POL - Political Science

This course offers an overview of the United States political system and the role of the people in a democracy. Students will learn about the constitutional framework, formal and informal political institutions, and the evolving conception of individual freedom and civil rights. Research and theory from political science will illuminate patterns and principles underlying prominent social problems and political dynamics in the United States.

What is Justice? What is Freedom? What are the goals and institutions of diverse political communities? This course will wrestle with these questions while comparing political philosophies including: democratic theory, liberalism, conservatism, libertarianism, socialism, and fascism. Students will learn about the history of political thought and how it relates to globally relevant contemporary issues.

Why do international events unfold in certain ways? Why is power a driver of political interactions? How do global affairs shape our lives? These are among the questions examined through learning key concepts, theories, and discourses within global politics and policies. Students will develop a global consciousness in understanding how societies do or don’t function, cooperate, conflict, evolve, and endure over time.

Learning to conduct research from a disciplinary perspective is key to mastering the discipline. Course introduces students to theoretical and methodological components necessary to conduct academic research. Students explore a variety of research methods, learning their strengths and limitations, critique existing research, and practice skills essential to conducting valid and reliable research in political science. 

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.

Introduction to social justice theory and practice. Course engages theoretical and empirical connections between social justice concerns and capitalism, governance and religion. Several social justice frameworks are explored and critiqued. We analyze tensions and opportunities for furthering the common good within existing societal systems 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 explores the relationship between politics and identity through the lens of intersectionality. We study a range of collective identities including nationality/citizenship, class/status, race/ethnicity, gender/sexuality, religion/belief, migration/indigeneity, and political interests to understand how identities are formed, framed, and practiced. 

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 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.

Can international law help bring about a more cooperative and secure world? Explore how international law has developed over time, expanded in scope, and is limited in its effectiveness by powerful states and monied interests. Students will analyze case studies that uncover tensions that exist between the normative ideals of international law in theory and the limitations of it in practice. 

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 explores politics of the EU and contemporary Europe in a comparative manner. We examine a range of European countries to understand different institutional, political, societal, and economic structures. The course also explores the history of the EU and investigates contemporary developments within the union.

This course explores global migration and displacement from gendered perspectives. We study migration theories, migratory movements, displacement, and selected themes in migration through gendered analysis. Students emerge from the course with the analytical skills and knowledge to contextualize, critically assess, and comparatively analyze contemporary developments in global migration and displacement as it pertains to gender.

Why has the African continent had some of the fastest economic growth of any world region over the past decade while it continues to struggle with good governance? Understanding the continent necessitates exploring the influences of colonialism, globalization and national movements for reform. Students will utilize a comparative lens to explore and analyze economic and political trajectories of African states. 

Events in the Middle East often influence global affairs, including US foreign policy. At the same time, outside powers often influence internal events in the Middle East. This course introduces students to the basic historical, religious, cultural, and economic factors that shape politics and economics in the region, as well as interrogates why Middle Eastern politics are so important globally.  

This course traces histories of Muslims and Islam in Europe and the US in a comparative manner. For the US, we proceed chronologically, beginning with the early traces of Muslims and Islam up to recent migratory movements. For Europe, we examine histories and contemporary debates on Muslims and Islam in Germany, Sweden, Great Britain, France, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Greece.  

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.

This course explores global advocacy and activism through politics from below. We study the role of transnational advocacy networks and non-state actors in achieving global change. Students emerge from the course with the analytical skills and knowledge to conduct policy analysis, write policy briefs, and make advocacy calls to key stakeholders. 

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.

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.

The benefits and harms of globalization have been unevenly distributed across the globe leading to growing inequities within and across countries. This course explores the intersection of political and economic actors, civil society organizations, social movements, and international institutions to understand the driving forces of globalization as well as its outcomes. The global neoliberal economic agenda is critically interrogated. 

Does Democracy matter to outcomes in individual countries and within international relations? We explore theories and practice of democratic transition, erosion and/or consolidation within specific country cases as well as within the international system. Course interrogates cultural and civic elements of democratic consolidation as well as institutional elements that shape its character, effectiveness, and legitimacy.

This course explores politics of migration in a global context. We study migration theories, migratory movements, displacement, and selected themes in migration. Students emerge from the course with the analytical skills and knowledge to contextualize, critically assess, and comparatively analyze contemporary developments in global migration and displacement.

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.