Course may be repeated up to unlimited credit hours.

This course introduces students to the fundamental theories and concepts of the subfield of comparative politics. Comparative politics is a method of analysis that evaluates similarities and differences among political systems in order to develop general conclusions about political phenomena. The study of politics beyond U.S. borders helps place our own political system into perspective by highlighting alternatives to our own system and challenging the assumption that there is only one right way to organize political life.

This course engages students in considering the real world dilemmas of women working in organizations and bringing about social change in those and other organizations. The course analyzes different theories and explanations of why so few leaders are women and how women can become leaders and lead as well. Case studies are used to examine the intricacies of organizations, the roles of women in various organizations, as Well as the impact of organizations on policy (public, social, scientific, educational), government, and leadership in a global world. The course outcomes are an enhanced critical understanding of the dilemmas that are encountered by women leading change; the ability to evaluate and compose case studies at the intersection of leadership and gender; and the demonstration of critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Special Projects course in Political Science - Comparative. Course may be repeated up to unlimited credit hours.

Special Projects course in Political Science - Comparative. Course may be repeated up to unlimited credit hours.

Special Projects course in Political Science - Comparative. Course may be repeated up to unlimited credit hours.

Special Projects course in Political Science - Comparative. Course may be repeated up to unlimited credit hours.

Special Topics course in Political Science - Comparative. Course may be repeated up to unlimited credit hours.

Special Topics course in Political Science - Comparative. Course may be repeated up to unlimited credit hours.

This course offers an introduction to Sub-Saharan African politics from the precolonial period to the contemporary era. We will examine colonialism and independence movements, new state creation, democratic breakdown and dictatorship, protest movements, civil wars and genocide, economic collapse and ethnicity politics. This course offers students an understanding of political theories and these theories' applicability to African politics.

This course is an introduction to the Post-World War II evolution of Western Europe. It examines four main dimensions: (i) the position of countries in the international political economy, (ii) the role of the state in the management of the economy as well as of the welfare system, (iii) the formal structure of the system of governance and policymaking, and (iv) the form of political participation and representation.

This course will focus on the current state of Central American politics and society by analyzing the social and political forces at play in the region, the challenges of its economic development, and its external interaction with the United States and other world regions. Although regional in its scope the course will rely on individual countries to exemplify particular issues confronting the region.

This course examines how neoliberalism generates resistance and pressure for change. However, the direction of change, such as trends towards inclusionary politics vs. exclusionary politics, is not foreordained. Latin America was a frontrunner in these trends. As the USA grapples with similar tensions, its politics eerily resemble those of Latin America, a region renowned for inequality and democratic backsliding. What lessons might the Latin American experience hold for the United States?

Overview of domestic politics in the countries of the Middle East, focusing on different types of regime and recent political developments.

This course will focus on the current state of Latin American politics and society by analyzing the social and political forces at play in the region, the challenges of its economic development, and its external interaction with the United States and other world regions. Although regional in its scope the course will rely on individual countries from South America as well as Mexico to exemplify particular issues confronting the region.

This course focuses on the origins and dynamics of change in the newer nations of Asia, with a special emphasis on South Asia.

A study of nationalism and ethnic conflict in the contemporary world. Both approaches to the study of nationalist conflict and case studies of conflict are included.

This course will focus on the motivations of political parties, movements, and leaders in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region who drew inspiration from Islam. It considers the interactions of "the West" and "the Islamic world" in generating a wide range of MENA social and political forces, from the decline of the Ottoman Empire and the rise of post-colonial regimes to the Iranian Revolution, the jihad in Afghanistan, the activism of the Muslim Brotherhood and the political violence of the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham.

Students complete a service activity in the community in conjunction with the content of a three-credit co-requisite course. Course may be repeated up to unlimited credit hours.

For majors only. Non-major juniors and seniors may enroll in courses at the 4000-level or above only with the consent of the instructor. Course may be repeated up to unlimited credit hours.

For majors only. Non-major juniors and seniors may enroll in courses at the 4000-level or above only with the consent of the instructor. Course may be repeated up to unlimited credit hours.

For majors only. Non-major juniors and seniors may enroll in courses at the 4000-level or above only with the consent of the instructor. Course may be repeated up to unlimited credit hours.

This course analyzes the historical development of, and contemporary change in, the welfare states of the advanced industrial countries. It focuses in particular on the political, economic, and institutional sources of outcomes in the post-war era and the post-1970 period. It investigates how and why welfare states have developed historically, how they vary cross-nationally, and how pressures on inherited arrangements are generating reforms in a variety of institutional and political contexts. Course may be repeated up to unlimited credit hours.

This course will ground students in the academic literature of rape and the anti-rape movement, with a focus on public policy, critical race theory, feminist theory, law, and social movements.

This course focuses on the historical antecedents of contemporary West Europe politics, with an emphasis on the social and economics bases of 20th-Century regime outcomes. It explores the political development of four major European countries - Great Britain, France, Germany, and Italy-with particular attention to contrasting responses to economic, social, and political challenges since the middle ages, including the commercialization of agriculture, the consolidation and dissolution of political regimes, democratization, and industrialization.

An exploration of the Mexican political process and the historical developments leading up to its present structure. For majors only. Non-major juniors and seniors may enroll in courses at the 4000-level or above only with the consent of the instructor.

In this course we will analyze Chinese politics, paying particular attention to how the Chinese Communist Party came to power in 1949; how it ruled during the Mao era; and why it initiated economic reforms in 1978. We will also analyze enduring features of the Chinese polity that were instituted shortly after 1949 and persist to the current day, like the single-party system, campaigns, and ideology.

This course will examine the political and economic reforms that China has undertaken since 1978.

An examination of both formal and informal factors affecting the nature of the Russian political system. For majors only. Non-major juniors and seniors may enroll in courses at the 4000-level or above only with the consent of the instructor.

For majors only. Non-major juniors and seniors may enroll in courses at the 4000-level or above only with the consent of the instructor.

The course examines the global context of political development in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, the pursuit of economic development and democracy in these regions, and efforts at grass-roots reform.

Study of the literature of political dissent, with particular focus on writers in communist and other authoritarian states.

A populist tide clamoring for change in the political status quo is sweeping the world. Populists – those abandoned, forgotten, ignored by the establishment – believe that anti-establishment politics offer the best hope for inclusion of their dreams, aspirations, and beliefs in politics. The establishment fears them believing that their polarized, confrontational politics herald the “end of the world” as we know it. The battle lines are drawn, the stakes seem clear. But reality is much more complex. This course seeks to make sense of the populist tide. Populist movements are hugely varied. Some are more authoritarian and conservative while others are more left oriented emphasizing greater social inclusion and welfare. All claim to be perfecting, saving, or protecting good government and democracy. To sort out the cacophony around really existing populisms we will explore the following questions. What is populism? Who are populists? Why are they gaining so much traction? Are they anti-democratic? What is at stake in the rising populist tide? We will examine these questions in the context of Latin American, US, and European cases.

The nation-states of the old Europe are becoming the member-states of a European Union. While founded to avoid a repetition of the horrors of the past, the New Europe is increasingly being viewed as a model for the future. This course provides an overview of the political institutions and the political economy of the European Union. Four main areas are examined: (i) formal institutions and institutional relations of the European Union (ii) critical junctures in the evolution of the European Union, (iii) issues of democratic deficits, and (iv) external relations and eastward enlargement.

This course will explore the nature of state authority and the processes by which different types of states emerged at different moments in world history and in different regions of the world, as well as how the nature of states has evolved over time.

Prerequisite(s): POLC 2300 and POLS 2010.

Students complete a service activity in the community in conjunction with the content of a three-credit co-requisite course. Course may be repeated up to unlimited credit hours.

Course may be repeated up to unlimited credit hours.

Course may be repeated up to unlimited credit hours.

Course may be repeated up to unlimited credit hours.

This course employs an interdisciplinary approach to explore the tensions and debates surrounding global capitalism in various world regions. Open to senior Altman Scholars only.

This course approaches health care as a policy area, one in which a variety of actors attempt to influence the design and delivery of health services.  We begin with an overview of the U.S. system, compare it to peer nations, and then analyze health policy issues in other world regions.

Prerequisite(s): POLC 2300 and POLS 2010.

This course focuses on welfare states and social policy across world regions including advanced industrialized countries, post-communist states, and developing nations. It examines explanations for variation in social policy provision across countries and regions and asks why welfare state reforms are more successful in some places than others. The course includes detailed study of key policy areas (pensions, healthcare, and education).

We think of social movements as forces for change, which frequently involves policy and institutional reform. Yet just how they affect such change is frequently not explicitly addressed. This course introduces students to major theories and analytical frameworks that help to explain the policy/political consequences of contentious action by social movements, ranging from nil to substantial and points in between. In the process, the course covers themes such as race and ethnicity, policy consequences of resistance to mega development projects, environmental justice, nuclear power and peace movements, among others. Effects are traced at various levels of governance, from national to local (sorry no international). Regions of the world include Latin America, the United States, and Europe.

Major approaches to the study of Latin American politics such as developmentalism, institutionalism, corporativism, bureaucratism, authoritarianism, and dependency theory.

Despite the impressive gains that democracy has made over the past four decades, more than half of the countries in the world remain autocratic. What are the roots of this authoritarian resilience? We will first approach this question theoretically and by cases studies of countries in Europe and Eurasia (the Soviet Union; pre-1989 Eastern Europe; post Soviet Russia and Central Asia), Asia (China, North Korea, Taiwan), Latin America (Mexico, Cuba), and the Middle East (Iraq, Syria, Iran).

In this course we will analyze the reasons for democratization in some Asian countries and will evaluate the prospects for regime change in countries that remain authoritarian. The first module of the course will focus on theories of authoritarian rule and of democratization. The second will examine several successful cases of democratization. The third module will focus on China, which represents a crucial case of regime durability. The fourth module of the course will assess the prospects for regime change in North Korea and several Southeast Asian autocracies.

Special Topics course in Political Science - Comparative. Course may be repeated up to unlimited credit hours.

Special Topics course in Political Science - Comparative. Course may be repeated up to unlimited credit hours.