Politics - Fall 1998

For a summary description of the course, please visit the course website at:

http://www.learnworld.com/Courses.html

If any of you are interested in one faculty member's version of syllabi and course materials you might check out the URL above and the following for the current quarter, which will become more complete as the quarter progresses:

http://www.learnworld.com/COURSES/P100/

http://www.learnworld.com/COURSES/P70/

This section of Politics 100, like all other politics 100s, is a seminar course focused on diverse theoretical and methodological approaches to the study of politics. The prime focus in this course will be democracy and the global order. How and why is contemporary globalization raising questions with respect to democracy at the local level? At the state level and at the global level? We will concern ourselves both with theoretical issues pertaining to democracy and globalization as well as study some concrete empirical issues. Readings for this course will include David Held, Democracy and the Global Order; Anthony Birch, The Concepts and Theories of Modern Democracy; Merilee Grindle, Challenging the State: Crisis and Innovation in Latin America and Africa. Students can expect to read 100-150 pages a week for this seminar and to write at least five short 4-5 page papers concerned with seminar readings and discussions. Students will be evaluated both on their written and oral performance in the seminar.

If you want to understand what happens in Washington, DC and why, this course offers a comprehensive picture of the forces at work in our national government.

Politics 120A examines the political development, behavior, performance, and significance of the central governmental institutions of the United States--Congress, the presidency, and the Supreme Court -- with an emphasis on the historical development of Congress and the presidency and their interactions.

Politics 120A satisfies the American History and Institutions requirement and is appropriate for students in Legal Studies, American Studies, History, and Environmental Studies, as well as any other interested non-Politics majors.

The aim of this course is to acquire the tools with which to better understand contemporary international affairs. Readings will include some history of what has transpired in the past to help us explain contemporary affairs. We will read some case studies to help us understand events and help us learn how students of international affairs apply theories and approaches to better understand global politics. We will examine international actors: states, intergovernmental institutions (UN, EU, NATO, NAFTA); non-state actors&emdash;non-governmental organizations (GreenPeace, Amnesty International, etc.); transnational corporations and the role of individual leaders. We will look at resources for action-power (economic, military, knowledge) and techniques; diplomacy, propaganda, international law, etc.

Students can expect to read 100-150 pages per week in assigned texts and read a daily quality newspaper.

Written work will include three to four short take-home essays (4-5 pages). Essays will call for an integration of required readings and lecture materials. There will also be an in-class midterm. In addition each student will be asked to follow one issue area in the newspaper and produce several one- to two- page analyses of the news issue. Lecture and weekly discussion section attendance is mandatory.

Revised 7/19/04.