POL - Political Science

Introduction to the national politics of the United States. Emphasis on the constitutional framework, formal and informal political institutions, the evolving conception of individual freedom and civil rights, the role of the people in a democracy, and an overview of the United States political system.

This course introduces students to the major political theories and ideologies that shape our understanding of politics, including: democracy, liberalism, conservatism, socialism, communism, fascism, radical Islamism, feminism, ecologism, and nationalism. Students will read both contemporary political theory writings as well as excerpts from the classic works that were key in the development of the theories we will study.

An introduction to the substantive and theoretical analysis of states and non-state actors in the international system. Students examine specific cases, theories and debates that exist within world politics with an emphasis on understanding why decisions are made. Concepts include power, interdependence, conflict, economic competition and integration, economic and social development, human rights and the environment.

Historical study of political systems from the French Revolution to World War II. (Salzburg only.)

Credit arranged.

Collegiate mock trial competitions. Students are instructed in the how and why of case preparation as an advocate for either side; role playing as witnesses and trial attorney; understanding and using the rules of evidence; actual trial advocacy; research and delivering arguments.

The course is an introduction to research in political science. Emphasis will be given to the theoretical basis for research, learning a variety of research methods, and developing valid and reliable research designs. Students will develop strong research questions and hypotheses, write better research papers, and critique published research.

This course serves as an introduction to social justice and engages both theoretical and empirical connections between social justice and capitalism, democracy and religion. We analyze tensions and opportunities for furthering the common good within existing social, political, economic and religious systems. We explore social justice concerns in both the US and the world.

This course covers the major classics of political thought from Western antiquity through the Medieval period. It explores the origins of western political philosophy in ancient Greece in the writings of Thucydides, Plato, and Aristotle, and then charts its further development in Christendom in the works of St Augustine and St Thomas Aquinas.

This course covers the major classics of political thought of the Modern Era through the 19th century. It begins with the Renaissance writings of Machiavelli and moves through the political works of such modern thinkers as Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Marx, Nietzsche, and Mill.

Constitutional liberal democracy has established itself as the only legitimate form of political organization in the developed West. This course examines contemporary theories and critiques of liberal democracy.

A survey of writings representative of American political theory, including selections from colonial and revolutionary political thought, the constitutional debates, Federalist, Jeffersonian, and Jacksonian thought, theories of slavery, abolitionism, reconstruction and Social Darwinism, progressivism and post World War II thought, and contemporary theories of liberalism, conservatism and communitarianism.

This course focuses on fiction as a vehicle for exploring themes of democracy and the market. Through the cases and themes introduced in novels, we address important philosophical and political issues of rebellion, boundaries between the private and public spheres, and visions of utopia.

This course focuses on film as a vehicle for exploring issues of political representation, mobilization, and rebellion. We examine each theme within the U.S. case and then compare the themes across countries. Through this comparative perspective, students gain a rich understanding of U.S. political development and democratization.

This course explores the formation of identity and the strategic dimensions of identity within a political context. We study gender and the intersectionality of gender with class, race and ethnicity from different countries regime types and in terms of political mobilization, competition, representation, and policy outcomes. Finally, we unpack these themes in terms of perspectives on global power and development.

This course views hip hop music as an expression of minority politics in the United States. Specifically, students will investigate the arguments made in the lyrics of hip hop artists about the causes and consequences of the racial inequalities and group differences in the United States.

This course analyzes policy-making in the United States. Special attention is given to selected domestic policies to illustrate how policies are developed and adopted and the role played by administrative organizations in implementing them.

This course is designed to provide students with an understanding of governmental support for agriculture and sustainable farming practices and the forces and politics involved in shaping nutrition and food security policies in the United States and Europe.

This course examines the major, and often controversial, U.S. Supreme Court cases interpreting the Constitutional allocation of power between the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the national government, and between the national government and state governments.

This course examines the major, and often controversial, U.S. Supreme Court cases interpreting the Constitution's protection of our rights and freedoms as U.S. citizens, especially, of course, as they are found in the Bill of Rights and the 14th Amendment.

This course covers seminal Supreme Court cases interpreting the 4^th, 5^th, and 6^th Amendments to the US Constitution, including the prohibition on unreasonable searches and seizures, warrant requirements, Miranda rights and interrogations and the right to counsel.

This course provides understanding of the role of law to the United States. It focuses particularly on the structure of our court systems at the national level, and to a lesser degree, the state and local levels and will emphasize the many political variables that affect our laws, the courts, and the appointment process.

This course addresses questions such as: What is the relationship between the biophysical environment and international security? Does competition over resources cause conflict? Does environmental scarcity cause conflict? How will global warming affect relations among great powers and the political stability of the developing world?

This course will consider how environmental problems arise, looking at how a progression of natural and human circumstances becomes an "environmental problem." It will survey the law, politics, and institutions that manage pollution. The course will also look closely at a handful of environmental policy issues particularly in the Columbia River, and the interplay of science, risk, and uncertainty.

This course is designed to give students a broad understanding of role of the U.S.'s role within the international system. To understand current U.S. foreign policy, we must also understand the past. This is especially important in understanding how international actors perceive the U.S., how we have related to these actors over time, and how to think about ethics and foreign policy.

Course examines the different approaches to economic and political cooperation and integration, including some select institutional examples of global interdependence, such as the European Community, the United Nations, the Organization of American States, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the Roman Catholic Church, and Amnesty International.

What are the most dangerous threats to human survival on planet Earth and what can be done? Students will use the methods of risk management, threat assessment, and scenario planning to answer these questions as we take on topics like global warming, asteroid strikes, nuclear war, and peak oil.

This course focuses on the range of strategies that countries use to solve problems and pursue goals. We address when, why, and how some strategies are more effective than others. Lessons are drawn from business, war, diplomacy, and politics.

What role does American culture play in shaping how and why the United States goes to war? Over the course of American history, what are the continuities and changes in how and why the United States has fought its wars? What is the relationship between how the US fights its conventional wars and irregular wars?

Students apply concepts and theories of political science to the Arab-Israeli Conflict, both to demonstrate how to apply the concepts and theory, but also to explain the roots and dynamics of the conflict. 

Students will learn to assess threats from terrorist groups and learn strategies for combating terrorism. Students will apply threat assessment methodology and combating terrorism strategies to current and historical threat groups like ISIS, al Qaeda, the KKK and the IRA, among others.

Explores how countries of central Europe, Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and Poland managed the transition to democracy within the context of the European Union. Attention is given to how these countries have dealt with the demise of communism and the challenges of setting up markets, creating civil societies and establishing democratic cultures and institutions.

This course is a comparative study of the countries in Europe. Politics and economic institutions, parties, particpation and representation in major countries like the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Ireland will be a central focus. Finally the course examines the history, process, and institutions of European integration with particular attention to the EU.

Approaches the study of Latin America with a general introduction to its historical background and political geography. In addition, the general pattern of religion and society, economics and politics will be examined with special attention to patterns of power and politics in modern Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Cuba, Nicaragua, and Chile.

This course is a comparative study of the countries of Asia. Students focus on issues of politics, culture, and economics from a national and regional perspective. Cases include India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, and the Asian Pacific countries of China, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, North Korea, South Korea, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

This course explores the impacts of colonialism, role of governance, failure of development assistance, and persistence of conflicts on the African continent. A sub-theme of social justice runs through the course: why is Africa underdeveloped, how should/should not the world respond, how does underdevelopment affect the people living on the continent, and what positive developments have been taking place.

Events in the Middle East often influence global events and US policy.  This course will introduce students to the basic historical, religious, cultural, and economic factors that shape the politics of Middle Eastern countries and how Middle Eastern politics affects the US.  The course is beneficial to students in understanding the Palestinian-Israeli crisis, the “Arab Spring,” terrorism, and oil politics.

This course explores the relationship between business and politics across countries. Students examine the relevance of different political regimes, institutions, and policies for business and industry organizations. Through historical and contemporary cases, students gain understanding of empirical and theoretical issues.

These courses involve special topics in different areas of political science and are offered periodically.

These courses involve special topics in different areas of political science and are offered periodically.

An analysis of the role, structure, and policies of the American Congress. This course focuses on the creation, evolution, and powers of the United States congress, congressional elections, the relationship between legislators and constituents, the organization and workings of Congress, changes in the legislative process, and congressional interaction with interest groups, the media, the executive branch, and the Courts.

An examination of the presidency in the American political system. This course examines the founding, development, and institutionalization of the presidency, the growth of presidential power, presidential selection, the role of the president in the executive branch, and the interactions between the president, the media and the other institutions of government.

This course is an advanced seminar that will focus intensely on a particular issue in political theory or on a particular political thinker or group of political thinkers.

This seminar explores influential theories of American Constitutional interpretation.

This course covers the political and military history of South Asia with a focus on Afghanistan and Pakistan since 1979. Students will understand and analyze the recent security challenges facing those two countries--insurgency and counter-insurgency, terrorism,political Islamism, militarized international peace building and reconstruction, and externally-supported democratization.

An examination of the basic foreign policy patterns of Germany, France, Britain, Russia, Japan, China, and the U.S.A. Different approaches and theories for understanding the formulation of foreign policy will be analyzed. Comparisons are made for the formulation of policies and the use of power. Issues of morality and public policy are also addressed.

Dramatic pressures and heightened political risks are causing important shifts in the traditional foreign policies of the nations of Latin America. This course examines the changing global forces affecting regional integration and the economic development for Mexico, Brazil, Argentina and Chile and the domestic responses to these foreign policy changes.

How should we interpret the rise of China? Is China a threat to international peace and stability? Is it a model for economic development? Is Chinese hegemony inevitable? This course seeks to answer these questions by exploring international relations theory, historical examples, and contemporary analysis.

How can we best conceptualize and understand relationships between culturally, philosophically, and economically different and unequal states within the international system? Power relationships, conflict and cooperation within the international system change over time. This course explores North-South relations within the context of these changes, as well as the self-conceptualization and concerns of the global South.

This course explores the theories and practice of democratic transition and consolidation in the international system. What does increased democratization mean for international relations and what obstacles remain to its consolidation? Both the cultural and civic elements of democratic consolidation as well as the institutional elements that shape the character, effectiveness, and legitimacy of democracies will be explored.

This course explores the politics of migration and immigrant populations. National and international constraints and opportunities structure the position and status of immigrants. We compare the economic, political, and social organization of immigrant groups across countries, and study the effects of immigration, housing, education, and economic policies for immigrant adaptation.

This course explores terrorism as a political strategy. Terrorism is unique in contrast with other types of negotiation and other types of state-society and inter state engagement. Students will weigh the implications of this modern weapon through the lens of theories about the nation-state, minority rights, revolution and their own moral theories.

Individual study under the direction of a member of the political science department, with the approval of the chairman.

Credit arranged.

Credit arranged.

Credit arranged.

Credit arranged.

Internships are individually arranged and may be done at the national, state, or local levels of government. Students will be required to supplement their field experience with appropriate readings arranged with the instructor prior to registration along with a required research project in the area of the internship. Students may receive an IP (In Progress) grade until the completion of their internship.

Research, study, or original work under the direction of a faculty mentor, leading to a scholarly thesis document with a public presentation of results. Requires approval of thesis director, department chair, dean, and the director of the honors program, when appropriate.