and supranational policy goals; immigration and the resurgence of xenophobic movements and the extreme right.
Prerequisite: One unit in political science or European history; open to juniors and seniors without prerequisite.
Distribution: Social and Behavioral Analysis
Semester: N/O Unit: 1.0

POL2 206 Politics and Foreign Policy of Russia
Arreguin-Toft
An introduction to the political history, political system, and international politics of the Russian Federation. The course will introduce the creation, development, and dissolution of the Soviet Union, but will focus most closely on post-Soviet Russia. Particular attention will be paid to the legacies of the communist regime in shaping the inter-and intra-state politics of the Russian Federation; as well as processes of political, economic, and military reform.
Prerequisite: Open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors without prerequisite.
Distribution: Social and Behavioral Analysis
Semester: Fall Unit: 1.0

POL2 207 Politics of Latin America
NOT OFFERED IN 2006-07. The course will explore Latin American political systems, focusing on the problems and limits of change in Latin America today. An examination of the broad historical, economic, and cultural forces that have molded Latin American nations. Evaluation of the complex revolutionary experiences of Mexico and Cuba and the failure of revolution in Chile. Focus on the contemporary struggles for change in Central America. Contrasting examples drawn from Mexico, Cuba, Chile, Nicaragua, and El Salvador.
Prerequisite: One unit in political science; permission of instructor to other qualified students.
Distribution: Social and Behavioral Analysis
Semester:N/O Unit: 1.0

POL2 208 Politics of China
Joseph
An introduction to the modern political history and contemporary political system of China. Topics include the origins and victory of the Chinese Communist revolution, the rule and legacy of Chairman Mao Zedong, economic reform and political repression in the era of Deng Xiaoping, and recent developments in Chinese politics. Politics in Tibet, Hong Kong, and Taiwan will also be considered.
Prerequisite: One unit in political science, economics, history, or Asian Studies recommended, but not required.
Distribution: Social and Behavioral Analysis
Semester: Fall Unit: 1.0

POL2 209 Politics of Japan and Korea
NOT OFFERED IN 2006-07. The first half of the course will focus on Japan and consider the core political institutions of the postwar era and the politics of rapid industrialization. Issues to be discussed include: the shift from one-party dominance to coalition government, the new electoral system, and the effects of economic stagnation. The second half of the course looks at Korean politics (South and North) and inter-Korean relations and considers the effects of Japanese colonialism and the Korean War. For South Korea, we will look at authoritarianism, democratization, economic development, nationalism, regionalism, and minority rights; for North Korea, the leadership and its ideology, economic conditions, and nuclear diplomacy.
Prerequisite: One unit in political science, economics, history, or Asian studies. Open to juniors and seniors without prerequisite.
Distribution: Social and Behavioral Analysis
Semester: N/O Unit: 1.0

POL2 211 Politics of South Asia
Candland
 An introduction to the politics of South Asia (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Nepal, Bhutan and the Maldives) from historical and cotemporary comparative perspectives. Examines the relationship of political institutions to patterns of development.   Comparative themes include colonial experiences  and nationalist ideologies;   politicization of religious and rise of religious conflict; government and political processes; recent economic reforms; initiative for conflict transformation; women’s empowerment; obstacles to and prospects for human development.
Prerequisite: One unit in political science; open to juniors and seniors without prerequisite.
Distribution: Social and Behavioral Analysis
Semester:Fall Unit: 1.0

POL2 302 Globalization and the Nation-State
Krieger
An assessment of globalization and the challenges it poses for the exercise of state power before and after September 11, 2001. Topics to be considered include: economic competitiveness, alternative geopolitical strategies, and international terrorism. The course will consider alternative interpretations of globalization and weigh the explanatory value of a set of theses that are intended to explain the interactive effects of globalization and state power in an era of unrivaled American hegemony. Case studies will look in depth at the United States, E.U. Europe, and East Asia.
Prerequisite: One 200 level unit in comparative politics or international relations or permission of instructor.
Distribution: Social and Behavioral Analysis
Semester: Spring Unit: 1.0

POL2 304 State and Society in East Asia
NOT OFFERED IN 2006-07. An examination of the relationships between governments and social forces in Northeast and Southeast Asia. Countries to be considered include Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia. The course takes a thematic approach to analyzing the political development and changing international roles of these countries in the second half of the twentieth century. Among the issues to be considered are: authoritarianism, military rule, democratization, labor movements, gender politics, nationalism, and relations with the West.
Prerequisite: One 200 level unit in comparative politics or permission of instructor.
Distribution: Social and Behavioral Analysis
Semester: N/O Unit: 1.0

POL2 305S Seminar. The Military in Politics
NOT OFFERED IN 2006-07. Focus on relations between the military and politics. Emphasis on the varieties of military involvement in politics, the causes of direct military intervention in political systems, and the consequences of military influence over political decisions. Themes include the evolution of the professional soldier, military influence in contemporary industrial society, and the prevalence of military regimes in Third World nations. Case studies include the United States, Brazil, Peru, Nigeria, Ghana, and Egypt.
Prerequisite: Open to juniors and seniors by permission of instructor. Enrollment limited; interested students must fill out a seminar application available in the political science department office or on the department Web site.
Distribution: Social and Behavioral Analysis
Semester: N/O Unit: 1.0

POL2 307S Seminar. Women and Development
Wasserspring
A comparative analysis of the impact of change on gender in the Third World. The status of women in traditional societies, the impact of “development” upon peasant women, female urban migration experiences, and the impact of the urban environment on women’s lives in the Third World are themes to be considered. Special emphasis will be placed on the role of the state in altering or reinforcing gender stereotypes. Comparing cultural conceptions of gender and the factors which enhance or hinder the transformation of these views will also be emphasized. Examples will be drawn from all regions of the Third World.
Prerequisite: Open to juniors or seniors who have taken at least one 200 level course in comparative politics; or permission of instructor. Enrollment limited; interested students must fill out a seminar application available in the political science department office or on the department Web site.
Distribution: Social and Behavioral Analysis
Semester: Fall Unit: 1.0

POL2 308S Seminar. Advanced Topics in Chinese Politics
Joseph
This seminar will explore in depth a topic of central importance in the analysis of politics in contemporary China. The focus of the seminar for each year will be announced prior to pre-registration. Among the topics that may be considered are: the political and social impact of economic change in China; revolution and reform in the Chinese countryside; ideology and political development in modern China; democracy and human rights in China; the political economy of “Greater China.”
Prerequisite: POL2 208, HIST 278, or permission of the instructor. Enrollment limited; interested students must fill out a seminar application available in the political science department office or on the department Web site.
Distribution: Social and Behavioral Analysis
Semester: Spring Unit: 1.0

POL2 309S Seminar. Ethnicity, Nationalism, Religion, and Violence
NOT OFFERED 2006-07.Investigates the causes of modern conflicts over religious, national, and ethnic identity. Introduces methods for studying nationalism, ethnic groups in conflict, and religious violence. Considers the construction of ethnicity and nation, the political uses of ethnicity, nationalism, and religion; the relationship between gender, class, ethnicity, and nationalism; various sources of inter-ethnic, international, and inter-religious conflict; and the psychology of group violence and warfare. This course may count as either a comparative politics or an international relations unit for the political science major, depending upon the student’s choice of research paper topic.
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. Enrollment limited; interested students must fill out a seminar application available in the political science department office or on the department Web site.
Distribution: Social and Behavioral Analysis
Semester:N/O Unit: 1.0

POL2 310S Seminar. Politics of Community Development
Candland
Focuses on strategies for poverty alleviation, employment generation, promotion of social opportunity, and empowerment. Examines the activities of non-governmental organizations and their often contentious relations with funders, government agencies, and each other. Considers women’s leadership in social change, local control of resources, faith-based activism, and collaboration between activists and researchers. Emphasis is on developing Asia, Africa and Latin America. Specific non-governmental organizations and development programs are closely examined.
Prerequisite: Open to juniors or seniors by permission of instructor. Enrollment limited; interested students must fill out a seminar application available in the political science department office or on the department Web site. Not open to students who have taken [POL2 310].
Distribution: Social and Behavioral Analysis
Semester:Spring Unit: 1.0

POL2 353 S Seminar. The Politics of Contemporary Cuba
Wasserspring
An analysis and assessment of the politics of the Cuban Revolution. Examination of the pre-Revolutionary Cuban society, significant transformatory phases of Cuban policy, the impact of United States and Soviet foreign policy objectives on Cuba, and the contemporary dilemma of maintaining socialist institutions in the post-cold war era. Special emphasis on political culture and its transformation, the role of political leadership, and the international constraints upon domestic policy formulation. Topics include the government’s impact on education, health care and women’s lives, the effects of the reintroduction of tourism as a developmental strategy, and the influence of Cuban-American politics in Miami. In addition to social science sources, we will use Cuban film, art, and literature as vehicles of understanding this complex political experience.
Prerequisite: Any 200 level unit in comparative politics or permission of instructor. Enrollment limited; interested students must fill out a seminar application available in the political science department office or on the department Web site.
Distribution: Social and Behavioral Analysis
Semester:Spring Unit: 1.0

POL2 312S Seminar. Environmental Policy
Focuses both on how to make and how to study environmental policy. Examines issues essential in understanding how environmental policy works and explores these topics in depth through case studies of current environmental policy issues. Students will also undertake an original research project and work in groups on influencing or creating local environmental policy.
Prerequisite: One 200 level unit in political science and permission of instructor. Enrollment limited; interested students must fill out a seminar application available in the political science department office or on the department Web site.
Distribution: Social and Behavioral Analysis
Semester:Fall Unit: 1.0

POL2 380 Science and Politics in Environmental Policymaking
NOT OFFERED 2006-07.This course explores the role of science in environmental policymaking, focusing on the United States at the federal level. It includes an examination of how science is brought to bear in legislative, administrative, and judicial decision-making; the interplay of science and policy in problem identification, solution, and prescription; specific science-based decision-making tools such as risk assessment and cost-benefit analysis. We will question the notion of science as "speaking truth to power" and assess how outside pressures on both the science and policy communities affect environmental decision-making. The course considers potential benefits and drawbacks of emerging models in the United States and other countries. It is designed for majors in political science and environmental studies.
Prerequisite: One course in American politics or Comparative politics or Environmental Studies.
Distribution: Social and Behavioral Analysis
Semester:N/O Unit: 1.0

POL2 383 Politics of Migration
Moon
A comparative study of the politics of mass population movements across state borders, including forced relocation under colonialism, refugees of war, food migration, labor migration, and different forms of legal and illegal immigration, including the international trafficking of persons. Analyzes migration and immigration policies in sending and receiving countries, U.N. conventions on the movement of persons, and social movements against and on behalf of migrant peoples. Country cases to be examined include Algeria and France, Brazil and Japan, Canada and Hong Kong, China and North Korea, Germany and Turkey, and the Philippines and the United States.
Prerequisite: One 200 level course in comparative politics or international relations or permission of instructor.
Distribution: Social and Behavioral Analysis
Semester:Spring Unit: 1.0

International Relations

POL3 224 International Security
Goddard
An examination of warfare as a central problem of international politics. The shifting causes and escalating consequences of warfare since the Industrial Revolution. The post cold war danger of a clash of civilizations versus prospects for a “democratic peace.” The multiple causes and consequences of modern internal warfare, and prospects for international peacekeeping. The spread of nuclear weapons, the negotiation of arms control agreements, the revolution in military affairs (RMA), and the threat of terrorism and asymmetric war.
Prerequisite: One unit in international relations or permission of instructor.
Distribution: Social and Behavioral Analysis
Semester:Fall Unit: 1.0

POL3 226 International Relations in East Asia
NOT OFFERED IN 2006-07. This course examines political and economic relations in East Asia, with the aim of understanding the determinants of conflict and cooperation in the region and providing a framework for analyzing the foreign policies of East Asian states. Among the questions considered: Is the East Asian economic miracle indeed a miracle? Is the rise of China dangerous to its neighbors? Can Japan be a leader in the region? What is South Korea’s choice between security and reunification? Whether North Korea survives or implodes, what would be the consequences for East Asia? How do states respond to growing economic interdependence and to security multilateralism in the region?
Prerequisite: One unit in international relations or comparative politics or permission of the instructor.
Distribution: Social and Behavioral Analysis
Semester: N/O Unit: 1.0

POL3 227 The Vietnam War
An examination of the origins, development, and consequences of the Vietnam War.
Topics to be considered include: the impact of French colonialism on traditional Vietnamese society; the role of World War II in shaping nationalism and communism in Vietnam; the motives, stages, and strategies of American intervention in Vietnam; leadership, organization, and tactics of the Vietnamese revolutionary movement; the expansion of the conflict to Cambodia and Laos; the antiwar movement in the United States; lessons and legacies of the Vietnam War; and political and economic development in Vietnam since the end of the war in 1975.
Prerequisite: One unit in social sciences or permission of instructor. Not open to students who have taken [POL3 306].
Distribution: Social and Behavioral Analysis
Semester: Spring Unit: 1.0

POL3 228 The Arab-Israeli Conflict
NOT OFFERED IN 2006-07.This course examines the political dimensions of the Arab-Israeli conflict and analyzes the interests and objectives of all the major parties, including Israeli society, Palestinian communities, and other regional and superpower actors. The course also covers the emergence of the Zionist movement, the development of Palestinian nationalism, the determinants of U.S. foreign policy towards this conflict, and efforts at conflict resolution. This course may count as either a Comparative Politics or an International Relations unit for the Political Science major, depending upon the student’s choice of paper topics.
Prerequisite: None
Distribution: Social and Behavioral Analysis
Semester:N/O Unit: 1.0

POL3 306S Seminar. The Vietnam War
An examination of the origins, development, and consequences of the Vietnam War. Topics to be considered include: the impact of French colonialism on traditional Vietnamese society; the role of World War II in shaping nationalism and communism in Vietnam; the motives, stages, and strategies of American intervention in Vietnam; leadership, organization, and tactics of the Vietnamese revolutionary movement; the expansion of the conflict to Cambodia and Laos; the antiwar movement in the United States; lessons and legacies of the Vietnam War; and political and economic development in Vietnam since the end of the war in 1975. This course may count as either a Comparative Politics or an International Relations unit for the Political Science major, depending upon the student's choice of research paper topic.
Prerequisite: Open by permission of the instructor. Enrollment limited; interested students must fill out a seminar application available in the Political Science Office or on the department website. Not open to students who have taken POL3 227 or POL3 306.
Distribution: Social And Behavioral Analysis
Semester:N/O Unit: 1.0

POL3 321S Seminar. The United States in World Politics
An examination of American foreign policy, understood as the current and recent behavior of the United States Government abroad. The pre-eminence of American military power in the post Cold War Era makes understanding United States policy essential to the larger study of international relations. Emphasis will be placed on different theoretical approaches to explaining United States behavior, including approaches based on structures of the international system versus explanations that are particular to American geography, history, culture, or institutions.
Prerequisite: One unit in international relations and permission of instructor. Enrollment limited; interested students must fill out a seminar application available in the political science department office or on the department Web site. Not open to students who have taken POL3 321.
Distribution: Social and Behavioral Analysis
Semester:  N/O Unit: 1.0

POL3 322S Seminar. Gender in World Politics
Arreguin-Toft
The course will examine gender constructions in world politics, with a focus on the biological and social determinants of aggression, violence, and war. Some topics include gender biases in international relations theories, women in combat; male and female roles in the conduct of war, gender and attitudes toward war; women’s relationship to the state; gays in the military; rape and the military; feminist analysis of war and peace.
Prerequisite: 221 and permission of instructor. Enrollment limited; interested students must fill out a seminar application available in the political science department office or on the department Web site.
Distribution: Social and Behavioral Analysis
Semester:Spring Unit: 1.0

POL3 323 International Economic Policy
A review of the politics of international economic relations, including trade, money, and multinational investment within the industrial world and also among rich and poor countries. Political explanations for the differing economic performance of states in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Consideration of the respective roles of intergovernmental organizations, nongovernmental organizations, and multinational corporations. Discussion of global governance issues including food, population, migration, energy, and environment.
Prerequisite: One unit in international relations or comparative politics.
Distribution: Social and Behavioral Analysis
Semester:N/O Unit: 1.0

POL3 325 International Environmental Law
DeSombre
 Examines the basic legal instruments and their historical development in addressing international environmental issues. Under what conditions have states been able to cooperate to improve the global environment? Negotiation of, compliance with, and effectiveness of international environmental law, and specific environmental issue areas in which international environmental law operates will be addressed.
Prerequisite: One unit in international relations or legal studies, or permission of instructor.
Distribution: Social and Behavioral Analysis
Semester:Spring Unit: 1.0

POL3 326S Seminar. Small Wars in Theory and Practice
Arreguin-Toft
This course introduces advanced students to an important and understudied category of conflict: small wars. This survey of important small wars from the nineteenth- and twentieth-centuries traces their impact on both grand-strategic planning and international relations theory; and is grounded in major themes ranging from the Hobson-Lenin thesis of imperialism to Kenneth Waltz’s neorealism. The interplay of theory and cases will highlight the strengths and weaknesses of contemporary approaches to this old yet ever-present category of conflict. Case studies include the South African War (1899-1902), Italy’s invasion of Ethiopia (1935-36), U.S. military intervention in Vietnam (1965-1973), Operation Allied Force in Kosovo (1999), the Russian Federation’s twin campaigns in Chechnya (1994 and 1999), and the Second Gulf War in Iraq (2003-present).
Prerequisite: 221. Enrollment limited; interested students must fill out a seminar application available in the political science department office or on the department Web site.
Distribution: Social and Behavioral Analysis
Semester:  Fall Unit: 1.0

POL3 327 International Organization
NOT OFFERED IN 2006-07.The politics of global governance. Emphasis on the U.N., plus examination of specialized agencies, multilateral conferences, and regional or functional economic and security organizations. The theory and practice of integration beyond the nation-state, as well as the creation and destruction of international regimes.
Prerequisite: One unit in international relations or comparative politics.
Distribution: Social and Behavioral Analysis
Semester:N/O Unit: 1.0

POL3 328S Seminar. Selected Topics in World Politics: Anti-Americanism as Politics and Performance
Moon
Seminar exploring the causes, characteristics, and political implications of the recent resurgence of “anti-Americanism” in international politics. Political actors engaged in anti-American activities and activism include civic organizations, intellectual and cultural elites, politicians, media, terrorists, peace activists, and others in democratic and authoritarian countries alike. Differing political motivations and public expressions, as well as national and regional variations of anti-Americanism will be examined. The seminar will engage a range of sources, such as survey data, religious rhetoric, nationalist platforms, protest literature, official policy statements, court cases, and pop music. Country cases include France, Germany, Iraq, Mexico, North Korea, Pakistan, Philippines, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Prerequisite: One 200 level course or higher in both international relations and comparative politics. Enrollment limited; interested students must fill out a seminar application available in the political science department office or on the department Web site.
Distribution: Social and Behavioral Analysis
Semester: Spring Unit: 1.0

POL3 329 International Law
Hotchkiss (at Babson)
An exploration of the meaning of the “rule of law” in a global context. The course focuses on three themes. First, the classic form of international law, including the concepts of statehood and sovereignty, the relationship of nations to each other, and the growth of international organizations. Second, the role and responsibility of individuals in international law, especially in the area of human rights. Third, the developing international law of the earth’s common areas, specifically the oceans, space, and the environment.
Prerequisite: One unit in international relations or legal studies, or permission of instructor.
Distribution: Social and Behavioral Analysis
Semester:Spring Unit: 1.0

POL3 332 People, Agriculture, and the Environment
An examination of linkages between agricultural production, population growth, and environmental degradation, especially in the countries of the developing world. Political explanations will be sought for deforestation, desertification, habitat destruction, species loss, water pollution, flooding, salinization, chemical poisoning, and soil erosion – all of which are products of agriculture. These political explanations will include past and present interactions with rich countries, as well as factors currently internal to poor countries. Attention will be paid to the local, national, and international options currently available to remedy the destruction of rural environments in the developing world. This course may qualify as either a comparative politics or an international relations unit for the political science major, depending upon the student’s choice of research paper topic.
Prerequisite: 204 or 323. Enrollment limited; interested students must fill out a seminar application available in the political science department office or on the department Web site. Not open to students who have taken [POL3 332S].
Distribution: Social and Behavioral Analysis
Semester:N/O Unit: 1.0

POL3 348S Seminar. Problems in North-South Relations
Murphy
An exploration of historical and contemporary relations between advanced industrial countries and less developed countries, with emphasis on imperialism, decolonization, interdependence, and superpower competition as key variables. Consideration of systemic, regional, and domestic political perspectives. Stress on the uses of trade, aid, investment, and military intervention as foreign policy instruments. This course may qualify as either a comparative politics or an international relations unit, depending upon the student’s choice of research paper topic.
Prerequisite: One unit in international relations or permission of instructor. Enrollment limited; interested students must fill out a seminar application available in the political science department office or on the department Web site.
Distribution: Social and Behavioral Analysis
Semester: Spring Unit: 1.0

POL3 351  Seminar   Global Governance
Murphy
Explores the challenge of global institutions in the new century within a larger historical context. Considers the function and role of the League of Nations, the International Labor Organization, the United Nations, the Bretton Woods institutions, the GATT and the World Trade Organization. Special emphasis on comparing and contrasting international organizations in the three main periods of institution building: post-World War I, post-World War II, and post-cold war. Discusses radical, liberal internationalist and realist approaches.
Prerequisite: One unit in international relations. Enrollment limited; interested students must fill out a seminar application available in the political science department office or on the department Web site.
Distribution: Social and Behavioral Analysis
Semester: Fall Unit: 1.0

POL 3XX Weapons, Strategy, and War
Goddard
This course examines the interrelationships among military technology, strategy, politics, and war. How has each of these forces shaped warfare historically and strategically? How, in turn have devlopments in warfare shaped societies and politics? The course pays special attention to selected cases from World Wars I and II and the development of U.S. strategy for nuclear weapons. For example, how has the development of chemical weapons affected the battlefield? What ethical choices, if any , guided the strategic bombing of civilians in World War II? How did nuclear weapons not only change warfighting, but U.S. society? The class concludes with an examination of the “war on terror” and its implications strategy and politics.
Prerequisite: 221 Recommended:224
Distrubution: Social and Behavioral Analysis
Semester: Spring Unit: 1.0

POLI 3xxS, Seminar: Power, Conflict, and Diplomacy
Goddard
International politics is mostly talk. Diplomats attempt to cooperate, coerce, and deter, all under the shadow of power and war.This course examines the role of diplomacy and negotiations in internatioal politics. We will explore whether or not actors behave rationally in crisis situations, such as in the Cuban Missile and Berlin Crises. The course will also analyze the role of rhetoric and identity in negotiations; how might actors use rhetoric to persuade or coece at bargaining table? In examing cases, primary materials, such as transcripts of the Cuban Missile Crisis, in addition to interpretive texts war will be used to examine negotiations over issues of alliance politics, confict resolutions, war termination, brinksmanship and initiation of war..

Prerequisite: One unit international relations, Enrollment limited, interested students must fill out a seminar application available in the Political Science Department Office or on the department office.
SEMESTER: Fall Unit: 1.0

POL3 351  Seminar. Global Governance
Murphy
Explores the challenge of global institutions in the new century within a larger historical context. Considers the function and role of the League of Nations, the International Labor Organization, the United Nations, the Bretton Woods institutions, the GATT and the World Trade Organization. Special emphasis on comparing and contrasting international organizations in the three main periods of institution building: post-World War I, post- World War II, and post-cold war. Discusses radical, liberal internationalist and realist approaches.
Prerequisite: One unit in international relations. Enrollment limited; interested students must fill out a seminar application available in the political science department office or on the department Web site.
Distribution: Social and Behavioral Analysis
Semester: Fall Unit: 1.0

Political Theory

POL4 240 Classical and Medieval Political Theory
Candreva
Study of selected Classical, Medieval, and early modern writers, including Plato, Aristotle, Cicero, St. Augustine, St. Thomas Aquinas, Machiavelli, Luther, and Calvin. Emphasis on the logic of each theorist’s argument, including such questions as the nature of human sociability, possible – and best – forms of government, and the question why we should obey government and the limits to that obedience. Exploration of diverse understandings of the concepts of justice, freedom, and equality. Attention is paid to the historical context within which a political theory is written.
Prerequisite: None
Distribution: Religion, Ethics, and Moral Philosophy
Semester: Fall Unit: 1.0

POL4 241 Modern Political Theory
Stettner
Study of the development of Western political theory from the seventeenth to nineteenth centuries. Among the theorists read are Hobbes, Locke, Hume, Rousseau, Burke, Wollstonecraft, Mill, Hegel, and Marx. Emphasis on the logic of each theorist’s argument, including such questions as the nature of human sociability, possible – and best – forms of government, and the question why we should obey government and the limits to that obedience. Exploration of diverse understandings of the concepts of justice, freedom, and equality. Attention is paid to the historical context within which a political theory is written.
Prerequisite: None
Distribution: Religion, Ethics, and Moral Philosophy
Semester: Spring Unit: 1.0

POL4 242 Contemporary Political Theory
Study of several twentieth-century traditions that raise fundamental questions about the human condition, processes of historical and personal transformation, and our capacity to understand them. Exploration of contemporary political and social theories, including existentialism, contemporary variants of Marxism, postmodern theory.
Prerequisite: One unit in political theory, social theory, or political philosophy, or permission of the instructor.
Distribution: Religion, Ethics, and Moral Philosophy
Semester: N/O Unit: 1.0

POL4 248 Power and Politics
NOT OFFERED IN 2006-07.An examination of the nature and functioning of power in politics, with an emphasis on the following questions: What is the nature of power and how has it been exercised in political life both past and present? Who has power and who should have it? Is power primarily wielded by political leaders and bureaucrats, or has the development of new technologies decentralized power, making each of us its instrument? Do the powerless – for example, miners in Appalachia, Polish solidarity activists, Indian anti-colonialists – understand and exercise power differently from those who traditionally hold it? Are power and violence inextricably intertwined or are they opposites? Readings will be drawn from several disciplines, and authors include Thucydides, bell hooks, Hannah Arendt, Marx, Nietzsche, Foucault, Dahl, Michnik, and Vaclav Havel.
Prerequisite: One unit in political science, philosophy, or history, or permission of instructor.
Distribution: Religion, Ethics, and Moral Philosophy
Semester:N/O Unit: 1.0

POL4 340 American Political Thought
Stettner
Examination of American political writing, with emphasis given to the Constitutional period, progressive era, and contemporary sources. Questions raised include: origins of American institutions, including the rationale for federalism and separation of powers, the roles of president and Congress, judicial review; American interpretations of democracy, equality, freedom and justice; legitimate powers of central and local governments. Attention paid to historical context and to importance for modern political analysis.
Prerequisite: One 200 level unit in political theory, American politics, or American history, or permission of instructor.
Distribution: Historical Studies
Semester:Fall Unit: 1.0

POL4 342S Seminar. Marxist Political Theory
Krieger
Study of the fundamental concepts of Marxist theory, including alienation, the materialist conception of history, class formation, and class struggle. Particular attention will be paid to Marx’s theory of politics. The applicability of Marxist theory to contemporary political developments will be assessed. Study of contemporary Marxist theory will emphasize issues of class, race, and gender.
Prerequisite: Enrollment limited; interested students must fill out a seminar application available in the political science department office or on the department Web site.
Distribution: Religion, Ethics, and Moral Philosophy or Social and Behavioral Analysis
Semester:Spring Unit: 1.0

POL4 343S Seminar. Democracy and Difference
Krieger
An examination of liberal democracy and contemporary theoretical challenges introduced by diversity and difference. Does liberal democracy, with its emphasis on individual rights, separation of powers, representative assemblies, and the principle of a limited state, remain a durable model? How does the consideration of cultural diversity and difference, understood by reference to gender, race, ethnicity, language, religion, nationality, and sexual orientation, affect our understanding of citizenship, equality, representation, recognition, and community? Study of communitarian thought, multiculturalism, and feminist critiques of democracy.
Prerequisite: One 200 level unit in political theory, or permission of instructor. Enrollment limited; interested students must fill out a seminar application available in the political science department office or on the department Web site.
Distribution: Religion, Ethics, and Moral Philosophy
Semester: Fall Unit: 1.0

POL4 344S Seminar. Feminist Political Theory
Euben
An examination of feminist theory, beginning with early liberal and socialist feminisms and continuing on to radical, post-structuralist and postcolonialist feminist theories, among others. Particular attention to the complexity of theorizing about “what women are and need” in the context of a multicultural society and a postcolonial world. Consideration of feminist perspectives on rights and the law, pornography, racial and sexual differences, methodology, and non-Western cultural practices such as veiling. Authors include  Lorde, Mohanty , hooks, MacKinnon, Rich, and Butler.
Prerequisite: One 200 level unit in political theory, philosophy, or women’s studies; interested students must fill out a seminar application available in the political science department office or on the department Web site.
Distribution: Religion, Ethics, and Moral Philosophy
Semester: Spring Unit: 1.0

POL4 346 Comparative Political Thought: Modern Western and Islamic Theories of Politics
Euben
An examination of Western and Islamic theories about the nature and dilemmas of modern politics with a special emphasis on the following questions: does modern politics require secularization or a return to the “fundamentals” of tradition, religion, and community? Which fundamentals and by whose authority? What is the relationship, if any, among democracy, Islam and the West? How are and should these terms be defined? Is there such a thing as a distinctive Western or Islamic perspective in a world stamped by colonialism, imperialism, and globalization? Authors include Machiavelli, Ibn Khaldun, Al-Afghani, Kant, Condorcet, Riffat Hassan, and Sayyid Qutb.
Prerequisite: One 200 level unit in political theory or philosophy or permission of instructor.
Distribution: Religion, Ethics, and Moral Philosophy
Semester: Fall Unit: 1.0

POL4 347S Seminar. Politics, Literature, and the Concept of Empire
What does it mean to be an “empire”? In this seminar, we will explore this question through specific historical examples (including Greece, Rome, Britain and France), using a variety of literary and philosophical texts (Herodotus, Virgil, Machiavelli, Conrad, Kipling, Fanon, Said). Particular attention will be given to questions about freedom, power, rights and obligations. In conclusion, we will examine contemporary sources to assess whether or not the term “empire” may be applied to the United States today.
Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor. Interested students must fill out a seminar application available in the political science department office or on the department Web site.
Distribution: Religion, Ethics, and Moral Philosophy
Semester: N/O Unit: 1.0

Research or Individual Study

POLS 250 Research or Individual Study
Prerequisite: Open to all students by permission.
Distribution: None
Semester: Fall, Spring Unit: 0.5

POLS 250H Research or Individual Study
Prerequisite: Open to all students by permission.
Distribution: None
Semester: Fall, Spring Unit: 0.5

Senior Thesis