Political Science (POSC)

An examination of the political dynamics of social, economic, security and governance problems faced in rebuilding societies that are emerging from a period of intense conflict. Emphasis on institutional and behavioral challenges brought about by conflict; strategies employed by domestic and international actors to promote democratic, just and secure societies after conflict; and standards that can be used to assess the success, failure and durability of a newly emerging political system.

This course examines the dynamics of cultural identity in Europe. It canvasses alternative theoretical approaches to identity (primordialism, instrumentalism, constructivism) and addresses the interplay among sub-national, national, and supranational identities in various European states. The course also considers the ways that political actors express and modify identities in an enlarging and increasingly multi-cultural Europe.

This course is a comprehensive consideration of the EU's institutions and the relationships among them. It analyzes the roles of the EU's institutions and advisory bodies and considers the ways that executive, legislative, judicial, and advisory institutions interact. The course also engages debates about the "democratic deficit" in Europe and considers whether changes in the Union's institutional structure might increase the quality of European democracy.

This course examines policy cycles and illuminates the range of general and sector-specific policy processes that take place in the EU and other complex decision-making environments. The course analyzes the structures of policy regimes and the ways that those structures affect the behaviors of diverse policy actors.

This course examines the functioning of Europe's national political systems. It focuses on state formation, nation building, models of democracy, territorial governance, electoral systems, party systems, legislative-executive relations, state-society dynamics, and other core elements of national governance. The course involves analysis of similarities and differences among national political models and consideration of Europeanization's effects on national governance.

This course offers a deep look into contemporary issues and debates in EU politics. The particular subject matter changes from semester to semester; contemporary issues include the EU Constitutional Treaty, enlargement to eastern Europe, relations with Turkey, and EU foreign policy. Regardless of its specific focus, the course considers the historical background of the debate, the positions of different member-states and policy players, and the likely future of the issue. The course involves guest lectures from involved policy players and requires active engagement with contemporary media coverage and scholarly literature.

In-depth exploration of specialized topics in U.S. government and politics. The topical area of each section of this course will be clarified in its online listing.

An analysis of the nature of political representation, institutional development of the national legislature, organizational structures, parliamentary procedures, and relationships with the executive and judiciary branches and with interest groups, political parties, and the media.

An in-depth exploration of mass political behavior that focuses on understanding the formation of individual attitudes and beliefs and the impact individual decisions have on election outcomes and for the quality of representative democracy.

This course will provide students with a set of conceptual frameworks with which to analyze the nature and resolution of public problems. We will conduct an in-depth examination of the political context within which public policy agendas are set, alternatives are weighed, decisions are formulated, and outcomes are implemented.

An analysis of the origin, maintenance, and mobilization of organized interests, the central role they play in the American system of government, and their influence on the public policy process.

This course examines the political actors, information flows and communication processes that shape public policy through advocacy. It introduces students to communication and advocacy practices in the context of a media system that is in constant flux. It will center on the U.S. political system augmented with comparisons to European Union institutions, processes and stakeholders.

This course offers an intensive immersion into the methods and concepts of policy analysis, with emphasis on applications involving European affairs. It introduces students to various techniques in policy forecasting, monitoring, and evaluation while discussing their potential application to policy decision-making, policy advocacy, and policy implementation. Students apply those techniques in case-based projects.

In-depth exploration of specialized topics in EU economic and social policy. The topics for each semester will vary and may include the single market, economic and monetary union, competition policy, social policy, agricultural policy, regional policy, environmental policy, energy policy, and research and development policy.

In-depth exploration of specialized topics in EU foreign policy and internal security policies. The topics for each semester will vary and may include European Union foreign policy, security and defense policy, anti-terrorism policy, immigration policy, asylum policy, human rights promotion, efforts against human trafficking, and policies regarding the protection of personal data.

This course analyzes the connections between North America and Europe. It examines the transatlantic trade and investment relationship, the transatlantic security relationship, US/EU approaches to specific global challenges and governance regimes, and the ways that developments in other world regions affect transatlantic dynamics. Students pursue transatlantic topics of interest within the policy track of specialization.

This course examines the theory and practice of choosing, attaining, managing, exploring, analyzing and presenting evidence to support policy analysis and advocacy. Informed policy-making requires the mobilization of evidence to understand the nature of policy problems and evaluate the costs and benefits of proposed solutions. This course introduces students to an essential set of data visualization tools to enable them to interpret, evaluate, construct and present visualizations.

This course will apply political science research and theory to the role of counterinsurgency and post-conflict operations in providing governance and stabilization. It will examine current military and political strategies in light of lessons learned from past operations.

A tutorial requiring students to pursue one of the following: a service learning project, a practicum or internship, or in-depth original research. Students integrate prior coursework and knowledge as they serve in government, NGO, or business settings or develop a thesis in their policy specialization area. They are further exposed to and directly maneuver within specific EU policies and procedures.

This is the capstone seminar for the program designed to address students' professional development. The course will integrate individual students' experiences and give further consideration to topical issues in the European Union. It seeks to build students' professional networks and to aid their transition into the professional realm. Coursework includes speakers, round table discussions, research colloquia and study tours.

Continued preparation in anticipation of the comprehensive examination. Course may be repeated.