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Latin American Politics

This course introduces students to the politics of Latin America. Tracing the roots of current political conflict to the colonial era, the primary focus of the course is on underdevelopment and political change in Latin America today. The course examines the roles of key political actors, including the military, indigenous peoples and the church. It explores patterns of development, introducing theories that seek to explain persistent poverty and inequality as well as the periodic swings between authoritarianism and democracy in the region.

Terrorism and Human Rights

This course examines the challenges facing democracies combating terrorism in the post-9/11 setting. States tend to become less democratic when combating terrorism; however, the goal of this course is to examine alternative strategies to the “war” on terror, strategies that lean even more towards human rights observance rather than democratic deficit. This course is interdisciplinary and interactive, largely based on class discussion rather than lectures. We tackle questions of law, policy, and the psychology of fear. Prerequisite: GOVT 108. Also offered through Peace Studies.

Introduction to Comparative Politics

Comparative politics analyzes how demands emerge, power is exercised and benefits are distributed in different countries. It uses both historical and contemporary evidence to examine how societies respond to these challenges in order to appreciate and learn from the differences among them. Developing societies, communist and formerly communist regimes, as well as industrialized democracies, are analyzed and compared as a basis for evaluation and judgment.

Chinese Politics

An introductory survey of China from four perspectives: China as China, China as a Communist party state, China as a developing country, and China as a rising power. Through these lenses, the course examines the historical factors that have shaped contemporary Chinese institutions and the Chinese Communist Party. It also examines China’s influence and security concerns within the international community. Especially recommended for students who plan to participate in an off-campus program in China and for students returning from the program.

Asia: Beyond the Great Wall

Asia is currently one of the most dynamic and consequential regions in the world. This course seeks to answer the following questions to make sense of this vast and diverse area: How is the “West” (and especially the U.S.) to understand Asia’s rise in the global context? What political and economic factors explain developmental success and failure in the region? Will Asia decide the future of democracy in the global context? Does thinking about Asia as a region makes sense like a European Union?

Chinese Politics

An introductory survey of China from four perspectives: China as China, China as a Communist party state, China as a developing country, and China as a rising power. Through these lenses, the course examines the historical factors that have shaped contemporary Chinese institutions and the Chinese Communist Party. It also examines China’s influence and security concerns within the international community.

Comparative Politics

Comparative politics analyzes how demands emerge, power is exercised and benefits are distributed in different countries. It uses both historical and contemporary evidence to examine how societies respond to these challenges in order to appreciate and learn from the differences among them. Developing societies, communist and formerly communist regimes, as well as industrialized democracies, are analyzed and compared as a basis for evaluation and judgment.