DEPARTMENT OF
POLITICAL SCIENCE

Spring 2010 Course Descriptions for the Case Western Reserve University  Department of Political Science

A PDF version of this document is also available.

For courses listed as "300/400," undergraduates should list only the "300" number on their registration forms; graduate students should list only the "400" number. All courses are offered for 3 credit hours unless otherwise noted.  An asterisk (*) indicates the undergraduate course is an approved SAGES departmental seminar.

POSC 362/462             Politics of Central Asia
M.W. 12:30-1:45       Kelly M. McMann (Limit 25. Cross-listed as ETHS 362.)

POSC 109
The American Political System
M.W.F. 11:30-11:20
Joseph White

(Limit 40.) Americans are taught that their political institutions should be a subject of pride, yet frequently believe that politics is a dirty business. We hail competition but scorn the form it takes in politics. And we are frequently told that the process of politics is getting worse, not better. This course seeks to help students understand and assess the American political system by providing general concepts for understanding political conflict and cooperation, analyses of specific institutions of American politics, and accounts of particular political battles. It should help students evaluate both the system as a whole and their place within it.

POSC 260
Introduction to Comparative Politics
Kelley M. McMann
M.W. 9:00-10:15

(Limit 30.) Comparative politics is the study of processes and institutions within countries. Prompted by real-world puzzles, comparativists investigate broad, theoretical questions: What constitutes a revolution, and why do revolutions occur? How does one country become more democratic than another? Why do relations between some ethnic groups turn violent? This course introduces some of the central puzzles and theories of comparative politics in order to help students better understand world events.

POSC 272
Introduction to International Relations
Peter W. Moore
T.R. 10:00-11:15

(Limit 35.) This course is a survey of international relations. The first half examines the problem of war with specific historical reference to World War I, World War II, and the Cold War. The second half examines economic problems among wealthy states, and between rich and poor states. It concludes with an appraisal of new issues in the field, such as the environment and terrorist networks. As a survey course, it aims to introduce major bodies of theory concerning cooperation and conflict in the international system. In a setting characterized by political heterogeneity and economic inequality, how can the actions of states be understood and compared?

Evaluation will be based on a mid-term and final exam, as well as an in-class discussion project grade. The discussion grade will comprise attendance, a formal class presentation, and a write-up of the presentation. Therefore, while formal attendance will not be taken, excessive absences will adversely affect a student’s final grade.

POSC 325/425
American Constitutional Law
Laura Y. Tartakoff
T.R. 2:45-4:00
 
(Limit 18.) This course is an introductory survey of United States constitutional law. Our approach will be case-specific, but, by contrast to a law school course, special attention will be given to the historical, philosophical, and political dimensions of each landmark case.

In the first half of the course, we will consider judicial review, federalism, the commerce clause, and separation of powers. In the second half, we will focus on individual rights and liberties by studying due process and equal protection. The Supreme Court's involvement in major political controversies -- the New Deal, abortion, school desegregation, affirmative action, and assisted suicide -- will be examined.

This course should enable the student to develop a working knowledge of American constitutional law and a deeper understanding of a key and powerful document, the U.S. Constitution. It will help pre-law students better understand a complex and fundamental subject and will be valuable as well to those interested in the origins, theory, and practice of the American political system.

There will be a mid-term and a final examination. Grades will be determined as follows: 50 percent, final examination; 30 percent, mid-term exam; 20 percent, class attendance and participation.

POSC 341/441
Elections, Voters, and Political Parties
Alexander P. Lamis
M.W. 1:15-2:30

Elections are at the heart of any democratic order and deserve careful study by all students of politics. This course examines various aspects of the American electoral system with emphasis on U.S. presidential elections. Students will read in detail about the great quadrennial electoral battles of recent decades.

A key topic of investigation in the course this semester will be whether there has been a major realignment of the political party system since the powerful electoral "earthquake" of the New Deal era, a subject that requires the class to become conversant with the most recent trends in U.S. electoral politics. As part of this process, students will research recent electoral trends in various American states. The instructor will provide detailed guidance for these state research projects and work closely with the students on an individual basis as they research and write their papers.

POSC 343/443
Public Opinion and American Democracy
Justin Buchler
T.R. 10:00-11:15

This course will examine public opinion from a variety of perspectives in order to answer the following questions. What is the basis of public opinion? How is it formed? How do we measure it? How do attitudes affect behavior? How does public opinion, in aggregate, affect public policy and the operation of government? We will discuss the continuing controversies in the field, such as the public’s capacity for rationality, the validity of experiments as a method for studying public opinion, and the question of whether or not old models still help us understand modern voting behavior.

In addition to theories about public opinion, the course will cover techniques for analyzing survey data. A background in statistics is not needed since the techniques covered will be elementary. However, students will be expected to complete projects that analyze public opinion survey data.

POSC 358/458
Political Strategy
Justin Buchler
T.R. 1:15-2:30

(An Approved Departmental SAGES Seminar. Limit 17.) The objective of this course is to provide a general overview of strategic behavior in politics. In one sense, this is a “how-to” course that covers a broad range of political activities, but the primary objective is to link practical issues with theories of politics in order to help you understand why events happen the way they do. The focus on the course will be on strategy in American politics, but the general concepts and methods will be applicable to a wide range of situations. Also note that the approach of this course is completely divorced from all normative concerns: For the purposes of this course, “good” and “evil” do not exist – only success or failure. Readings will range from classics like Machiavelli’s The Prince to modern studies of Congress, the Presidency, and interest groups.

POSC 362/462
Politics of Central Asia
Kelly M. McMann
M.W. 12:30-1:45

(Limit 25. Cross-listed as ETHS 362.) Once an unfamiliar region to many people of the world, Central Asia took center stage in the fall of 2001 as a result of the U.S. campaign against terrorism. This course introduces students to the politics of Central Asia, focusing on the region that is today composed of Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan. After a review of the khanate, tsarist, and Soviet eras, we will explore a range of topics, including nationalism, Islam, gender relations, ethnicity, activism, economic legacies, natural resources, and economic coping. We will read scholarly works as well as journalistic accounts and policy pieces. The course also incorporates film clips, slides, and artifacts of the region.

POSC 367/467
Western European Political Systems
Vincent E. McHale
M.W.F. 2:00-2:50

(Limit 30.) (Limit 30.) The purpose of this course is to explore the evolution and contemporary dynamics of political life in selected European political systems. The course will be organized around the themes of conflict and integration in modern society. It will focus on the developmental experiences of these societies; their uniformity and diversity; and the mass political consequences of economic growth and stagnation, demographic and social change, and the emergence of new political forces and issues. Although theoretically oriented in its approach, a substantial portion of the course will be devoted to a discussion of contemporary social, economic, and political trends in the European regional context. A major research exercise will involve the analysis of recent elections in selected systems.

POSC 370A/470A
Major Issues in World Politics
Section A: Political Economy
Elliot Posner
T.R. 11:30-12:45

This course introduces students to theoretical and substantive issues of global political economy. It emphasizes the political foundations that support global economic activity. How are cross-border economic relations governed? Who decides and by what process? Who is likely to benefit and lose from the alternative sets of choices? In short, who gets what they want and why? We will focus on the influence of states and global firms but will also consider other global actors such as non-governmental and international organizations. Students will first become familiar with competing theoretical approaches to the above questions. They will then use the theoretical framework to examine issues, from the past and present, about the governance of global economic relations and the intersection of states, markets and societies. Topics include the origins of the global economy; the politics and economics of international trade and monetary relations; the internationalization of finance and its implications; the emergence of multinational corporations and other global non-state actors; regionalization; the global distribution of wealth; North-South relations; the backlash against globalization; and the ongoing financial crisis and its effects.

POSC 370C/470C
Major Issues in World Politics
Section C: The United States and Asia
Paul E. Schroeder
M.W.F. 11:30-12:20

Survey and analysis of U.S.-Asia relations in the post-World War II period. Focus specifically is on the interaction of politics and economics in the United States’ relations with Japan, China, South Korea, and North Korea. Topics will include the role of Asia in U.S. Cold War politics, the dynamics of U.S.-Japan alliance politics, post-Cold War issues involved U.S. foreign policy toward Asia, a history and analysis of economic conflict and cooperation, and an examination of the move toward Asia-Pacific “regionalism.”

POSC 370E
Major Issues in World Politics
Section E; How Fragile is China? Issues Determining Its Future
Paul E. Schroeder
M.W.F. 3:00-3:50

(Approved Departmental SAGES Seminar. Limit 17.) China is widely misunderstood today. The media reports its economic growth as it pursues an export-led development model that absorbs American manufacturing jobs in its march to become “the factory of the world.” Asian nations fear it will quietly become the hegemon in the region. The United States and Europe fear its potential rise to superpower status, changing forever the nature of international relations.

Or, is China’s economic growth slowing, prompting calls for a new development model that could change the nature of Chinese society? While China has absorbed American manufacturing jobs, is it also losing jobs? And while China’s importance as a major player in Asia is certain, can it attain superpower status to challenge the United States?

Scholarship on China’s future within and without China is split into two competing camps of optimists and pessimists.

TThe seminar examines this debate while delving into China more deeply to consider those variables that challenge the regime. The goal is an understanding, not only of the scholarly debate on China, but of the challenges China faces as it pursues it goals of growth and power. The course explores key variables that offer a clearer picture of China today and the conditions that will determine its future. Topics to be discussed include China’s governmental organization as the last remaining powerful communist country; a comparison of former Communist countries in Europe; and variables that impact China today, including politics, economics, societal, and foreign policy issues.

POSC 370G/470G
Major Issues in World Politics
Section G: U.S. Intelligence and National Security
Vincent E. McHale
M.W.F. 4:00-4:50

(Limit 30.) The flow of information to policy makers, particularly on critical areas of foreign affairs, has been greatly influenced by what intelligence agencies generate and by their posture toward foreign policy issues. This course will examine the role of strategic intelligence and intelligence agencies as a tool of United States foreign policy. We will focus on the impact of the intelligence process and the products of intelligence on foreign policy making. Lectures and reading materials will review the evaluation, structure, and current responsibilities of the U.S. intelligence community, as well as compare the intelligence apparatus of various nations (e.g., the CIS States, China, Israel, Europe, and various Third World countries). Video materials and occasional guest lecturers from the intelligence and security communities will augment the course.

Requirements include a midterm and final examination, two brief written exercises, and a group project.

POSC 380/480
The State and War in the Middle East
Peter W. Moore
T.R. 2:45-4:00

(Approved Departmental SAGES Seminar. Limit 17.) Since the end of World War Two, violent conflict in the the Middle East has varied in type and intensity. These have included inter-state wars, external power intervention, sub-state violence, and protracted social conflicts. Yet despite the almost constant crisis, states and regimes

in the region have, for the most part, proven resilient. Many of the same leaders have remained in power for decades. To understand these patterns, this course explores the causes and consequences of violent political conflict in the region. What drives these conflicts? Are there common factors and patterns? How does violent conflict affect political and economic development? What are the most likely resolution strategies? In pursing these questions, the class will critically examine concepts such as security, threat, civil war, insurgency, invasion, and occupation. The course is seminar based requiring student-led discussion of readings, analytical writing, and participation in simulated negotiations.

POSC 395
Special Projects
Times as Arranged
Staff

(Permit Required) POSC 395 (1 to 6 credit hours) permits the undergraduate to do an in-depth study of a topic of particular interest for which no regular course seems appropriate. Research might be pursued through library, computer, or fieldwork, supervised by a faculty member. POSC 395 is open to junior and senior Political Science majors and others, and may be taken for two terms, depending on the project. Some form of written work is required.

Students must obtain approval from a faculty project advisor prior to registration and must list that professor's name on the registration form. IMPORTANT: No later than the end of the second week of the semester of any POSC 395 enrollment, the student must submit to the Department Office a POSC 395 project prospectus form, signed by the faculty project advisor. This form may be obtained from the Department Office (Mather House 111) and must be submitted by all POSC 395 enrollees, whether or not they are Political Science majors. Failure to submit an approved prospectus by the designated deadline may result in the student's name being stricken from the 395 enrollment lists. The prospectus will outline the goals of the project and the research methodology to be used and thus will be part of the basis for grading. This form will become a permanent part of the student's Department file.

POSC 396
Senior Project/SAGES Capstone
Times as Arranged
Staff

(Permit required.) Required for the Political Science major, and serving as the capstone under the SAGES General Education Requirement. Open to juniors and seniors majoring in Political Science.

This course provides an opportunity to do an in-depth, independent study paper on a topic of particular interest to the student. This paper should demonstrate, and ideally even extend, the skills and expertise developed over the course of study in the department.

IMPORTANT: Students must obtain approval from a faculty project advisor prior to registration and must list that professor's name on the registration form. No later than the end of the second week of classes for the semester of POSC 396 enrollment, the student must submit to the Department Office a POSC 396 project prospectus form, signed by the faculty project advisor. This form may be obtained from the Department Office (Mather House 111). Failure to submit an approved prospectus by the designated deadline may result in the student's name being stricken from the POSC 396 enrollment lists. The prospectus will outline the goals of the project and the research methodology to be used and thus will be part of the basis for grading. Any changes in project goals or methodology will require a new prospectus form or addendum, also signed by the supervising professor. The prospectus will become a permanent part of the student's Department file.

In addition to the written paper, students are required, in line with the SAGES capstone requirement, to make an oral presentation about the core findings of their research projects. Students will present as part of groups of three or four, each for about 15 or 20 minutes total, including questions. The presentations will be made towards the end of the term during which the project is completed, and will be open to any faculty and students who wish to attend.

It is recommended that students do the senior project in their senior year, and students in the SAGES GER should do it after completing their departmental seminar. There is no need to wait until final semester of senior year to do POSC 396; in fact the department would like to encourage students to do their senior project during Fall semester if that fits their schedules.

Political Science majors are reminded that no more than six hours of independent study (POSC 395 and/or POSC 396) may count toward the major. However, independent studies taken under a Washington Study program are excluded from this limitation.

Washington Center Program

Students from any Arts and Sciences or Case Engineering discipline are encouraged to consider the WASHINGTON CENTER PROGRAM, which provides the opportunity to spend a semester in the nation's capital while earning up to a full semester's credit.

Students participate in a seminar and attend a weekly lecture/discussion group. The emphasis, however, is on practical experience in the form of a full-time internship that provides the opportunity for intensive research in the student's area of major interest. Programs are available in most areas of study--from accounting to zoology.

The credits earned can be counted as general electives or applied to a student's major or minor, with the consent of the particular department(s). For example, in Political Science, a maximum of nine credits may be applied toward the major and six credits toward the minor.

In addition, the Washington Center offers a variety of one- and two-week academic seminars and symposia during intersession and in the summer for which credit can be earned. Participation in these special seminars is open to all students (that is, not limited to juniors and seniors, as is the case for the regular program).

More information can be found at http://www.twc.edu/students/index.html.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS. To be eligible for participation, the student must be a junior or senior and have at least a 3.0 GPA. Seniors in the College of Arts and Sciences must have completed the general education requirements, and juniors must be near completion of these requirements. Each application must be approved by the student's major advisor and Case's Washington Study liaison. Students can attend the Washington Center Program in the summer before their junior or senior year, as well as during the regular academic year, although seniors cannot attend during their final semester.

THE DEADLINES FOR APPLICATION to the Washington Center are early November (Spring), early March (Summer), and early June (Fall), although some specific internship deadlines are as much as two months earlier, in each case. Students interested in the opportunity should contact Prof. Alexander P. Lamis (Mather House 221; Office Phone: 368-2696; E-mail: alexander.lamis@case.edu) and should do so as far in advance of application as possible. Freshmen and sophomores are encouraged to make early inquiries in order to make sure they will be eligible by the time of their junior year and to plan their majors and other requirements properly.

GRADUATE STUDENTS

POSC 429
Courts, Public Policy, and Social Change
Joanthan Entin
M.W. 2:50-3:45

(2 credit hours. Also listed as LAWS 285. Prerequisite: Graduate standing or departmental approval. Completion of POSC 325 or 327 [or the equivalent], or of a course in empirical social research methods, is strongly encouraged.)

Courts, Public Policy, and Social Change is designed to offer students a perspective on the relationship between law and the social sciences, with particular emphasis on the social impact of law and litigation. It is intended primarily for first-year law students, but graduate students and exceptional upper-class undergraduates in political science and other social science disciplines are welcome.

The course will be devoted primarily to assessing the extent to which legal reform can effect social change. It will focus primarily upon legal challenges to race and sex discrimination. Among the principal topics to be considered are the sociology of litigation, the use of empirical evidence in the legal process, and designing effective remedies to implement judicial rulings.

We will first consider the NAACP's litigation campaign against racial segregation. We will begin with Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) and cover the other early cases that seemed to make segregation invulnerable to constitutional attack, then move on to examine the background to the NAACP's efforts and critically analyze the organization's legal strategy that culminated in Brown v. Board of Education (1954). Analysis will include the difficulty of finding suitable plaintiffs in the face of powerful (and often violent) social sanctions, the organizational and intramural factors that make it difficult for lawyers to maintain a disciplined legal strategy, the relevance of psychological and sociological evidence in the desegregation cases, and the institutional and sociological factors that affected the process of school desegregation. Students will then assess the impact of Brown by reading divergent critiques by social scientists and legal scholars.

The portion of the course focusing on litigation against sex discrimination will follow an analogous approach, beginning with Bradwell v. Illinois (1873), which upheld the exclusion of women from the legal profession, and running through recent decisions. We will once more consider the difficulties that social movements and reform organizations face in designing a coherent legal strategy. We will also consider the relevance of social scientific evidence in constitutional litigation, most notably by examining the Brandeis Brief in Muller v. Oregon (1908), which presented a broad array of medical and sociological data related to the effects of working conditions on women's health. Finally, we will supplement this section with readings from social scientists and legal scholars who reach differing conclusions about the impact of these rulings and about the utility of litigation as a mechanism for achieving social change.

Students will write two analytical papers based on assigned readings.