Political Science 397CP - ST-Corruption, Politics & Law

This course will provide an overview of public policy regarding situations where public officials place their own gain ahead of a duty to serve. Areas of major coverage will include the various ways that such behavior costs a society, the tendency of humans to rationalize corrupt behavior, and legislative and regulatory means to limit corruption. Although we consider corruption from a global perspective, specific United States federal statutes such as the Hobbs Act, the Trip Act, and the Honest Services Act will be of particular concern. It should be noted that inherent in any conversation about corruption is also a conversation about Power. The only way that corruption can take place is in the context of Power being abused -- i.e., a party with more power than another party takes unfair advantage of their higher position. Because all serious discussions about justice and society must intersect with that dynamic in some meaningful way, we can count on spending a fair amount of time in that space.

Open to junior and senior Political Science majors.