Courses
Course Archive
Courses Spring 2004
Please find below a list of courses offered by the department during the Spring 2004 quarter.
20500. Introduction to American Government. This course provides an introduction to American national politics. The course topics include an introduction to America's constitutional foundations; elements of mass public politics (public opinion and participation); the role of intermediary organizations (interest groups, media, parties); and the function of institutions (Congress, Presidency, Courts). In addition to mastering a basic set of facts about American government, students learn theories addressing "big questions" in American politics, and explore critical assessments of the evidence brought to bear on these questions. Students will be expected to take part in extensive verbal and written discussion of the various topics. M. Harris-Lacewell. Spring.
21003. International Politics of East Asian Security. Class limited to twenty students. The course examines how the U.S. and East Asian nations deal with contemporary security problems. Topics include the rise of China, nuclear proliferation, Japan's new militarism, and reconciliation in the Korean peninsula. The first class of each week introduces historical background and theories that are useful for understanding one of the issues. The second class examines and evaluates regional nations' policies toward the problem. D. Lee. Spring.
21203. The European Union. Class limited to twenty students. This course offers a theoretically informed introduction to the major events in the creation and consolidation of the European Union (EU). It focuses on the major IR paradigms (i.e., realism, liberalism, constructivism) but also evaluates the explanatory power of earlier approaches including federalism, functionalism, and transactionalism. Topics include all significant economic agreements and defense initiatives since 1995. Each is examined in the light of all three IR paradigms. The course concludes with a debate on the future of the EU as a political entity. S. Rosato. Spring.
21900/31900. Cyrus and Socrates. (=FNDL 29302) This course investigates the two poles of Xenophon's thought, politics, and philosophy, represented by Cyrus the Great and Socrates. We read Xenophon's Education of Cyrus, Memorabilia, Oeconomicus, and Symposium. N. Tarcov. Spring. (A)
22500. Law and Society. (=FNDL 28100, LLSO 28100) This course examines the myriad relationships between courts, laws, and lawyers in the United States. Issues covered range from legal consciousness to the role of rights to access to courts to implementation of decisions to professionalism. G. Rosenberg. Spring.
22600. Comparative Political Economy. The course explores the interplay of politics and economics to answer the following questions: Why do different countries choose different economic strategies? Do these different economic policies affect the economy successfully? Can governments shape the economy according to their political preferences? Or are they constrained by any "exogenous" forces? After paying particular attention to developed nations, we then consider the political underpinnings of economic performance in developing areas by comparing Latin American countries, sub-Saharan Africa, and East Asian nations. C. Boix. Spring.
24900. Insurgency and Democratization in Latin America, 1960 to 2000. This course analyzes different instances of violent insurgency in Latin America during the second half of the twentieth century and how they affected the consolidation (or lack thereof) of democratic politics in the countries where they occurred. To gain comparative perspective, we study three countries with different experiences both in their economic and political background and in their outcomes: El Salvador, Argentina, and Colombia. The set of readings draws mostly from political and economic history, but no special background on these disciplines is assumed. L. Medina. Spring.
25300/36300. American Political Parties. This course is designed as an introduction to the nature and function of American political parties. We concentrate on two main themes. First, we explore the origins of the American party system. Specific topics include the origin of America's ambivalence toward political parties, the emergence of parties in the United States, and the institutional foundations of America's two-party system. Second, we investigate the role that political parties play as intermediary institutions between the public and their elected officials. Our studies focus on the role of political parties in the organization of elections and the government. More advanced topics include political realignments, divided government, and the decline of parties hypothesis. J. Grynaviski. Spring. (B)
26700/36500. Reform to Revolution: U.S.S.R./Russia, 1982 to 2004. (=HIST 23700/33700) This course, based on a weekly lecture and discussion of common readings, looks at the ways in which the Soviet state is constructed and maintained, and how its leaders attempted to reform the system. The lectures cover the period 1945 to 1991 with emphasis on the Gorbachev years (1985 to 1991) and the variety of theories on the fall of Soviet "socialism." R. Suny. Spring. (C)
28300. Seminar on Realism. The aim of this course is to read the key works dealing with the international relations theory called "realism." J. Mearsheimer. Spring.
28900/39900. Strategy. This course is about American national security policy in the post-cold war world, especially the principal issues of military strategy that are likely to face the United States in the next decade. The course is structured in five parts. The first component examines the key changes in strategic environment since 1990. The second looks at the effects of multipolarity on American grand strategy and basic national goals. The third block focuses on nuclear strategy. The fourth section is about conventional strategy. The last block discusses the future of war and peace in the Pacific Rim. R. Pape. Spring. (D)
29700. Independent Study/Reading Course. PQ: Consent of faculty supervisor and concentration chair. Students are required to submit the College Reading and Research Course Form. This is a general reading and research course for independent study not related to the B.A. paper or B.A. research. Summer, Autumn, Winter, Spring.
29900. B.A. Paper. Required of fourth-year political science concentrators who write a B.A. paper. Students are required to submit the College Reading and Research Course Form. This is a reading and research course for independent study related to B.A. research and B.A. paper preparation. Summer, Autumn, Winter, Spring.
30300. Survey of American Politics. A survey of some of the main themes, topics and approaches in the study of American politics and government. M. Hansen. Spring. (B)
30700. Introduction to Linear Models. This course will provide an examination of statistical methods employed in political science. We will begin with an introduction to general regression models and their use in subjecting theoretical claims to empirical tests. We will discuss the least squares regression model, the assumptions that underlie it, the problems that arise from violating these assumptions, and ways we can restore the ability to draw valid inferences from least squares models. This course will have a decidedly different approach than typical statistics courses. I intend to emphasize intuitive understanding and practical application of statistical tools and to develop students' ability to choose and employ the appropriate tool for particular research questions. Topics to be covered include: multicollinearity, non-linearity and non-additivity, autocorrelation, heteroskadasticity, logit, probit, experimental methods, simultaneous equations, and structural equations. J. Grynaviski. Spring. (E)
30800. Game Theory. This course introduces concepts of game theory, that is, the mathematical study of interdependent decisions, and some basic instances of its uses in political science. Its goal is to present the basic solution concepts most widely used in the literature (rationalizability, Nash equilibrium, sub-game perfect equilibrium and perfect Bayesian equilibrium, core) in a way that requires little, if any, previous mathematical background. L. Medina. Spring. (E)
33300. Interpretative Methods in the Social Sciences. This course is designed to provide students with an introduction to interpretive methods in the social sciences. Students will learn to "read" texts and images while also becoming familiar with contemporary thinking about interpretation, narrative, ethnography, and social construction. Among the methods we shall explore are: semiotics, hermeneutics, ordinary language theory, and discourse analysis. L. Wedeen. Spring. (E)
34000. American Political Thought, 1700-1900. This course will survey major themes in American political thought beginning in prerevolutionary times, as well as historiographic debates about the course of American political thought (the liberal consensus, the civic republican turn, etc). These will include constitutionalism and constitutional interpretation, federalism, the separation of powers, slavery, continental expansion and the dispossession of Indians, relations between state and market, and religion. Depending on student interest, some twentieth-century work may be included. J. Levy. Spring. (A)
34100. Passions of Ethnic Conflict. Social scientists and historians have been reluctant to deal with the difficult topic of emotions, how they operate politically, and how they can be included in explanations. While much good work has been done on nationalism and ethnic conflict, very few scholars have dealt with the emotional underpinnings of these phenomena. This course will include readings in the current psychological literature on emotions, some of the principal texts on ethnicity, nationalism, and ethnic conflict. The course is taught as a colloquium, with common readings, discussion, and a synthetic paper on the readings at the end of the quarter. Among the readings will be: Antonio Damasio, Descartes' Error; William Reddy, The Navigation of Feeling; Jon Elster, Strong Feelings. R. Suny. Spring. (C)
34700. Political Economy of China. This course offers a set of tools for analyzing Chinese economic development and reforms. Our focus will be on how economic and political institutions have changed and how those changes affect the behavior of citizens, consumers, and businesses. We seek to understand the patterns of institutional transformation by examining legacies of the past, political and economic campaigns, leadership transitions, as well as China's integration with the world economy. Topics covered include reforms in industrial governance, financial supervision, market regulation, and state-business relations; variations across regions and industrial sectors; the integration of Hong Kong into China; Taiwan and China; and China's international trade strategy. All major topics are examined with a view to their international implications. D. Yang. Spring. (C)
34900. African American Political Thought. Politics has played a key role in the African American experience in the United States. This course offers and intensive introduction to black political thought.This course focuses on the various ideologies and strategies which have informed the African American quest for human fulfillment, self actualization, and equity in the United States of America. The readings will focus on thinkers and activists from the rebellion against slavery to the contemporary charges of institutional racism and reparations. The course will focus on such activists, thinkers, and writers, as Frederick Douglass, Sojourner Truth, Booker T. Washington, W.E.B. DuBois, Marcus Garvey, Martin Luther King, Jr, Angela Davis, Kwame Toure, Malcolm X, bell hooks, Patricia Hill Collins, the contemporary African American conservatives, public intellectuals, and lesser known figures will be explored. M. Harris-Lacewell. Spring. (A)
41100. Tyranny: Ancient and Modern. (=SCTH 31600) An examination of some classical understandings of tyranny and consideration of their relevance to modern tyrants. Reading will include relevant works by Plato, Aristotle, Xenophon, Leo Strauss, and Alexandre Kojve, and secondary literature about modern tyrants. N. Tarcov. Spring. (A)
41200. Terrorism. This course examines the causes, conduct, and consequences of terrorism, with special emphasis on suicide terrorism. The course takes a building-block approach. It begins with competing theories about the causes of terrorism, then examines prominent cases, such as Hezbollah, Hamas, and Al Qaeda, and ends with a series of student research days focusing on important topics, such as those covered in the course as well as on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, the IRA, the Assassins, and other cases. R. Pape. Spring. (D)
42000. Augustine's City of God. (=RETH 52000) A close reading of Augustine's great masterwork with a strong emphasis on his critical deconstruction of the politics, rhetoric, and civic religion of Rome and on the social, political, and cultural implications of his concept of a pilgrim people in their sojourn in the earthly city, a people whose lives are framed by the hope of membership in the eternal city of God. PQ: Some background in political/social theory useful. J. Elshtain. Spring. (A)
46200. Contemporary Theories of Agency. A survey of important work in contemporary social and political theory on the theme of agency. P. Markell. Spring. (A)
47000. Political Development. D. Yang. Spring. (C)
48400. Workshop on International Security Policy. This workshop aims to provide interested members of the Chicago community with an opportunity to meet and discuss a wide range of international security topics. Special emphasis will be placed on looking at important policy issues that lend themselves to social science research. Relevant topics include: 1) NATO expansion, 2) America's grand strategy after the Cold War, 3) the rise of China, 4) nuclear proliferation, 5) the state of Russia's military, and 6) stability in the Persian Gulf. Speakers will include policymakers, as well as scholars and graduate students doing policy-relevant research. C. Glaser, J. Mearsheimer, R. Pape. Autumn, Winter, Spring.
50000. Dissertation Proposal Seminar. J. Levy, G. Rosenberg. Spring.
50100. Advanced Topics in International Cooperation. This is a research course on international cooperation, international organization, international law and surrounding topics. Students should already have passed the M.A. stage, have a (dissertation) research project in mind, and preferably have started writing. Classes will be conducted as true seminars where participants discuss and constructively critique each other's work. The course will meet irregularly throughout the calendar year according to the schedule and pace of participants' writing. Permission of instructor required. D. Snidal. Autumn, Winter, Spring. (D)
52000. Political Theory Workshop. (=SCTH 52000) The workshop is a forum for the presentation of new research in all varieties of political theory and political philosophy, including work in the history of political thought; contributions to normative political philosophy; theoretical engagements with problems in contemporary politics and public policy; and theoretical reflection on fundamental political concepts or phenomena. Our weekly seminars include presentations of work in progress by graduate students, as well as University of Chicago faculty, faculty at other Chicago-area institutions, and a small number of invited guests from around the country. Graduate students serve as discussants for all presentations. The Workshop subscribes to no particular methodology or political ideology, and welcomes participants from all departments and disciplines. C. Larmore, J. Levy, P. Markell, J. McCormick. Autumn, Winter, Spring.
53000. Seminar on Great Power Politics. The specific aim of this course is to introduce students to some of the key policy issues involving the great powers that dominate the post-Cold War world. Three topics will receive special emphasis: European security, Asian security, and the role of the United States in the larger world after the collapse of the Soviet Union. It is expected that all students in the class will be well-versed in international relations theory, and will bring their theoretical insights to bear on the relevant policy issues. The broad goal is to encourage students to appreciate that international relations theory and important policy issues are inextricably linked to each other. J. Mearsheimer. Spring. (D)
54600. Workshop on East Asia. (=ECON 57100) This workshop focuses on current social science research on East Asian societies, including the People's Republic of China, Taiwan, Japan, and Korea. Presentations are by university faculty and advanced graduate students who conduct research on these societies, throughout the social science disciplines. Two to three outside speakers are hosted each quarter. D. Yang, B. Silberman. D. Zhao. Autumn, Winter, Spring.
55300. Workshop on Political Economy. The Workshop in Political Economy is organized around rational choice and game theoretic approaches to the study of politics and economies, broadly construed. Workshop topics include positive analysis of political, economic and social behavior, as well as normative models of public choice, experimental tests and philosophical critiques. We also expect some of the work presented to focus on empirical and policy applications of political economy models. Thus the workshop is inherently interdisciplinary - combining economic methodology with political science questions, and building political considerations into economic analysis. Workshop sessions will apply these combinations to a broad range of social science issues and substantive topics. S. Gailmard, J. Grynaviski, J. Milyo, R. Myerson, D. Snidal. Autumn, Winter, Spring.
55500. Workshop on Comparative Politics. This workshop invites scholars whose work is historical, sociological, anthropological, and political to cultivate a forum that is highly interdisciplinary in nature. We have addressed issues such as state building, democratic theory, economic policy, the welfare state, and cultural cleavages in past years. We invite graduate students with area expertise to raise theoretical issues about their data and interpretations that would be of interest to a wider circle of social scientists. As in the past, there will be no particular geographic or temporal focus in the workshop. C. Boix, L. Medina, L. Wedeen. Autumn, Winter, Spring.
58500. Workshop on Organizations and Political Sociology. Combining political science and sociology, this workshop focuses on organizations and social networks-both the microunderpinnings of their construction (identity and exchange) and the macroconsequences of their aggregation (states and markets). This year we will focus in particular on the effect of organizational or network structure on the patterning of temporal sequence and change. J. Padgett, J. Brehm. Autumn, Winter, Spring.
59300/59400/59500. Workshop on International Relations. Part of the Program on International Politics, Economics, and Security (PIPES), this is a yearlong workshop for advanced graduate students engaged in their own research projects in international relations. PIPES meetings provide a forum for advanced graduate students, university faculty, and outside guests to present their research. Topics include the full range of international politics and theory, including political economy, security studies, foreign policy, international law and organizations, international environmental issues, critical international relations theory, and a wide variety of regional issues. This work is methodologically diverse, encompassing historical research, mathematical modeling, quantitative studies, and interpretive approaches. C. Lipson, D. Snidal. Autumn, Winter, Spring.
