that used to be the prerogative of human actors. The course concludes by considering what policies could be appropriate for supporting, while also regulating, the tech sector in the twenty-first century. While the course will focus primarily on the United States, our conceptual framework will be global; though our main interest will be contemporary, we will also examine previous eras in which democratic leadership has come under great pressure. Readings include: cyberweapons changed how international politics works? Or does full inclusion rest on the ability to exercise civil and social rights as well? Assessing leadership in the moment is complicated because leaders press against the bounds of political convention--as do ideologues, malcontents, and lunatics. This course looks at how difference works and has worked, how identities and power relationships have been grounded in lived experience, and how one might both critically and productively approach questions of difference, power, and equity. This course examines the history of American involvement in Afghanistan, beginning with the Cold War when the U.S. used Afghanistan as a test case for new models of political modernization and economic development. We then move on to the empirical section of the course in which we cover case studies of state failure in parts of Eastern Europe, Africa and the Middle East. There is a similar dismal irony to the American Revolution, as captured by the title of Frederick Douglass' famous 1852 speech, "What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?" [more], With the permission of the department, open to those senior Political Science majors who are not candidates for honors, yet who wish to complete their degree requirements by doing research--rather than taking the Senior Seminar-in their subfield of specialization. What, if anything, defines contemporary conservative thinking? What institutions and social conditions make political freedom possible? [more], We rely on environmental laws to make human communities healthier and protect the natural world, while allowing for sustainable economic growth. This course will consider the history and contemporary experience of authoritarianian regimes, beginning with political philsophical analyses of classcal theorists such as Montesquieu, Moore, and Arendt. This course addresses the controversies, drawing examples from struggles over such matters as racism, colonialism, revolution, political founding, economic order, and the politics of sex and gender, while focusing on major works of ancient, modern, and contemporary theory by such authors as Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli, Hobbes, Rousseau, Mill, Marx, Nietzsche, Beauvoir, Arendt, Fanon, Rawls, Foucault, and Young. It is no accident that tech became a symbol for economic growth in the 1970s, precisely when it also began to build powerful alliances in Washington. Is it manufactured by a political elite using the rules of the game to maintain power while ignoring the concerns of the people? Students will learn about the region's geopolitical significance from both an historical and political science perspective. In the last two decades, trials expanded dramatically in number, scope, and philosophy. This class examines the policy making process with particular emphasis on the United States: How do issues get defined as problems worthy of government attention? Racial Equity, Liberal Democracy, and Democratic Theory. How, if at all, do nuclear weapons affect how political disputes run their course? This course will examine how New Yorkers have contested core issues of capitalism and democracy-how those contests have played out as the city itself has changed and how they have shaped contemporary New York. It also creates status for other actors, such as international organizations, soldiers, national liberation movements, refugees, terrorists, transnational air and sea shipping companies, and multinational corporations. the 2016 presidential election. the spring semester Senior Thesis Research and Writing Workshop provides a focused forum for the exchange of ideas among thesis writers, who will regularly circulate excerpts of their work-in-progress for peer review and critique. After familiarizing ourselves with what academic and policy literatures have to say about them, we then will read about the histories and contemporary politics in each society. However, with the election of Donald Trump, the American presidency is now in the hands of someone who proudly claims the America first mantle. Is there is a trade-off between democratic accountability and effective governance? Readings may include excerpts from ancient and modern theorists, but our primary focus will be contemporary and will bring political theory into conversation with other fields, particularly art history and visual studies but also film and media studies, psychoanalysis, neuroscience, and STS. Students will examine multi-disciplinary texts, such as academic historical narratives, memoirs, political analyses, in critical and comparative readings of mid-late 20th century struggles. Is it a coherent body of thought, a doctrine, or a collection of disparate and conflicting thinkers? Should Harriet Tubman's portrait replace Andrew Jackson's on the $20 bill? We first engage with the treaty's content and exclusions, next examine the incentives it provides states and criminals, and last assess the way that geopolitical and climate change create new opportunities and constraints for states, firms, international organizations, and activists. If so, should it be Hebrew or Yiddish? These failures have created space for a politics of populism, ethno-nationalism, and resentment--an "anti-leadership insurgency" which, paradoxically, has catapulted charismatic (their critics would say demagogic) leaders to the highest offices of some of the largest nations on earth. This course begins with the observation that power is often described as a causal relation--an individual's power is supposed to equal their capacity to produce a change in someone else's behavior. What's really at stake when we depict our leaders? Is this right? Class will be driven primarily by discussion. How does this idea about individual value liberate and entrap? Meanwhile, efforts to reform the nation's immigration laws have been stuck in gridlock for years. Readings are drawn from Supreme Court opinions, presidential addresses, congressional debates and statutes, political party platforms, key tracts of American political thought, and secondary scholarship on constitutional development. If the welfare state has a future, it will look different from the past, but how? Here we look closely at whether it is economic development which leads to the spread of democracy. does it mean to be an American? Along the way, we will consider a number of longstanding questions in the study of politics, such as: is the public rational? Some defenders argue that the media is a convenient scapegoat for problems that are endemic to human societies, while others claim that it actually facilitates political action aimed at addressing long-ignored injustices. We will examine the Pan-African writings of: Cedric Robinson (Black Marxism); Walter Rodney (How Capitalism Underdeveloped Africa), Eric Williams (Capitalism and Slavery; From Columbus to Castro); Frantz Fanon (The Wretched of the Earth); Malcolm X (Malcolm X Speaks); Amilcar Cabral (Resistance and Decolonization; Unity and Struggle); C. L. R. James (The Black Jacobins). We will address both empirical and normative dimensions of the issues, as well as learn about examples of democratic erosion around the world from early 20th century until today. The research results must be presented to the faculty supervisor for evaluation in the form of an extended essay. The course is organized with a focus on legal status: which "categories" of people (i.e. In addition to engaging this debate about what the public thinks about politics, we will also explore how people behave in the political realm. How does international war leave its mark on domestic politics? Are environmental protections compatible with political freedom? We will discuss theories of right-wing populism's appeal from both Left and Right perspectives. At the same time, worries about residual impunity or the effect that punishment might have on societies' futures has led to the development of national and social courts, as well as national military tribunals, to complement those at the international level. The implications for political polarization, economic growth, social insurance programs, public health, military defense, even national survival are grim. As a final assignment, students will craft an 18-20-page research paper on a topic of their choice related to the themes of the course. Conflicting groups regularly accuse each other of being 'duped' by 'biased' sources of information on crucial issues like war, elections, sexuality, racism, and history. The contemporary moment calls on us to revisit this assumption. See the college's, Experiential Learning & Community Engagement, Introduction to American Politics: Power, Politics, and Democracy in America. We will carefully consider, for example, the drafting of the U.S. Constitution, continental expansion in the Manifest Destiny period, the Civil War, overseas expansion in the late nineteenth century, the presidency of Woodrow Wilson, the Second World War, the Cold War, and the "War on Terror." It may be tempting to conclude from these similarities--as some recent commentators have--that we are witnessing the return of "totalitarianism" as Arendt understood it. Students will learn to evaluate the decisions that US leaders have made on a wide range of difficult foreign policy issues, including: rising Chinese power; Russian moves in Ukraine; nuclear proliferation to Iran; terrorist threats; humanitarian disasters in Syria and Libya; and long-term challenges like climate change. Donald Trump's rise to the presidency was fueled in part by his pledge to build a wall between the U.S. and Mexico. What is the relationship between constitutional and political change? Authors we will engage include Coates, bell hooks, Charles Mills, Melvin Rogers, Chris Lebron, Lawrie Balfour, and Danielle Allen. The emphasis will be on the study of social attitudes concerning ethnic groups, gender/sexuality and class as they pertain to a "penal culture" in the United States. The course extends over one semester and the winter study period. And is there anything that can be done to stop or slow them? Are legal citizenship and formal political rights sufficient for belonging? This course will investigate this debate over parties by examining their nature and role in American political life, both past and present. We explore transnational dynamics of contentious politics, including how international actors shape domestic campaigns for democracy, peace, and justice, as well as how global advocacy movements (e.g. Some readings will be historical, particularly those focusing on American political thought and the politics of the Gilded Age. We then consider patterns of economic development in Africa. Some feminists claim that power itself is the root of all evil and that a feminist world is one without power. This class begins with the. It covers domestic and international factors that lead to democratization and democratic backsliding. Are the politics of the presidency different in foreign and domestic policy? U.S. Public Opinion and Mass Political Behavior. Does this mean that we have descended to barbarism? Is it because they have an exceptional leader? A central question we will consider throughout the course if how "democratic" the conduct of campaigns actually is. American Constitutionalism II: Rights and Liberties. The goal of this course is to assess American political change, or lack of, and to gain a sense of the role that political leaders have played in driving change. Using a diverse set of readings drawn from empirical political science, contemporary democratic theory, American political thought, historical documents, political punditry (from the left and the right), and current events, our focus, like Tocqueville before us, is on teasing out both the lived experience--the character and challenges--of American democracy and examining any disconnect between that experience and the ideals that undergird it. How might it change in the near future? Most readings will focus on contemporary political debates about the accumulation, concentration, and redistribution of wealth. What is democracy, how does it arise, and how might it fail? In what ways does this institution promote or hinder the legitimacy, responsiveness, and responsibility expected of a democratic governing institution? The research results must be presented to the faculty supervisor for evaluation in the form of an extended essay. [more], This tutorial will cover the Arab-Israeli dispute--from both historical and political science perspectives--from the rise of the Zionist movement in the late nineteenth century to the present day. Is democratic leadership in service of "dangerous" goals acceptable, and what are these goals? And how do institutions such as the media and campaigns encourage or discourage it? Among the topics we will cover are: the structures of urban political power; housing and employment discrimination; the War on Crime and the War on Drugs (and their consequence, mass incarceration); education; and gentrification. What kinds of violations and deprivations can be recognized as harms in need of redress? Senior Seminar in Human Rights in International Politics and Law. This course investigates the political theory of Rastafari in order to develop intellectual resources for theorizing the concept of agency in contemporary Africana thought and political theory. Admission is awarded on the basis of demonstrated capacity for distinguished work and on the proposal's promise for creative contributions to the understanding of topics on the federal system of government. As a final assignment, students will write an 18-20 page research paper on a topic of their choice related to the core themes of the course. DuBois, Frantz Fanon, Ida B. Wells-Barnett, and Ella Baker and contemporary theorists like Saidiya Hartman, Charles Mills, bell hooks, and Frank Wilderson--among others. Should they embrace nationalism or cosmopolitanism? The Impact of Black Panther Party Intellectuals on Political Theory. Jews had to decide where to pin their hopes. When and why do states choose to use military force? In this class we explore the dark side of democracy. Race is connected to salient issues like immigration and police conduct; to politicians across the political spectrum; and (some argue) to virtually everything in American politics, including fundamental concepts that have no manifest racial content, like partisanship and the size and scope of government. Fortuitous events? How much do we attribute the shaping of politics to the agency of the individual in the office and to what extent are politics the result of structural, cultural, and institutional factors? How are international organizations and domestic governments regulating this level of unprecedented global mobility in destination countries as well as countries of origin? How does racism influence political choices? How closely do candidates resemble the constituencies they represent, and does it matter? The course goes back to the founding moments of an imagined white-Christian Europe and how the racialization of Muslim bodies was central to this project and how anti-Muslim racism continues to be relevant in our world today. As a background to understanding the reasons for and histories of these policies, this course will read several important books that deal with the Great Depression, the financial crisis a decade ago, and the risks of debt. This course introduces students to capitalism by examining the struggles between social groups that lead to variation in distributional outcomes and economic performance. Henry Kissinger served as National Security Advisor and Secretary of State. Riven by polarized partisanship and gridlock, the most powerful assembly in the world seemed incapable of representing citizens and addressing problems. Most of the course will focus on the historical and contemporary relations between whites and African Americans, but we will also explore topics involving other pan-ethnic communities, particularly Latinos and Asian Americans. Throughout the semester, we will examine three distinct but inter-related aspects of international relations in East Asia: Security, economy, and culture by using some core concepts and theoretical arguments widely accepted in the study of international relations. What policies paved the way for and resolved the crisis, how were they reached, and who participated in formulating them? Ultimately, our goal is to determine how worried we should be---and what, precisely, we should be worried about---as a new era of American leadership begins. cooperation? We will draw on case studies from Latin America, Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East to analyze the effectiveness of these theories. In this seminar we will openly discuss unmentionable topics and get our hands dirty (sometimes literally) examining the politics of waste. How have its constitutive institutions, from pensions to unemployment insurance, evolved since the post-war "Golden Age"? How do resource gaps tied to inequality in society (such as race and class) influence who votes and for whom? Can certain forms of power be considered more feminist than others? [more], The recent history of Venezuela offers a window into many of the most important political and economic issues faced by people in developing countries. At the same time, Republicans and Democrats fight over the scope and limits of government power on policies ranging from taxation and spending, to abortion, immigration, healthcare, policing, gun ownership, and voting rights. To study the presidency is to study human nature and individual personality, constitution and institution, rules and norms, strategy and contingency. If so, should they focus their efforts on relocation to the historical land of Israel? [more], This course's goal is to show how the racialization of Islam and Muslims has been constitutive to the latter's imagination. that used to be the prerogative of human actors. Yet, in the face of these horrors, Arendt never lost her faith in political action as a way to express and renew what she called "love of the world." How are tensions between liberty and equality resolved? countries' territorial waters, jurisdiction over ships, and so forth. seemed incapable of representing citizens and addressing problems. Treating the visual as a site of power and struggle, order and change, we will examine not only how political institutions and conflicts shape what images people see and how they make sense of them but also how the political field itself is visually constructed. Thus, this class is organized as a collaborative investigation with the aims of: 1) examining how whiteness and other historically dominant perspectives shape International Relations theory and research areas; 2) expanding and improving our understanding of International Relations through different lenses (e.g. Theorists we read will represent many kinds of feminist work that intersect with the legal field, including academic studies in political theory, philosophy, and cultural theory, along with contributions from community organizers engaged in anti-violence work and social justice advocacy. Readings are drawn from Supreme Court opinions, presidential addresses, congressional debates and statutes, political party platforms, key tracts of American political thought, and secondary scholarship on constitutional development. Does power obey laws? It then considers how nationalism is manifest in the contemporary politics and foreign relations of China, Japan, South Korea, North Korea and Taiwan. The class will begin with background readings, since no prior work in Chinese philosophy or history is assumed. [more], For decades, people and countries have used "human rights" to advance their position, delegitimize their opposition, and lodge their interests in an unassailable political category. How should we decide what constitutes a good policy? Can they be the same thing? The course ends with a discussion of the successes and failures of the European Union as the principal embodiment of the liberal project today. How do we distinguish desirable leadership from dangerous leadership? We will begin by examining institutional constraints facing political leaders: globalization, sclerotic institutions, polarization, endemic racism, and a changing media environment. [more], In spite of predictions that religion would wither away in the face of modernization, even casual observation indicates that it remains a powerful force in contemporary political life. [more], Economic liberalism holds that society is better off if people enjoy economic freedom.