International Organization and Global Governance (Graduate)
This course surveys seminal studies that address the organization of international politics and the governance of international affairs. As the study of international organization has been a critical site for theory building in international relations, we will consider the field from a variety of theoretical viewpoints. Thematically, we will appraise the role of international organizations in promoting cooperation, and examine their design, pathologies, and evolution. We will also evaluate different modes of global governance, including agenda-setting, rule-making, dispute resolution, norm creation, monitoring, enforcement, and implementation. Substantively, we will reflect on topics including international security, international economic affairs, the global environment, human rights, and international law.
Qualitative and Multi-Method Research (Graduate)
This is a graduate seminar exploring research design and data collection topics related to qualitative and multi-method research. We pay particular attention to concept formation, causal processes, case selection, case studies, interviews, ethnography, and focus groups.
Introduction to Environmental Politics (Undergraduate)
Environmental protection is an issue at every political level: from local to national to global. In this course we will explore the nature and scope of environmental, energy, public land and natural resource problems. The goal of this course is to help you gain a critical understanding of how environmental policy is made, and how it can be improved. We will ask: What are the long-term scientific, social, and political drivers of environmental degradation? How do different political and economic interests contend for influence and exert power in the realm of environmental policy-making? What kinds of rules work best to deal with environmental problems? This course will focus on the politics of the US by way of comparison with other developed and developing countries. We will pay particular attention to the multi-level nature of environmental policy-making, and will examine the interaction between political processes in sub-national, national and international arenas.
Global Environmental Politics (Undergraduate)
Why is it so difficult to develop solutions to global environmental problems? Environmental problems often require extensive scientific knowledge, and involve risk and uncertainty. Existing incentives for different kinds of behavior can channel individuals and states away from environmental protection. The structure of political decision-making may disadvantage environmental activists. In this course, we explore three processes of environmental policy development – identifying problems, negotiating solutions, and implementing agreements – through a range of case studies and simulations. These include whaling, ozone depletion, and especially global climate change. We will ask: under what circumstances do countries negotiate treaties to resolve important environmental problems, and when are these agreements effective? Who participates in this process, and how? How can future agreements be improved?
The Politics of Climate Change (Undergraduate)
Virtually all climate scientists believe that we need to take immediate action to avoid dangerous global warming. But, so far, international and domestic policy have not met this challenge. The goal of this course is to help you gain a critical understanding of the source of the climate problem and the main ways in which the problem is governed. We will ask: why have political actors found it so difficult to adopt an effective response to climate change? What would that response look like? This seminar surveys the political and normative challenges posed by global climate change, drawing on scholarly research, policy documents, and popular media accounts. We will pay particular attention to the multi-level and multi-sector nature of the climate problem, examining the interaction between political processes in sub-national, national, and international arenas.
Social Movements (Undergraduate)
This is an advanced seminar exploring the ways that social movements mobilize, the role of governments and bystanders in shaping movement strategy, and the outcomes that they produce. Special topics include environmental activism, transnationalism, and violent vs. non-violent strategies.
This course surveys seminal studies that address the organization of international politics and the governance of international affairs. As the study of international organization has been a critical site for theory building in international relations, we will consider the field from a variety of theoretical viewpoints. Thematically, we will appraise the role of international organizations in promoting cooperation, and examine their design, pathologies, and evolution. We will also evaluate different modes of global governance, including agenda-setting, rule-making, dispute resolution, norm creation, monitoring, enforcement, and implementation. Substantively, we will reflect on topics including international security, international economic affairs, the global environment, human rights, and international law.
Qualitative and Multi-Method Research (Graduate)
This is a graduate seminar exploring research design and data collection topics related to qualitative and multi-method research. We pay particular attention to concept formation, causal processes, case selection, case studies, interviews, ethnography, and focus groups.
Introduction to Environmental Politics (Undergraduate)
Environmental protection is an issue at every political level: from local to national to global. In this course we will explore the nature and scope of environmental, energy, public land and natural resource problems. The goal of this course is to help you gain a critical understanding of how environmental policy is made, and how it can be improved. We will ask: What are the long-term scientific, social, and political drivers of environmental degradation? How do different political and economic interests contend for influence and exert power in the realm of environmental policy-making? What kinds of rules work best to deal with environmental problems? This course will focus on the politics of the US by way of comparison with other developed and developing countries. We will pay particular attention to the multi-level nature of environmental policy-making, and will examine the interaction between political processes in sub-national, national and international arenas.
Global Environmental Politics (Undergraduate)
Why is it so difficult to develop solutions to global environmental problems? Environmental problems often require extensive scientific knowledge, and involve risk and uncertainty. Existing incentives for different kinds of behavior can channel individuals and states away from environmental protection. The structure of political decision-making may disadvantage environmental activists. In this course, we explore three processes of environmental policy development – identifying problems, negotiating solutions, and implementing agreements – through a range of case studies and simulations. These include whaling, ozone depletion, and especially global climate change. We will ask: under what circumstances do countries negotiate treaties to resolve important environmental problems, and when are these agreements effective? Who participates in this process, and how? How can future agreements be improved?
The Politics of Climate Change (Undergraduate)
Virtually all climate scientists believe that we need to take immediate action to avoid dangerous global warming. But, so far, international and domestic policy have not met this challenge. The goal of this course is to help you gain a critical understanding of the source of the climate problem and the main ways in which the problem is governed. We will ask: why have political actors found it so difficult to adopt an effective response to climate change? What would that response look like? This seminar surveys the political and normative challenges posed by global climate change, drawing on scholarly research, policy documents, and popular media accounts. We will pay particular attention to the multi-level and multi-sector nature of the climate problem, examining the interaction between political processes in sub-national, national, and international arenas.
Social Movements (Undergraduate)
This is an advanced seminar exploring the ways that social movements mobilize, the role of governments and bystanders in shaping movement strategy, and the outcomes that they produce. Special topics include environmental activism, transnationalism, and violent vs. non-violent strategies.