Course Descriptions: Spring 2012
PS 15 Sophomore Seminar: Politics in the City (M) - Berry
(M 1:30-4:00) Block 5
Three major problems in urban politics: the political
economy of cities, especially issues involving community economic development;
race and the city, emphasizing the problems facing the poorest residents of the
inner city; and political empowerment, including analysis of neighborhood
government. A methodologically focused course.
Prerequisite(s): Sophomore standing only
PS 21 Introduction to Comparative Politics - Shevel
(MW 10:30-11:45) Block E+
Theories and evidence in comparative politics, preparing
students for upper-level courses that focus on specific regions, countries, and
themes. Examination and evaluation of competing theoretical approaches to
important phenomena in world politics, including democracy and democratization;
revolutions; economic development; and ethnicity and ethnic conflict. Discussion
of illustrative examples from different regions such as Western Europe, Eastern
Europe and Russia, East Asia, South Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin
America.
PS 42 Western Political Thought II - Devigne
(MW 3:00-4:15) Block I+
Cross-listed as Phil 42
Introduction to the central concepts of modern political
thought that have underlined Western political practice. The views of those
writers who launched the Enlightenment and challenged Christianity: Descartes
and Hobbes. The conflict within modern theory on the meaning of liberty and
justice as developed by Rousseau, Smith, Marx and others, setting the stage for
a protracted period of conflict within the West. Efforts by thinkers like Mill
and de Tocqueville to reconcile divisions within Western civilization and
Nietzsche's comprehensive critique of it. Throughout the semester we will
analyze the divisions that have animated modern thought – liberty and virtue,
self-interest and morality, equality and oligarchy, science and religion, nature
and history, reason and politics – and assess whether these divisions: a.) have
been overcome; b.) are now ignored due to diminished confidence in the human
mind; c.) are persisting and harbingers of conflicts in the future.
PS 61 Introduction to International Relations - Eichenberg
(TR 10:30-11:45) Block D+
Examination of several conceptual designs intended to make
order out of the essential anarchy in international relations, from a
theoretical assessment of the nation-state and the nature of national power to
an exploration of behavior among nation-states, including the ultimate problem
of war and peace and an appraisal of the factors that give an age its particular
characteristics.
PS 99-01 Fieldwork in Politics - Gleason
Arranged
Internship placements with such employers as legislators,
campaigns, news media, lobbies, law firms, and administrative agencies. Twelve
to fifteen hours of work per week. Written assignments, with supporting
readings, on organizational structure, goals and strategies, and occupational
socialization.
PS 99-02 Fieldwork in Politics - Beacon Hill Internship Program - Levine
Arranged
Through the Institute for Political Citizenship and Tisch College, internship
placements in MA State Reps offices and other political organizations in Boston.
Full or half credit available depending on number of hours worked per week (8-10
hours for half credit, 12-15 for full credit.) Will include a final paper reflecting
on the experience and monthly lunches with other IPC interns to share ideas and
challenges. Must have applied through the IPC and been placed in an internship,
then register for PS 99:02 on SIS to receive credit. Contact Peter Levine (faculty
advisor) or IPC@Tufts.edu for more info.
PS 102 Congress, Bureaucracy, and Public Policy - Berry
(MW 10:30-11:45) Block E+
The focus of this course is on
the national policy-making process. Examination of such topics as agenda
building, the relationship between congressional elections and public policy
outcomes, legislative process, congressional-agency relations, bureaucratic
politics, and program implementation.
PS 103-02 Sophomore Seminar: Political Science Research Methods (M) - Masuoka
(MW 1:30-2:45) Block G+
This course introduces the use of quantitative methods for
investigating a wide range of political topics such as voter turnout, democratic
development across countries, and the effectiveness of public policies.
Students will learn about the mechanics of research design and learn how
to collect, analyze and present data.
This course emphasizes hands-on instruction and will train students how
to use statistical software. This
course will prepare new students to properly conduct social science research
papers as well as provide important training for professional settings outside
the classroom. This class counts as
the equivalent to PS 103 (Political Science Research Methods) but
enrollment will be limited to those who
hold sophomore standing ONLY.
Those who do not hold sophomore standing
will be dropped from the course.
Prerequisite(s): Sophomore standing only and any intro political science class
PS 118-02 Political Participation and Mass Behavior in the US (M) - Masuoka
(MW 4:30-5:45) Block K+
Who participates in politics
and why? Some of us are political
junkies: we watch CNN religiously, discuss policy issues with our friends and
own one too many campaign buttons.
Others would rather jump off a cliff than be forced to watch the presidential
debates on television. Although all
Americans are provided some opportunity to participate in politics, not everyone
chooses to partake. What are the
factors that explain why some of us are participatory and others are not?
In this course, we will identify and discuss the different forms of
political participation as well as the theories that attempt to explain the
motivation behind these behaviors.
We will also consider the implications of political participation on the health
and vitality of democracy by addressing the question: does participation really
matter? This course satisfies the PS major methodology requirement.
PS 120 Seminar: Power and Politics in China - Remick
(W 1:30-4:00) Block 7
An advanced seminar in Chinese politics focusing on the
strengths and limitations of the Chinese state, as well as challenges it faces.
What are the sources of power in the Chinese political system? How is
power exercised, and by whom? How powerful is the state, really?
What are some of the ways that people in China work with and around state power?
What are the prospects for democracy in China? Longstanding debates
surround most of these questions, and in the class we will examine different
ways people have answered them. We will finish the semester by discussing
additional topics of interest to students in the class.
Prerequisite(s): PS 126 or History 41, or consent.
PS 128 Gender, Work, and Politics in East Asia - Remick
(TR 10:30-11:45) Block D+
This course examines the connections between gender and economic development in
East Asia during the post-WWII period. Paying attention to differences
among East Asian countries, it looks at how men and women have participated
differently in the post-war "miracle." It examines the kinds of work that
women have done, considering different experiences that women of different
classes have had during the development process. To what extent is the
gender division of labor mandated or facilitated by the state, under what
conditions, and for what reasons? What role do culture and politics play
in creating the gender division of labor? How has women's participation in
economic development altered gender relations? Has the miracle liberated
women, as some predict it should?
Prerequisite(s): Sophomore standing.
PS 130 Seminar: African Political Economy (M) - Robinson
(T 1:20-4:20) Block 6+
This seminar examines the nature of Africa's political
institutions and their varying impacts on African economies. We consider
why sustainable development has been so illusive, and engage in debates about
the way forward. Focusing on political order, economic policies and
governance, readings explore a series of interrelated questions: What are
the determinants of state-business relationships in the making of economic
policies? Why are the poorest countries failing, and what can be done
about it? In what ways might gender-targeted strategies turn the tide of
Africa's poor economic performance? Is “Smart Aid” possible?
Throughout these discussions, we will be mindful of the importance of political
agency and the role that Africans can play in shaping the future of their
continent.
Prerequisite(s): Sophomore standing or above
PS 131 Democracy and Capitalism in Japan - Fujihara
(MW 7:30-8:45) Block P+
A survey of Japan's democracy, capitalism, and foreign
policy. Topics include: the Meiji restoration, democratization, militarism
and imperialism, U.S. occupation, the Liberal Democratic Party and opposition
parties, interest groups, civil society, bureaucracy, gender in politics and
society; developmental state, the Japanese firm, the "bubble economy," financial
crisis, economic reform, energy and environment, immigration, demographic
crisis; U.S.-Japan alliance, the "war on terror," constitutional revision,
relations with China, nationalism, and Asian regionalism.
PS 134 Comparative Politics of the Middle East - Mufti
(TR 12:00-1:15) Block F+
Survey of the political development of the Arab states,
Israel, Turkey, and Iran since the fall of the Ottoman Empire in World War I.
Focus on the various factors that have helped shape the emergence of political
institutions in those countries: history, economics, culture, religion, and
foreign intervention. Prospects for future change (socioeconomic development,
political liberalization, war and peace) in the Middle East.
Prerequisite(s): Sophomore standing or permission of instructor.
PS 136 Contemporary European Politics - Art
(MW 1:30-2:45) Block G+
Examination of contemporary issues in individual European
states as well as those affecting the region as a whole. Topics include the
political systems of individual European states, political parties and
ideologies, immigration and the integration of foreigners, the welfare state,
and the relationship between the European Union and individual member state.
PS 138-01 Seminar: Authoritarianism in Comparative Perspective - Art
(W 9:00-11:30) Block 2
Throughout human history, most political regimes have not
been democratic. Until recently, however, the field of comparative politics
treated authoritarian regimes as theoretically uninteresting. This upper-level
seminar examines the politics of non-democratic regimes in different regions of
the world and across time. Topics include types of authoritarian regimes,
political institutions in authoritarian regimes, methods of repression and
control, and economic development.
PS 138-02 Political Violence in State and Society - Cruz
(MW 3:00-4:15) Block I+
This course examines the varieties in form and scale of
political violence It also assesses salient theories that aim to explain or
trace the origins and logic of such violence. Finally, the course tests these
theories against empirical cases mainly drawn from the Latin American
experience.
PS 138-03 Culture, Politics, & Environment - Gleason
(TR 10:30-1145) Block D+
This political science course covers a broad range of
social and cultural factors which can affect environmental sustainability around
the world. The political ecology of many different societies will be explored.
Student will learn key terminology and explore how indigenous populations and
states have both attempted to manage their natural surroundings. The politics
and policy that have emerged from these challenges will be reviewed with the
contact of human demographics, temporal perspective, corruption perceptions, and
state intervention practices.
PS 138-11 Political Economy of India - Mazaheri
(TR 6:00-7:15) Block N+
This course provides an
introduction to the political economy of India. It examines the interplay
of politics and economics in this large sub-continental country from the village
level to the international level. It begins by discussing India's economy
during the colonial period, looks at the challenges it has faced since
independence, and then focuses on the transformations that have occurred since
the period of liberalization in the 1990s. Some of the key themes to be
explored are globalization, economic reforms, poverty, redistribution,
federalism, political protest, public goods delivery, and ethnic politics.
We will also analyze government policymaking toward agricultural, industrial,
and high-tech sectors and the impact this policymaking has had on various
developmental outcomes. Although this class focuses specifically on India,
a number of the themes discussed in this course are central to an analysis
of developing countries in general.
PS 139-04 Seminar: Government, Business, and Public Policy - Mazaheri
(R 9:00-11:30) Block 3
This course examines the relationship between governments, the private sector,
and the citizenry in
countries around the world. It begins by exploring the ideas and forces
that have shaped the government's relationship to the private sector throughout
history. It then discusses the political, regulatory, institutional,
market, legal, and civic context in which businesses function in societies.
The course also looks at how firm owners and entrepreneurs have shaped political
and economic outcomes in both the United States and developing countries.
The role of the informal economy, credit markets, entrepreneurship, and business
networks are examined in particular detail. Throughout the course, a
central theme is exploring and understanding the nature of government
regulation, how regulation affects businesses, and how regulation affects
societal welfare.
PS 167 Studies of War & Empire - Mufti
(TR 10:30-11:45) Block D+
An introduction to basic issues in international relations
theory such as the causes of war, the motivations behind imperialism, strategic
thinking in various cultures, and the role of leadership. Major strategic
thinkers such as Thucydides, Sun Tzu, Machiavelli, and Clausewitz.
Prerequisite(s): PS 61
PS 168 International Law - Fletcher
(R 12:00-2:30) Arranged
PS 168 is an introductory survey course on international law, which provides
a broad overview of the international legal framework. The course covers the
structure of international law and the United Nations legal order as well as
selects areas of international law, I.e. international trade, investment, human
rights and humanitarian law. Students will gain an understanding of the overall
structure and processes of public international law and of the political context
within which international law operates; develop the ability and desire to think
critically about international law and its role in international society; and
acquire general professional legal skills, in particular the ability to formulate
and structure legal argument—both in writing and orally.
PS 174 Rise and Fall of Great Powers - Taliaferro
(TR 10:30-11:45) Block D+
Why do some great powers flourish while others decline?
Under what conditions does the international system move from relative calm to
the point where great powers initiate devastating system-wide wars or hard-line
strategies that increase the risk of war through inadvertent escalation? How can
victorious great powers construct stable international orders after major wars?
How do mass revolutions within major states affect the international
balance-of-power and the likelihood of war? Do the grand strategies of great
powers in pre-nuclear, multipolar
international systems offer any lessons for the United States and China in the
twenty-first century? To answer these questions, this course first examines how
international and domestic forces shaped the grand strategies of five great
powers from 1648 to 1945: France, Great Britain, Prussia (later Germany), Japan,
Russia (later the Soviet Union). It then draws “lessons” from the past to help
understand the likely trajectory of China and the U.S. grand strategic choices
in the twenty-first century.
PS 176 Migration, Refugees, and Citizenship
in a Globalized World - Greenhill & Shevel
(MW 1:30-2:45) Block G+
Analysis of the causes and consequences of modern
population movements that have occurred around the world since the late
twentieth century, and recipient states' reactions to it. Topics include the
political, economic, social, and security determinants of refugee and migration
flows; the political and social responses of receiving governments and
societies; the security and crime-related issues and concerns engendered by
international migration; changing conceptions of citizenship and nationality in
receiving states; the role played by the international institutions in
influencing state policies towards refugees and immigrants, and the moral and
ethical issues for public policy posed by international population movements.
Cases examined are drawn from throughout the world, with particular emphasis on
Europe and the United States.
Prerequisite(s): PS 21 or PS 61
PS 180 Regionalism in African International Relations - Robinson
(MW 1:30-2:45) Block G+
The intersection of domestic politics and international relations in Africa:
examination of regional economic communities, regionally based solutions to
problem-solving, and new regionalism in the post Cold War era. Particular
attention given to state-building and national sovereignty as they impinge on
regional projects. Theories of the state, regional integration theory,
international regime theory, and constructivist international relations theory
frame five themes: the construction of regional norms, transnational civil
society, peace and security, trade and economic development, and the African
human rights system.
Prerequisite(s): Sophomore standing or above
PS 188-03 Gender Issues in World Politics - Eichenberg
(TR 3:00-4:15) Block J+
This course is a survey of many issues relating to gender in world politics, with a
particular emphasis on: gender differences in political attitudes and behavior
generally; gender differences in attitudes toward war and national security in
particular; the cross-cultural uniformity (or lack thereof) in gender
differences in attitudes and political behavior, particularly in relation to
national security and war; the role of gender differences in war, in particular
how gender roles are created and the effect of war on men and women; violence
against women; and the role of gender in world affairs more generally and
specifically the role of gender in economic development, environmental
sustainability and gender mainstreaming within international institutions.
Prerequisite(s): PS 61 recommended
PS 188-19 Human Rights & American Foreign Policy - Swett
(R 1:30-4:00) Block 8
This course will be an exploration of a range of issues regarding human rights in US
Foreign Policy. The course will touch on the historical roots of the human
rights idea in American foreign policy but the primary focus will be on the post
WW II era when the modern human rights movement took shape with a particular
interest in some of the most pressing human rights issues of the day.
It will examine the respective roles of the Congress and the President in
advancing (or in some cases hindering) a focus on human rights in America's
international relations. The role of the NGO community will be looked at as
well. The costs and benefits of a vigorous human rights policy will be explored
and recent controversies surrounding "enhanced interrogation techniques",
waterboarding and the challenges to a human rights policy during war-time will
be examined.
PS 188-20 International Environmental Negotiations - Gleason
(TR 1:30-2:45) Block H+
This course seeks to highlight effective responses to
global environmental problems in the international treaty making arena. Students
will explore the negotiation process, the structure of the United Nations treaty
making system, the convention-protocol approach and the politics of the north v.
south divide. Topics will include the weaknesses of the international
environmental negotiation process, the importance of non-state actors, and
potential solutions for the system.
PS 188-24 Financial Turbulences & Crises - Psalidopoulos
(TR 10:30-11:45) Block D+
This course uses the analytical tools of economic history, the history of economic
policy-making and the history of economic thought, to study episodes of
financial turbulence and crisis spanning the last three centuries. It explores
the principal causes of a variety of different manias, panics and crises, as
well as their consequences, and focuses on the reactions of economic actors,
theorists and policy-makers in each case. Emphasis is placed on the theoretical
framework used by contemporary economists to conceptualize each crisis, as well
as the changes in theoretical perspective and/or policy framework that may have
been precipitated by the experience of the crises themselves.
PS 188-25 Criminal Groups as Challenges to International
Security - Chindea
(MW 4:30-5:45) Block K+
In today's globalized environment,
criminal groups undermine the ability of several state institutions to govern in
countries all over the world, irrespective of the political regime in place, and
the threats they pose today go beyond simple local law-and-order concerns. In
this context, this course surveys the ways in which criminal organizations
impact domestic, regional and international security and discusses the
connections between the evolution in structure of such groups over time, the
scope of their illicit activities, as well as their ties with the state and
other violent non-state actors. The course also aims to further the debate on
the place of violent non-state actors in the international system and the ways
in which the field of international relations theory can be adapted in response
to this real-world challenge.
PS 189-07 Seminar: Better Than the Truth: Fabricated
and False Facts in International Politics - Greenhill
(W 6:30-9:00) Block 12
This seminar examines the sources, manipulation and
consequences of unverifiable information in international relations and foreign
and defense policy, in modern world history.
The use and abuse of various organizations and techniques for influencing
domestic and foreign audiences will be examined through the use of case studies
and analyzed in terms of both theory and practice. Specific sources of
fabricated facts include: rumors, conspiracy theories, literature, and
propaganda.
Prerequisite(s): PS 61; Junior or senior standing
PS 189-09 Seminar (Sophomores, and open enrollment to juniors
and seniors majoring in PS and IR): Realism and US Strategy: Realism and US Strategy - Taliaferro
(T 1:30-4:00) Block 6
Examination of major turning points in U.S. grand strategy since World War II
through lenses of competing schools of IR theories: realism, liberalism,
constructivism, and neoconservatism. Debates over whether the international
balance-of-power, liberal democratic institutions, American exceptionalism,
or strategic culture actively drive (or ought to drive) U.S. foreign and
national security policies. Consideration of how IR theories do (and do not)
impact actual policy debates in Washington. Topics include: U.S. entry into
World War II, origins of the Cold War and containment, the Korean and
Vietnam Wars, nuclear non-proliferation humanitarian intervention in the Balkans,
the current Iraq war, and possible future U.S. grand strategies.
Prerequisites: PS 61 and sophomore standing; open enrollment to juniors
and seniors majoring in PS and IR
NOTE: PS 189-09 will fulfill the capstone research (upper level seminar) requirement of the PS major.
PS 195 Seminar: Politics of Sustainable
Communities (M) - Portney
(T 1:30-4) Block 6
Theories and practice of sustainability applied to cities
and communities in the U.S. Comparison of specific cities' programs and
policies. Patterns of variation in cities' operational definitions of
sustainability, and specific local programs and policies that represent local
sustainability initiatives. Political conditions conducive to local communities'
pursuit of sustainability policies.
Prerequisite(s): PS 11 or consent
PS 199 Senior Honors Thesis (M) - Eichenberg
Arranged
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