PS 499

Spring 2010 All Classes

All Classes

Special Topics

Credit: 3 hours.

Selected reading and research in political science. See Schedule for current topics.

No graduate credit. No more than 6 hours of credit may be earned by registration in this course and in PS 495. Prerequisite: Junior or senior standing; 6 hours of political science; consent of instructor.

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PS 499 class schedule data for spring 2010
CRN	Type	Section	Time	Day	Location	Instructor	Section Details
47090	Lecture-Discussion	BW	3:30PM -4:50PM	TR	211 Davenport Hall	Weir, B	Part of Term: 1 Date Range: 01/19/10-05/05/10 Section Title: Topic: Terrorism Section Info: Topic is Terrorism. Terrorism, a violent tactic with a strikingly long history of use, has become a central security concern and political issue in the U.S. in recent years. This course relies on both theoretical and empirical literature to examine a host of questions about terrorism in an advanced, intensive, discussion-based seminar. In particular, we investigate the definition(s) of terrorism, its historical use and evolution, the motivations of various types of groups that employ or have employed this tactic, different forms of terrorism, variation in state responses to terrorism (or, where and when terrorism successfully results in concessions), and the effectiveness of a range of counterterrorism strategies and tactics. Restriction(s): Not intended for students with Freshman class standing.
53029	Lecture-Discussion	CLA	3:00PM -4:50PM	R	123 English Building	Nardulli, P	Part of Term: 1 Date Range: 01/19/10-05/05/10 Special Approval: Departmental Approval Required Section Title: Cline Practicum A:Climate Chg
53196	Lecture-Discussion	CPC	3:00PM -4:50PM	T	123 English Building	Nardulli, P	Part of Term: 1 Date Range: 01/19/10-05/05/10 Special Approval: Departmental Approval Required Section Title: Cline Practicum C: Conflict
53448	Lecture-Discussion	CW	2:00PM -4:40PM	W	207 Gregory Hall	Wong, C	Part of Term: 1 Date Range: 01/19/10-05/05/10 Section Title: Special Topics: Immigration Section Info: This Cline seminar examines the conceptual issues associated with citizenship and immigration, considering current political debates from a variety of perspectives, empirical, historical, and normative. The majority of the course will focus on the United States, but we will also examine the immigration and citizenship practices of other nations as well. Among the topics to be considered include why people migrate; consequences of migration; efforts to integrate immigrants?socially, culturally, and politically?into their host societies; public opinion about immigration and immigrants; various citizenship traditions and rationales; membership, belonging, and national identity; and postnational citizenship. Students will have the opportunity to meet and network with alumni during the Cline Symposium held in the Spring. Restriction(s): Not intended for students with Freshman class standing.
40054	Lecture-Discussion	D	1:00PM -2:20PM	TR	312 David Kinley Hall	Weir, B	Part of Term: 1 Date Range: 01/19/10-05/05/10 Section Title: Topic: Political Violence Section Info: Topic is Political Violence. This course surveys various forms of political violence and examines competing theories about why these types of violence occur and their policy implications. The different "categories" of violence under examination constitute pressing topics in the study of conflict in both international relations and comparative politics. These categories, which may overlap conceptually or empirically, include mass collective action in protests and riots, repression and torture, coups, civil war and insurgency, genocide and massacres, and terrorism. Theoretical readings will often be supplemented by case studies. The course is an advanced, discussion-based seminar that meets twice weekly. Restriction(s): Not intended for students with Freshman class standing.
53377	Lecture-Discussion	FM	11:00AM -12:20PM	TR	30 Wohlers Hall	Malekafzali, F	Part of Term: 1 Date Range: 01/19/10-05/05/10 Section Title: Special Topics: Human Rights Section Info: PS 499: Human Rights: This course will be an exploration of the meaning, basis, historical roots, and practical significance of human rights, with special attention given to the questions of the universality of human rights. The course is divided into four parts: Part one sets up the context and the background within which the role of human rights in international relations must be understood. Part two examines and compares human rights in contemporary Global North and Global South with special focus on the relationship between poverty and democracy. Part three will deal with war crimes and crimes against humanity. The meaning of aggressive war and ethnic cleansing will be analyzed in depth and the importance of the International Criminal Court is examined. In part four the course will deal with rights of people under military occupation and the responsibilities of the occupying power under international law. Specific cases will be used to better understand the significance of these four areas of inquiry. These include South Africa, Yugoslavia, Rwanda, the Palestinian territories, Chile, Iran, EU, and the United States.
39209	Lecture-Discussion	FM3	9:00AM -11:20AM	W	331 Armory	Malekafzali, F	Part of Term: 1 Date Range: 01/19/10-05/05/10 Section Title: Topics: Arab-Israeli Conflict Section Info: Topic: Arab-Israeli Conflict. This course explores the Arab-Israeli conflict by examining its three related dimensions: First, a national conflict between Palestinian Arabs and Zionist Jews over their respective titles to Palestine; Second, the spreading of this conflict to the neighboring Arab states. Third, the consequences of Arab-Israeli conflict for the region and the larger world. The central goal of this course is to understand why the conflict arose and why it has continued. This goal is achieved through the use of evidence and analysis in order to critically evaluate and make sense of information about the Arab ? Israeli conflict we receive on almost daily basis and to replace common misperceptions with a deeper understanding of how imperialism, discrimination, laws, nationalism, and international politics have helped sustain this conflict for so long and perhaps how peace can be finally realized. Restriction(s): Not intended for students with Freshman class standing.
38207	Lecture-Discussion	GS1	9:30AM -10:50AM	TR	300 Noyes Laboratory	Sin, G	Part of Term: 1 Date Range: 01/19/10-05/05/10 Section Title: Bureaucratic Politics Section Info: Bureaucratic Politics***Politicians are elected to represent �the people�. However, because of the complicated nature of policy making, politicians must inevitably delegate substantial discretion to (unelected) bureaucrats, who have greater time and expertise to focus on specific issues and implement policy. The central reason for granting policy-making autonomy to bureaucrats �their technical expertise- also creates the biggest problem. Bureaucrats can use their knowledge against politicians. This issue becomes very important when we consider that bureaucracies carry out much of the day-to-day work we associate with government: cleaning streets, mailing pension checks, and regulating workplaces. Therefore, a central issue for elected representatives who seek to delegate is how to maintain a fair amount of control over the bureaucrats and their work.* This course begins by examining the origin of public agencies, the nature of public management and the behavior of individual bureaucrats. It also lays a theoretical foundation for why politicians delegate authority to bureaucracies and why bureaucratic actions may diverge from politicians� expectations. Some of the questions we will address are: (1) why do bureaucracies do what they do? (2) Why do politicians delegate authority and (often substantial) discretion over public policy to bureaucrats? (3) How much control over policy do politicians lose when they delegate to bureaucrats? What instruments (if any) can and do politicians employ to limit these losses? Can appointed bureaucrats be better representatives than elected officials? Restriction(s): Not intended for students with Freshman class standing.
54101	Lecture-Discussion	TD8	5:00PM -7:40PM	MW	113 Davenport Hall	Dragu, T	Part of Term: B Date Range: 03/15/10-05/05/10 Section Title: Topic: Analytical Politics Section Info: SECOND EIGHT WEEKS CLASS PS 499: Analytical Politics. This course introduces the basic concepts of game theory and their application to matters of political importance. The underlying theme of the course is that politics may be described and understood in terms of rational, goal-seeking behavior by individuals in various institutional contexts. The main emphasis is on analyzing political events and phenomena, not judging them. In this course we develop theoretical tools to analyze the following topics: reasons for the existence of government, the collective pursuit of common goals, policy-making in legislatures, reasons for political conflict and war, and reasons for human destruction of environmental resources.
53454	Discussion/ Recitation	WD1	9:00AM -9:50AM	F	142 Henry Administration Bldg	Balas, A Wedig, T	Part of Term: 1 Date Range: 01/19/10-05/05/10
53455	Discussion/ Recitation	WD2	11:00AM -11:50AM	F	430 Armory	Balas, A Wedig, T	Part of Term: 1 Date Range: 01/19/10-05/05/10
53456	Discussion/ Recitation	WD3	10:00AM -10:50AM	F	223 David Kinley Hall	Balas, A Wedig, T	Part of Term: 1 Date Range: 01/19/10-05/05/10
53457	Discussion/ Recitation	WD4	11:00AM -11:50AM	F	433 Armory	Balas, A Wedig, T	Part of Term: 1 Date Range: 01/19/10-05/05/10
53453	Lecture	WL	11:00AM -11:50AM	MW	223 Gregory Hall	Wedig, T	Part of Term: 1 Date Range: 01/19/10-05/05/10 Section Title: Intl Diplomacy & Negotiations Section Info: Topic is International Diplomacy and Negotiation. Examines the complexities of international diplomacy and negotiations among states and other actors. The course focuses on three main subject areas: negotiation theory, applied negotiation, and practical considerations that affect negotiations. We will utilize theoretic, case-based, and active-learning approaches during the semester as we explore the topic in detail. Issues and topics include security, public health, economic development, human rights, and the environment. Students are required to participate in an online negotiation simulation exercise with other Universities, which has an additional $18 fee payable online.