Faculty of Arts & Sciences

Provides an introduction to key concepts and theoretical approaches in comparative politics. Major themes include the causes of democratization, economic development, ethnic conflict, and social revolutions; as well as the role of the state, political institutions, and civil society. Examines and critically evaluates different theoretical approaches to politics including modernization, Marxist, cultural, institutionalist, and leadership-centered approaches. Compares cases from Africa, Asia, Europe, Middle East and Latin America to provide students with grounding in the basic tools of comparative analysis.

This course is an introduction to the analysis of the causes and character of international conflict and cooperation. Theories of international relations are presented and then applied to historical cases to test those theories of international politics and to expand our understanding of the range of possible forms of international behavior.

Class introduces students to statistical methods and practice commonly used in political science and likely to be of utility to those undertaking a quantitative methods thesis in Government. Topics will include techniques for dealing with binary or ordinal dependent variables, time series and 'survival' models, along with applications of more complicated approaches. Students will learn new statistical software skills, and be expected to both gather and work on their own data throughout the semester.

This course introduces students to some of the methodological approaches in contemporary political theory-philosophical and historical-by looking at analyses of the "just war." We then turn to other topics reflecting the individual interests of students who enroll. Designed to help participants to make the transition from being critical readers of political thought to being independent contributors to debate, the course will be especially useful for those considering writing a political theory thesis.

This course examines the political implications of contemporary social marginality, such as being homeless, poor, racially segregated, incarcerated, or undocumented. What is the significance of the spatial metaphor of being at the "margins" of society? How do people come to inhabit this location? We will draw on readings from both political theory and empirical social science research to explore the normative and political concerns at stake, particularly the political invisibility of the marginalized.

How much power does business exercise over the decisions that are made in American politics? How similar is business from other actors in our political system? How has business's power and modes of influence changed over time? And how does that influence compare to the role that business plays in other countries? This seminar will equip students to consider and debate these questions, drawing on evidence from contemporary events, history, political science, and sociology.

This seminar will use mapping as a methodological technique to examine social and environmental issues. Students will be expected to use mapping software to examine spatial data for a location and topic of their choice for their final paper. Weekly discussions will be conducted in class on various mapping related topics. References will range from books like "How to lie with Maps" to current journal articles examining the use of GIS in social science.

This seminar aims to develop an in-depth understanding of modern Democracy's discontent through the Spanish case study. In 40 years Spain has turned from being an exemplary model of the transition to democracy to a leading example of disaffection with political and economic elites. The Indignados/Podemos movement cam seemingly out of nowhere to capture 1.2 million votes, becoming the third political force in many regions of Spain. It is an appropriate time for us to consider how to breathe new life into a decadent democracy.

Description: Intended for undergraduates who are contemplating using experimental research in their senior thesis. The course is a blend of substance and methodology: we will look at famous political science experiments, primarily drawn from the field of American Politics, to get a sense of what can be done with this method. The students will also be introduced to the methods involved in doing good experimental research, and will leave the course prepared to run their own experiments.

This seminar analyzes the relationship of military force to politics. Nuclear war and deterrence, conventional war, revolutionary war and counter-insurgency are examined from the perspectives of the U.S., Russia, China and other contemporary military powers. The aim of this course is to help acquaint students of international relations with the vital importance of the military instrument in the formulation and implementation of foreign policy and in the functioning of the international system.

A close reading of the two essential books on American politics, The Federalist and Tocqueville's Democracy in America. Readings also in Tom Paine, the Anti-Federalists, Thomas Jefferson, and Abraham Lincoln.

Survey of developments in the party system, social movements, Congress, the presidency and the bureaucracy from the colonial period through the Civil War. Rise of the two-party system, the mass party and changes in voting rights; congressional committees and their power; building of the Constitution and the federal judiciary; abolitionism and new social movements, the emergence of early bureaucratic institutions, and the presidency -- studied using three theoretical approaches (rational choice, historical institutionalism, and critical theory).

Description: In this course we use insights from social psychology to ask how the beliefs, desires and even perceived opportunities of citizens are affected by the society they live in. We contrast the rational and the psychological approaches to human beings, and ask under what conditions rational assumptions are useful. The readings are drawn largely but not exclusively from psychology, and they are used to spur questions about the realm of society and politics.

Can theories grounded in moral universalism and democratic principles legitimate imperial domination and intervention? Modern liberal political thought emerged in tandem with European expansion into the "new world" and then into Asia and Africa, generating both critics and supporters of imperialism. Focusing on the imperial impulse in Britain, France, and the United States, this seminar examines the conceptual connections between liberal democracy and empire in political thinkers from John Locke to Niall Ferguson.

The "rights revolutions" of the 1960s and 1970s removed barriers to full citizenship for African Americans, women, and other formerly marginalized groups. But inequalities of wealth and income have grown since the 1970s. How do changing social and economic inequalities influence American democracy? This seminar explores empirical research and normative debates about political participation, about government responsiveness to citizen preferences, and about the impact of public policies on social opportunity and citizen participation.

This seminar will prepare students to think about political parties as institutional actors in political science. The first part of this course will focus on the origins of parties, looking at the history of the U.S. Republican and Democratic parties and the British Conservative, Liberal, and Labour parties. The second part of the course will expand to cover Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, and a number of other developed democracies in order to understand the full range of party types that can exist (and have existed), and to introduce students to some of the theoretical models used in researching political parties.

A study of political and economic relations between the United States and Latin American countries, and of the international relations of Latin America since 1960. Attention also given to foreign policy decision making in the US and Latin America, and to alternative approaches to the study of international relations and foreign policy.

Topics in moral philosophy and political theory that illuminate normative issues in public and professional life. Prepares undergraduate fellows across the social sciences, natural sciences, and the humanities to pursue research on normative questions.

This course addresses the question of "tough transitions." Democracy has come to many different lands in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, but its record of success once there has been remarkably variable. In this seminar we will ask two interrelated questions, drawing upon both theoretical literature and case studies: what conditions are advantageous or disadvantageous for democratic consolidation? And, in the latter instance, are there ways of overcoming less than ideal starting points?

International migrations constantly reshape politics, markets and societies. They generate challenges and opportunities for people, communities, businesses, civil society organizations, political parties, governments and international institutions. This course examines the political, social and economic consequences of migrations around the world, in both sending and receiving countries. We will study the impact of migration on citizenship, sovereignty, political regimes and platforms, economic development, inequality, human capital, as well as on political values and participation.

This one-semester course is designed to provide all Government Department concentrators with a unified and challenging intellectual experience in the study of politics. The course covers a selection of topics on the theme of "Democracy" and draws on materials ranging from classics in political theory to cutting edge research in the discipline today.

An introduction to statistical research in political science with a focus on applied multiple linear regression.

This course introduces Geographical Information Systems and their applications. GIS is a combination of software and hardware with capabilities for manipulating, analyzing and displaying spatially referenced information. The course will meet two times a week. Every week, there will be a lecture and discussion as well as a laboratory exercise where students will work with GIS software on the computer.

This course introduces students to the theoretical underpinnings and practical challenges of survey research, designed to help students better understand, interpret and critically evaluate surveys and public opinion polls.

Introduces the fundamental statistical and mapping tools needed for analysis of environmental and social policy. Topics are linked by environmental and social themes and include spatial statistics; surface estimation; raster algebra; suitability modeling and remote sensing. Students acquire technical skills in both mapping and spatial models. Software packages used include STARS - Space-Time Analysis of Regional Systems, GeoVISTA, ArcGIS, Geoda and MULTISPEC.

This course is geared toward graduate students of social sciences (such as government, education, psychology, etc.). The focus is on a conceptual understanding of vector calculus and probability, as well as applications.

Political philosophy from Machiavelli to Nietzsche, with attention to the rise and complex history of the idea of modernity.

A study of politics in Shakespeare's plays, including such topics as forms of monarchy, the influence of Machiavelli, romantic love in a political context, the difference between tragedy and comedy in political terms, nature vs. convention in politics, and the philosopher-king and utopian politics. Readings include Richard II, Henry IV Parts One and Two, Henry V, Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night's Dream, As You Like It, King Lear, and The Tempest (with background reading in political theorists such as Machiavelli).

Explores the moral, political, and scientific implications of new developments in biotechnology. Does science give us the power to alter human nature? If so, how should we exercise this power? The course examines the science and ethics of stem cell research, human cloning, sex selection, genetic engineering, eugenics, genetic discrimination, and human-animal hybrids.

The basic social science literature on Africa's development. Particular emphasis on political economy.

The Middle East is currently in the midst of a dramatic transformation since the Arab uprisings in 2011. This course situates the ongoing developments within the broader historical and political context of the region. It examines the politics of the Middle East through a variety of topics, including the modern state-building project, the legacy of empires and Western colonialism, Islam and politics, monarchies and authoritarianism, political economies, war and conflict, and the prospects for democratization.

An introduction to political life in contemporary Japan. Explores the interaction of political parties, the bureaucracy, interest groups, the media and the government, with an emphasis on the ongoing transformation of the Japanese political system. Special attention will be paid to contemporary issues, such as economic policy, social welfare programs, national security, disaster response, and administrative reform.

Introduces students to politics and political change in Latin America's largest country. Outlines historical perspectives and contemporary challenges, and examines political institutions, civil society, and contemporary politics and policy. Emphasis is on how institutional change, decentralization, and the mobilization of civil society have interacted to change the trajectory of Brazilian politics by deepening citizen participation, strengthening political parties and political representation, reforming social policy, guaranteeing citizenship rights, and ultimately reducing inequality and deepening democracy.

Elections are the foundation of American democracy. This course focuses on the simple questions: Who wins elections and why? Answers to these questions guide the interpretation of elections and evaluation of how well government represents the public preferences. The first half of the course presents the basic explanations and models of elections and voting behavior, and asks students to make their best forecast of the election. The second half of the course will examine why the models worked or didn't work. Students will learn how to interpret and analyze surveys and other data, to estimate models and make forecasts, and test arguments and models using predictions.

This course examines the psychological mechanisms behind political behaviors and institutions. Topics covered will include voting behavior, campaigns and media, partisanship, political violence, and racial attitudes. For these and other topics we will not only ask what happens but examine how human psychology makes it happen.

Provides an introduction to contemporary American constitutional law, with a principal focus on decisions by the Supreme Court of the US. Topics to be studied include freedom of speech and religion, guarantees of due process and equal protection, and the powers of Congress and the courts.

This course is both a simple introduction to game theory, and a literature review of game theoretical approaches to the study of international conflict and war. Game theory is a tool for analyzing strategic interaction between rational actors. The course will feature games like the Prisoners' Dilemma, the Chicken, and models of bargaining. Students will learn how these and related tools can be used to understand and analyze historical and current instances of international conflict. Specifically, we will try to answer questions like: why do states fight costly wars in international relations? Why do peaceful negotiations fail? How does deterrence work? Why do states get into costly arms races? How does domestic politics shape international conflict?

This course explores the causes of war. It examines the different theories that have been devised to explain organized violence between states (or groups seeking to control a state), and evaluates these competing theories by exploring several major conflicts of the past 100 years: World War I, World War II, the Cold War, the Arab-Israeli conflict, and the recent wars in the Persian Gulf. The course also considers the phenomenon of ethnic conflict, the implications of nuclear weapons and the question of whether large-scale war is becoming "obsolescent."

Analyzes the interaction of politics and economics in the international arena. Focuses on international trade, investment, monetary, and financial relations. Includes discussion of developed, developing, and formerly centrally-planned nations.

This course investigates the means through which the media and public opinion influence U.S. foreign policy. We will consider how the public learns about foreign policy, whether and when they care about it, and when political leaders will be responsive to public preferences. We will also consider the effects of real-time global news reporting and media fragmentation. The goal is to understand the interaction between the media, the public and political leaders.

Graduate-level version of Government 1000. Meets with Government 1000, an introduction to statistical research in political science with a focus on applied linear regression. Will require extra homework and examination problems in addition to those for Government 1000.

Graduate-level version of Gov. 1002. Meets with Gov. 1002, introduces theories of inference underlying most statistical methods and how new approaches are developed. Examples include discrete choice, event counts, durations, missing data, ecological inference, time-series cross sectional analysis, compositional data, causal inference, and others. Will require extra homework and examination problems in addition to those for Gov. 1002.

A graduate seminar on microeconomic modeling, covering price theory, decision theory, social choice theory, and game theory.

This course is geared to graduate students who are designing an original survey. Assignments cover core aspects of survey design. By the end of the course, students should have produced a comprehensive research plan which can be implemented or submitted as part of a proposal to a funding agency.

Explores controversies about the use of markets and market reasoning in areas such as organ sales, procreation, environmental regulation, immigration policy, military service, voting, health care, education, and criminal justice. The seminar will examine arguments for and against cost-benefit analysis, the monetary valuation of life and the risk of death, and the use of economic reasoning in public policy and law.

Surveys topics in comparative politics (both the developed and the developing world), including the rise of the modern state; institutions of government; interest mediation; democracy and authoritarianism; revolution; political parties; mass and elite political behavior; political economy.

Focusing in particular on European and Asian settings, the seminar examines debates over what civil society is, notions of public space and social capital, and the role of civil society in political transitions.

A research seminar designed to define an agenda for the comparative analysis of political developments among post-socialist systems. Emphasis placed on the formation of research proposals, methods of analysis, theory-building, and the presentation of comparative empirical research.

Designed to acquaint PhD candidates in Government with a variety of approaches that have proved useful in examining important topics in the study of American government and politics.

Considers the effects of policies and institutions in creating or reducing inequality in the US and other advanced democracies, as well as the reciprocal effects of inequality on political activity and policy choices.

This course explores ways to create and use technology to assess and solve real-world societal, political and governance problems. Case studies involve real-world data (e.g., twitter, online ads, and images). Hands-on lab format.

The course begins with the history and structure of the classic Black-White binary, then addresses ways in which it must be rethought to include other groups, mainly Asians and Latinos. Issues include racialization, immigrant incorporation, political coalitions and conflict, racial mixture, and links between race, class, gender, and ideology. Focuses on the United States but includes comparisons with Europe, Latin America, and South Africa.

This course examines statistical issues relevant to the study of international politics. The purpose is to familiarize students with different models that have been employed in research on international conflict, IPE and international institutions.

Graduate Seminar designed to introduce research questions and frontiers across political science.

Research workshop for advanced graduate students working on dissertation proposals in international relations.

Intended for graduate students in the third year and above, this course welcomes scholarship of all types and on all aspects of political economy. Intended to provide a venue in which to develop and to debate work in progress.

A forum for graduate students, faculty, and visiting scholars to present and discuss work in progress. Features a tour of Harvard's statistical innovations and applications with weekly stops in different disciplines. Occasional presentations by invited speakers.