Classes
POLS 30465 01 - Introduction to Chinese Politics
Study of the contemporary Chinese political system and process in the light of Chinese history and culture. Some of the topics treated include the traditional political order; the revolutionary movements; the rise of communism; Maoism and the rejection of Maoism; the political structure; leadership, personalities, and power struggles; economic policy, social policy and movements; problems of corruption and instability; and prospects for democratic development. There will be some attention to Taiwan and Hong Kong as special Chinese societies.
POLS 30280 - International Relations in East Asia
This course explores the interactions of the states and societies in the east Asian region, focusing mainly on the relationships of China and Japan, their interactions with each other and with the outside "Asian" powers, the United States and Russia (Soviet Union). Topics include: the China-centered system in east Asia prior to the intrusion of the new world system carried by western imperialism; The western impact, including colonialism, the Chinese revolution, and Japan's "defensive modernization"; the clash between Japanese and Chinese nationalism; the diplomacy of the Second World War and postwar developments; the cold war; decolonization and the emergence of new states and nationalism; the Sino-Soviet rift; the failure of the American policy of deterrence in Vietnam; the diplomatic reconciliation of the United States and China; the liberal reforms in China and their partial disappointment; the end of the cold war; China's growth as a potential world power; Japan's perhaps increasing restiveness in serving as an American surrogate; Asian assertiveness against perceived American hegemonic aspirations; potential tensions and rivalries within the region itself; the collapse of the Asian economic boom and the onset of a period of chronic economic troubles.
POLS 43001 - Asymmetric Warfare
For the past generation the United States has been the world's dominant military power, easily able to subdue any potential opponent in a straight fight. This situation has given rise among those opposed to American interests or those fearful that their own interests might be vulnerable to American coercion to a kind of military/political theorizing now dubbed "asymmetrical warefare," the attempt to devise strategies and tactics whereby a weaker power can defeat or defend itself against a stronger. The doctrine as much has been articulated most explicitly by theorists within the Chinese military and has precedent both in classical Chinese miliatary thinking and in early twentieth century Maoist doctrines concerning "people's war" or "wars of national liberation." More recently, though, the most active practitioners of asymmetrical warfare have been non-state groups, such as al-Qaeda or the Iraqi "insurgents." From the American perspective, asymmetrical warfare presents a challenge to conventional military thinking and new problems in gathering information ("intelligence") about the potential enemy, his capabilities and his intentions. This semester we will explore some of the historical background of asymmetrical warfare and the political, strategic, and moral problems surrounding its practices and the countermeasures to them.
POLS 53001 07 - Senior Seminar: Chinese Political Thought
Senior & Junior majors only (fulfills writing seminar requirement)
Readings in translation from the works of major classical Chinese thinkers and schools, and completion of several short discussion/research/analytic essays based on those works, with the aim of understanding Chinese political thinking in its own context, for the general insights it may give into live and politics, and in comparison with other traditions of political thought, especially the classical and modern west.
POLS 46902 Directed Readings
Students on the dean's list are eligible for independent study on a topic of the student's choice, under the supervision of a faculty member.
POLS 58902 Senior Honor Thesis
Seniors with a grade point average of 3.5 or above are encouraged to write a senior honors thesis. For this project, the student works closely with a faculty member on a topic of the student's choice. The senior honors thesis builds on the student's course work, experience, and interests, and trains the student to work deeply and independently. Three credits of this two-semester project fulfill one senior writing seminar requirment. The other three credits can count toward elective credit but not toward the major.
POLS 26060 Comparative Foreign Policy
GOV 180E University Seminar: Social Science Problems in American Foreign Policy