Political Science

This course explores the evolving relationship between China and Africa using the political, economic, and cultural lens. China has grown to be one of the most prominent partners in Africa. This relationship is manifested in trade, infrastructure, politics, and physical environment. However, this relationship is complex with varied actors. This course explores the historical emergence of the relationship between China and the continent, the current areas of engagement and how these have impacted the latter. The course will be taught as a seminar and will use the case study approach to emphasize and analyze the main issues of engagement and sometimes confrontation. The course will also include guest lecturers who study various aspects of the topic. Students will engage with these researchers and write brief papers on their presentations.

This course is designed to provide students a comprehensive introduction to Comparative Politics through the discussion of a broad range of thematic topics. These are supplemented with a selection of academic readings and real-world case studies from various regions of the world. In general, Mondays will be dedicated to the basic concepts of the week’s readings (ECP), Wednesdays to the related scholarly readings (ERCP) and Thursdays/Fridays (sections) will focus on the comparative cases (CCP) as a platform for applying what was learned in the other readings. (S and N)

Comparative analysis of the government and politics of the major Western European countries. Emphasizes party systems and the social bases of politics in industrialized societies. (S and N)

This course introduces students to the politics of contemporary Africa. It challenges the dominant representations of the continent as conflict prone, economically underdeveloped, and political
unstable. Instead, the course presents Africa as a dynamic region comprised of 54 independent states with diverse political and economic realities. Students will explore core themes such as the
politics of the state, politics of identity, economic and political development, the politics of conflict and cooperation, and the role of Africa in global affairs. These themes are examined through a variety of learning materials and collaborative-learning methods that expose students to dominant theoretical approaches and political science methodologies. It is important to note that this class
is designated a “WR” (or Gordon Rules) which means “writing must be evaluated on the content, organization and coherence, effectiveness, style, grammar and punctuation.”

Introductory overview of political patterns and political behavior in Latin America within comparative and developmental perspectives. Emphasizes the social, economic, and political factors shaping contemporary political structures and processes.

This course focuses on politics in the Russian Federation. As the core of the former Soviet Union, the initial problems that Russia confronted highlight the various economic, political, and social difficulties that accompanied the region’s transition away from communism. While Russia had made more progress toward the institution of free and competitive elections than several other former Soviet republics during the 1990s (e.g., Belarus and the Central Asian states), economic and political freedoms have substantially declined since 2000. How can we understand these developments? The course provides students with a foundation for answering this difficult question. (S and N)

The course centers upon several themes of law, state, and society in the Israeli case, including Israel as a Jewish and democratic state; religion, law, and state; civil rights; the (long) constitutional tradition (e.g., Claude Klein), and the (1992) constitutional revolution; judicial review of executive acts (1969); judicial review of legislation (1992); the spirit of Jewish law in Israeli (secular and religious) law; and women’s rights.

This course explores theories of development and key issues concerning the developing world. We will examine how important factors shape the levels and trajectory of development, including state structure, policy, regime type, institutions, colonial legacy, and temporality, among others. We will be revisiting the classic debates of whether development leads to democracy and vice versa.
Throughout the semester, we will look at country cases from diverse regions worldwide. We start the semester by exploring areas where development seems elusive: What are the causes for development failures? Is there a pathway forward? The course will then delve into influential theories of development, such as the modernization theory and the world-system theory, which originated from the historical experiences of Europe’s development. Later, we will turn our attention to regions that experience rapid growth, such as developmental Asia, to investigate the historical and structural drivers of their success. We will also critically examine whether rapid growth resolves all societal challenges and consider the new problems these countries are facing. By integrating theoretical frameworks with empirical case studies, this course aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of academic debates and real-world dynamics surrounding development and the developing world.

In the late twentieth century, the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union led some scholars to speak about “the end of history” where liberal democracy would be the only form of government left standing. However, authoritarian regimes in different parts of the world continue to demonstrate their resilience. In this course, we will explore the different types of
authoritarian regimes, exploring their characteristics and political workings, including legitimation strategies, through various examples. Specifically, we will examine military, single-party,
personalistic/sultanistic, and hybrid regimes, exploring how they manage to stay in power and asking ourselves whether regime change could occur. This course has a heavy reading load, and it will be structured following the Team-Based Learning (TBL) system. During the first week of the course, I will place you in a team. You will work in the same team for the entire semester through various assessment sessions and application exercises. I expect that you will come to class fully prepared to discuss and apply the reading contents in class activities. Please feel free to come to my office hours to discuss your concerns regarding any class readings, assignments, etc.

This course introduces students to the different ways popular votes are converted into political representation and explores how political parties across the globe navigate their electoral waters. By the end of the course, students will better understand: 1) how electoral rules shape the behavior of voters, politicians, and parties; 2) scholarly recommendations about which electoral options may best advance the cause of democracy; 3) why and how elites manipulate electoral rules; and 4) how different contexts lead to different electoral outcomes. (S and N)

This class is intended for intermediate and upper-level undergraduates in European Studies and the related social sciences and humanities. Its subject is the relation between social contention
and politics. Using modern Europe as a source of comparative case studies, the course aims to:
o provide a survey of the literature on contentious politics and social movements,
o introduce students to methods for studying these movements and politics,
o furnish tools for interpreting contentious politics and social movements
comparatively,
o cover selected movement case studies drawn mainly from Europe, and
o provide the opportunity for students to do an independent research project on
social movements.
Specifically, we will address the following questions: How can we understand contentious politics? Under what conditions do social movements form? How and when do they exploit opportunities to mobilize? What internal resources do they draw on in order to overcome obstacles to mobilization? What are the implications of how a social movement frames its cause? What is the role of internationalization on social movement development? These questions are central to disciplines across the social sciences – political science, sociology, anthropology, and history – and this class aims to draw intermediate to advanced undergraduate students from across those disciplines for a class focused on the European and East European context.

The conduct of research and the profession of political science are somewhat of a mystery even to advanced and highly-qualified undergraduate students, regardless of their participation in the Honors Program or the University Scholar Programs. The Junior Fellows Program rectifies this neglected area by providing meaningful research experience, insight into the profession of Political Science, and the ability to work closely with a faculty member or an advanced (ABD) graduate student. The program is designed for advanced juniors and seniors wishing to gain the experience that will prepare them to succeed in their senior thesis work and stand out as they apply for research opportunities and advanced degrees. Junior Fellows will have a hands-on experience with the innovative research performed at the Department of Political Science and gain valuable professional insight by working closely with their supervisor on a weekly-basis, attending a seminar series exploring the diversity of methods and approaches, and participating in a capstone research presentation workshop.

This course has been designed to help students refine their research design skills and to think about how combining more than one form of inference can lead to greater confidence in one’s research findings. Class time will be devoted to discussing causal and probabilistic forms of inference, concept formation and measurement, small-n comparison, the use of in-depth case studies, nested analysis using large and small-n components, and a range of alternative methods, which lend themselves to combined strategies of investigation.

This course will offer the intellectual, analytical and research tools to understand the history and complexities of forced migration and refugeehood and their centrality to political, social and economic change in global, regional and national contexts. It will introduce students with an interest in local, national, as well as international career opportunities in human rights, development, refugees, or migration to relevant topics and discussions in the academic literature, as well as develop an understanding of various research methods.

This is an introductory course in European diplomacy. It has three main objectives: 1) to explore the history of European diplomacy; 2) to highlight the distinctive features of the European diplomatic style; and 3) to explain this style’s analytical value and use it to comprehend complex diplomatic issues both past and present. (S and N)

The European Union (EU) has long been celebrated as the world’s most successful integration project, thriving amidst a constant exposure to crises. Historically, each crisis was often seen as a
potential end to the EU, yet these challenges have instead driven necessary adjustments, enabling continued processes of widening (enlargement) and deepening (further integration). Despite persistent existential anxieties, the EU’s current crises are particularly formidable. The Eurozone and migration crises have intensified existing polarization and fragmentation. Brexit, the rise of right-wing populism, and growing Euroskepticism have further clouded the EU’s future. Recent hybrid crises, such as the War in Ukraine and the EU Integrated Resolve 2024 exercise, highlight the continuing relevance of crisis management in the EU in the context of cooperation with NATO. Additionally, the EU has contended with severe climate change impacts, including wildfires and floods, digital disruption challenges like cybersecurity threats, ongoing global conflicts leading to increased migration pressures, and a crisis of confidence marked by political divisions and economic challenges. This course offers a close examination of the European integration process, emphasizing the ability of actors to manage crises across various contexts, thereby situating current events within a broader historical perspective.

War and warfare permeate European states and societies. History of Europe is a period of a great transformation from an endemic warfare to a long peace. But even during the current period of long and unprecedented peace and prosperity, the impact of war upon European institutions, culture, and technology is still with us. In this course, we will study how European societies prepared, fought, and reflected upon war. It will also present a comprehensive discussion of the theoretical debates addressing these developments. This course has three main objectives: 1) to explore the history of European wars and warfare; 2) to highlight the distinctive features of European war making and its influence on the development of European societies; and 3) to use the analytical lessons from these developments to better understand contemporary political developments in Europe. (S and N)

The creation and development of the European Union is one of the most fascinating political events of the last century. It represents a unique opportunity to study the evolution of a political system without having to rely solely on historical documents. In the past halfcentury, the EU has grown from a set of weak /poorly defined institutions with a limited policy domain and an emphasis on national sovereignty into an extensive political system with increasingly strong supranational actors influencing all aspects of political and economic life. What began in 1951 as an experiment in cooperation in the coal and steel sectors among six states has grown to be a formal political and economic union between 28 member states from Estonia to Ireland and Malta to Sweden (and it is still growing) reducing to 27 with the recent Brexit referendum. The goal of this course will be to examine this transformation both theoretically and historically from a comparative politics perspective, keeping in mind the changing (and growing) global role of the EU.

What is Europe? Although it may seem a simple and even rhetorical question, a serious attempt to answer it runs into significant challenges. In the most basic sense, Europe is a geographical term that extends at least as far back as Greek antiquity. However, with its borders in constant flux throughout history, the idea of Europe can rely on geographical definitions only partially. Thus, other factors, primarily political, philosophical, and religious, often defined what Europe was. But these ideas were not any less problematic than the geographical ones. As becomes evident then, regardless of how one approaches the question, there is no simple answer to what Europe is. The idea of Europe has a rich and complex history that has been of increasing interest since the middle of the last century. The aftermath of catastrophic wars and the emergence of the European integration project pushed many to reflect on what being European implies and what Europe is. This course offers an overview of the history of the idea of Europe from antiquity to contemporary times. We will explore and critically reflect on various manifestations of the idea—political, religious, cultural, and geographic. Each of these aspects, and even a combination, dominated the understanding of Europe at different historical periods.

This course fulfills the Gen Ed categories for International (N) and Social and Behavioral Science (S) requirements. International courses promote the development of students’ global and intercultural awareness. Students examine the cultural, economic, geographic, historical, political, and/or social experiences and processes that characterize the contemporary world, and
thereby comprehend the trends, challenges, and opportunities that affect communities around the world. Students analyze and reflect on the ways in which cultural, economic, political, and/or social systems and beliefs mediate their own and other people’s understanding of an increasingly connected world. Social and behavioral science courses provide instruction in the history, key themes,
principles, terminology, and underlying theory or methodologies used in the social and behavioral sciences. Students will learn to identify, describe and explain social institutions, structures or processes. These courses emphasize the effective application of accepted problem-solving techniques. (S and N)

The world after the Second World War has seen an ever-changing landscape, and such changes are accelerated by crucial political, economic, and cultural factors that all intertwine with each
other. International Relations is a subfield of the academic discipline of Political Science that studies world politics and international affairs from theoretical and systematic perspectives. The
course will introduce students to the core concepts and approaches in the study of international relations as well as the relevant cases to which they can be applied. We will discuss various
topics in international politics, such as war, international cooperation, and the global economy, as well as how to think about them using different theoretical frameworks. Students will be
embarking on a journey that will help them better understand the world that we currently live in, and they will be able to better equip themselves with the abilities to ask and answer the “why and
how” questions to many world events. (S and N)

International economy is deeply embedded in, profoundly shaped by, and strongly affects politics. This course examines international economy by focusing on such politicalness. Specifically, it explores the complex interactions: both their causes and consequences, among states, international institutions, and non-state actors (multinational companies, labor, immigrants, interest groups, unions, NGOs, etc.) in the areas of international trade, production, monetary affairs, and development via various analytical lenses. Upon finishing this course, students are expected to employ major theoretical frameworks in the field of international political economy to analyze historical and current events in world politics and economy. (S and N)

This course is designed to enable students to understand the policies and objectives of the United States in its relations with others in an international system undergoing tremendous change. It is constructed to help students appreciate the elements of both continuity and change in U.S. foreign policy and to provide students with the basic tools for answering questions about the sources of U.S. foreign policy. Students then will better understand the complexity of international issues, including their interrelationships with domestic events. To achieve these ends students will 1) evaluate the major approaches to analyzing and explaining U.S. foreign policy; 2) review the history of U.S. foreign policy; 3) investigate contemporary U.S. foreign policy and its relationship to world politics; 4) apply these elements in a critical fashion to particular foreign policy issues currently facing the American government. (S and N)

The purpose of this course is to familiarize the student with the historical context of American foreign policy, ways of thinking about the formulation of foreign policy, the decision-making
process and how various players in and out of government affect it, and current issues in global affairs. (S and N)

The course is organized in a series of sections that delve into specific questions within each of the above topics. For example, is there a firm distinction between the “old” and “new” forms of
terrorism? What strategies have worked in the past to defeat terrorist organizations and what lessons can be applied in the current context? What is the appropriate balance between law
enforcement, intelligence and military tools of counter-terrorism? We will start with a look at the theoretical and historical approaches to each issue and then move to the policy ramifications. (S and N)

Security is a contested, multifaceted, and evolving concept, which is what makes the study of security both problematic yet fascinating. The discipline of security studies has
made its way into the academic and policy worlds alike, in addition to stretching far beyond the boundaries of International Relations. This course will provide you with an introduction
to the various methodological, theoretical, and empirical branches of security studies. A primary aspect of this course will be to identify and critically analyze the commonalities,
divergences, and nuances between the conceptualizations of security studies so you can question existing narratives and understandings of what security is, how it is conceptualized,
where security goes, who is afforded security, and how security is practiced. Additionally, to gain a more comprehensive perspective, the course will go beyond big academic names, older
works, and Western/European viewpoints on security studies by delving into recent scholarship, lesser-known scholars, and non-Western/non-European positions of security
studies. (S and N)

The primary objective of this course is to appreciate the ways in which the variety of perspectives we will read and discuss shape different understandings of “international relations,” and their implications for studying global politics today. The six books and scholars vary from one another not only in theoretical perspective, but also in their analytical lenses. Some of the analyses consist primarily of abstract reasoning about global politics, while others are empirical in their orientation, ranging from archival and textual analysis, through historical case studies– to feminist and critical analyses applied to both abstract and empirical reasoning. The secondary objective of the course is to familiarize yourself with some of the ways in which social scientists establish their claims to knowledge of their subject matter. Finally, a third objective is to reflect on the particular historical contexts and dynamics of global politics within which these scholars wrote, and to consider the ways in which their theories are still applicable today.

This course explores theoretical and empirical approaches to understanding gender dynamics in international relations (IR). While the field of IR has historically minimized the role of gender in global politics, this course centers gender as an analytic framework and as an organizing principle that shapes, and is shaped by, international relations in meaningful ways. In this course, we will begin by examining the theoretical foundations of feminist scholarship in IR, focusing on key concepts such as power and security. We will then turn to examining how understandings of global conflict and political violence shift when studied through a gender lens, applying newly learned theoretical frameworks to what we can observe across modern global politics. In addition to studying relationships between gender, conflict, and political violence, we will also explore the role of gender in peace processes, human rights, international political economy, and more. Students will primarily be evaluated on their ability to critically reflect on the concepts and questions explored throughout this course while developing and defending their own academic arguments. The main objective of this course is to enhance students’ understanding of gender-based research in the field of international relations while strengthening their own critical analysis skills. (S and N)

This course provides an overview of Latin American foreign relations. After beginning with a brief overview of International relations theories, we will move on to discussing historical and current Inter-American relationships. Why do Latin American countries do what they do? What are their interests and what can they do to realize them? What historical challenges have they faced, what are their present concerns, and what issues are likely to arise in years to come? We will discuss cooperation and conflict, economic growth and depression, and prospects for regional prosperity. The world is moving toward a new global order, the outlines of which are still murky. As a result, Inter-American relationships are increasingly complex and consequential.

The course examines practices and experiences of war through the lens of art. The goal is to enable students to develop different and broader understandings of warfare – to consider ways in which war informs and intervenes in everyday life; to analyze an array of interactions between war, its participants, witnesses and spectators; and to ponder ways in which war mobilizes bodies and emotions.

This course explores how data collection and analysis relate to understandings of gender in global conflict. The field of international relations (IR) has a long history of misconstruing and minimizing the role of gender in conflict processes and presuming data science to be gender-neutral. This course challenges those assumptions and centers gender as an analytic framework and organizing principle that shapes international relations in meaningful ways. In this course, we will examine the gendered dynamics of armed conflict and political violence across the globe. We will also explore how feminist IR scholars have historically critiqued the quantitative study of armed conflict and political violence, developing a stronger understanding of feminist research methodologies. While students will learn about both qualitative and quantitative approaches to studying global conflict, we will mostly focus on quantitative data and methods of analysis. Students will apply what they learn through the completion of regular homework assignments, participation in class activities and discussions, and by conducting original research. Students will be evaluated throughout the semester based on their ability to critically reflect on the concepts, theories, and methodological approaches explored throughout the course, as well as their understanding of introductory data analysis skills. (S and N)

This course is designed for students contemplating a policy-oriented career in international affairs. It has two objectives. First, it will give you an idea of how to prepare for and develop such a career. Second, the course will give you an idea of how the US foreign policy community works: the backgrounds and career paths of the people who make/inform policy, and some of the organizations—inside and outside the government—in which these people are employed.. (S and N)

This class examines globalization through a political economic lens. We will explore the concepts, causes, processes, and consequences of globalization. While we are learning substantive contents on globalization, we also pay close attention to how relevant research is done. (S and N)

Notably, the goal of this course is not just to give the students a better understanding of the factors shaping the Israeli Palestinian conflict, but also to learn how to compare this conflict to other conflicts. Hence, you will acquire the skill to think theoretically about the different dimensions of this intractable conflict, as well as to think critically about the models we currently have for explaining intra-state conflicts.

Notably, the goal of this course is not just to give the students a better understanding of the factors and calculations behind the adoption of different policies (especially the unique ones which make it different from other regions) but also to learn how to compare the ISraeli case to other cases. Hence, you will acquire the skill to think theoretically about the military and diplomatic history of this small and beleaguered country, as well as to think critically about the International Security/Strategic Interactions models we currently have. Since many of these security and strategic models were derived from the Western experience, they often do not fit well with the behaviour of actors in the Middle East. This creates room for rethinking existing models.

The Department of Political Science encourages all of its undergraduate students to serve as an intern. Internships are available at the local, state, federal, and international level and in every branch of government—executive, legislative, and judicial. Internships are also available with candidates running for political office, with political parties and interest groups (including nonprofit and lobbying organizations), as well as with law firms and private companies engaged in governmental relations and issue research. Please be sure to visit our website (https://polisci.ufl.edu/undergraduate/internships/) and see “Recent Internships” and the FAQ page for more information about commonly asked questions.

State, county, and municipal communities – both within Florida, and beyond – face several pressing issues in contemporary public management, including shifting demographics, increasing barriers to homeownership and insurance, limited budgets, hurricane disaster preparation/management, coastal erosion, climate change, rapid development, and intergovernmental negotiation. Further, local communities are diverse, and the problems facing one entity are unique compared to others. The purpose of Introduction to Public Administration is to students with the opportunity to study public
management theory and practice by examining the current challenges facing local communities. This course hopes to more broadly encourage students to consider a career in public service – particularly within the field of local government. This class is designed to introduce students to the constitutional, historical, legal, and ethical foundations of public management – and apply these concepts to local public management in Florida and nationally. The course will emphasize the conceptual and structural elements that distinguish public and nonprofit organizations from each other and from private sector firms. The course will focus on the activities taken directly by the government or indirectly by its partners to meet the democratically expressed, and often conflicting, needs of the public. Students will assess why values such as democratic processes/civic engagement, accountability, fairness, transparency, effectiveness, and efficiency are essential in both the theory and practice of public management.

This is an upper-level interdisciplinary studies course that will serve as an introduction to managing and leading public service organizations. You have taken this class because you want to have a positive impact on the world. Your interests could be affordable housing, sustainable cities, access to quality health care, food security, arts & culture, education, or the environment. You may want to work in non-profits, local, state or national government, or the philanthropic arm of a for-profit company. You could also be focused on ensuring public policies are based on the best possible evidence, that non-profits are financially solvent and measure their impact, or that employees are treated fairly and respectfully. Whatever your individual passion, you can only realize that by mastering organizational processes. Organizations are how work gets organized, coordinated, and accomplished. Knowing how organizations work, and how to work within them, are two of the most powerful tools you can have.

In this course, students will investigate how the national government is structured and how the American constitutional republic operates. It covers the philosophical and historical foundations
of American government, including but not limited to the Declaration of Independence, the United States constitution and all its amendments, and The Federalist Papers. The course examines the
branches of government and the government’s laws, policies, and programs. It also examines the ways in which citizens participate in their government and ways their government responds to citizens.(S and N)

In this course, students will investigate how the national government is structured and how the American constitutional republic operates. It covers the philosophical and historical foundations of American government, including but not limited to the Declaration of Independence, the United States constitution and all its amendments, and The Federalist Papers. The course examines the branches of government and the government’s laws, policies, and programs. It also examines the ways in which citizens participate in their government and ways their government responds to citizens. (S and N)

In this course, students will investigate how the national government is structured and how the American constitutional republic operates. It covers the philosophical and historical foundations of American government, including but not limited to the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution and all its amendments, and the Federalist Papers. The course examines the branches of government and the government’s laws, policies, and programs. It also examines the ways in which citizens participate in their government and ways their government responds to citizens. This course provides an overview of American politics: its political culture, the attitudes and political behavior of its citizens, the operation of its key institutions, and its enduring debates. We will cover the three main branches of government — executive, legislative, and judicial — and other important political actors such as parties, interest groups, and the media. We will be concerned with several themes, especially the nature and distribution of political power and the role of elections. (S and N)

In this course, students will investigate how the national government is structured and how the American constitutional republic operates. It covers the philosophical and historical foundations of American government, including but not limited to the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution and all its Amendments, and the Federalist Papers. The course examines the branches of government and the government’s laws, policies, and programs. It also examines the ways in which citizens participate in their government and ways their government responds to citizens.

Each U.S. state is comprised of a unique set of individuals and institutions. There is variation in the composition of each state including population size, racial and ethnic groups, gender, income, and urban/rural populations. Each state has an executive, legislative, and judicial branch but the structure and rules of the institutions that makeup these branches vary substantially. States also
differ on the types of policies that they enact based on their population, economy, and other factors. In this course we will examine the politics of the American states with a focus on this
variation in individuals, institutions, and policies. We will examine the role of states in the federal system, foundations of state governments, state institutions such as governors, legislatures,
bureaucracies, and courts, and the connection between state and local governments. We will study political parties, campaigns and elections, and political participation and representation. Finally,
we will analyze and evaluate state policies in areas includes budgets, taxation, economic development, environment, healthcare, education, welfare, and criminal justice.(S and N)

In this course, we will explore the intricate and dynamic role that state governments play within the broader framework of American democracy. While much attention is often given to federal politics, state governments are the true laboratories of democracy, where diverse policies, political cultures, and governance structures emerge. This course will examine the powers and responsibilities of state governments, the unique political actors who shape state-level decisionmaking, and the challenges states face in an increasingly interconnected and polarized political landscape. By studying the interaction between state and federal powers and the diversity among states in terms of political parties, ideologies, and policy outcomes, we will gain a deeper understanding of the mechanisms that drive American politics. Throughout the semester, we will also focus on key topics such as electoral systems, political parties, state legislatures, and gubernatorial politics, as well as how states address pressing issues like healthcare, education, criminal justice, and economic inequality. Through a comparative lens, students will learn how local contexts influence policy choices and
political behavior by analyzing case studies from various states. Additionally, we will investigate the impact of state-level politics on national trends and consider how state actors contribute to broader political movements. Whether pursuing a career in public policy, law, or political science, this course will provide the tools to critically assess the complexities and significance of state politics in the United States.(S and N)

This course is designed to provide students with an introduction to the study of public opinion. Our focus will be less on what people think or how they feel about a particular party, candidate, issue, or group – and more on the ways in which we can go about measuring these things. Four approaches to attitude measurement will be discussed: polling (survey research), focus groups, in-depth interviewing, and elite interviewing. Your readings and lectures will feature a mix of academic research and practical applications (the latter often but not always addressing the question of how to win an election). After spending the first few classes learning about the different approaches, we will move on to more nuts-and-bolts activities such as writing survey questions, conducting both in-depth interviews and a focus group, administering a small internet-based survey, and analyzing the results of that survey. By the time we’re finished, you should have a basic understanding of the techniques typically used to study public opinion. (S and N)

This survey course is designed to examine several categories of enduring and emerging civil liberties granted to each person by the United States Constitution. The major purpose of this survey course is to investigate the role and functions of courts, especially the United States Supreme Court, in addressing major interpretive/enforcement issues concerning the role of civil liberties in America today. Additionally, we shall explore and assess the interconnected relationship of the Judicial, Legislative, and Executive branches of federal and state government during the semester. Students seeking a more in-depth exposure to purely legal/jurisprudence aspects of civil liberties should locate and take separate criminal justice, and/or constitutional law courses. (S and N)

This course will examine the political behavior of Asian Americans in the United States from the 1800s to present day. We will begin the semester with a discussion of Asian Americans and the presidency because of the recent campaigns of Nikki Haley and Vivek Ramaswamy as well as the existence of the first Asian American “second lady” Usha Vance. Throughout the semester, we will examine Asian American activism, elected officials, and the most important issues for Asians in American communities. I welcome your feedback on the course if you have any questions or problems. (S and N)

This course uses the sometimes (mostly) true but other times make-believe stories told in popular novels and Hollywood motion pictures to provide insights into the nature of real-life politics in the United States. The focus is mainly on process (political competition and decision making) rather than substance (policy), and each of the stories we encounter raises issues that are as relevant today as they were when the tale was originally told. We will consider, for example, whether the temptations of politics and power are beyond the capacity even of fundamentally decent people to resist; whether the actions of organized interest groups promote or undermine the principles of representative government; whether the media glare of contemporary politics weakens the capacity of our leaders and institutions to govern; and whether modern candidate-centered campaigns pose as great a threat to popular democracy as some critics believe. Our goal is not to use politics as a basis for studying the mass culture; that is a course better taught elsewhere (say, in English or Fine Arts). Instead, we will be using elements of the mass culture as a means for better understanding the character of our politics. (S and N)

The United States Congress is the most scrutinized branch of the U.S. government and plays a central role in shaping national policy, elections, and the functioning of representative democracy. This course explores two fundamental questions: (1) What do members of Congress do, and why? (2) How do the actions of individual members and the collective body of Congress influence national policy outcomes? We will delve into the legislative process, examining the influence of political parties, leadership structures, and interest groups. Additionally, we will critically assess the common critique that “Congress is broken,” exploring the effectiveness and challenges of Congress as an institution. Through discussions and analysis, students will gain a deeper understanding of Congress’s role in shaping public policy and its place within the broader democratic system.(S and N)

Welcome to Political Parties and Elections. The course examines political parties, which are the primary political organizations that put candidates before the voters and organize deliberations within political institutions. Parties are mentioned nowhere in the United States constitution. In his farewell address, George Washington expressed his opposition to political parties shared by many of the Founding Fathers: “…the common & continual mischiefs of the spirit of Party are sufficient to make it the interest and the duty of a wise People to discourage and restrain it.” Yet, even in his cabinet, the growing animosity between future presidents John Adams and Thomas Jefferson would soon develop into the first national political parties.
The goal of this class is to understand the function and organization of political parties. There are three parts to this course that correspond to three aspects of political parties:
• Parties as organizations unto themselves: how are they organized locally and nationally? Who actively joins political parties?
• Parties in the electorate: how do voters use political parties to orient themselves? As we cover this topic, we will also explore elections in greater depth, covering such topics as who votes, how voters make their decisions, and how campaigns and parties mobilize voters.
• Parties in government: what role do parties play in Congress, the presidency, and the courts?
If you’re reading this syllabus, congratulations! These three bolded aspects of political parties will likely be an exam question.

This survey course addresses the rapidly shifting landscape of perceived rights/entitlements contained in the U.S. Constitution for minority/BIPOC/color groups in America. Recent political activity, governmental and media treatment have called into serious question how these groups are viewed and treated by law enforcement, the civil and/or criminal justice system and the detention industry in this country. With an emphasis on examining the historical and contemporary treatment of certain color groups in America, this survey course will provide exposure, rationale and historical knowledge of the perception and management of these ethnic/color groups by the current justice, law enforcement, social service and the detention institutions. The relevant experiences of Hispanic/LatinX Americans, Asian Americans, Native Americans/First Peoples, African Americans, as well as various Immigrant groups will be examined, as time and course materials allow. Although some aspects of the course will address societal treatment, economic and liberty concerns common to all of these minority groups, there will be a greater focus on the African American experience as a microcosmic laboratory to explore the central tenets of this course. By examining certain color groups’ unique ethnic/cultural responses to initial and subsequent perception and treatment by governmental and economic institutions, it is hoped that a pragmatic “litmus test” can be fashioned to help the serious student appreciate what human factors we have in common, and those that need healing & understanding.(S and N)

Research Methods in Political Science (POS 4734) is an upper-level undergraduate course that introduces students to the logic and execution of empirical research in political science with a heavy focus on quantitative methods. This course is fundamentally about how to formulate research questions and how to think about the best scientific approach for answering them. In short, we will spend time thinking about how best to explore and test whether “X causes Y,” with a focus on political phenomena. In doing so, my hope is that you will become more familiar with the scientific method and gain experience reading and critiquing high-quality political science research articles. You will also ideally become more statistically literate and “less afraid” of numbers than you were coming into this course. My hope is that by the end of this course, you will move from being a passive receiver to a more critical consumer and producer of research. (S and N)

Who gets rights? What is property and how do you transfer it? Can you contract anything? What does it mean to be harmed, and then “made whole”? What is jurisprudence? This course is dedicated to exploring these questions by introducing students to legal areas and fields at the University of Florida’s Levin College of Law. Spend the semester meeting with and listening to Levin Law faculty talk about what they teach and study. This one credit course has no exams. Instead, it invites you to explore law in the classroom, to seek it out in readings, and to blog about what you find.

Professional development for a graduate career in Political Science. Covers the research process, emerging issues, developing a professional scholarly identity, and careers. Required course for graduate students in their first year. Although this is a 0-credit course, please note that you may be charged 1 credit if you are not enrolled in other courses. (S and N)

The course is designed as a broad introduction to contemporary issues, actors, theories, and scholarly debates in the study of AI in politics. The course introduces foundational assumptions, methods, and scope of AI in politics as defined by a variety of perspectives and approaches. In doing so the course guides the students to core concepts necessary for understanding how AI is playing an increasingly important role in the world in general, and politics more specifically.(S and N)

In this course, we will investigate the political geography of two critical global regions: the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Mexico. Through the lens of political geography, and with a focus on energy resources, geopolitics, and migration, as well as the natural and urban environment, we will explore the extent to which these regions are shaped by various interconnected politics of space. We will emphasize comparative analysis and challenge ourselves to critically assess similarities and differences between these two “gulfs” while considering the broader implications of regional dynamics on global politics and society. Our task is to engage with diverse materials—including academic readings, media, and case studies—to develop insights into the spatial, political, and cultural forces that define these areas.

In the community analysis seminar, we will examine several contemporary political and public policy issues (such as crime, educational, environmental issues, homelessness, housing dilemmas, natural disasters, etc.) in local communities. In addition, we will discuss the efforts of local community residents, American mayors and other elected officials to empower communities and improve conditions in urban and rural communities. This class includes both a graduate and an undergraduate section. This class also has another virtual learning component in which we will participate in group discussions with students and activists from Kenya, West Africa. Dr. Levy Odera, a native of Kenya, earned a doctorate in political science from UF and is an assistant professor of social sciences and an academic program manager for the Minerva Project. He is also the founder and president of the SAYDS (Systems-Acumen for Youth-led Development Solutions) organization that empowers people to bring about positive changes in their communities. You will not only examine governance strategies in American communities, but also those in Kenyan communities by interacting with the SAYDS participants. These meetings will allow American and African students to understand the differences and similarities in urban and rural governance in American and in Kenyan communities. (S and N)

En los ultimas afios, las mujeres, grupos indfgenas, y afrodescendientes en America Latina se han rabado la atencion de la prensa internacional por sus movilizaciones masivas para pramover sus derechos. Las Tesis, un colectivo de mujeres chilenas puso el mundo a bailar mientras cuestionaba la cultura patriarcal y al estado violador. Al mismo tiempo, la region cuenta con unas de las !eyes mas pragresivas para combatir la violencia de genera, reconociendo diversas formas, criminalizando el feminicidio, e incluso avanzando pratecciones para las mujeres polfticas que son vfctimas de violencia. Diversos paises en la region han avanzado en la prateccion de los derechos de las personas LGBT, legalizando el matrimonio entre personas de! mismo sexo, y expandiendo el reconocimiento de las personas trans, legalizando el cambio de sexo en documentos legales sin necesidad de evaluaciones medicas o psiquiatricas. Igualmente, los grupos indfgenas y Afro en varios paises tienen garantizada la prateccion de sus culturas y saberes ancestrales, varias lenguas indigenas son reconocidas dentra de los idiomas oficiales, y se han legalizado los derechos a la consulta previa en prayectos de infraestructura y desarrallo en sus tierras comunales. Tambien se han aprabado acciones afirmativas que pramueven la presencia de las mujeres y minorias etnico-raciales, tanto en las instituciones de representacion politica coma en las de educacion superior. Al mismo tiempo, pratestas en Colombia y en Brasil se han unido a las de personas Afroamericanas en los Estados Unidos gritando que “las vidas negras importan” demandando el reconocimiento de! racismo estructural y buscando reparaciones por la esclavitud y la exclusion historica de las personas Negras.
Estas movilizaciones y activismo ocurre al tiempo que la region tiene los indices de feminicidio y violencia de genera mas altos en el mundo, los y las defensoras de los derechos de las mujeres y de las minorias etnicas y raciales, estan constantemente amenazadas y la region es la mas peligrasa en el mundo para los defensores de! medio ambiente. La ambientalista y defensora de los pueblos indfgenas Berta Caceres fue asesinada en Honduras y la evidencia sugiere que agentes de! estado y las elites economicas de! pafs se encuentran entre los responsables. Estos eventos sugieren que en la region hay una tension constante entre el reconocimiento legal de los derechos humanos y las violaciones sistematicas a los mismos. ;,Como podemos entender esta tension? ;,Cua! es la relacion entre la democracia y los derechos humanos en America Latina? En esta clase analizaremos la manera en la que las mujeres, los grupos indigenas y afrodescendientes, y las comunidades LGBTQ han promovido la expansion de los derechos humanos en America Latina y la respuesta de los estados y otros actores, a las demandas por el reconocimiento de los derechos. Dado que estaremos hablando de derechos humanos en America Latina, el curso centra las perspectivas e ideas de autora/es latinoamericanos y sera en espafiol. Se entiende que quienes se inscriben en esta materia, tienen las competencias necesarias, incluidas la habilidad para hablar, escribir, leer, y entender espafiol.

Why did Europe industrialize first instead of Asia? Why did Asia not develop as Europe? Was Europe’s exceptional development an ‘accident’ or the result of ‘fortuitous circumstances’? These questions lie at the heart of one of the most interesting debates in global history – the Great Divergence. This course will examine the reasons behind the huge gap in the levels of development, growth and wealth between these two parts of the world. In the recent years, scholars no longer view Asian states like India and China during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries as extremely underdeveloped and poor, especially compared to their European counterparts. In fact, they see several similarities between the European and Asian states indicating that there was nothing unique about Europe that many Eurocentric historians claimed as the reason behind that region’s unprecedented growth. What then were the reasons behind the divergent outcomes? The course will rely on scholarly works from political science, history, sociology, and economics. The focus will be on Europe and Asia i.e., our readings will deal with both – reasons behind Europe’s exceptional growth and lack of it in Asia. By the end of the semester, students will have a better understanding of why Europe and Asia developed differently despite having similar starting points.

This class will address how sports and stadiums are frequently intertwined political forces. The course will address issues such as the public funding of private stadiums, bidding for Olympic
Games, and gentrification in the name of sports. The class will also examine how cities, identity, and politics are significant to sports.

This course will consider how politics can assist in shaping housing, cities, homelessness, and suburbia. Significant attention will be given to understanding governmental policies that attempt to influence how people live. Some examples will consider the early origins of modern cities, the development of suburbia, and historically recent developments such as public housing, gentrification, and gated communities.

This course will offer an examination of the development of politics in Puerto Rico from the late 19th century to the present. This course will focus mostly on the politics in Puerto Rico covering topics such as party politics, social movements, sports, urbanism, colonialism, and debt. It will also discuss certain relevant elements that were and are part of the Puerto Rican diaspora.

The course centers upon several themes in the study of the rule of law in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) from the late Ottoman Empire through the 20th century and to recent decades. Course themes include the rule of law; religion and law; judicial independence; democratization and participatory politics; religious minorities; women’s rights and freedoms; conservative religious feminism; “banditry”; and MENA courts and administrative authorities.

The American federal judiciary is, purposefully or otherwise, frequently involved in the conflicts that shape contemporary politics. What was once seen an as an inauspicious and undesirable government appointment has since become a cornerstone of public debate and scrutiny. How did the Supreme Court – and, by virtue, the judiciary as a whole – become such an object of competing ire and praise? Are the current conditions unique to our political history? This course examines the circumstances by which the Supreme Court of the United States and its Justices are involved in politics – either as subject, participant, or arena for dispute and adjudication.

This course investigates the shifting relationship between England/United Kingdom and continental Europe. Beginning with a very brief overview from the Norman invasion through turn of the 20th century to provide a general shared historical backdrop, the main focus of the course begins with the Entente Cordiale (1904) and follows the path of UK – European relations through the two world wars, the birth of the European integration project, the entry of the UK, its eventual exit, and the aftermath on both sides of the Channel. The focus throughout is the development of a greater understanding of the underlying currents of dissension between the UK and the continent stemming from a long history of conflict, but more critically the existence of distinct identities and perceptions. The UK’s long-standing conceptualization of itself as “with, but not of Europe” can be traced throughout the events of the 20th century that led to the contentious accession of the UK to the EU, it’s even more heavily debated exit, and will likely continue to shape the future of this deeply contested relationship.

This seminar in American politics provides a broad overview of the field, with a focus on national politics. The main themes animating the course are: To whom do elected officials–in Congress and the executive branch–and appointed officials–in the bureaucracy and the Supreme Court–respond? To what extent are they influenced by interest groups? How representative is the American government? Whose interests are reflected in public policy? What are the constraints on the power of different political actors? The course examines the formation and effects of public opinion; the unique nature of American national institutions and their interaction with one another; and the effects of American institutions on policy outcomes. We start out by looking at citizens, as they form opinions and turn out to vote, and then turn to political institutions, always with an eye to the general theme of responsiveness and representation. In addition to examining citizens and formal institutions of government, we will also consider “linkage” institutions that mediate the relationship of citizens to the government and shape election and policy outcomes (parties, interest groups, and the news media). Sessions will address public opinion, voter turnout, the Constitution and institutional design, parties, Congress, interest groups, the presidency, the Supreme Court, bureaucracy, and the media. We will read many of the “classics” in these sub-fields, as well as newer work. (S and N)

In the community analysis seminar, we will examine several contemporary political and public policy issues (such as crime, educational, environmental issues, homelessness, housing dilemmas, natural disasters, etc.) in local communities. In addition, we will discuss the efforts of local community residents, American mayors and other elected officials to empower communities and improve conditions in urban and rural communities. This class includes both a graduate and an undergraduate section. This class also has another virtual learning component in which we will participate in group discussions with students and activists from Kenya, West Africa. Dr. Levy Odera, a native of Kenya, earned a doctorate in political science from UF and is an assistant professor of social sciences and an academic program manager for the Minerva Project. He is also the founder and president of the SAYDS (Systems-Acumen for Youth-led Development Solutions) organization that empowers people to bring about positive changes in their communities. You will not only examine governance strategies in American communities, but also those in Kenyan communities by interacting with the SAYDS participants. These meetings will allow American and African students to understand the differences and similarities in urban and rural governance in American and in Kenyan communities. (S and N)

Examines participation, political culture, and public opinion including classic and current research. (S and N)

What’s so advanced about Advanced Strategy? What is strategy and what are tactics and what is the difference? More to the point, in our changing political environment, what strategies and tactics are appropriate and necessary for modern campaigns? Voter contact is still the name of the game, of course, but how has the way that voters and consumers consume information and make voting/purchasing decisions changed the way that campaigns have to deliver their message. And campaign finance has perhaps changed even more, going from hard money to soft money to dark money and from most voter contact coming directly from candidates and/or their parties to PACs, Super PACs and 501c4 organizations often dwarfing candidate and party spending. How have the major changes to both voter contact and campaign finance just in the 2000s effected the strategies and tactics campaigns must use to win? And polling: it’s in a crisis and some think polling as we know it is dead…oh really? This semester, we’re going to get into the weeds and get some answers!

This course provides graduate students with an introduction to research design in political science. We will cover the fundamentals of the research process starting with the formulation of research questions and the construction of research puzzles. We will then cover theory building, the derivation of hypotheses, and discuss methodological approaches. The aim of most empirical research methods is to draw inferences, that is, use the things we know to learn about the things we do not know. We will discuss a variety of the methods social scientists use to draw inferences about politics. These include large-N quantitative analysis, small-n case studies, and experimental approaches. We will devote considerable attention to the strengths and weaknesses of the different methodological approaches we cover. This will better prepare you to critically evaluate scholarly work and equip you to undertake original research.

Welcome to Political Parties. This course examines American political parties, which are the primary political organizations that put candidates before the voters and organize deliberations within political institutions. Parties are mentioned nowhere in the United States constitution. In his farewell address, George Washington expressed his opposition to political parties shared by many of the Founding Fathers: “…the common & continual mischiefs of the spirit of Party are sufficient to make it the interest and the duty of a wise People to discourage and restrain it.” Yet, even in his cabinet, the growing animosity between long-time friends John Adams and Thomas Jefferson would soon develop into the first national political parties. Parties thus play important functions in American democracy, then and today. This is an exciting time for scholars interested in parties. Much of the prior literature assumes modern parties to be static, or slow to change. The upheavals we are observing challenge many existing theories, which provides an opportunity for old theories to be revised and new theories to emerge.

This course introduces the statistical tools most commonly used to process, analyze, and visualize data in the social sciences. We will explore descriptive statistics, statistical inference, hypothesis testing, and linear regression, with a brief introduction to logistic regression. Using the statistical software package R, students will learn to transform, visualize, and analyze data with a strong emphasis on interpreting results for real-world applications. Each topic will cover methodology, including underlying assumptions, the mechanics of the analysis, and appropriate interpretation of results. Throughout the course, we will work with real political data to ground our learning in practical examples.

This course is a graduate-level introduction to statistical models, with a focus on ordinary least squares (OLS) regression and causal inference. The goal of this course is to give you the tools necessary to do high quality quantitative work. In other words, the purpose of this course is to transition you away from learning the brute facts of probability and statistics and toward answering your own questions. Conveniently, once you have the basic idea of statistical prediction, you can apply these principles beyond linear regression in many different ways and in many different contexts. The course has three components. First, we will review key tools and concepts in mathematics, statistics, probability, and computing. This part sounds scary, but it will be straightforward
if you took POS 6737 and are excited about data. Second, we will build linear models, use them to solve real problems, and evaluate their assumptions. Finally, we will introduce
you to the basic principles of causal inference. (S and N)

This course introduces students to the key concepts of feminist political economy, a vibrant field of economic analysis, grass-roots activism, and policymaking. The structure of the course reflects the distinction between feminist political economy and gendered political economy, enabling students to acquire analytical tools for gender-sensitive policy work but also to reflect critically on their use. Throughout the semester we will explore tensions between feminist interventions that seek to recast the roles and positions of gendered and racialized subjects in economic thought and in the global political economy – and gender-informed policies which increasingly view women as significant contributors to economic activity yet remain wedded to the existing frameworks of its analysis.

In what ways has the inclusion of gender and intersectional perspectives changed the study of comparative politics? How is our understanding of politics transformed by adopting an intersectional feminist perspective? This course evaluates the contributions of feminist scholars to the study of diverse topics in political science. In particular, the course will analyze how the adoption of a gender and an intersectional approach transforms how we understand and measure democracy, the state, institutions, social movements, among other topics. The course draws examples from various world regions, including the United States. This course aims to introduce students to basic concepts and debates in gender and politics.

This course is designed as an intensive graduate-level overview of the central traditions in American political thinking, from the Puritans to the present. The primary focus of the seminar is on the ideas underpinning the American experiment in self-government, and on excavating and understanding the multiple intellectual and theoretical traditions in which the idea of “America” has been contested. As such, the hope is that the seminar will be of interest to graduate students in a number of academic specialties.

This course is designed to acquaint students with a variety of theoretical and empirical approaches to the study of conflict between nations as well as between nations and states, which is often called ethnic conflict but can assume a religious, regional, racial or other form. Ethnic conflict also covers conflict within states between ethnically defined groups where neither is representing or using the state’s military. Understanding these conflicts involves exploring not only the political implications of ethnic differences but also the international relations of nationalist onflicts. We read many highly cited works and cover a wide variety of the traditional topics. The goal is for you to become familiar with the primary theories and approaches to the study of international security. It is also my hope that you will become proficient in applying them to understanding and explain behaviors, events, and dynamics. You will be introduced to several key debates in the field, and you will be asked to sort through the arguments and evidence to come to your own conclusions. The participants will not only engage critically with recent scholarship abut will also produce their own research article draft.

Naturalism, the idea that empirical social research should be patterned after the natural sciences, continues to enjoy a hegemonic status in the discipline of political science even as the philosophical foundations of this idea have been questioned by major thinkers from a variety of philosophical traditions, including hermeneutics, phenomenology, pragmatism, and post-analytic philosophy. This course is designed for students whose research interests, or intellectual curiosity, or activist temperament incline them toward a non-naturalistic, that is, interpretive political science. The purpose is to help such students build both the requisite intellectual capital and a sense of intellectual community. I want you to be able to present interpretive research findings to a general audience of political scientists with a sense of intellectual confidence, without apologizing for the fact that your empirical analysis does not consist of developing general causal models and/or “testing” the “predictions” of such models. (S and N)

Revolution was a central concern of the discipline before the turn of the century. It was an important pathway to modernity for peasant societies, decolonization, and a common form of regime change. Events like the Russian, Chinese, and Iranian Revolutions changed the global balance of power in the twentieth century. In this course, we study the trajectory of revolution as an event that changed national trajectories and the global system of power. We will ponder the reasons behind its eclipse as a form of regime change since the Third Wave of Democratization and consider the role that revolutionary processes have in determining regime outcomes in the contemporary era.

This course is designed to cover advanced statistical topics for graduate students in social sciences as well as other disciplines. The course specifically deals with various topics in what is broadly known as multilevel models covering multilevel generalized linear models, structural equation models, Latent variable models, and Bayesian hierarchical models as well as time-series analysis.
The main goal of the course is to lead the students in acquiring a good and working knowledge of how the statistical analysis of data is conducted using multilevel statistical models. The course specifically offers an understanding of how such models work under various conditions. The course also concentrates on studying some of the potential drawbacks and limitations and how we can overcome them. However, due to time constraints, the course must selectively dwell on a limited number of specific models and modifications thereof. The course is a hands-on learning experience, organized every week in two parts. The first part will consist of a presentation and discussion of the major theoretical notions and approaches of the course. The second part will consist of a collective learning through direct group discussion and practice of the ways on how to use the python language to analyze multilevel data. Students are required to attend classes and are required to come
prepared to pro-actively participate in the discussion and practice.

This course introduces students to key thinkers, texts, and themes in the history of Western political thought. We will encounter these thinkers in historical sequence, asking questions such as: Who should rule, and why? What is the nature of freedom, and how is it practically enacted? What is the nature of citizenship, and how is it practiced? How are politics and economics intertwined? What should we do under conditions of state and/or social injustice? How do these political ideas change across historical context? We will also explore the extent to which these ideas have influenced and remain relevant to our contemporary politics.

The British economist John Maynard Keynes once famously quipped that, in the last analysis, the ideas of political philosophers and economists rule the world. Keynes believed that “practical” people, who believe that they are exempt from any intellectual influence, are usually simply repeating as their own the ideas of some earlier thinker. Similarly, “madmen in authority” who believe that they hear the unique voice of inspiration are in fact usually “distilling their frenzy from some academic scribbler of a few years back.” Keynes believed that there is no escaping from political ideology for any of us, only the pretense of it. Against this backdrop, the purpose of this course is twofold. First, and more broadly, it will examine the historical development and modern manifestation of a variety of political ideologies. Second, and more specifically, the course offers a wide range of ideological alternatives for critical consideration, precisely so that you can understand what you believe and why you believe it.

The global popularity of democracy today has been increasingly haunted by its ambiguous meaning and contested substance. While it has been often associated with various ideas such as freedom, equality, constitution, representation, and even revolution, democracy, the venerable Greek term, originally signifies the rule (kratos) by the people (demos). But who are the people? How do and should they rule? What are the justifications and, if any, limitations of their ruling? An investigation on how past political thinkers and activists reflected on these questions not only helps us de-familiarize and problematize current opinions about democracy but also points toward alternative futures of democratic ideals. This advanced undergraduate course situates the ongoing debates about democracy and its problems in a larger historical and philosophical framework. We will study a sampling of classic and contemporary literature on democracy. We will begin with the history of democracy, ranging from ancient Athenian democracy to revolutionary democracies in the modern world, and draw insights from their advocates and critics. We will then return to the contemporary world and examine debates about the normative values and justifications of democracy. Finally, we will interrogate current challenges to democracy (i.e. populism, racial domination, social media) and
consider various attempts to solve or mitigate these problems.

This seminar surveys a selection of texts and themes in contemporary political thought. We will explore questions about the relationship between democracy, law and popular will; political action; language, knowledge and power; identity and the formation of subjectivity; liberalism, freedom, and colonialism; representation; comparative political thought; and we will reflect on the boundaries of what constitutes political theory.

This is an upper-level interdisciplinary studies course that will serve as an introduction to the study of women and politics. I should note that this is not a course on feminist theory. Instead, we will be focused on questions such as: Does the descriptive representation of women guarantee their substantive representation? Which electoral rules favor the election of women? Do the negative
effects of gender quotas outweigh their impressive ability to increase the number of women in office? Once in power do women govern differently than men? Much of our time in the course will be spent
on the obstacles that women face in obtaining and maintaining positions of power, and how they wield it.