20. Topics in Comparative Government
This course will enable regular or visiting faculty members to examine topics in Comparative Politics not treated in the established curriculum. Subjects may therefore vary each time the course is offered. Dist. varies.
Development in Emerging Economies
Countries in developing regions of the world face a number of unique challenges within a globalized economy as their financial and trade links become ever closely intertwined with those of powerful, developed countries that dominate international economic institutions. Drawing on a wide range of case studies, this course investigates some of these new developments in the world economy. What strategies can developing countries adapt in order to develop most efficiently in a global market-oriented economy? How can a country maximize its chances for economic success, and what precisely is the role of international financial and trade institutions in their development? Readings in this course range from theoretical academic writings on development strategies to policy pieces written by local practitioners and by those working for international financial and trade institutions. Dist: SOC or INT; WCult: NW.
Elections and Reform
This course examines the problem of how politicians and policies are selected by citizens. Politicians fight tenaciously to shape the rules under which they compete because how elections are conducted has enormous impact on what sorts of choices voters are offered, what sorts of coalitions politicians form, and whose interests get represented. This course investigates what rules matter, and why. It draws from a broad array of cases to illustrate the most important issues at stake in current electoral reforms around the world, and here in the United States. Dist: SOC.
The Rise of China
The rise of China is one of the most important developments that took place after the end of the Cold War. Today, China claims its rightful status as a rising great power. In this course, we will examine three facets of China's rise: economic, military, and cultural. We will begin by analyzing the reasons for China's remarkable economic growth after 1978 and by examining the multiple challenges that make the sustainability of this growth questionable. We will then turn to China's military modernization and will focus on some scenarios under which China's military prowess could be a threat to the US. We will end this course by examining China's attempt to build soft power through cultural diplomacy, such as the opening of Confucius institutes around the world and the hosting of the 2008 Olympics. By the end of the course, students will have a more balanced view of the dangers and opportunities that China's rise affords for the future of international relations. Dist. SOC, WCult. NW
21. Welfare State Politics
After 1945, "political settlements" in the industrial democracies involved the construction of welfare states. Governments used policy instruments to promote full employment and to guarantee to all citizens a certain standard of housing, health care, education, and financial security. Since the 1970s, the democratic welfare state in its varied forms has come under sustained challenge- from diverse quarters. Why? What arguments have been used against it? What alternatives have been proposed? Does the challenge herald a new type of state and a new type of politics--perhaps even a new understanding of "democracy"? To explore these questions, we will look both at theoretical texts justifying or criticizing the welfare state and at empirical cases, comparing politics and policy in democratic welfare states such as the United States, Britain, France, and Germany. Prerequisite: Government 3 or 4. Dist: SOC or INT.
22. Righting Wrongs
This course examines the intellectual and political issues that arise as societies try to cope with the legacies of past injustice (including slavery, genocide, and colonialism). Dist: SOC or INT. Class of 2008 and later: WCult: CI.
23. Politics of Asian Development
This course provides an introduction to the newly industrializing countries (NICs) of East Asia: Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore. The course examines two major questions: First, why did these countries grow so rapidly during certain stages of their economic development? Second, what were the political foundations that provided the basis for their respective development paths? Topics to be covered include alternative explanations for the economic development experience of these countries, the politics of economic policy-making, the role of specific policies in the process of industrialization, historical influences on economic growth, and the impact that growth has had on the process of democratization. Prerequisite: Government 4 or by permission of the instructor. Dist: SOC or INT; WCult: NW.
25. Problems of Political Development: India, South Africa and China
Is democratic government always better than the alternatives? In the contemporary world, what is the relationship between economic development, democratic politics, and political order? What kinds of justice does democracy promote? This course will address these questions by examining institutional arrangements, elite politics, and popular movements in India, South Africa, and China. Prerequisite: Government 4 or the permission of the instructor. Dist: SOC or INT; WCult: NW.
28. Democracy and Democratic Theory
The democratic movement has changed the politics of countries throughout Eastern Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America during the last two decades. But whether each of the countries that has adopted democratic forms will actually practice democracy is another question. To understand what is involved, we will discuss what constitutes democracy, which factors and processes facilitate and which inhibit its adoption and its institutionalization. We will consider the contemporary challenges to democracy in terms of both the great issues posed by democratic theorists and philosophers and the authoritarian, military, religious, ethnic, and economic problems faced by countries undergoing democratization. Prerequisite: Government 4, Government 6, or any 20s or 40s series course, or by permission of instructor. Dist: SOC or INT.
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