This course focuses on the development of politics and political thought in ancient Greece, its evolution through Rome and the rise of Christianity. Readings from Plato, Aristotle, Augustine, Machiavelli, and others.

The course deals with the period which marks the rise and triumph of the modern state. Central topics include the gradual emergence of human rights and the belief in individual autonomy. Readings from Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, and others.

The course deals with the period which marks the triumph and critique of the modern state. Central topics include the development of the idea of class, of the irrational, of the unconscious, and of rationalized authority as they affect politics. Readings drawn from Rousseau, Kant, Hegel, Marx, Nietzsche, and others.

This course addresses certain problems which are characteristic of the political experience of the twentieth century. Topics considered are revolution, availability of tradition, and the problems of the rationalization of social and political relations. Readings from Nietzsche, Weber, Freud, Lenin, Gramsci, Dewey, Oakeshott, Arendt, Merleau-Ponty.

The first quarter examines the origins and development of American political thought from the revolutionary period to the end of the nineteenth century with special emphasis on the formative role of eighteenth-century liberalism and the tensions between "progressive" and "conservative" wings of the liberal consensus.

The first quarter examines the origins and development of American political thought from the revolutionary period to the end of the nineteenth century with special emphasis on the formative role of eighteenth-century liberalism and the tensions between "progressive" and "conservative" wings of the liberal consensus.

This course explores contemporary issues in American political thought. Topics may include liberalism and rights, gender and sexuality, race and ethnicity, cultural diversity, and the boundaries of modern citizenship. Readings include political pamphlets, philosophical treatises, court decisions, and works of literature.

This course will examine the historical development of the ideal of democracy from Periclean Athens to the present in the light of criticism by such thinkers as Plato, Tocqueville, and Mosca and difficulties encountered in efforts to realize the ideal.

This course examines how power has been conceived and contested during the course of American history. The course explores the changes which have occurred in political rhetoric and strategies as America has moved from a relatively isolated agrarian and commercial republic to a military and industrial empire.

This course examines theories of nationalism and by nationalists in pursuit of answers to the following questions: What are the central claims, aspirations, and practices of nationalists? What is the relationship between nationalist sentiments and ideology, on the one hand, and liberalism, capitalism, warfare and the state on the other? Is nationalism a coherent ideology? Is it democratic? Is it defensible?

An examination of some of the ideas and values associated with major social and political movements in Europe and the United States since the French Revolution. Topics will vary and may include liberalism, populism, democarcy, communism, nationalism, fascism, and feminism.

An introduction to theories of political behavior developed with the assumptions and methods of economics. General emphasis will be upon theories linking individual behavior to institutional patterns. Specific topics to be covered will include collective action, leadership, voting, and bargaining.

An introduction to philosophy and the political implications of social science. Topics considered will include the nature of theory and evidence, the formulation of research questions, special problems in the study of human behavior or action and the relation between social science and public policy, events, and ideologies.

The course explores the modes of political thinking found in arts, especially in drama and literature. It focuses on particular topics (e.g., ends and means, political leadership, political economy). Some attempt will be made to develop implications inherent in art for the writing of political theory as a genre.

This course examines the major traditions of East Asian thought in comparative perspective. Topics include Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism, and contemporary nationalist and East Asian political thought. Throughout, focused comparisons and contrasts will be made between Western and Eastern thought.

An examination of the competing philosophical traditions of ancient and modern China and Japan, with an eye toward understanding how these have been reflected in Chinese and Japanese development. Readings and class sessions will be in English, although students with Chinese or Japanese language capability will be given the opportunity to use their special skills.

A continuation of 113B which follows political philosophical themes in China and Japan through the twentieth century. Important topics will include Buddhism and Confucianism as they changed in each context in response to internal and external stimuli. Prerequisite: PS 113B.

An introduction to Marxist thought from its roots in the western tradition through its development in non-western contexts. Emphasis is placed on how adaptations were made in Marxism to accommodate the specific challenges of each environment.

Our understanding of politics, power, conflict, and quality continue to be challenged and transformed by considering gender as it intersects with nationality, race, class, and ethnicity. We will consider the importance of gender in each of the subfields of political science.

Readings in historical and contemporary feminist theory; development of gender as a category of political analysis; alternative perspectives on core concepts and categories in feminist thought.

Advanced critical analysis of contemporary feminist theory; emphasis on the interrelationships among discourses of gender, race, ethnicity, class, and sexuality in the work of different feminist theorists; alternative perspectives on feminist political strategies and practices. Prerequisite: PS 115B or PS 116A.

This course explores the relationship between violence and the elements of social order, including social hierarchies, group boundaries, power, and authority. Topics include both classic and contemporary works in political theory, as well as some fiction and journalism.

An historical analysis of systematic theology in the Judeo-Christian tradition as political theory. Emphasis is placed on the politicization of the political dimensions of the early church, its encounter with positivism, and the emergence of Catholic social doctrine.

A comparative study of liberation theologies, including Continental, Latin American, South African, and East Asian. Prerequisite: PS 118A.

An undergraduate course designed to cover various aspects of political theory.

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