John R. Reitemeyer Professor Messina, Chair; Professor Evans, John R. Reitemeyer and Charles A. Dana Research Professor McMahon, Professor Smith; Charles A. Dana Research Associate Professor Cardenas, Associate Professors Chambers, Flibbert, and Schulz; Assistant Professors Matsuzaki, Maxwell†, and Williamson; Visiting Assistant Professor Sterling; Visiting Lecturers Barry, Bourbeau, Carbonetti, and Kelleher.
The political science major—Students majoring in political science are required: (1) to complete 10 courses in political science, all of them with grades of C- or better; and (2) to satisfy either a methods requirement by completing, with a grade of C- or better, POLS 241, POLS 242, or ECON 318, or a language requirement by completing, with a grade of C- or better, the two-course intermediate sequence in any language taught at the College, or by demonstrating equivalent proficiency. The department strongly encourages students who elect to satisfy the language requirement to complete the six courses and the Language Across the Curriculum unit required for a language concentration.
Majors must fulfill an area of concentration from among the four sub-fields the department offers: American government and politics, comparative politics, international relations, or political theory, and they must fulfill the following course requirements:
The Writing Intensive Part II requirement is fulfilled by the senior seminar.
Although some courses are included in more than one area of concentration, a single course may not be used to fulfill more than one distribution requirement. Students should complete their 100-level courses as early as possible.
Requirements for the interdisciplinary computing major are given below.
Areas of concentration:
The 100-level courses are introductory to the areas of concentration. Most of the 200-level courses may be taken without prerequisites. Courses at the 300-level generally have at least one 100-level prerequisite.
Cognate courses—Students are strongly urged to take courses in the social sciences and the humanities that have a close bearing on the political science courses they choose. They should consult with their advisers regarding options available.
Honors—Students who have a College average of B+ or better and a political science average of A- or better may, by invitation and at the discretion of the department, become candidates for honors. Students who fall just below these levels may petition the department chair for an invitation, on the basis of exceptional circumstances. To receive honors, candidates may, with the approval of the department, write a thesis.
To receive honors, a student must receive a grade of A- or better for the thesis or a grade of “distinction” for the comprehensive examination.
Prospective honors candidates will receive a letter from the department early in the fall term of their senior year informing them of their eligibility and of meetings they must attend to receive instruction on how to proceed. Candidates will then begin work in the fall term and submit a proposal by late November to the department honors coordinator for department approval. Students must consult with their advisers concerning their options early in the fall term. The thesis or integrating project counts for one credit and is written during the spring term. The credit does not count toward the 10 credits required for the major. The comprehensive examination, if chosen, is taken in the spring semester; no course credit is given for the comprehensive examination.
Interdisciplinary computing major—Students may take political science as part of an interdisciplinary computing major. Information on this program appears in Interdisciplinary Computing major section of the Bulletin. Such students must complete with a grade of at least C- a minimum of five political science courses, three of which should be POLS 241, POLS 242, POLS 301, and POLS 309, or such other courses with computer content as may be designated by the chair of the department.
Study away—Students are encouraged to take advantage of appropriate study abroad programs, for which the department will grant up to two credits toward the major. Students who study abroad for a full year at approved study-away sites may transfer up to three courses for the major. There is, however, no limit on credits from the Rome program, as it is considered part of the Trinity campus.
Special requests—Students who wish to receive major credit for work at another college, or to have a normal requirement waived, or a course substituted, should submit to the department chair requests in writing with full details and supporting rationale. Students contemplating such a petition must consult with their major adviser as well as the department chair.
Fall Term
102. American National Government— How do the institutions of American national government shape our politics and policies? This introductory course examines the nation’s founding documents (including the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Federalist Papers), the goals they sought to achieve, and the institutional framework they established (including Congress, the Presidency, and the courts). It then evaluates the extent to which these institutions achieve their intended aims of representing interests and producing public goods, taking into account the role of parties, interests groups, and the media. Throughout the course, we will attend to the relevance of race, class, religion, and gender. We will draw on the example of the 2012 presidential election and other current events to illustrate the functioning of American government and politics. Not open to seniors. (Enrollment limited)-Chambers, Williamson
103. Introduction to Comparative Politics— This lecture course examines major themes and approaches within comparative politics. Its purpose is twofold: First, it provides the necessary theoretical and conceptual foundation for upper-level classes within this subfield. To this end, a broad array of key classics and recent works within comparative politics will be examined. Second, students will learn about the political and economic institutions that undergird foreign countries within a comparative framework. Readings will draw from various regions of the world, including Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East. Questions that will be discussed include, but are not limited to, the following: What role, if any, can the government play in promoting economic growth? Why do civil wars occur and what is the role of ethnicity in perpetuating conflict? Not open to seniors. (Enrollment limited)-Bourbeau, Messina
104. Introduction to International Relations— This course traces the evolution of the modern state system from 1648 to the present. It examines issues and concepts such as the balance of power, collective security, the nature of warfare, the role of international organizations and international law, globalization, human rights, overpopulation, global environmental devastation, etc. Not open to seniors. (Enrollment limited)-Carbonetti, Kelleher
105. Introduction to Political Philosophy— An introduction to the philosophical study of political and moral life through a consideration of various topics of both current and historical interest. Topics include environmentalism, ancients and moderns, male and female, nature and nurture, race and ethnicity, reason and history, and reason and revelation. Not open to seniors. (Enrollment limited)-Sterling
[216. American Political Thought]— A study of the development of American political thought: the colonial period; the Revolution; Jeffersonian democracy; the defense of slave society; social Darwinism; the Populist and Progressive reform movements; and current theories of conservatism, liberalism, and the Left. (Enrollment limited)
219. The History of Political Thought I— This course provides the historical background to the development of Western political thought from Greek antiquity to the end of the Middle Ages. Readings from primary sources (Plato, Aristotle, Augustine, Aquinas, etc.) will help the students to comprehend the foundations of Western political philosophy and the continuity of tradition. (Enrollment limited)-Smith
225. American Presidency— An explanation of the institutional and political evolution of the presidency with an emphasis on the nature of presidential power in domestic and foreign affairs. Attention is also given to institutional conflicts with Congress and the courts. The nature of presidential leadership and personality is also explored. (Enrollment limited)-McMahon
[233. Asian Politics]— Many of the key political struggles and economic developments that have shaped the modern era originated in Asia. This course provides an introduction to the key themes, institutions, and issues in recent Asian politics, including the challenges of ethnic separatism and nation-building, the rise of peasant revolutions and state socialism, models of state-led economic development, post-colonialism, social movements, and the continuing problem of political corruption. The readings are designed to provide students with an understanding of the historical development of these issues, as well as of crucial events in Asia today. Texts and discussions will center on comparative governance in India, Pakistan, China, Japan, North and South Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore and the Philippines. (Enrollment limited)
241. Empirical Political Methods and Data Analysis— An introduction to the design and execution of empirical political research involving computer analysis. The course covers the normative and empirical arguments at the foundation of the science of politics and the methods evolving from these arguments, and it trains students in the use of computers and statistical software. Course work includes reading, discussion, and completion of a research project in which the theory learned in class is put into practice. No programming experience required. (Enrollment limited)-Barry
[261. World Poverty: An Introduction]— This class provides an introduction to world poverty by addressing three broad areas of inquiry: 1) What do we know about the causes of world poverty? How do we measure them? Who are the world’s poor: where do they live, and what do they do? 2) What can—and do—governments do to address poverty? In this section we explore several core public policy issues, including problems of rural vs. urban poverty, gender, microfinance, and the delivery of basic social services. 3) What role do international actors have in mitigating poverty? What is the impact of aid and trade? How does the international community manage complex crises such as famines and civil wars? What, if anything, do the rich countries owe the poor of other countries? (Enrollment limited)
301. American Political Parties— An analysis of American political parties, including a study of voting behavior, party organization and leadership, and recent and proposed reforms and proposals for reorganization of existing party structures. Prerequisite: C- or better in Political Science 102. (Enrollment limited)-Evans
[305. Intl Organizations]— This course explores the dynamics of international organizations, examining a broad range of institutions in world politics. In particular, we draw on a variety of perspectives—from mainstream International Relations theory to organizational analysis—to understand questions of institutional emergence, design, and effectiveness. Using case studies and simulations, students are encouraged to think concretely about the challenges facing international organizations. Prerequisite: C- or better in Political Science 104.
[306. Governance in a Globalized World]— This class will focus on the challenges of political authority in a world characterized by increasingly high levels of economic integration. The central focus will be on how economic integration has created new opportunities and challenges for the nation state, both nationally and internationally. It will address issues such as how states deal with the increasing importance of transnational issues (pollution, human trafficking, and criminal networks, etc.), the choice of formal vs. informal cooperation, and delegation of authority at the international, regional, and subnational level. Thus, the class will investigate formal international organizations, such as the IMF and United Nations, as well as less formal instances of international regulation and cooperation. It will also address issues of regional organizations like the EU and sub-national topics such as federalism, decentralization, and the challenges of dealing with failed states. Topics covered would include the organizational structure and governance of institutions as well as issues that arise from delegating authority, including democratic accountability and principal-agent problems. Prerequisite: C- or better in Political Science 104 or Permission of the Instructor. (Enrollment limited)
[307. Constitutional Law I: The Federal System and Separation of Powers]— An analysis and evaluation of leading decisions of the United States Supreme Court dealing with the allocation of power among federal government branches and institutions, and between federal and state governments. The emphasis will be on the federal system and separation of powers issues, as enunciated by the court, but attention will also be given to unadjudicated constitutional issues between the legislative and executive branches, and to the theoretical foundations of the United States’ constitutional system (Locke, Montesquieu, the Federalist papers, etc.). Prerequisite: C- or better in Political Science 102. (Enrollment limited)
[310. Politics of Developing Countries]— An examination of the success and failure of the various theories of economic and political developments which have been pursued in the post-colonial era; specific case studies will deal with examples from Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Prerequisite: C- or better in Political Science 103 or 104. (Enrollment limited)
312. Politics in the Middle East and North Africa— This course offers an introduction to the comparative analysis of politics in the Middle East and North Africa. Organized thematically and conceptually, we examine topics ranging from state formation, nationalism, and civil-military relations, to oil and economic development, democratization efforts, political Islam, and regional concerns. (Enrollment limited)-Flibbert
[318. Environmental Politics]— A study of US environmental politics and policy in a domestic and global context. We will trace the historical roots of environmental policy and the regulatory state in America and how they affect the debate over contemporary environmental issues. We will study how conflicting values and competing interests in the political, social, and economic realms have struggled to define environmental problems and shape the agenda for environmental policy in America. We will examine the different political institutions and actors who influence, create, implement, and are affected by policies at the local, state, national, and international levels. We will read numerous historical and contemporary case studies (i.e. global warming, air & water pollution, land use, energy, waste management, and population growth), which will enable us to learn how different ideological and conceptual lenses have shaped both our conceptions of these problems and the subsequent solutions that have been offered. Ultimately, this course will equip students to understand, engage in, and analyze the political processes and debates over the formulation and implementation of environmental policies and regulations in the United States, and how to locate “the environment” in the larger discourse of American politics. Prerequisite: C- or better in Political Science 102. (Enrollment limited)
[322. International Political Economy]— This course examines the interplay of politics and economics in the current world system since the European expansion in the 16th century. Focus will be on the penetration and colonization of Latin America, Asia, and Africa; economic relations in the industrialized world and between the north and the south; the role of international institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund; the role of international trade and transnational corporations; the changing division of labor in the world economy; and current problems of the world economy. Prerequisite: C- or better in Political Science 104. (Enrollment limited)
[326. Women and Politics]— This course explores the role of women in American politics across the 20th century. We will examine the collective efforts made by American women to gain political rights, secure public policies favorable to women, and achieve an equal role for women in the political realm and society more broadly. We will try to understand how and why women’s political views, voting behavior, and the rates of participation have changed over the 20th century and why they remain distinctive from men’s. We will also explore the deep ideological divisions among American women, exploring the strikingly different ways that feminists and conservative women define what is in the best interest of women. Finally we end the course by studying women as politicians. We will assess the obstacles women face in getting elected or appointed to political positions, whether or not they act differently from their male counterparts, and the significance of their input. Prerequisite: C- or better in Political Science 102 or permission of instructor. (Enrollment limited)
337. Democratic Theory— In this course, we will explore the tensions, problems, and promise of the “rule of the people” through reading and examining important texts in contemporary democratic theory. Via analysis of contemporary debates, we will ask: Should we think of democracy as a form of rule or as a political activity? What role does and should democratic politics have in contemporary political associations? What do or should we imagine democratic politics to look like? Are liberal rights and institutions a threat or an aid to democracy? What kind of ethos or sensibility best suits democratic politics in our contemporary age? Should we respond to threats to democracy by attempting to regulate or solicit the people? Or both? Readings will include work by Giorgio Agamben, John Rawls, Carl Schmitt, Michael Walzer, Seyla Benhabib, and Bonnie Honig. (Enrollment limited)-Sterling
339. Contemporary and Post-Modern Thought— This course will deal with philosophical developments of moral and political significance in the 20th century. Using the writings of selected authors, such as Heidegger, Sartre, Gadamer, Marcuse, Strauss, Foucault, and Habermas, it will focus on various modern movements of thought: existentialism, critical theory, neomarxism, hermeneutics, feminism, deconstructionism, and postmodernism. Readings will be from primary sources. Prerequisite: Political Science 105 or 219 or 220. (Enrollment limited)-Smith
[349. Nation-Building]— Is it possible to create stable states in the international system by force? This course examines typologies, theories, and case studies of forcible attempts to create secure and economically productive states. The class will critically assess state-building processes such as internal security, political legitimacy, interim governance, multiethnic institutions, and economic development. It will examine territories that were administered by the British Empire, those that have been administered by the United States (such as the Philippines, Japan, Germany, Vietnam, and Iraq), and those that have been administered by the United Nations (such as Kosovo and East Timor). (Enrollment limited)
[355. Urban Politics]— This course will use the issues, institutions, and personalities of the metropolitan area of Hartford to study political power, who has it, and who wants it. Particular attention will be given to the forms of local government, types of communities, and the policies of urban institutions. Guest speakers will be used to assist each student in preparing a monograph on a local political system.This course has a community learning component. Prerequisite: C- or better in Political Science 102 or permission of instructor. (Enrollment limited)
[359. Feminist Political Theory]— This course examines debates in feminist political theory. Topics will include liberal and socialist feminist theory, as well as radical, postcolonial, and postmodern feminist theory. We will also consider feminist perspectives on issues of race and sex, pornography, law and rights, and “hot button” issues like veiling. We will pay particular attention to the question of what feminism means and should mean in increasingly multicultural, global societies. Readings will include work by Mary Wollstonecraft, Carol Gilligan, Catherine MacKinnon, Chandra Mohanty, Wendy Brown, Audre Lord, Patricia Williams, & Judith Butler. (Enrollment limited)
369. International Human Rights Law— This course offers a comprehensive survey of the evolution of international human rights law, focusing on the major actors and processes at work. Which rights do individual human beings have a vis-a-vis the modern state? What is the relationship between domestic and international legal processes? Are regional human rights mechanisms like the European system more influential than international ones? More generally, how effective is contemporary international human rights in securing accountability and justice? We use specific cases and contemporary debates to study a range of treaties and emerging institutions, including ad hoc war crimes tribunals and the International Criminal Court. (Enrollment limited)-Cardenas
[379. American Foreign Policy]— This course offers an examination of postwar American foreign policy. After reviewing the major theoretical and interpretive perspectives, we examine the policymaking process, focused on the principal players in the executive and legislative branches, as well as interest groups and the media. We then turn to contemporary issues: the “war on terror,” the Iraq war, humanitarian intervention, U.S. relations with other major powers, and America’s future prospects as the dominant global power. (Enrollment limited)
[380. War and Peace in Middle East]— This course addresses the causes and consequences of nationalist, regional, and international conflict in the Middle East. We use theoretical perspectives from political science to shed light on the dynamics of conflict, the successes and failures of attempts to resolve it, and the roles played by the United States and other major international actors. The course is organized on a modified chronological basis, starting with the early phases of the Arab-Israeli conflict and ending with current developments in Iraq. (Enrollment limited)
399. Independent Study— Submission of the special registration form, available in the Registrar’s Office, and the approval of the instructor and chairperson are required for enrollment. (1-2 course credits) -Staff
402. Senior Seminar: American Government-Democratic Representation— This seminar consists of an investigation of the nature and processes of representation of individuals and groups at the level of American national government, especially within the U.S. Congress. Topics dealt with include the concept of representation, the goals of representatives and represented, means by which government is influenced from the outside, and the implications for representation of recent campaign finance and congressional reforms. Enrollment limited. Course open only to senior Political Science majors. (Enrollment limited)-Evans
[405. Senior Seminar: Women and Globalization]— This senior seminar takes a gendered look at globalization and its impact on the lives of women around the world. What is the impact of gender, race, class, ethnicity, and nation on the global division of labor? Why are women a significant factor in human trafficking and global migration? What is the changing role of men, both in the formal economy and within individual household units? What role do national and international policymakers play in this gendered global economy? What is the impact of the present global economic crisis on women? The seminar will address these and other questions in order to assess the nature and impact of globalization from a gendered perspective. (Enrollment limited)
406. Senior Seminar: Why Political Philosophy?— This seminar will be devoted to a close reading of a major political philosopher in the Western tradition. Course open only to senior Political Science majors. (Enrollment limited)-Smith
409. Sr. Seminar: Comparative Electoral Systems and Political Parties— This seminar will examine electoral systems and party systems in democratic states. Students will learn the key dimensions with which we classify the major and minor differences between electoral systems. We will also examine the interaction between electoral rules and party systems. It is recommended that students have experience with common concepts from algebra and statistics, although this is not required. Course open only to senior Political Science majors. (Enrollment limited)-Bourbeau
[412. The Politics of Judicial Policy Making]— This course explores a constant tension in the work of courts. While courts are not “supposed” to make policy, they often do. In examining this tension, the course will focus on the origins of judicial intervention, the nature of specific court decisions on policy questions, and the effectiveness of those decisions in producing social change. (Enrollment limited)
[414. Senior Seminar: American Social Policy]— This seminar explores the political development, philosophical arguments, and contemporary political debates regarding social welfare policies and programs in the United States. We will pay particular attention to the policymaking process and ideological principles behind such social policies as welfare, health care, Social Security, employment, education, public housing, and other social services. Through a close study of these policies we will be able to better understand their political significance, to assess their purposes as an end of government, to consider their costs and benefits, to identify various trends that can affect the future of American social policy, and to analyze how these policies impact American politics more broadly. (Enrollment limited)
466. Teaching Assistantship— Submission of the special registration form, available in the Registrar’s Office, and the approval of the instructor and chairperson are required for enrollment. (0.5-1 course credit) -Staff
490. Research Assistantship— Submission of the special registration form, available in the Registrar’s Office, and the approval of the instructor and chairperson are required for enrollment. -Staff
Courses Originating in Other Departments
[Human Rights Studies 125. Introduction to Human Rights]— View course description in department listing on p. 543.
International Studies 212. Global Politics— View course description in department listing on p. 569. -Baker
International Studies 301. Arab Politics— View course description in department listing on p. 572. -Baker
[Public Policy & Law 265. The Bill of Rights: A Revolution in Three Acts]— View course description in department listing on p. 780. Prerequisite: C- or better in Public Policy 201or Public Policy 202 or POLS 102 or Permission of Instructor.
Public Policy & Law 331. Becoming American: Immigration and Integration Policy— View course description in department listing on p. 780. Prerequisite: A grade of C- or better in either Political Science 102 or Public Policy 201 or permission of instructor. -Williamson
Formal Organizations 201. Formal Organizations and Market Behavior— This course will consider the likely behavior within Formal Organizations using the benchmark of economic thinking and market mechanisms. The course will discuss the role of prices, property, and profit and loss in a market economy, and it will ponder to what extent such arrangements might be applied within firms. It will discuss potential problems of organization when concerns for opportunity cost, economic calculation, or entrepreneurial thinking are lacking. Students will read classic and modern economic texts and then read business case studies to explore when and where the lessons of economics might apply.-Gunderson
[Sociology 252. Immigration, Social Inclusion, and Global Cities]— View course description in department listing on p. 812.
Spring Term
102. American National Government— How do the institutions of American national government shape our politics and policies? This introductory course examines the nation’s founding documents (including the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Federalist Papers), the goals they sought to achieve, and the institutional framework they established (including Congress, the Presidency, and the courts). It then evaluates the extent to which these institutions achieve their intended aims of representing interests and producing public goods, taking into account the role of parties, interests groups, and the media. Throughout the course, we will attend to the relevance of race, class, religion, and gender. We will draw on the example of the 2012 presidential election and other current events to illustrate the functioning of American government and politics. Not open to seniors. (Enrollment limited)-Bourbeau, McMahon
103. Introduction to Comparative Politics— This lecture course examines major themes and approaches within comparative politics. Its purpose is twofold: First, it provides the necessary theoretical and conceptual foundation for upper-level classes within this subfield. To this end, a broad array of key classics and recent works within comparative politics will be examined. Second, students will learn about the political and economic institutions that undergird foreign countries within a comparative framework. Readings will draw from various regions of the world, including Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East. Questions that will be discussed include, but are not limited to, the following: What role, if any, can the government play in promoting economic growth? Why do civil wars occur and what is the role of ethnicity in perpetuating conflict? Not open to seniors. (Enrollment limited)-Bourbeau, Matsuzaki
104. Introduction to International Relations— This course traces the evolution of the modern state system from 1648 to the present. It examines issues and concepts such as the balance of power, collective security, the nature of warfare, the role of international organizations and international law, globalization, human rights, overpopulation, global environmental devastation, etc. Not open to seniors. (Enrollment limited)-Flibbert
105. Introduction to Political Philosophy— An introduction to the philosophical study of political and moral life through a consideration of various topics of both current and historical interest. Topics include environmentalism, ancients and moderns, male and female, nature and nurture, race and ethnicity, reason and history, and reason and revelation. Not open to seniors. (Enrollment limited)-Staff
[216. American Political Thought]— A study of the development of American political thought: the colonial period; the Revolution; Jeffersonian democracy; the defense of slave society; social Darwinism; the Populist and Progressive reform movements; and current theories of conservatism, liberalism, and the Left. (Enrollment limited)
220. History of Political Thought II— This course focuses on the development of modern political philosophy. All readings will be from primary sources that include, among others, Machiavelli, Descartes, Bacon, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Kant, Hegel, Nietzsche, and Marcuse. Enrollment limited. (Enrollment limited)-Smith
[225. American Presidency]— An explanation of the institutional and political evolution of the presidency with an emphasis on the nature of presidential power in domestic and foreign affairs. Attention is also given to institutional conflicts with Congress and the courts. The nature of presidential leadership and personality is also explored. (Enrollment limited)
[237. Building the European Union]— As an intergovernmental and supranational union of 27 democratic member countries, the contemporary European Union is arguably the boldest experiment in inter-state economic and political integration since the formation of the contemporary nation-state system during the mid-17th century. Against this backdrop, this course considers the project for greater economic, political, and security integration within its appropriate historical context, its current economic and political setting, and its projected future ambitions. As such, it will very much be concerned with recent events and important events-in-the-making, including the continuing conflict over the Lisbon Treaty and the EU’s projected enlargement by several new members. (Enrollment limited)
[241. Empirical Political Methods and Data Analysis]— An introduction to the design and execution of empirical political research involving computer analysis. The course covers the normative and empirical arguments at the foundation of the science of politics and the methods evolving from these arguments, and it trains students in the use of computers and statistical software. Course work includes reading, discussion, and completion of a research project in which the theory learned in class is put into practice. No programming experience required. (Enrollment limited)
242. Political Science Research Methods— Why do people participate in politics? Which government policies best serve the public good? What prevents wars between nations? Political scientists employ a toolbox of research methods to investigate these and other fundamental questions. By learning the strengths and weaknesses of various qualitative and quantitative methods, students in this course will identify how best to answer the political questions about which they feel most passionate. They will apply these practical skills in assignments that ask them observe, analyze, and report on political phenomena. Research skills will include field observation, interviewing, comparative case studies, and data analysis using statistical software. No previous statistical or programming experience is necessary. (Enrollment limited)-Williamson
[261. World Poverty: An Introduction]— This class provides an introduction to world poverty by addressing three broad areas of inquiry: 1) What do we know about the causes of world poverty? How do we measure them? Who are the world’s poor: where do they live, and what do they do? 2) What can—and do—governments do to address poverty? In this section we explore several core public policy issues, including problems of rural vs. urban poverty, gender, microfinance, and the delivery of basic social services. 3) What role do international actors have in mitigating poverty? What is the impact of aid and trade? How does the international community manage complex crises such as famines and civil wars? What, if anything, do the rich countries owe the poor of other countries? (Enrollment limited)
307. Constitutional Law I: The Federal System and Separation of Powers— An analysis and evaluation of leading decisions of the United States Supreme Court dealing with the allocation of power among federal government branches and institutions, and between federal and state governments. The emphasis will be on the federal system and separation of powers issues, as enunciated by the court, but attention will also be given to unadjudicated constitutional issues between the legislative and executive branches, and to the theoretical foundations of the United States’ constitutional system (Locke, Montesquieu, the Federalist papers, etc.). Prerequisite: C- or better in Political Science 102. (Enrollment limited)-McMahon
[309. Congress and Public Policy]— A study of the structure and politics of the American Congress. This course examines the relationship between Congress members and their constituents; the organization and operation of Congress; the relationship between legislative behavior and the electoral incentive; and the place of Congress in national policy networks. Prerequisite: C- or better in Political Science 102. (Enrollment limited)
310. Politics of Developing Countries— An examination of the success and failure of the various theories of economic and political developments which have been pursued in the post-colonial era; specific case studies will deal with examples from Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Prerequisite: C- or better in Political Science 103 or 104. (Enrollment limited)-Schulz
316. Constitutional Law II: Civil Rights and Civil Liberties— An analysis and evaluation of decisions of courts (and related materials) dealing principally with freedom of expression and equal protection of the laws. Prerequisite: C- or better in Public Policy 201or Public Policy 202 or POLS 102 or Permission of Instructor. (Enrollment limited)-Fulco
[318. Environmental Politics]— A study of US environmental politics and policy in a domestic and global context. We will trace the historical roots of environmental policy and the regulatory state in America and how they affect the debate over contemporary environmental issues. We will study how conflicting values and competing interests in the political, social, and economic realms have struggled to define environmental problems and shape the agenda for environmental policy in America. We will examine the different political institutions and actors who influence, create, implement, and are affected by policies at the local, state, national, and international levels. We will read numerous historical and contemporary case studies (i.e. global warming, air & water pollution, land use, energy, waste management, and population growth), which will enable us to learn how different ideological and conceptual lenses have shaped both our conceptions of these problems and the subsequent solutions that have been offered. Ultimately, this course will equip students to understand, engage in, and analyze the political processes and debates over the formulation and implementation of environmental policies and regulations in the United States, and how to locate “the environment” in the larger discourse of American politics. Prerequisite: C- or better in Political Science 102. (Enrollment limited)
322. International Political Economy— This course examines the interplay of politics and economics in the current world system since the European expansion in the 16th century. Focus will be on the penetration and colonization of Latin America, Asia, and Africa; economic relations in the industrialized world and between the north and the south; the role of international institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund; the role of international trade and transnational corporations; the changing division of labor in the world economy; and current problems of the world economy. Prerequisite: C- or better in Political Science 104. (Enrollment limited)-Schulz
[326. Women and Politics]— This course explores the role of women in American politics across the 20th century. We will examine the collective efforts made by American women to gain political rights, secure public policies favorable to women, and achieve an equal role for women in the political realm and society more broadly. We will try to understand how and why women’s political views, voting behavior, and the rates of participation have changed over the 20th century and why they remain distinctive from men’s. We will also explore the deep ideological divisions among American women, exploring the strikingly different ways that feminists and conservative women define what is in the best interest of women. Finally we end the course by studying women as politicians. We will assess the obstacles women face in getting elected or appointed to political positions, whether or not they act differently from their male counterparts, and the significance of their input.This course has a community learning component. Prerequisite: C- or better in Political Science 102 or permission of instructor. (Enrollment limited)
[329. Political Philosophy and Ethics]— The course will engage the literature of ethical theory and ethical debate. The course attempts to enlighten the place ethical reasoning plays in Political Science, political life and the Tradition of Political Philosophy. Readings in the course will differ from year to year but may include such authors as Aristotle, Cicero, Aquinas, Kant, Mill, Rawls, Nietzsche. In different years the course may focus on various themes which could include topics such as Feminism, Gentlemanliness, Eudaimonism, Utilitarianism and Deontology, Ethics and Theology, Legal and Business Ethics or the place of Ethics in the discipline of Political Science Prerequisite: C- or better in Political Science 105 or Political Science 219 or Political Science 220. (Enrollment limited)
[330. Government and Politics of Contemporary China]— This course will survey the domestic politics of the People’s Republic of China from 1949 to the present. The first half of the course will concentrate on the revolutionary socialist transformations of the Maoist years (1949-1976), while the second half of the course will explore the post-Mao reform period to the present day. Special attention will be paid to the manner in which irresolvable tensions within Chinese society and political economy (town vs. countryside, plan vs. market, center vs. periphery) have affected the course of political change. Prerequisite: C- or better Political Science 103 or Permission of Instructor. (Enrollment limited)
331. Comparative Politics of Northeast Asia— This course is comprised of two distinct components. In part I, students will be introduced to key political and economic events in post-World War II Northeast Asia. Specifically, the focus will be on the following countries and territories: Japan, South and North Korea, Taiwan, and China. In part II, students will study thematic and theoretical issues concerning Northeast Asia that have received scholarly in recent years. Topics that will be discussed include the following: rapid economic growth and its consequences; economic integration under globalization; political liberalization and democratization; identity politics and nationalism; and human security. With its focus on major conceptual and theoretical debates within the comparative politics subfield, this course will provide useful background for those contemplating a senior thesis on a Northeast Asian country. (Enrollment limited)-Matsuzaki
[336. Illicit Markets and the Global Economy]— Globalization has resulted in the shrinking of markets for goods and services and flows of capital allowing for specialization, increased efficiency, and wealth of options for consumers around the world. At the same time, the forces that have allowed for the expansion of economic integration - falling transportation costs, revolutions in information technology, and reduced political barriers to flows of goods and services - have allowed a similar explosion of opportunities for economic activities that operate in the shadow of state approval. This class focuses on this dark, seedy underbelly of the global economy that is often difficult to disentangle from the legitimate aspects of international commerce and analyzes the impact of these illicit activities on individuals, firms, and the nation-state. Fundamentally, this class asks the question of how markets change when certain economic activities are deemed illegal and what those differences mean for buyers, sellers, and regulators of such markets. Specific topics covered will include the drug trade, transnational criminal networks, money laundering, human trafficking, natural resources (e.g. conflict diamonds), terrorism, counterfeit goods, and policy strategies for dealing with these issues at the national and international level. PR: POLS 104 or ECON 101, or permission of instructor (Enrollment limited)
[338. Liberalism and Its Critics]— This course will begin by examining the roots of modern liberal democracy in the works of such authors as Hobbes, Locke, Smith, Montesquieu, and Mill, and in the Federalist Papers. It will then shift attention to the attacks on liberal democracy by thinkers such as Marx, Neitzsche, and Heidegger. The final section of the course will deal with the contemporary debate on the subject and draw on the works of writers such as Rawls, Nozick, Hayek, Schumpeter, Walzer, Gailbraith, and Friedman. Prerequisite: C- or better in Political Science 105 or Political Science 219 or Political Science 220. (Enrollment limited)
[355. Urban Politics]— This course will use the issues, institutions, and personalities of the metropolitan area of Hartford to study political power, who has it, and who wants it. Particular attention will be given to the forms of local government, types of communities, and the policies of urban institutions. Guest speakers will be used to assist each student in preparing a monograph on a local political system.This course has a community learning component. Prerequisite: C- or better in Political Science 102 or permission of instructor. (Enrollment limited)
[369. International Human Rights Law]— This course offers a comprehensive survey of the evolution of international human rights law, focusing on the major actors and processes at work. Which rights do individual human beings have a vis-a-vis the modern state? What is the relationship between domestic and international legal processes? Are regional human rights mechanisms like the European system more influential than international ones? More generally, how effective is contemporary international human rights in securing accountability and justice? We use specific cases and contemporary debates to study a range of treaties and emerging institutions, including ad hoc war crimes tribunals and the International Criminal Court. (Enrollment limited)
373. Law, Politics, and Society— This course examines the role of law in American society and politics. We will approach law as a living museum displaying the central values, choices, purposes, goals, and ideals of our society. Topics covered include: the nature of law; the structure of American law; the legal profession, juries, and morality; crime and punishment; courts, civil action, and social change; and justice and democracy. Throughout, we will be concerned with law and its relation to cultural change and political conflict. (Enrollment limited)-McMahon
[384. The Political Economy of Financial Regulation]— In today’s increasingly integrated global market, prudential regulation of financial markets is an important issue. This class will explore the political dynamics involved with regulating international financial markets. We begin with fundamental questions of how and why countries choose to intergrate themselves into international capital markets, both historically and contemporaneously. Second, we will look at attempts by governments to create institutions at the local, national, and international level to ensure stability of markets. Third, we will seek to understand variation in regulations on banking, investment, and taxation. Finally, the class will address public policy challenges related to dealing with increasingly complex international financial markets. Prerequisite: C- or better in Political Science 104 and Economics 101. (Enrollment limited)
385. Crossing Borders: Logics and Politics of Transnational Migration— This course investigates the primary economic, humanitarian, and political forces that are driving and sustaining the complex phenomenon of contemporary transnational migration. Within this context, several key questions are addressed: Have the forces of globalization and the entanglements of international commitments and treaty obligations significantly compromised the policy-making prerogatives of the traditional nation state? What are the benefits and costs of migration for the immigration receiving countries? Is a liberal immigration regime desirable and, if so, can it be politically sustained? (Enrollment limited)-Messina
[386. Political Trials]— Political trials are often seen as dangerous challenges to the rule of law: politics trumps law, theater trumps reason, and collective concerns supersede judgment of the individual on trial. However, bringing politics, theater, and collective concerns into the courtroom can also sometimes support the rule of law, as we have seen in contemporary efforts at transnational justice in countries like South Africa and Rwanda. In this class, we will look at several political trials (from the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries) in which politics in the courtroom appear ambivalent—as not only dangerous to law and the justice it is supposed to promote, but also as potentially promising. Through examining these trials, we will ask what the relationship between politics and law should be: is “politicizing” law always dangerous, or might it sometimes be important to sustaining law? Do drama and theatricality impede justice, or might they sometimes aid it? (Enrollment limited)
[387. Publics, Mobs, and Masses: Theorizing Democracy in Times of Globalization]— While democratic peoples are supposed to be rational - supportive of the equality and freedom of everyone - political theorists worry that peoples may become irrational (turning into mobs, masses, or “crowds”) and thus use their power arbitrarily, often to fuel the ambition of demagogues and dictators. In this class, we will examine this classic problem in democratic theory and analyze the response to it offered by Ju?rgen Habermas and others - namely, the idea of a rational, discussion-based “public.” The course will also examine problems with the idea of “the public” (in the writings of Foucault, Dewey, and Lippmann), as well as how the problem of the people and its irrational “others” persists in contemporary democratic politics. (Enrollment limited)
392. Trinity College Legislative Internship Program— The Trinity College Legislative Internship is a special program designed for those students who want to observe politics and government firsthand. Student interns work full time for individual legislators and are eligible for up to four course credits, three for a letter grade and one pass/fail. One of the graded credits is a political science credit. In addition to working approximately 35 to 40 hours per week for a legislator, each intern participates in a seminar in which interns present papers and discuss issues related to the legislative process. Although there are no prerequisite courses for enrollment in this program, preference will be given to juniors and seniors. Students majoring in areas other than political science are encouraged to apply. Candidates for this program, which is limited to 14 students, should contact the Political Science Department in April or September. The program will accommodate some students who wish to work part time (20 hours per week) for two graded course credits. (Enrollment limited)-Evans
394. Legislative Internship— (Enrollment limited)-Evans
396. Legislative Internship— (Enrollment limited)-Evans
398. Legislative Internship— (Enrollment limited)-Evans
399. Independent Study— Submission of the special registration form, available in the Registrar’s Office, and the approval of the instructor and chairperson are required for enrollment. (1-2 course credits) -Staff
405. Global Solutions to Sustainaility— The industrial age brought about profound economic, social, and political changes. A growing number of experts now argue that this industrial age has also produced an unprecedented set of problems and challenges, ranging from resource depletion and species extinction to climate change. Global calls are mounting for dramatic change based on sustainable development, social justice, and a new economic and political paradigm. How adequate is the Westphalian state system to deal with these issues and challenges? Will effective solutions come from individual governments, international treaties and inter-governmental organizations, civil society groups, or the corporate sector? Are new ways of thinking necessary to reach sustainable global solutions? Course open only to senior Political Science majors. (Enrollment limited)-Schulz
408. Senior Seminar: Racial and Ethnic Politics— This course examines the role of African Americans, Asian Americans, Latinos, and Native Americans in all areas of the American political system. We study each group and their roles as voters, party activists, candidates and public officials. By exploring the socio-historical context within which each group acts, we will also consider the non-traditional forms of political participation embraced by some of these groups and the reasons that minority groups have resorted to such strategies. The process of political socialization will also be considered, as will the political behavior, attitudes, and public policy opinions of these groups. Finally, we will also explore theories of racial and ethnic political coalitions and conflict. Course open only to senior Political Science majors. (Enrollment limited)-Chambers
415. Senior Seminar: War, Peace, and Strategy— This seminar explores the problem of war in international relations, including its nature, forms, strategy, causes, prevention, and ethics. Is international politics bound to remain inherently conflictual in a world of sovereign states, or is war becoming obsolete in an era of institutional innovation and normative change? To address this and related questions, we read and engage a wide range of classic and contemporary texts from political science and beyond. Special attention is devoted to the strategic logic that connects the use of military force with political objectives, hopes, and fears. Course open only to senior Political Science majors. (Enrollment limited)-Flibbert
426. Who Are We? Citizenship, Identity, and Immigration in Comparative Perspective— Citizenship historically has been defined as a set of rights and obligations that are exclusive to formal members, or “citizens,” of territorially bounded nation states. Transnational migration challenges this assumption by creating citizens outside of and foreign residents or “denizens” inside of traditional nation state territories. Some scholars have suggested that globalization generally – and migration specifically – undermines the salience of citizenship and fosters conflict and confusion about who “we” are. This senior seminar will explore the major political and social challenges posed by transnational migration for notions of who “belongs” and who doesn’t within the major immigration-receiving countries, including the United States. Course open only to senior Political Science majors. (Enrollment limited)-Messina
466. Teaching Assistantship— Submission of the special registration form, available in the Registrar’s Office, and the approval of the instructor and chairperson are required for enrollment. (0.5-1 course credit) -Staff
Courses Originating in Other Departments
Human Rights Studies 125. Introduction to Human Rights— View course description in department listing on p. 544. -Cardenas
International Studies 212. Global Politics— View course description in department listing on p. 576. -Anderson
[International Studies 213. Worldly Islam, The Sacred and the Secular]— View course description in department listing on p. 577.
[International Studies 234. Political Geography]— View course description in department listing on p. 577.
[International Studies 315. Global Ideologies]— View course description in department listing on p. 579.
[Public Policy & Law 330. Comparative Urban Policy]— View course description in department listing on p. 785. Prerequisite: C- or better in POLS 102, POLS 103 or PBPL 201.
Public Policy & Law 338. Public Engagement & Policy Making— View course description in department listing on p. 785. Prerequisite: A grade of C- or better in either Political Science 102 or Public Policy 201 or permission of instructor. -Williamson
Public Policy & Law 340. Republicanism Ancient and Modern— View course description in department listing on p. 786. -Smith