The University of New Mexico Department of Political Science Spring, 2015, Course Descriptions

Transcription

1 The University of New Mexico Department of Political Science Spring, 2015, Course Descriptions UNDERGRADUATE COURSES The Political World Kierst This course is designed to help students make sense of the political events about which they hear, see and read every day. The course should provide students with a basis for more clearly understanding and participating in the world of politics, and for studying it in more depth. (Students who have already taken courses in Political Science may not count this course towards the major). CRNs below include days and times of lab component for this course: CRN (F 10:00-10:50), (F 10:00-10:50), (T 11:00-11:50), (W 12:00-12:50) American Politics Krebs This course provides an overview of American politics and government at the national level. We survey core areas of interest in the field with two primary goals in mind, both of which are designed to sharpen our citizenship skills. First, we seek to enhance our ability to describe, interpret and understand the political process. Second, we seek to become better consumers of information related to politics and government in the U.S. The course is designed for those seeking to fulfill a core course requirement and for beginning political science majors. There are no prerequisites American Politics Hellwege This course introduces you to the systematic and rigorous study of American Politics. The course offers an understanding of the forces that influence the behavior of individuals and institutions in and around government. In particular, we focus on the factors that help shape attitudes and behaviors of actors within the political system. These actors include voters, the media, political activists, candidates, members of Congress, and the President. The framework we develop permits the critical examination of representative government in American national politics: How is it supposed to work? Where does it fail and why? How can it be made to work more successfully? The course is designed to generate knowledge of basic concepts in the study of American Politics, foster critical thinking skills, and encourage civic engagement American Politics Feezell This course is designed to provide students with an introduction to American government and politics. It prepares students to think analytically about the interplay of concepts, people, institutions, and theoretical explanations in American politics. This course covers how American citizens interact with governmental institutions to form public policy, the principles on which the U.S. government rests, and the dynamics of American institutions such as: Congress, the presidency, the judiciary, bureaucracy, political parties and interest groups. We will also examine the roll the media play in shaping public opinion as well as the value of political knowledge and civic engagement American Politics Hess (Online Class) This online course is an introduction and survey of the institutions and processes of American politics. We will examine the structures, goals, actions and impacts of American governments, as well as look at the basic questions that drive our political processes today. Through readings, online lectures and presentations, exams and individual and group participation, we will explore answers together. Political Science majors will find this course to be a building block to more advanced courses. Non-majors will gain a greater understanding of our various levels and institutions of government and the processes behind

2 them. Upon completion of this course, students should be able to understand the basic principles that drive politics in America. The course starts with the definition of politics, moves through the institutions of government, and finally focuses on those who are affected by and participate in the political process. Note that all online courses carry a $100 Extended University flat fee Comparative Politics Htun Why do some countries turn into stable democracies while others suffer from civil war, military coups, and violent insurgencies? What explains why East Asia, but not Africa, became wealthy? Why do popular protests achieve their objectives in some cases but not others? How can we account for the varied development and performance of the state, political parties, and other institutions across different countries and regions? Answering these questions and many others, this course offers an introduction to the academic field of comparative politics. It covers the historical, core concerns of the field including the development of the modern state, forms of political regime, democratization, nationalism, political parties and electoral systems, racial formation and ethnic conflict, the relationship between the state and the market, and the formation of political identities. Readings and examples are drawn from all regions of the world. CRNs below include times of lab component for this course, all meeting on Friday: Course registration no (F 11:00-11:50), (11:00-11:50), (F 10:00-10:50) (F 2:00-2:50) International Politics Bosin Analyzes significant factors in world politics, including nationalism, national interest, ideology, international conflict and collaboration, balance of power, deterrence, international law and international organization International Politics Wolff This course is designed to introduce students to the field of International Relations. It will do so by surveying the key theoretical frameworks and critical perspectives of the field, along with a host of substantive issues pertaining to conflict and cooperation in the international system. Students will become familiar with the historical context of international affairs, world geography, and the basic principles of international economics. The course is designed both for the student who wants to pursue a degree in political science and for those who merely seek a deeper understanding of current political events International Politics Lanucara The objective of this course is to provide students with a general understanding of international politics issues and develop their critical thinking. The course will cover key definitions and concepts, central topics and debates, principles, theories, and practical policy issues essential for understanding global politics in the modern age, combining lectures and class discussion. Specific attention will be dedicated to the relationship with the European Union Political Ideas Appelbaum This course provides an introductory survey of classical and modern political theory. Emphasis is placed on textual analysis of primary documents. Throughout the semester, we will explore a variety of questions, including the following: A) what is political theory? B) how have major political theories changed and developed over time? Public Policy & Administration Gonzalez-Aller The objectives of this introductory course in public policy are twofold. The first objective is to develop a basic understanding of the ways that government deals with problems affecting society. We will explore the political tools used in the analysis of public policy problems, as well as the political environment in which public policies are formulated. Additionally, several specific public policy problems will be

3 analyzed during the semester. For each topic, we will try to understand the goals that the government and society seem to be seeking, the motivations for such, alternative means for achieving those goals, the benefits and costs of the various alternatives, and the impact of politics on those goals. The second objective is to understand how as students of public policy we measure, assign value, and evaluate public policies. We will primarily examine policymaking at the U.S. national level, but we will also look at examples at the state and local and/or international level Public Policy & Administration Prindeville (Online Class) This course provides an overview of the U.S. political system as it relates to the formulation of public policy. Students examine: (1) What is public policy, who makes it, and why study it? (2) The process, structure, and context of policymaking, (3) Institutional and non-institutional actors, (4) Rules, strategies, culture, and resources, (5) Theories of the policy process. Introduces public policy and bureaucracy, including decision-making and implementation. Note that all online courses carry a $100 Extended University flat fee Introduction to Political Analysis Hansen This course is an introduction to scientific methods of research in political science. Students will learn how to design a research project, develop hypotheses, generate and collect data, test hypotheses through data analysis, and explain results. Students will learn basic statistical skills using SPSS, a statistical software package widely used in business, government, and education. No prior computer or statistical skills are required; but students will find a basic understanding of algebra very helpful. This course carries a $25.00 Lab Fee Introduction to Political Analysis Ortiz Explores the discovery of causal patterns in political behavior, evaluation of the effectiveness of political reforms and campaign techniques, analysis of the logic of scientific research and related topics. No knowledge of statistics, computers or research methods assumed. This course carries a $25.00 Lab Fee Introduction to Political Analysis Adams (Online Class) Statistics and data are increasingly important to society, from economic forecasts that shape policy to decisions of whether or not a new drug should be approved by the FDA. This course aims to provide students with the tools to critically evaluate empirical research presented both in academic political science and in the news media. Additionally, students will learn basic statistical analysis techniques. No knowledge of statistics, computers or research methods assumed. Note that all online courses carry a $100 Extended University flat fee. This course also carries a $25.00 Lab Fee Internship Krebs Interns will be in a unique position to observe the operation of the New Mexico state legislature firsthand. Each intern will work full-time during one week of the regular legislative session, receive a stipend to help cover their Santa Fe expenses, and receive one hour of academic credit (granted on a credit/no credit basis) upon completion of the internship. Submission of a daily internship journal and a short summary paper is required. Registration requires the permission of the instructor Topics: Comparative Health Policy McFarlane This class provides an overview of comparative health systems. Within the larger context of history, macroeconomics, and their respective political systems, the health care systems in both rich and poor countries throughout the world are examined, including their facilities, workforces, and technology and equipment. We will evaluate how well each health care system is doing in terms of cost, quality, access, and other issues. We will also cover some of the public health interventions which have added the more years to human life expectancy than has medical care. Additionally, we examine the social determinants of health, allowing us to assess what health policies and health services can and cannot accomplish. Each

4 student will choose an OECD country and a non-oecd country to follow throughout the semester for his or her individual research project Topics: Congress and the President Harris Enrollment in this course is restricted and open only to five previously-selected Congressional interns, working the spring semester in Washington, DC Topics: Congressional Processes Grigsby Enrollment in this course is restricted and open only to five previously-selected Congressional interns, working the spring semester in Washington, DC Topics: Political Communication Feezell This class examines the role that media play in shaping political institutions and political behavior in contemporary American politics. We will explore how the various media institutions select and convey information as well as how media is received, or to what degree information influences how Americans think and what they think about. This course will explore traditional as well as alternative media formats, including broadcast news, newspapers, documentaries, music, political cartoons, and the Internet. We will address many topics including the development of media in America, media effects and manipulation, media ownership, political representation, public opinion and attitude formation, media in campaigns, and the development, use and regulation of the Internet. Ultimately, this course is intended to illustrate media influence at the individual-level as well as the general role of the mass media in the democratic process Politics of Urban Management Krebs American cities face tremendous challenges. Chief among them is how to meet the basic service demands of city residents, while doing so in an environment of fiscal constraint. At the heart of this challenge is accomplishing this goal without compromising the overall fiscal health of the city. One solution is better management of city resources, keeping in mind the political context within which issues of management are decided. In this course we examine the politics of urban management. Topics include: the environment of urban management, intergovernmental relations, city government institutions and actors, policy process, urban service delivery, personnel, urban planning and development, and urban budget and finance. We will also study recent urban education reform efforts Law in the Political Community Ganjei The purpose of this course is twofold: to introduce students to the principal features of the American legal system as a part of the political system, and perhaps more importantly, to equip the students with a set of analytical tools that they can use to analyze how actors and institutions operate within this system and why they behave in certain ways. With a critical eye, we will explore how the law functions as a tool and an institution of government, the presidency, the judiciary, the bureaucracy, etc. Furthermore, we will examine the role played by the court system in the formation and implementation of public policy Law in the Political Community Wright (Online Class) The purpose of this course is twofold: to introduce students to the principal features of the American legal system as a part of the political system, and perhaps more importantly, to equip the students with a set of analytical tools that they can use to analyze how actors and institutions operate within this system and why they behave in certain ways. With a critical eye, we will explore how the law functions as a tool and an institution of government, the presidency, the judiciary, the bureaucracy, etc. Furthermore, we will examine the role played by the court system in the formation and implementation of public policy. Note that all online courses carry a $100 Extended University flat fee The Legislative Process Harris

5 Enrollment in this course is restricted and open only to five previously-selected Congressional interns, working the spring semester in Washington, DC Constitutional Law Liberties Kierst This class will grapple with one of the most challenging and important issues confronting a free society: how to protect a maximum amount of personal liberty while at the same time maintaining the order without which liberty is useless. The Constitution of the United States takes a particular approach to that question, based upon a particular understanding of the nature human liberty and the government created to protect it. We will examine the Supreme Court's interpretation of the Constitution's treatment of these issues, and how the Court's work reflects its role in the American political process. Prerequisite: POLS Constitutional Law Rights Kierst No ideas are more central to American constitutionalism than Equal Protection of the Laws and Due Process of Law. This course will examine what the Constitution means by those two concepts, and how the Supreme Court has interpreted them over the years. This study will cause us to examine what as a society we mean by "equality", and how we seek to create an equal society, and what we mean by "justice" as we try to create a just society. We will also necessarily focus on the role of the Supreme Court in determining those meanings, and advancing those goals. Prerequisite: POLS Topics: European Union Politics Lanucara Having as a starting point the uniqueness of the European Union, which has achieved a federal structure in some fields while remaining at the level of a traditional intergovernmental organization in other fields, this course aims at fostering an up to date understanding of the Union by focusing on some the main political and economic current issues, as well as on policies of particular interest to the USA and their international strategies Political Development in Latin America Niedzwiecki This course offers an overview of Latin American politics and development. It targets students who seek to understand how Latin American societies and governments function and what major challenges these countries are facing. By the end of the semester, students will be able to identify the diverse and historically contingent contexts of Latin American countries in terms of their levels of economic development, their quality of democracy, their systems of government, and their human welfare. The class will emphasize four periods and their legacies: (1) populist politics and initial industrialization since the 1930s, (2) the emergence of authoritarian regimes in the 1960s and 1970s, (3) transitions to democracy and economic liberalization in the 1980s and 1990s, and (4) the commodity boom and new left of the 2000s. In addition, we will discuss thematic topics such as gender and indigenous politics, and social policies, poverty, and inequality. The course will emphasize both general trends in the region and deeper knowledge of specific countries, through comparative case studies of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Cuba, Mexico, and Venezuela. The overarching question that we will aim to answer throughout this course is: Which economic factors shape politics and societies, and how does politics, in turn, shape economic outcomes? The only prerequisite for taking this course is a general curiosity about Latin American politics Civil Wars Wolff Today civil wars account for the vast majority of armed conflict around the world (and the resulting human misery), far more than wars between states. But why do civil wars occur, and how can they be resolved? This course attempts to answer these questions by employing various theoretical frameworks to examine past and current civil wars in Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America.

6 International Peacekeeping Stanley Since 1945, there have five times as many civil wars as interstate wars, and the death toll from these wars has been five times as high as that from interstate wars at over 16.5 million. Civil wars are responsible for mass flows of refugees and the international spread of disease. They frequently spawn additional civil wars in neighboring countries. By disrupting state authority, civil wars create havens for terrorist organizations. Ninety five percent of world production of hard drugs takes place in countries with ongoing civil wars. Civil wars have provided the context for genocide. This course examines international actions to resolve civil wars and to address other threats to international peace and security, including civil war-related humanitarian emergencies. The course begins with a brief survey of the causes and consequences of civil war and genocides. We review the international legal basis, available institutions, and strategies for intervention to promote peace or to stop mass killings. The course then turns to a series of case studies of interventions in civil wars by the United Nations, regional organizations, and individual states. Among the goals of the course are to identify emerging international norms regarding limits to sovereignty and the authority of multilateral actors, to discuss the design of civil war settlements, and examine the legal, political, and operational challenges associated with peace operations. Assignments include weekly readings, active participation, quizzes, midterm and final exams, and a paper. This course pairs well with POLS 441 Civil Wars Internship Krebs Interns will be in a unique position to observe the operation of the New Mexico state legislature firsthand. Each intern will work full-time during one week of the regular legislative session, receive a stipend to help cover their Santa Fe expenses, and receive one hour of academic credit (granted on a credit/no credit basis) upon completion of the internship. Submission of a daily internship journal and a short summary paper is required Internship Grigsby Enrollment in this course is restricted and open only to five previously-selected Congressional interns, working the spring semester in Washington, DC Junior Honors Seminar Rocca The purpose of this course is to teach you about conducting your own political science research. The course will also help prepare you to do an honors project and thesis in your senior year (should you wish to pursue that option). In particular, you will read and evaluate published research papers and previous honors theses; you will also undertake a small-scale individual research project and write a report based on your research. We will cover such topics as framing a question for original research, thinking theoretically, finding appropriate data, undertaking rigorous analysis, and writing for a social science audience. Excellent work in this seminar is a prerequisite for continuing in the honors sequence as a senior. The course is open to juniors with a GPA in Political Science of at least 3.5 (3.2 overall). Students interested in participating in the seminar should submit a writing sample and advisement transcript to the departmental honors advisor prior to enrolling. Political Science 280 is strongly recommended, either as a prerequisite or in conjunction with this course Seminar: Qualitative Research Methods Koivu Course description appears under below Seminar: American Politics Rocca Enrollment in this course is restricted and open only to five previously-selected Congressional interns, working the spring semester in Washington, DC.

7 Seminar: American Minority Group Politics Sanchez, G. Course description appears under below Seminar: Comparative Welfare States Niedzwiecki Course description appears under below Seminar: International Relations Powers Course description appears under below Seminar: Public Policy McFarlane Course description appears under below. GRADUATE COURSES Seminar: American Minority Group Politics Sanchez, G. This class will examine the history and contemporary role of racial and ethnic minority groups in the U.S. political system. More specifically, this is a graduate seminar for students interested in race, and ethnicity and how these important factors influence political behavior and political and policy outcomes in the United States. We will cover research on the African American, Latino, Asian American, and Native American populations, however the course will not be limited to only these topics. For example, we will review work on the role of religious-ethnic minorities in American politics where appropriate. We will focus largely on political relationships among and between minorities as they relate to political participation, party affiliation, and public opinion more generally. For the first 200 years of its history, the United States passed laws to restrict the rights of racial and ethnic minorities to purposely keep them outside the political system. In recent years, there has been a growing trend by political parties and politicians to court minority voters and promote diversity. Why is this the case? Is this real outreach or symbolic politics? During this semester we will take up this debate and explore the current state of racial and ethnic politics in the U.S. The primary assignment for the course will be the development of a manuscript suitable for journal submission based on a topic related to the course. We will workshop drafts of these papers similar to the peer-review process associated with publication in academic journals Topics: Public Opinion Atkeson This is a public opinion methodology class. We will focus on the principles, methods and techniques related to doing public opinion research. These include designing, conducting, and analyzing surveys, sampling procedures, questionnaire construction, data collection and processing. In addition, we will discuss IRB issues and the ethics of polling. Finally, we will spend some time considering the theories of opinion formation Topics: Qualitative Research Methods Koivu This seminar offers a broad introduction to the field of comparative methodology, conventionally regarded as qualitative methods for the analysis of a relatively small number of cases. The goal of this course is to enable students to create and critique research designs in the social sciences. The course focuses on recent methodological writings, substantive examples from various subfields of political science, and classical pieces. The course also includes readings from the broader social sciences (sociology and history) in addition to political science. The course assumes no background in qualitative methodology.

8 The seminar will begin with a focus on the philosophy of science and causal inference. The seminar will then delve into the central issues of qualitative research design, such as case studies, cross-case comparison, typological theory, case selection, process tracing, counterfactual analysis, and set theory. It concludes with student presentations of qualitative research designs and constructive critiques by seminar participants Seminar: Comparative Welfare States Niedzwiecki This course is a research seminar on the characteristics and politics of welfare states. We will discuss the ways in which political, institutional, and social dynamics shape policies aimed at providing social security, combating poverty, redistributing wealth, and promoting health, education, and gender equality. In so doing, we will compare social policies and their outcomes across countries and regions. In the first part of the course we will discuss theories of the welfare state that originated in advanced capitalist democracies, including Western Europe and the United States. The course will then look at the emerging literature on comparative social policy in developing countries, focusing on Eastern Europe, East Asia, and Latin America. We will devote the last four weeks to the debates surrounding the emergence and development of Latin American social states Seminar: International Relations Powers Pending receipt of description Seminar: Public Policy McFarlane Public policy focuses on the public and its problems. As such, the academic study of public policy is concerned with how issues and problems come to be defined and constructed as well as how they are placed on the public agenda. Public policy scholars also examine how, why, and to what effect governments pursue particular courses of action or inaction. Public policy analysis also encompasses the use of analytical techniques in problem definition, decision-making and evaluation and implementation. Within the study of public policy, there is a schism between those who want to influence policy and those who wish to understand it. This class focuses upon both theories of the policy process as well as the practice of policy analysis. While these two themes may appear discordant, both concerns are very much at the core of current developments in public policy subfield of political science. This course emphasizes policy theories that have been developed within political science, but also examines interdisciplinary applications in policy analysis. Aims of the Course: 1. Present an overview of public policy literature, emphasizing the contributions from political science 2. Analyze the application of these theories in the journal literature 3. Provide a foundation for students conducting empirical public policy research Advanced Statistical Analysis Hansen This course is designed to provide advanced students of political science with the tools and knowledge that they need to understand and carry out quantitative research. This course should give you a solid foundation for taking advanced methods classes outside the political science department. The course will emphasize econometric methods, beginning with regression analysis, but will also incorporate a session on basic math tools (esp. calculus: derivatives and integrals, and matrix algebra). The ultimate goal of the course is that you understand when and how to apply a variety of econometric models, how to test hypotheses that are based on carefully constructed causal models, and how to deal with problems that arise when basic assumptions of classical models are violated. Beyond regression, we will cover a variety of commonly used econometric models such as limited dependent variable models (logit, probit, tobit, event count and other categorical models), selection models, simultaneous equation models, and crosssectional time series. This course carries a $25.00 Lab Fee.