A comprehensive study of national government in the United States.

An introduction to empirical research in political science.

A thorough examination of the U.S. Supreme Court in the American political system. Focusing on the Court as an institution-the set of norms, rules, and policymaking processes that lead to the Supreme Court's decisions-and how justices' decision-making processes critically determine substantive legal policy and the meaning of the U.S. Constitution.

The rapid ascent of the People's Republic of China (PRC) as a major political and economic power has meant that its relationship with the United States has become central in contemporary international politics. To an increasing extent, some of the biggest global challenges require U.S.-China cooperation if they are to be managed effectively. Yet the U.S.-China relationship is at times turbulent, and its future remains highly uncertain.

Examines some of the salient continuities and breaks between the ancient and modern traditions in Western political philosophy.

Examines some of the salient continuities and breaks between the ancient and modern traditions in Western political philosophy.

An overview of modern environmental philosophy, politics, and policy, exploring environmental politics in the US by way of comparison with other developed and developing countries.

An introduction to the comparative study of politics and governance, including the analytical concepts for studies of politics and a survey of the major types of regimes, including democratic and authoritarian/communist regimes.

Focus on three processes of international environmental policy development- identifying problems, negotiating solutions, and implementing agreements- through a range of case studies, including global climate change.

Serves as the gateway course for the Minor in International Development and Conflict Management. Provides an introductory foundation in the theory and practice of international development and conflict management. Introduces the structures, key players, intersections, and main trends in the evolution of the fields. Explores causal factors that drive economic growth, poverty, inequality, and conflict, as well as the resources, methods, and tools available to track and address these issues.

The application of major concepts of political science to the realities of the political process. The course connects internship experiences with larger themes of political science. Students must be admitted to the GVPT Internship Program.

Introduction to game theory with applications to political science, economics and sociology. Topics include preference theory, expected utility theory, Nash equilibria, subgame perfection, repeated games, folk theorems, and evolutionary stability.

Seminar

A series of critical tools and methods used to analyze environmental policy. This class should be of interest to students who are either considering a career or graduate studies in environmental protection.

In this course students will learn how to apply theories of public polic y and evaluate policy effectiveness. Students will examine several policy areas and consider the challenges faced both in implementation and in attempts to evaluate policy outcomes. Students will collect and analyze data related to a policy area of their choice and derive assessments and recommendations from the data. By the end of the course students will have a better understanding of the policy implementation process and of the skills necessary to find evidence for whether or not policy is successful.

This class covers normative theories of individual and group decision-making. Theoretical results are compared with experimental data to identify common decision errors. Cases and applications are drawn from all social sciences.

A systematic inquiry into the general principles of the American constitutional system, with special reference to the role of the judiciary in the interpretation and enforcement of the federal constitution.

The purpose of this course is to explore the various facets of the First Amendment. Why protect speech and the practice of religion? Are these “special?” What is speech? What is religion? Do rights to speech and religion trump other rights?

This course is a critical review of the major theories of social justice that have emerged from the history of Western political thought. It begins by presenting the dominant strain of liberalism underpinning Western Democracies. It then surveys challenges raised by the disparate experiences of women, people of color, and other historically marginalized groups. The course concludes by considering the future when white Americans will be a minority, and the implications for culture and traditional social norms.

Examination of the definition, causes and organization of terrorist activity, along with key domestic and international counter- and anti-terrorism responses. Special emphasis on challenges and opportunities to the scientific study of terrorism.

The principles and machinery of the conduct of American foreign relations, with emphasis on the Departments of State and Defense, and an analysis of the major foreign policies of the United States.

This course examines the multiple ways in which race and ethnicity become meaningful categories shaping political behavior. We will examine how race and ethnicity are socially constructed, why people accept (and sometimes reject) the categories imposed on them, and how categories and identities become drivers of political behavior. The course takes a comparative perspective on identity politics, looking at cases from multiple regions around the world.

This course surveys the big debates about the nature of democracy and democratization. The course is organized around five broad themes: 1) core concepts and definitions of democracies and non-democratic regimes, 2) the nature and causes of democratization, 3) democratic principles, 4) democratic forms and institutional variation, and 5) contemporary issues in democratic politics, including democratic backsliding.

India has a well-established reputation for violating social science generalizations" -India After Gandhi, by Ramachandra Guha. Starting with its origins as an independent country and over the following seven decades, there has been speculation about whether India would stay united or would sustain its democratic institutions. Yet, in a relatively short period of time of seventy-five years, India s political system has become an example of a consolidated democracy in Asia.

This course examines revolution as a means of political and social change. In the first part of the course, we will examine competing theories about the causes, processes, actors and outcomes of revolution. In the second part of the course, we will apply these theories and approaches to case studies of contemporary revolutions from the 19th century to thepresent.

A study of the structure, procedures and policies of state governments with special emphasis on intergovernmental relationships, and with illustrations from Maryland governmental arrangements.

A descriptive and analytical examination of American political parties, nominations, elections, and political leadership.

The purpose of this course is to assist students in gaining an understanding of the relationship of people of African descent in the United States to the political system and other structures of power. We critically engage several themes/topics including Black political philosophies and ideologies, electoral politics, Black and mainstream political institutions, political behavior and psychology, gender politics, and public policy. We will also analyze and discuss the informal political spaces that serve as sites for Black politics including social media, entertainment, and pop culture.

This is a seminar for students in the GVPT Honors program. A comparative study of the governmental systems and political processes of the Latin American countries.

Examines major theories of both international and civil wars and reviews major empirical studies that test theories of conflict. The topics include the onset of armed conflict, the duration and outcomes of wars, and the durability of peace in the aftermath of wars. The focus is on developing an understanding of central debates in the literature and primary empirical findings from quantitative and cross-national analyses that are of policy relevance.

Introduction to quantitiative methods of data analysis, with emphasis on statistical methods and computer usage. Measures of association, probability, correlation, linear regression estimation techniques, introductory analysis of variance, and use of package computer programs.

Investigate how citizens in a democracy think about politics, form attitudes, and how public opinion shapes and is shaped by the political environment. While being exposed to core debates in public opinion and the study of public opinion, students will use a number of surveys that have been central to advancing our knowledge of public opinion.

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Major issues in international political economy including such matters as the monetary system, trade, debt, and development.

An overview and critical analysis of contemporary theory on international organizations and global governance.