An exploration of the idea of sovereignty, from its articulation as absolute monarchical authority in the 16th and 17th centuries to its metamorphosis as popular sovereignty in the 18th and 19th centuries to current debates over whether sovereign power is outmoded both domestically and in international relations. Drawing on historical as well as political theoretical texts, we will assess sovereign power and sovereign freedom as political ideals and consider whether we should lament or applaud the difficulty of actualizing them in political life.

The struggles and ideas of transatlantic black radicals have changed the ways we think and study -- through the formation of Africana/African-American/Black-Studies -- and the ways in which we express thoughts and ideas -- through culture and politics. In this seminar, we will study the interdisciplinary history of black radicalism in the 20th century in the United States, the Caribbean, and Africa.

On decision making, and the pathologies of decision making, in American politics. When, and to what extent, can we say that a particular policy decision is the result of rational choice, institutional processes, pluralistic pressures, or other forces? When are individual or collective decisions likely to be marred by 'groupthink,' selective attention, or self-deception? To what extent, if at all, may collective decisions be considered rational or moral? When are challenges to authority, or to dominant opinion, likely to make a difference?

People have long accused politicians of using rhetoric to pander to audiences and get what they want regardless of the truth. But democratic politics depends on communication to persuade and motivate others. In this course, we will analyze classical writings on rhetoric, contemporary democratic political theory, and hear from professionals in order to probe the relationship between rhetoric and politics. Students will also engage in an extended campaign simulation, in which they devise, implement, and react to campaign rhetorical strategies.

The enlargement of the European Union (EU) to Central and Eastern European countries has generated new neighbors to the east and south - the Western Newly Independent States (WNIS) of Russia, Belarus, Moldova, and Ukraine, and Southern Mediterranean countries (SMCs) Egypt, Libya, and Tunisia. Europe's new neighbors make up 410 million inhabitants, but their GDP capita is barely one tenth of the European Union's. This has brought problems for the EU, including migration pressures, human trafficking, and refugees.

This course is an analysis of economic inequality in America and an exploration of the power relationships, interests, and ideological conflicts surrounding this problem. Topics include the distribution of income and wealth in the United States; the relationship of poverty to race, sex, and class divisions; conservative, liberal, and radical perspectives on poverty and poverty policy.

In this examination of American foreign policy since 1898, topics include the emergence of the United States as a global power, its role in World War I and II, its conduct and interests in the cold war, and its possible objectives in a post-cold war world. Particular attention is paid to the relationship between domestic interests and foreign policy, the role of nuclear weapons in determining policy, and the special difficulties in implementing a democratic foreign policy. See for a more detailed description.

Following the collapse of the USSR and the Gulf War, Central Asia and the Caucasus became new centers of geopolitical rivalry. The new states are a source of energy (oil and gas) for Western powers and a vital transit corridor between Eastern Europe and China. While a new 'Great Game' is being fought between Western, Far Eastern, and Middle Eastern powers for control over energy pipelines, the region is threatened by environmental catastrophe and water shortages. Is the new oil industry a source of prosperity or an instrument for exploitation, corruption, and instability?

This course examines the interaction of politics and economics in the global economy. Topics include the development of the capitalist economy and its critics, the politics of trade and investment, and the phenomenon of global poverty.