Political Methodology and Formal Theory

Government 2001. Advanced Quantitative Research Methodology
Catalog Number: 8941
Gary King
Half course (spring term). M., 2–4. EXAM GROUP: 7, 8
Graduate-level version of Gov. 1002. Meets with Gov. 1002, introduces theories of inference underlying most statistical methods and how new approaches are developed. Examples include discrete choice, event counts, durations, missing data, ecological inference, time-series cross sectional analysis, compositional data, causal inference, and others. Will require extra homework and examination problems in addition to those for Gov. 1002.
Prerequisite: Government 2000 or the equivalent.

Government 2006. Formal Political Theory II
Catalog Number: 5487
James Robinson
Half course (spring term). Tu., Th., 2–3:30. EXAM GROUP: 16, 17
Continuation of Government 2005.

Government 2007. Political Economics
Catalog Number: 2094
James Robinson
Half course (spring term). Hours to be arranged.
This course covers the basic analytical approaches to political economy and their application.

Government 2010. Strategies of Political Inquiry
Catalog Number: 7421
Michael J. Hiscox and Nahomi Ichino
Half course (spring term). Tu., 2–4. EXAM GROUP: 16, 17
Introduces how to do research—assessing scholarly literatures, identifying interesting questions, formulating research designs, learning methods, and writing up results. We discuss each for both quantitative and qualitative studies.
Note: Primarily for graduate students; also taken by undergraduates preparing for senior thesis research.

Political Thought and Its History

*Government 2057. Religion in a Secular Age - (New Course)
Catalog Number: 7684
Michael J. Sandel and Charles M. Taylor
Half course (spring term). Tu., 2–4. EXAM GROUP: 16, 17
What does it mean to live in a secular age? How have the role of religion and the conditions of faith changed in recent centuries? Seminar will explore themes from Charles Taylor’s A Secular Age.
Note: Open to GSAS students and others by permission of the instructors.

Government 2081. Political Thought of Michael Oakshott - (New Course)
Catalog Number: 5868
Patrick T. Riley
Half course (spring term). W., 2–4. EXAM GROUP: 7, 8
The political, moral, and historical thought of Michael Oakeshott, including Experience & Its Modes (1933), Hobbes’ Leviathan (1946, 1974), The 1958 Harvard Lectures, Rationlism in Politics (1962), and On Human Conduct (1975), and On History (1982, 2004).

Government 2091. Bentham - (New Course)
Catalog Number: 2443
Richard Tuck
Half course (spring term). Th., 2–4. EXAM GROUP: 16, 17
This course is an opportunity to study the moral and political thought of Jeremy Bentham, and to understand the character of early Utilitarianism.

Government 2092. Economics and Political Theory - (New Course)
Catalog Number: 0360
Michael E. Rosen
Half course (spring term). W., 4–6. EXAM GROUP: 9
The course will address points of intersection between economics and political theory: well being, the operation of markets, the nature of rationality, collective action and social choice, allocation, redistribution and justice, for example.

Comparative Government

Government 2123. International Courts
Catalog Number: 1527
Jens Meierhenrich
Half course (spring term). F., 2–4. EXAM GROUP: 7, 8
This seminar provides an introduction to the role of courts in municipal and international law, with particular reference to their evolution and effects.

*Government 2158. Political Institutions and Economic Policy
Catalog Number: 6448 Enrollment: Limited to 16.
Kenneth A. Shepsle and Jeffry Frieden
Half course (spring term). M., 4–6. EXAM GROUP: 9
We explore the role of political institutions in the formation, implementation, and regulation of economic policy. Theories from positive political theory and comparative and international political economy are examined and applied to substantive issue areas.

Government 2176. Politics of Social Inequality in the Developed Democracies
Catalog Number: 7083 Enrollment: Open to qualified undergraduates
Peter A. Hall
Half course (spring term). Th., 2–4. EXAM GROUP: 16, 17
Considers competing perspectives on the social well being of nations and its determinants. Topics include: the politics of inequality in the development of democracy, the electoral causes and consequences of inequality, change in varieties of capitalism, the impact of culture and institutions on inequalities of income and health, with a focus on Europe and the OECD countries.

Government 2213. Comparative Politics of Post-Socialism
Catalog Number: 6876
Timothy J. Colton, Rawi Abdelal (Business School), and Grzegorz Ekiert
Half course (spring term). W., 3–5. EXAM GROUP: 8, 9
A research seminar designed to define an agenda for the comparative analysis of political developments among post-socialist systems. Emphasis placed on the formation of research proposals, methods of analysis, theory-building, and the presentation of comparative empirical research.

Government 2218. Topics in Russian Politics
Catalog Number: 0872
Timothy J. Colton
Half course (spring term). Tu., 2–4. EXAM GROUP: 16, 17
A research seminar on selected problems in the politics and government of post-Soviet Russia. Intended for students with some prior study of the subject.

*Government 2285. Political Science and China
Catalog Number: 1566
Elizabeth J. Perry
Half course (spring term). Th., 2–4. EXAM GROUP: 16, 17
This graduate seminar gives students control over the secondary literature on Chinese politics, with special attention to competing theoretical and methodological approaches.
Note: Requires background in contemporary Chinese history / politcs.

American Government, Public Law and Administration

Government 2310. Social Capital and Public Affairs: Research Seminar
Catalog Number: 7051
Robert D. Putnam
Half course (spring term). W., 4–6. EXAM GROUP: 9
Topics in the relationship between politics and civil society in the US.
Note: Offered jointly with the Kennedy School as API-420. Meets at the Kennedy School.

*Government 2314. Topics in American Political Behavior
Catalog Number: 8452 Enrollment: Open to PhD students only
Claudine Gay
Half course (spring term). W., 2–4. EXAM GROUP: 7, 8
Course surveys field of political behavior, emphasizing recent developments in literature. Topics include uncertainty; opinion change and learning; partisanship and ideology; salience of race and social identity; participation; links between public opinion, elections, and policy.

Government 2351. The United States Supreme Court - (New Course)
Catalog Number: 7351
Ryan James Owens
Half course (spring term). Tu., 1–3. EXAM GROUP: 15, 16
This course provides graduate students with a systematic understanding of the Supreme Court as an institution. We examine issues regarding judicial process and politics, and how participants attempt to achieve their goals within institutional constraints.