Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Bulletin of Yale University
 
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Political Science

124 Prospect, 432.5241
www.yale.edu/polisci/
M.A., M.Phil., Ph.D.

Chair
Peter Swenson

Director of Graduate Studies
Kenneth Scheve

Professors
Bruce Ackerman, Akhil Amar (Law), Seyla Benhabib, Paul Bracken (Management), David Cameron, John Gaddis (History), Alan Gerber, Donald Green, Jacob Hacker, Stathis Kalyvas, David Mayhew, Barry Nalebuff (Management), Douglas Rae, John Roemer, Susan Rose-Ackerman, Frances Rosenbluth, Bruce Russett, Nicholas Sambanis, Kenneth Scheve, James Scott, Ian Shapiro, Stephen Skowronek, Steven Smith, Susan Stokes, Alec Stone Sweet, Peter Swenson, Ivan Szelenyi (Sociology), John Wargo (Forestry & Environmental Studies), Elisabeth Wood

Associate Professors
Gregory Huber, Pierre Landry, Ellen Lust-Okar, James Vreeland

Assistant Professors
Khalilah Brown-Dean, Daniel Butler, Seok-ju Cho, Keith Darden, Ana De La O, Thad Dunning, Justin Fox, Bryan Garsten, Ange-Marie Hancock, Susan Hyde, Karuna Mantena, Andrew March, Nikolay Marinov, Paulina Ochoa Espejo, Ato Kwanema Onoma, Vivek Sharma, Ebonya Washington

Fields of Study

Fields include contemporary theory, political philosophy, international relations, comparative politics, American politics, political economy, empirical methods, and formal theory.

Special Admissions Requirement

The department requires that scores from the GRE General Test accompany an application.

Special Requirements for the Ph.D. Degree

Students are required to pass sixteen term courses before the end of their fifth term in the program and to receive a grade of Honors in at least two Political Science courses. Two of the courses may be in departments other than Political Science. Students are normally expected to complete eight courses in the first year, including the required Introduction to the Study of Politics given in the fall term each year, which is graded on a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis.

As part of the second year of courses, all students are required to take the two-term course in Research and Writing, which is devoted to the preparation of a manuscript based on original research on a topic of the student’s choice. The course is conducted as a seminar including all second-year students and directed by two members of the faculty. Performance in the first-term course (540a) is graded on a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis. The second-term course (541b) carries conventional letter grades that are assigned retroactively to 540a at the end of the second term.

All students must take a one-term graduate-level course in statistical methods, successful completion of which satisfies the statistics requirement. The statistics requirement, the first-year introductory course, and the second-year Research and Writing sequence will count as four of the sixteen credits needed to advance to candidacy.

Each student must demonstrate elementary reading competence in one foreign language. Such competence is usually demonstrated by taking, or having completed, two years of undergraduate course work or by examination. Alternatively the language requirement can be satisfied by successfully completing two terms of formal theory or two terms of statistical methods at the graduate level, in addition to the required course in statistical methods.

Courses are offered in six substantive fields—contemporary theory, political philosophy, international relations, comparative politics, American politics, and political economy—and two methods fields—empirical methods and formal theory. The department also allows students in exceptional cases to petition for the creation of a special field of study which will be certified by successful completion of a comprehensive examination created by the field advisers. Each student must demonstrate competence in four fields by the end of the fifth term, including at least two of the substantive fields. Competence can be demonstrated either by passing the comprehensive examination in the field or by course work, provided that each student takes at least two comprehensive exams. For fields to be certified by course work students are required to satisfactorily complete three courses in the field, including one in which a research paper or other independent project is presented.

In order to be admitted to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree, the student must have a prospectus approved by a dissertation director and two other members of the faculty. This must occur by no later than May 1 of the student’s third year of study.

Students are admitted to candidacy by the end of the third year, but only after completion of all requirements, including the Introduction to the Study of Politics course, Research and Writing, the statistics course, the necessary field distributions and certifications, and approval of the dissertation prospectus.

Almost without exception, those who successfully complete the Ph.D. in Political Science will join the faculties of colleges and universities. For that reason, learning what is involved in teaching and gaining teaching experience are also essential and central components of graduate education. The department normally expects students to devote themselves exclusively to course work and comprehensive examinations in their first two years in the Ph.D. program. Students in Political Science typically teach in their third and fourth years.

During each year in residence, graduate students are expected to participate actively and regularly in one or more of the many research workshops run by the department. Students beyond their fourth term are required to enroll in at least one of the workshops for credit, and all workshops are graded on a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis. All students are expected to present a research paper of their own at one of these workshops before the end of their fourth year. Workshop participation does not count toward the requirement of sixteen term courses.

Joint Ph.D. degrees are available with African American Studies and the Law School. Students must apply to and be accepted by both programs independently. Consult those programs for details.

Master’s Degrees

M.Phil. The academic requirements for the M.Phil. degree are the same as for the Ph.D. degree except for the completion of the dissertation.
M.A. (en route to the Ph.D.). The M.A. degree is awarded upon completion of a full year of course work in the program (i.e., at least eight term courses) with an average of High Pass or better. The courses must include one each in at least three of the department’s substantive fields and a graduate-level course in statistical analysis. Language requirements are the same as for the Ph.D. degree.


Program materials are available upon request to the Director of Graduate Studies, Political Science Department, Yale University, PO Box 208301, New Haven CT 06520-8301.

Courses

Empirical Analysis and Research Methodology

PLSC 500a, Statistics.  Daniel Butler.
 WF 9.25–11.15
The goal of this course is to introduce basic statistical theory and techniques for Political Science graduate students. The first part of the course covers probability theory, and the second part is devoted to estimation and inference, including an introduction to the classic multiple linear regression framework. Although emphasis is on the development of the relevant theory and statistical concepts, a series of applications and examples is considered on a variety of political science problems, such as turnout, crime, elections, party systems.

PLSC 503b, Quantitative Methods.  Donald Green.
 W 9.25–11.15
This course provides an extensive treatment of the linear regression model. It covers a wide array of regression techniques including those that address problems of measurement error, reciprocal causation, and nonlinearities. Time series and pooled time-series-cross-sectional models are also covered. The aim is to make students intelligent consumers of published quantitative research and to prepare them to conduct original research in political science. The course assumes students have command of the material covered in PLSC 500, including basic knowledge of probability and linear regression. Matrix algebra and calculus are helpful but not essential.

PLSC 504a, Advanced Quantitative Methods.  Kenneth Scheve.
 M 1.30–3.20, Th 3.30–5.20
This course provides an extensive treatment of the likelihood theory of statistical inference that underlies many of the statistical methods used in political science. After the foundational material is presented, we introduce a large variety of statistical models. These include dichotomous and polychotomous response models, models for censored and truncated data, sample selection models, duration models, and models for count data. We also cover methods for time series and pooled time-series-cross-sectional data with an emphasis on approaches for limited dependent variables. Finally, the course introduces some basic ideas and methods from Bayesian data analysis. The aim is to make students intelligent consumers of published quantitative research and to prepare them to conduct original research in political science. The course assumes students have command of the material covered in PLSC 500 and PLSC 503, including basic probability theory, matrix algebra, and the linear regression model.

PLSC 505bu,Qualitative Field Research.  Elisabeth Wood.
 W 3.30–5.20
In this seminar we discuss and practice qualitative field research methods. The course covers the basic techniques for collecting, interpreting, and analyzing ethnographic data, with an emphasis on the core ethnographic techniques of participant observation and in-depth interviewing. All participants carry out a local research project. Permission of the instructor required for undergraduates.

PLSC 510a, Introduction to the Study of Politics.  Ian Shapiro.
 M 9.25–11.15
This course introduces students to some of the major controversies in political science. We focus on the five substantive themes that make up the Yale Initiative: Order, Conflict, and Violence; Representation and Popular Rule; Crafting and Operating Institutions; Identities, Affiliations, and Allegiances; and Distributive Politics. We divide our time between discussing readings on these subjects and conversations with different members of the faculty who specialize in them. There is also some attention to methodological controversies within the discipline. Requirements: an annotated bibliography of one of the substantive themes and a take-home final exam.

PLSC 512bu,Experimental Methods in Political Science.  Alan Gerber, Donald Green.
 M 1.30–3.20
An introduction to experimental methods as they can be used to study politics. Exploration of strengths and weaknesses of experimental and nonexperimental studies. Applications include the effects of television advertising, formation of political attitudes, and causes of voter turnout. Students participate in the design and implementation of an experiment. Knowledge of introductory statistics helpful but not required.

PLSC 517a, Fundamentals of Modeling I.  John Roemer.
 Th 9.25–11.15
This course is an introduction to techniques of microeconomic modeling, as applied to problems in political science. The level is that of a fairly sophisticated course in intermediate microeconomics. Topics include preferences, utility functions, Pareto efficiency, economic equilibrium, voting for public goods, Nash equilibrium, the first theorem of welfare economics, Hotelling-Downs political equilibrium, Wittman-Nash political equilibrium, Arrow’s theorem and social welfare functions, equilibria in multidimensional issue spaces, and Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Bayesian equilibria with applications to the politics of redistribution, market and government failures, and turnout. Prerequisites are differential calculus, and/or the Political Science Math Camp. Microeconomics at the intermediate level is helpful but not mandatory.

PLSC 518b, Fundamentals of Modeling II.  Seok-ju Cho, Justin Fox.
 M 3.30–5.20
Building on Fundamentals of Modeling I, this course offers a rigorous introduction to game theory. The course has two goals: to provide students with a deep understanding of the key concepts in game theory, and to provide students with the tools necessary to formulate and analyze game-theoretic models in their own research. Coverage includes strategic games, extensive games with perfect information, coalitional games, Bayesian games, and extensive games with imperfect information, among others. Students are assumed to have a mathematical background equivalent to that of the Political Science department’s math refresher.

PLSC 520b, Introduction to Game Theory.  Justin Fox.
 Th 9.25–11.15
This course provides an overview of game theory and its applications to problems of a political nature. We start from the ground floor, assuming no prior exposure to game theory or mathematics beyond high school algebra. Students are introduced to the concepts of Nash equilibrium, time-consistency, signaling, and reputation formation. The applications covered depends in part on student interest. Possibilities include models of candidate competition, models of international conflict, models of ethnic conflict.

PLSC 540a, 541b, Research and Writing.  Gregory Huber, Karuna Mantena.
 Th 1.30–3.20
This is a required course for all second-year students. Although designated as a spring-term course, in fact it meets for the first six weeks of the fall term and the first six weeks of the spring term. The fall meetings are devoted to discussion of research design as well as individual student projects. These meetings supplement 540a, the individual meetings with faculty advisers. The spring meetings are devoted to discussion of drafts of student papers. The work of the spring-term seminar includes criticism of the organization, arguments, data evaluation, and writing in each student’s paper by the instructors and the other students. Using this criticism, and under the supervision of the instructors, each student conducts additional research if necessary, rewrites the paper as required, and prepares a final paper representing the best work of which the student is capable. Students must submit a one-page outline of the proposed project for the first fall-term meeting and a complete draft of the paper at the first meeting in the spring. Six weeks in beginning of fall term; six weeks in beginning of spring.

Contemporary Theory

PLSC 553b, Justice.  Bruce Ackerman.
 MT 4.10–6
Examines contemporary theories together with an effort to assess their practical implications. Also LAW 21260.

PLSC 587b, The People.  Paulina Ochoa Espejo.
 T 3.30–5.20
In a democracy the people rule, but who constitutes “the people” and what does it mean for them “to rule”? In fact, what is “a people”? This course examines the concept of the people in the history of political philosophy, and in contemporary theories of liberalism, democracy, and popular sovereignty. Specifically, we consider the problem of how to constitute the demos in a liberal democratic state, and how this problem relates to debates on the legitimacy of rule, nationalism, cosmopolitanism, immigration, and populism.

PLSC 588b, Contemporary Political Philosophy: Liberal Justification.  Andrew March.
 M 9.25–11.15
The dominant contemporary theory of liberalism states that political power, to be legitimate, must be justifiable to all persons subject to it. This commitment results in a search for reasonable public justification, as opposed to justification based on claims that are true, or fully rational. This seminar examines contemporary doctrines of public justification, particularly the works of John Rawls, Jürgen Habermas, and Gerald Gaus. Critical questions include: Is reasonable justification a coherent idea? What beliefs can we say all reasonable persons ought to endorse? Is reasonableness best understood as a moral concept or an epistemological one? Is “reasonable agreement” something to be ascertained empirically (i.e., by actual agreement) or normatively (i.e., by ascertaining philosophically what are reasonable beliefs)? What counts as reasonable disagreement and is this a moral or epistemological judgment?

PLSC 595a, Theories of Distributive Justice.  John Roemer.
 W 9.25–11.15
We survey the main theories of distributive justice proposed by economists and political philosophers since 1950, critiquing each theory from both the economic and philosophical perspective. Topics covered include Arrow’s impossibility theorem and its resolution, axiomatic bargaining theory (J. Nash and followers), utilitarianism according to J. Harsanyi and others, egalitarianism according to J. Rawls and A. Sen, the veil of ignorance as a thought experiment, neo-Lockeanism according to R. Nozick, resource egalitarianism according to R. Dworkin, and equality of opportunity according to R. Arneson, G.A. Cohen, and J. Roemer. The main text, Theories of Distributive Justice (J.E. Roemer, 1996), is supplemented with other readings. Prerequisite: PLSC 517 or equivalent sophistication in microeconomic modeling.

PLSC 604au,European Political Thought from Weber to Derrida.  Seyla Benhabib.
 TTh 2.30–3.20
A survey of major themes in twentieth-century continental political thought. Topics include reason and rationalization in modernity; legality, legitimacy, and sovereignty; decline of the public sphere; origins of totalitarianism; and communicative ethics and the inclusion of the “other” in the new Europe. Readings from Max Weber, the Frankfurt school, Walter Benjamin, Hannah Arendt, Martin Heidegger, Carl Schmitt, Jürgen Habermas, and Jacques Derrida.

PLSC 605b, Rethinking Sovereignty: Cosmopolitanism, Rights, and Popular Constitutionalism.  Seyla Benhabib.
 T 3.30–5.20
Recently the crises of sovereignty and the end of sovereignty have been discussed in law, political science, and philosophy. Post-nationalist, cosmopolitan, as well as neo-liberal critics of sovereignty abound. This course discusses alternative models of sovereignty, ranging from democratic iterations to popular constitutionalism, and considers the implications of these models for the definition and enforcement of rights. Readings include Hobbes, Bodin, Austin, Schmitt, Kelsen, Habermas, Waldron, Pogge, and Aleinikoff. Also PHIL 702b.

PLSC 606a, From Weber to Derrida.  Seyla Benhabib.
 W 3.30–5.20
This course is to be taken in conjunction with European Political Thought (PLSC 604). Topics discussed include modernity and rationalization; science and the problem of values; the concept of public sphere; decisionism and the friend/foe distinction; Heidegger’s ontology and politics; Derrida on cosmopolitanism and Habermas and Derrida on terror and philosophy. For Political Science students this course serves as their Introduction to Contemporary Theory. Also PHIL 701a.

Political Philosophy

PLSC 598bu,Leo Strauss and Straussianism.  Steven Smith.
 M 1.30–3.20
Leo Strauss (1899–1973) was one of the most influential political philosophers of the last century. This class deals exclusively with his life and influence. Strauss was highly controversial during his lifetime and the debates over his ideas and his legacy have only deepened in the years after his death. His writings attracted passionate defenders and equally passionate critics. The themes to be covered in the course include Strauss’s life and intellectual trajectory as a young German intellectual of the Weimar period; the role of Zionism and the “Jewish Question”; the discovery of esoteric writing; the analysis and critique of the “modernity problem”; the theme of “Jerusalem and Athens”; the role of classical political philosophy; his critique of the social sciences; the influence of Strauss on the theory and practice of American politics.

PLSC 624bu,Empire and Modern Political Thought.  Karuna Mantena.
 T 3.30–5.20
Examines the relationship between the development of modern political thought and the history of empire, focusing especially on how the imperial experience shaped central concepts of political theory such as reason, liberty, rights, sovereignty, property, and progress. Readings from Montaigne, Locke, Diderot, Kant, Herder, Burke, Marx, Mill, Tocqueville, and others.

PLSC 645a, Introduction to Political Philosophy.  Steven Smith.
 W 1.30–3.20
This course deals with the first and most fundamental of all political concepts: the regime or constitution. What is a regime? How many kinds are there? What are their criteria for membership and how do they divide power among citizens? What forms of political education do they promote? We examine these questions through a close reading of parts of Aristotle’s Politics and Ethics, Rousseau’s Social Contract and his constitutional writings on Geneva, Corsica, and Poland, and Tocqueville’s Democracy in America.

International Relations

PLSC 650bu,Theories of War and Peace.  Bruce Russett.
 W 1.30–3.20
Comprehensive review and analysis of the theoretical literature on the causes of war and survey of some major ongoing research programs on war and peace. Includes structural systemic, dyadic, domestic political, bureaucratic/organizational, and psychological approaches.

PLSC 656bu,American National Security Policy.  William Odom.
 M 3.30–5.20
The course examines the institutions and processes for making U.S. national security strategy and policy; reflects critically on inherent tensions in the way Americans view the nature of war, the use of force, the aims of diplomacy, and America’s role in the world; and addresses several contemporary challenges facing the U.S. national security policy making.

PLSC 658bu,International Institutions.  Nikolay Marinov.
 T 9.25–11.15
This is a course to study the role of international institutions in structuring cooperation among nations. Emphasis is both theoretical, on the theory of cooperation, and empirical, with examples drawn from the post-WWII world order.

PLSC 659b, Introduction to International Political Economy.  James Vreeland.
 T 7–8.50 P.M.
This course examines how domestic and international politics influence the economic relations between states. It addresses the major theoretical debates in the field and introduces the chief methodological approaches used in contemporary analyses. We focus attention on five types of cross-border flows and the policies that regulate them: the flow of goods (trade policy), the flow of capital (financial and exchange rate policy), the flow and location of production (foreign investment policy), the flow of people (immigration), and the flow of pollutants (environmental policy).

PLSC 660bu,Religion and War.  Philip Gorski, Vivek Sharma.
 W 2.30–4.20
This course is designed to review the state of theorizing in international relations on security issues. Part of the goal of the course is to sort out where the real as opposed to artificial debates exist and to arrive at a more synthetic vision of international relations.

PLSC 662au,Strategy, Technology, and War.  Paul Bracken.
 MW 11.35–12.50
The interrelationship of strategy, foreign policy, and military technology since 1900. Examination of classic and modern formulations of this relationship, including new post-Cold War theories of the role of force in international affairs. Topics include multipolarity and the emergence of new competitors; developments in military technology and their impact on the balance of power and U.S. international position; proliferation of weapons of mass destruction; information warfare and the revolutionary impact of new technologies.

PLSC 668bu,International Dimensions of Democratization.  Nikolay Marinov.
 T 3.30–5.20
The current wave of democratizations around the world leads us to investigate the role played by international factors such as socialization, coercion, emulation. The main question of interest is how much democratic processes can be affected from the outside.

PLSC 679a, International Relations Field Seminar.  Keith Darden.
 T 9.25–11.15
This course examines theories of international relations and the methods used for evaluating them. The course begins with a review of different philosophies of science, surveys the main theoretical traditions in International Relations, and then examines the different empirical methods that can be used to identify causation, using examples from IR. The course is designed to marry comprehensive conceptual training with the tools to do original research. Students gain practical experience in selecting a problem, developing or selecting a theory, coding and analyzing their own data, and demonstrating causation with a case study.

PLSC 683bu,Europe, the Unites States, and the Iraq Crisis.  Jolyon Howorth.
 Th 1.30–3.20
Examination of the contrasting relations between the main European powers and the United States in their approaches to Iraq, in order to understand the divisions that attended the 2003 war and subsequent transfer of sovereignty. Topics include the Iran-Iraq War (1980–1988), the first Persian Gulf crisis (1990–1991), the sanctions regime (1991–2002), and the problems of peacekeeping and nation building.

PLSC 685a, Theories in International Relations.  Nikolay Marinov.
 M 3.30–5.20
This course provides an introduction to the major concepts and theories in the field of International Relations. By the end of the course, students should be familiar with some of the major debates in the field, and be comfortable using IR concepts and theories to understand and explain events in international politics. The course is a reading-intensive seminar, and the weekly meetings are structured around student-led presentations and discussions of the assigned readings for the week. The student presentations should provide a brief overview of the main arguments of the readings and raise questions for group discussion. All students should prepare to participate in the group discussion by preparing discussion notes, which are turned in at the end of each session of class. There are approximately 150–200 pages of required reading per week. Also INRL 555a.

PLSC 689au,Secession and Political Boundaries.  Nicholas Sambanis.
 M 3.30–5.20
This course analyzes the political economy of decentralization, secession, and political boundaries (both internal to states and international). We explain why some countries have stable systems of political decentralization and others do not. We develop a framework to explain why (and which) regions demand more self-determination and where these demands might lead to violent conflict.

Comparative Politics

PLSC 714a, Corruption, Economic Development, and Democracy. Susan Rose-Ackerman.
 T 2.10–4
A seminar on the link between political and bureaucratic institutions on the one hand, and economic development on the other. Consideration is given to the role of international aid and lending organizations such as the World Bank. A particular focus is the impact of corruption on development. Also LAW 20098.

PLSC 715a, Studies in Grand Strategy, Part II.  Paul Kennedy.
 M 3.30–5.20
Part II of the two-term linked seminar offered during the calendar year 2007. Research seminar. Also HIST 985a.

PLSC 715b, Studies in Grand Strategy, Part I.  John Gaddis.
 M 3.30–5.20
This two-term course begins in January with readings in classical works from Sun Tzu to Clausewitz to Kissinger. Students identify principles of strategy and examine the extent to which these were or were not applied in historical case studies from the Peloponnesian War to the post-Cold War period. During the summer students undertake research projects or internships designed to apply resulting insights to the detailed analysis of a particular strategic problem or aspect of strategy. Written reports are presented and critically examined early in the fall term. Students must take both terms, fulfill the summer research/internship, and attend additional lectures to be scheduled throughout the spring and fall terms. Admission is by competitive application only; forms are available at International Security Studies. Also HIST 985b.

PLSC 734a&b, Comparative Research Workshop.  Julia Adams, Philip Gorski, Karl Mayer, Ivan Szelenyi.
HTBA
This workshop is a weekly interdisciplinary seminar at which work-in-progress by distinguished visiting scholars, Yale graduate students, and faculty from various social science disciplines is discussed. Papers are distributed a week ahead of time and also posted at the Web site of the Center for Comparative Research. Students who take the course for a letter grade have to present a paper in the term they are enrolled for credit. Also SOCY 560a&b.

PLSC 737au,Contemporary African Politics.  Ato Kwanema Onoma.
 M 2.30–4.20
This course allows graduate and advanced undergraduate students to explore the dynamics of contemporary African politics through a thematic contemplation of political, social, and economic processes on the continent. The course has two main goals. The first is to give students general but relatively in-depth knowledge of contemporary African politics as a basis for later specialization. The second goal is the more general one of using African politics to study the theories, analytic frameworks, concepts, and methodologies of Comparative Politics.

PLSC 741au,Armed Groups and Violence Patterns.  Elisabeth Wood.
 W 2.30–4.20
In this seminar we analyze charateristics of armed organizations (state militaries, police forces, insurgent groups, secessionist movements, terrorist organizations) and the patterns of political violence they deploy. We draw on literatures in political science, history, anthropology, and sociology.

PLSC 744bu,The Dynamics of Russian Politics.  William Odom.
 T 2.30–4.20
Issues of political stability, constitutionalism, and institutions for political participation and governing are examined in light of contemporary events as well as the legacy of the Soviet period. Concepts from political development literature are used to devise alternative interpretations of the most critical determinants of Russian political change and stability, today and in the future. Huntington’s Political Order in Changing Societies, Dahl’s Polyarchy, Barrington Moore’s The Social Origins of Dictatorship and Democracy, as well as selected journal articles on transitions to democracy provide the analytic tools for analysis. Students write a short midterm essay on concepts for analysis, and choose a research paper topic in one of the main issue areas, basing their research on the contemporary Russian press and other available sources on Russian affairs since 1985. Also INRL 545b.

PLSC 775b, Patronage and Clientelism in Democratic Systems.  Susan Stokes.
 W 1.30–3.20
Examines the channeling of public resources to private individuals in order to mobilize electoral support for parties and candidates, both historically in the advanced democracies, and in today’s new democracies in the developing world.

PLSC 777a, Comparative Politics I: Research Design.  Stathis Kalyvas.
 M 6–8
The first part of a two-part sequence designed to introduce graduate students to the fundamentals of comparative politics, including the major debates, topics, and methods.

PLSC 778b, Comparative Politics II.  Elisabeth Wood.
 T 1.30–3.20
The second part of a two-part sequence designed to introduce graduate students to the fundamentals of comparative politics, including the major debates, topics, and methods.

PLSC 779a, Agrarian Societies: Culture, Society, History, and Development. Amity Doolittle, Robert Harms, James Scott.
M 1.30–5.20
An interdisciplinary examination of agrarian societies, contemporary and historical, Western and non-Western. Major analytical perspectives from economics, history, political science, and environmental studies are used to develop a meaning-centered and historically grounded account of the transformations of rural society. Team taught. Also ANTH 541a, F&ES 836a, HIST 965a.

PLSC 780au,Institutions and Transitions of Democracy.  Ellen Lust-Okar.
 T 1.30–3.20
An examination of the institutional choices of regime transitions and their implications. Consideration of why some states create presidential systems and others parliamentary ones; the choices of various electoral rules; and political implications of these institutions for future regime change.

PLSC 784bu,Africa and the Disciplines.  David Apter.
T 1.30–3.20
A broad survey of Africa’s relation to academic discourse, as seen in a variety of disciplines. This course examines how Africa is represented and discussed in different fields; how disciplinary formations, language, popular conceptions, and related intellectual practices of the various disciplines have affected academic approaches to studies of Africa; and how these approaches have reinvented particular African geographies (e.g., sub-Saharan vs. North African, francophone vs. anglophone, South Africa vs. the rest of Africa, and contemporary diasporic articulations). Attention to questions surrounding the management of “The New World Order.” After a general context is established over the first four weeks of the term, scholars representing various fields in the humanities, social and political sciences, and the professional schools visit the seminar to discuss their work in relation to the ways that their respective discipline(s) have explored related themes. Throughout the term, attention is given to issues of interdisciplinarity. Also AFST 764bu,ANTH 622bu.

Political Economy

PLSC 712b, Comparative Political Economy.  Frances Rosenbluth.
 M 9.25–11.15
This seminar is designed to give graduate students a broad-gauged introduction to one of the largest and most vibrant branches of political science. We begin by examining the field’s diverse theoretical underpinnings and placing political economy in the context of political science more broadly. The remainder of the course is concerned with the application of theory to practice. We exame the interaction between government and the economy in democratic and nondemocratic regimes, and in developed and developing countries. Topics include micro- and macroeconomic policy, industrial relations, the political economy of gender, and international political economy.

PLSC 795a, Models of Political Economy.  Seok-ju Cho.
 M 9.25–11.15
This course surveys important scholarly works on formal political economy. We view political economy very broadly: it may be understood as the study of the relationship between political and economic phenomena or as the methodology of economics applied to political behavior. The first part of the course deals with models of political decision making, covering electoral competition, legislative politics, and lobbying of pressure groups. The remaining part discusses the relationship between politics and macroeconomics, focusing on the effects of political rules on economic policies and outcomes.

PLSC 796b, Political Economy of Redistribution.  Ana De La O.
 Th 3.30–5.20
Why do some countries redistribute more resources to the poor than others? Political scientists and economists are increasingly interested in this question because it speaks to central issues about democracy and development. In this class we cover classical work on the role of history, institutions, class conflict, and elites. Then we read contemporaneous work on corruption, clientelism, and endogenous preferences. Throughout, we pay attention not only to the theoretical debates but also to the empirical innovations in the area.

American Politics

PLSC 800a, Introduction to American Politics.  David Mayhew.
 T 1.30–3.20
An introduction to the analysis of U.S. politics. Approaches given consideration include institutional design and innovation, social capital and civil society, the state, attitudes, ideology, eocnometrics of elections, rational actors, formal theories of institutions, and transatlantic comparisons. Assigned authors include R. Putnam, T. Skocpol, J. Gerring, J. Zaller, D.R. Kiewiet, L. Bartels, D. Mayhew, K Poole & H. Rosenthal, G. Cox & M. McCubbins, K. Krehbiel, E. Schickler, and A. Alesina. Students are expected to read and discuss each week’s assignment and, for each of five weeks, to write a three- to five-page analytic paper that deals with a subject addressed or suggested by the reading.

PLSC 801b, Introduction to American Politics II.  Gregory Huber.
 W 1.30–3.20
This is the second part of a two-part sequence designed to introduce graduate students to the fundamentals of research in American politics. It complements PLSC 800a by focusing primarily on theoretical and empirical debates manifested in articles published in political science journals. The course is organized around a series of smaller topical modules. Special attention is given to theoretical models of political interaction and empirical analysis of causal effects. In addition to reading and discussing each week’s assignments, students write three- to five-page analytic papers on topics addressed in each of five different week’s readings.

PLSC 814a, Reconstruction from the Right.  Michael Graetz, Daniel Kevles.
 W 2.10–4
Research seminar. Centering on the 1970s, an examination of changes in policy and society that moved the United States from the liberalism of the Kennedy-Johnson years to the conservatism of the Reagan era. Topics to be considered include the backlash against the women’s and the civil rights movements, deregulation, tax and economic policies, the rise of the religious right, the federalization of crime, the new immigration and regional migrations, the emergence of the personal computer, biotechnology, reproductive technologies industries, and energy, environment, and globalization. Also AMST 778a, HIST 778a, LAW 20460.

PLSC 824bu,American Political Thought.  Stephen Skowronek.
 W 3.30–5.20
This course considers American political thought through an examination of the ideas of those actively engaged in American government and politics. It is particularly concerned with the development of ideas about the uses of power and the proper distribution of authority. Seminar discussions consider how new ideas about American government are generated in response to changing political conditions as well as how a tradition of thought emerges out of the appropriation and redeployment of ideas from the past.

PLSC 825au,Inequality and the Transformation of American Politics.  Jacob Hacker.
 Th 2.30–4.20
The course explores the role of American politics and public policy in abetting the hyper-concentration of income at the top of the economic ladder in the United States, and the ways in which this hyper-concentration has in turn transformed American politics. Topics include changes in corporate governance and executive compensation, tax policy, campaign finance, the revolving door between government and the private sector, government contracting, and the role of unions. Readings range widely from recent political science contributions to sociological and economic analyses, and include some cross-national and historical works as well as contemporary discussions.

PLSC 826bu,Public Opinion.  Khalilah Brown-Dean.
 T 3.30–5.20
At its core democracy represents a conversation between citizens and their leaders. Based on this notion, it’s important to determine what messages citizens send and receive through the process of politics. In this course we focus on the content (what it is) and the construction (how it is formed and conveyed) of American public opinion. We explore issues of conceptualization, measurement, and stability.

PLSC 828a, American Political Development.  Stephen Skowronek.
 W 3.30–5.20
An examination of patterns of political change and institutional development in the United States. The course considers patterns of reform, the political construction of interests and movements, problems of political culture, party building, and state building.

PLSC 842a, The Constitution: Philosophy, History, and Law.  Bruce Ackerman.
 MT 4.10–6
An inquiry into the foundations of the American Constitution, at its founding and at critical moments in its historical transformation—most notably in response to the Civil War, the Great Depression, and the Civil Rights movement. Philosophically speaking, do we still live under the Constitution founded by the Federalists, or are we inhabitants of the Second or Third or Nth Republic? Institutionally, in what ways are the patterns of modern American government similar to, and different from, those in post-Revolutionary (1787–1860) and post-Civil War (1868–1932) America? Legally, what is or was the role of constitutional law in the organization of each of these historical regimes? Through asking and answering these questions, the course tries to gain a critical perspective on the effort by the present Supreme Court to create a new constitutional regime for the twenty-first century. Examination. Also LAW 20190.

PLSC 843b, Women and Politics.  Ange-Marie Hancock.
 T 1.30–3.20
This course surveys the various approaches to studying gender in political science. It explicitly crosses the subfields of political theory, American politics, and Comparative Politics in course content and discussions of research design and methodology. Students intending to write dissertations involving gender analyses or preparing for the gender politics special field exam are encouraged to enroll in the class. Also AFAM 812b.

PLSC 850b, The Constitution of the Modern Republic.  Bruce Ackerman.
 W 2.10–4
An effort to understand the constitutional principles of the New Deal-Civil Rights regime, and assess contemporary efforts at regime transformation during the early years of the twenty-first century. Limited enrollment, with preference given to those who have taken PLSC 842 during the fall term. Also LAW 21541.

PLSC 853au,U.S. National Elections.  David Mayhew.
 W 1.30–3.20
A research seminar centering on presidential and congressional elections. Topics include electoral realignments, current presidential alignments, the electoral college, voter turnout, aggregate House election patterns, House incumbency advantage, challenger quality, career decisions, election laws, House and Senate constituencies, campaign finance, Senate elections, and divided party control. Assigned authors include R. Erikson, E. Tufte, G. Jacobson, A. Abramowitz, M. Fiorina, R. Wolfinger, E. Ladd, G. King, J. Snyder, and B. Grofman. Students are expected to read weekly assignments and write a twenty- to thirty-page research paper.

PLSC 883bu,New Haven and the Problem of Change in the American City.  Paul Bass, Alan Plattus, Douglas Rae.
MW 2.30–3.20
Examination of the rapid transformation of New Haven and other American cities over the past century as a case study of urban change and urban policy. One New Haven neighborhood’s history and prospects considered in detail through studies of amelioration, gateways, gentrification, and common gain. Themes include the planning and policy implications of the flow of higher-income populations away from the inner city. Discussion of the creation of communities of common gain in depopulated urban cores.

Research Workshops

PLSC 919, American Politics Workshop.  Alan Gerber.
 HTBA
This course meets throughout the year in conjunction with the ISPS American Politics Workshop. It serves as a forum for graduate students in American Politics to discuss current research in the field as presented by outside speakers and current graduate students. Students are strongly encouraged to present their work, and regular attendance is expected of all enrolled students. Graded as Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only.

PLSC 920, Comparative Politics Workshop.  Stathis Kalyvas.
 T 4.30–6
The comparative politics workshop is a forum for the presentation of ongoing research by Yale graduate students, Yale faculty, and invited external speakers in a rigorous and critical environment. The workshop’s methodological and substantive approach is broad, covering the entire range of comparative politics. There are no formal presentations. Papers are read in advance by participants; a graduate student critically discusses the week’s paper, the presenter responds, and discussion ensues. The workshop faculty director is Stathis Kalyvas (stathis.kalyvas@yale.edu) and the coordinator for 2007–2008 is Ana Arjona (ana.arjona@yale.edu). Detailed information can be found at www.yale.edu/cpworkshop/. Graded as Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only.

PLSC 921, Political Theory Workshop.  Karuna Mantena.
 Th 4.15–6
The Political Theory Workshop is an interdisciplinary forum that focuses on theoretical and philosophical approaches to the study of politics. The workshop seeks to engage with (and expose students to) a broad range of current scholarship in political theory and political philosophy, including work in the history of political thought; theoretical investigations of contemporary political phenomena; philosophical analyses of key political concepts; conceptual issues in ethics, law, and public policy; and contributions to normative political theory. The workshop features ongoing research by Yale faculty members, visiting scholars, invited guests, and advanced graduate students. Papers are distributed and read in advance, and discussions are opened by a graduate student commentator. The workshop faculty director is Karuna Mantena (karuna.mantena@yale.edu) and the student coordinator is Joseph Lampert (joseph.lampert@yale.edu). Detailed information can be found at www.yale.edu/isps/seminars/politheo/index.html. Graded as Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only.

PLSC 922, Order, Conflict, and Violence (OCV) Seminar Series.  Stathis Kalyvas.
 W 6–8
The OCV seminar series focuses on processes related to the emergence and breakdown of order. The key assumption is that understanding and studying these processes requires better theoretical and empirical foundations and calls for challenging existing disciplinary and methodological divides. The seminar series is, therefore, dedicated to the presentation of cutting-edge work from all social science disciplines and includes the presentation of ongoing research by Yale graduate students. The faculty director is Stathis Kalyvas (stathis.kalyvas@yale.edu) and the coordinator for 2007–2008 is Laia Balcells (laia.balcells@yale.edu). Detailed information can be found at www.yale.edu/macmillan/ocvprogram/. Graded as Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only.

PLSC 924, Political Economy Seminar Series.  Kenneth Scheve.
 HTBA
The Leitner Political Economy Seminar Series engages research on the interaction between economics and politics as well as research that employs the methods of political economists to study a wide range of social phenomenon. The workshop serves as a forum for graduate students and faculty to present their own work and to discuss current research in the field as presented by outside speakers, faculty, and students. The faculty directors are Frances Rosenbluth (frances.rosenbluth@yale.edu) and Kenneth Scheve (kenneth.scheve@yale.edu). Detailed information can be found at www.yale.edu/leitner/pew.htm. Graded as Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only.

PLSC 926, International Relations Workshop.  Nikolay Marinov.
 HTBA
The International Relations Workshop engages work in the fields of international security, international political economy, and international institutions. The forum attracts outside speakers, Yale faculty, and graduate students. The workshop provides a venue to develop ideas, polish work-in-progress, or showcase completed projects. Typically, the speaker would prepare a 35- to 40-minute presentation, followed by a question-and-answer session. The workshop faculty director is Nikolay Marinov, to be reached at nikolay.marinov@yale.edu. More information about the workshop can be found at www.yale.edu/polisci/info/Workshops/International_Relations_2007.htm. Graded as Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only.

PLSC 990a&b, Directed Reading.
 By arrangement with individual faculty.

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