How do diverse societies approach questions of governance within and across borders? When does ethnic diversity lead to domestic conflict, and when can institutions bridge ethnic divides? Are states less likely to go to war with states they consider "ethnic brethren"? Students use theory and concrete examples to examine how political scientists measure and compare ethnicity and its effects around the world. While reference to the U.S. and Europe will be made, the emphasis will be on states in the Global South, including South Africa and India.

What is the relationship between government institutions and the U.S. economy? How have moments of crisis forged the economic and political reality of America today? This course begins with a critical examination of capitalism and the free market before turning to the issues of globalization and deindustrialization. Together, students will tackle questions regarding what can and should be done about the crisis of poverty and income inequality in the United States.

This course is designed to provide an introduction to the enduring masters of political thought (Plato, Locke, Hobbes, Machiavelli, Marx) who enhance our understanding of the political order and its values by asking questions with clarity and determination.

Can ideologies, when put into practice, live up to the utopian dreams of their visionaries? Or will they degenerate into dystopian nightmares? In this course in political theory, students study many of the ideologies that have shaped politics in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. They explore the core theoretical texts of nationalist, anarchist, socialist, liberal, and Islamist movements, including Marx, Mao, Mussolini, Qutb, and others.

Empires have existed since the pre-modern era, and until the mid-twentieth century imperial states were the dominant form of government. Today, no state refers to itself as an empire--yet the term is still widely used. Some call modern American foreign policy "imperialist." Other react that American power is a stabilizing force. The purpose of this course is to examine critically the meaning of the term "empire." What do empires have in common? What are the political causes of empire, and what are its effects on the colonizer and the colonized?

This course examines the causes of and means of preventing terrorism and other forms of political violence. Students will consider definitions of terrorism and what separates terrorism from other kinds of violence. Why do some political groups turn to violence while others try to affect change through the political system? We will explore the similarities and differences between different violent groups, such as al Qaeda, the Islamic State, and White extremists. Why and how do groups use violence to achieve their goals? How does the internet and social media facilitate recruiting?

This course explores evolving threats to global peace and stability in the post-Cold War era. The class tests the efficacy of traditional theories about international conflict through the examination of a number of contemporary security problems. Attention focuses on issues that are persistent, politically explosive, and global in scope, such as nationalism, migration, and environmental problems. All have potential for generating violent conflict in the world today.

This course examines the configuration of word politics and how claims of individual and group rights challenge the current global framework. Students examine the role of the state as a meaningful purveyor of rights and material goods. They also analyze and critique alternative approaches to organizing human populations in an increasingly globalized world. It is easy to say that the world's poor deserve a better material existence. It is much more difficult to determine where the duty to provide resources lies, and how individuals, states, and organizations might achieve better outcomes.

This course examines the creation, function, and influence of international organizations in global governance. We explore why states join institutions that may limit their sovereignty and how these organizations can impact state behavior. Through theories, case studies, and simulations, students critically analyze power dynamics within global institutions like the UN and WTO, and in regional bodies like the EU and ASEAN.

The roots and extent of America's involvement in world affairs; ideological, institutional, and strategic factors shaping U.S. foreign policy since WWII. America's responsibility and influence on global conditions. Approaches to analyzing American foreign policy.