Courses

Political Methodology and Formal Theory

Government 2000. Introduction to Quantitative Methods I
Catalog Number: 2281
Adam Glynn
Half course (fall term). M., 4–6. EXAM GROUP: 9
Graduate-level version of Gov. 1000. Meets with Gov. 1000, an introduction to statistical research in political science with a focus on applied linear regression. Will require extra homework and examination problems in addition to those for Gov. 1000.
Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor for anyone other than Government Department graduate students.

Government 2002. Topics in Quantitative Methods
Catalog Number: 8168
Michael C. Herron
Half course (fall term). W., 4–6. EXAM GROUP: 9
Introduction to two broad areas of modern statistics---graphical modeling and nonparametric inference. Illustrates how ideas and methods from each of these areas can be fruitfully applied to two different application areas-- statistical natural language processing and causal inference.
Prerequisite: Government 2000 and Government 2001, or equivalent, or permission of the instructor.

*Government 2009. Methods of Political Analysis
Catalog Number: 1080 Enrollment: Limited to 15.
Peter A. Hall
Half course (fall term). Th., 2–4. EXAM GROUP: 16, 17
Covers the issues and techniques central to designing and researching a good dissertation, whether quantitative or qualitative, including principles of research design, case selection, comparison, measurement, and causal relations, with many practical examples.
Note: Open to all doctoral students, regardless of year, and to advanced undergraduates. 

Political Thought and Its History

*Government 2030. Political Concepts: Field Seminar
Catalog Number: 0551 Enrollment: Limited to graduate students in Government
Dennis F. Thompson
Half course (fall term). W., 4–6. EXAM GROUP: 9
Reading and discussion of rival accounts of the basic concepts of political thinking.

*Government 2034. Ethics Economics, and Law
Catalog Number: 4652
Michael J. Sandel
Half course (fall term). M., 5–7 p.m.
Explores controversies about the use of markets and market reasoning in areas such as organ sales, procreation, environmental regulation, immigration policy, military service, voting, health care, education, and criminal justice. The seminar will examine arguments for and against cost-benefit analysis, the monetary valuation of life and the risk of death, and the use of economic reasoning in public policy and law.
Note: Offered jointly with the Law School as LAW - 93375A. Meets at the Law School. Open to GSAS students with permission of the instructor.

*Government 2049. Philosophical Foundations of Rational Choice Theory
Catalog Number: 3552
Richard Tuck
Half course (fall term). Th., 2–4. EXAM GROUP: 16, 17
This course will look first at the idea of rationality in modern economics, and then at the application of this idea to a number of important issues in political science, culminating in the question of social co-operation.
Note: Open to qualified undergraduates.

Government 2056. Political Thought of the English Revolution
Catalog Number: 5107
Eric M. Nelson
Half course (fall term). Tu., 2–4. EXAM GROUP: 16, 17
This course will survey the remarkable range of political responses to the English constitutional crisis of 1640 to 1660, from theories of divine right to the arguments of the Levellers. Readings will include Filmer, Harrington, Lilburne, Milton, Nedham, Parker, and Sidney. Special attention will be paid to the idiosyncratic perspective of Thomas Hobbes.

Comparative Government

*Government 2105. Comparative Politics: Field Seminar
Catalog Number: 0154
Jorge I. Domínguez and Thomas F. Remington (Emory University)
Half course (fall term). W., 2–4. EXAM GROUP: 7, 8
Surveys topics in comparative politics (both the developed and the developing world), including the rise of the modern state; institutions of government; interest mediation; democracy and authoritarianism; revolution; political parties; mass and elite political behavior; political economy.
Note: Preference given to FAS Government graduate students.
 

*Government 2136. Political Regimes and Regime Change - (New Course)
Catalog Number: 5702 Enrollment: Limited to 15.
Steven R. Levitsky and Daniel F. Ziblatt
Half course (fall term). Tu., 2–4. EXAM GROUP: 16, 17
This course examines theoretical approaches to democratization, evaluating them in light of historical and contemporary cases. We examine themes such as the relationship of free markets/democracy, the proliferation of hybrid regimes, and authoritarian persistence.

Government 2148. Civil Society, West and East
Catalog Number: 4675
Susan J. Pharr and Grzegorz Ekiert
Half course (fall term). Th., 4–6. EXAM GROUP: 18
Focusing in particular on European and Asian settings, the seminar examines debates over what civil society is, notions of public space and social capital, and the role of civil society in political transitions.

*Government 2160. Politics and Economics
Catalog Number: 7780 Enrollment: Limited to 15.
James E. Alt and Torben Iversen
Half course (fall term). Tu., 2–4. EXAM GROUP: 16, 17
Covers the political economy of policymaking and institutional change. Readings include a mixture of foundational approaches and recent research, covering a variety of methodological perspectives. The topical emphasis is on democracy, accountability, inequality, redistribution, and growth.

Government 2221. Comparative Politics and the Middle East
Catalog Number: 7459
Emad Shahin (The American University in Cairo)
Half course (fall term). Tu., 2–4. EXAM GROUP: 16, 17
This course aims at equipping graduate students with the theoretical and empirical skills necessary to link the discipline of comparative politics to the Middle East as an area study.
 

Government 2227. The Politics and Economics of Africa
Catalog Number: 8307 Enrollment: Open to juniors and seniors with instructor’s permission.
Nahomi Ichino
Half course (fall term). M., 2–4. EXAM GROUP: 7, 8
Examines social science research on the politics and political economy of Africa.

Government 2284. Chinese Authors on Chinese Politics
Catalog Number: 7556
Roderick MacFarquhar
Half course (fall term). Tu., 2–4. EXAM GROUP: 16, 17
An examination of how PRC authors have analyzed the politics of their country and comparisons with relevant Western accounts.
Note: Open to qualified undergraduates.
Prerequisite: A good reading knowledge of Chinese and previous course work on Chinese politics.

American Government, Public Law and Administration

*Government 2305. American Government and Politics: Field Seminar
Catalog Number: 2305
Jennifer L. Hochschild and Ryan Owens
Half course (fall term). M., 2–4. EXAM GROUP: 7, 8
Designed to acquaint PhD candidates in Government with a variety of approaches that have proved useful in examining important topics in the study of American government and politics.

Government 2321. American Politics: Power, Structure, Behavior - (New Course)
Catalog Number: 9412
Kenneth A. Shepsle and Stephen D. Ansolabehere
Half course (fall term). Th., 10–12. EXAM GROUP: 12, 13
This seminar covers empirical and theoretical research on power, structure, and behavior in American politics, emphasizing what we know and how we present research to various audiences, especially through textbooks, legal cases, and media. Statistics and/or game theory recommended.

Government 2324. American Constitutional Development - (New Course)
Catalog Number: 6318
Mark A. Graber
Half course (fall term). M., 1:30–3:30. EXAM GROUP: 6, 7, 8
American Constitutional Development highlights American constitutional developments from ratification until the twenty-first century. The seminar will focus on both judicial decisions and constitutional developments outside of the courts.

*Government 2340a (formerly *Government 2340). Social Policy l
Catalog Number: 5491
Jennifer L. Hochschild and Bruce Western
Half course (fall term). W., 2–4. EXAM GROUP: 7, 8
Considers the effects of policies and institutions in creating or reducing inequality in the US and other advanced democracies, as well as the reciprocal effects of inequality on political activity and policy choices.
Note: Offered jointly with the Kennedy School as HLE-512.

Government 2453. Practical and Theoretical Regulation of Voting - (New Course)
Catalog Number: 9666
Kevin M. Quinn and Daniel James Greiner (Law School)
Half course (fall term). W., Th., 3:30–5. EXAM GROUP: 8, 9, 17
The course will focus on points of contact between legal scholarship on voting rights and election law and the political science literature on redistricting, voting behavior, and elections. Emphasis will be placed on how observed data can be, and should be, used as evidence.
Note: Offered jointly with the Harvard Law School as LAW-e5255a1/f. Meets at the Law School.

*Government 2490. The Political Economy of the School
Catalog Number: 3399
Paul E. Peterson
Half course (fall term). W., 4–6. EXAM GROUP: 9
Examination of political and economic influences on education policy and governance. Background in statistics expected.
Note: Limited enrollment. Permission of instructor required for all students who are not graduate degree candidates in the FAS Department of Government. Government 1368 required or permission of instructor. Offered jointly with the Kennedy School as HLE-348. Meets at the Kennedy School.

International Relations

*Government 2710. International Relations: Field Seminar
Catalog Number: 8310
Alastair Iain Johnston and Michael J. Hiscox
Half course (fall term). Hours to be arranged.
A survey of the field. Suitable for students preparing for general examinations.
Note: Limited to Government graduate students.
 

Government 2735. Empirical Models in International Relations - (New Course)
Catalog Number: 9499
Muhammet Ali Bas and Beth A. Simmons
Half course (fall term). M., 2–4. EXAM GROUP: 7, 8
This course examines statistical issues relevant to the study of international politics. The purpose is to familiarize students with different models that have been employed in research on international conflict, IPE and international institutions.

Government 2881. Mass Media, Public Opinion, and Foreign Policy
Catalog Number: 7305
Matthew Baum (Kennedy School)
Half course (fall term). M., W., 2:40–4. EXAM GROUP: 7, 8
This course investigates whether, how, and to what extent the mass media and public opinion interact with each other and with political leaders in order to influence the conduct of foreign policy.
Note: Offered jointly with the Kennedy School as PPP-306. Meets at the Kennedy School.
 

Government 2900. US–Latin American Relations
Catalog Number: 8020
Jorge I. Domínguez
Half course (fall term). M., 2–4. EXAM GROUP: 7, 8
Studies US-Latin American political, military, and economic relations and Latin American international relations. Includes foreign policy decision making in the US and Latin America and alternative approaches to the study of the subject.