“Power & Policymaking in the Broken First Branch”

January 6^th, 2021 saw an unprecedented assault on the U.S. Congress. What do these events say about the U.S. Congress? How should the Congress respond? What are the consequences of a failure to strengthen the “first branch” of government? This class contextualizes the January 6^th, 2021 events within a broader set of debates within and around the U.S. Congress, including rampant partisan polarization, declining legislative capacity and effectiveness, a decades-long loss of power to the executive branch, repeated cycles of budget fights and government shutdowns, and much more.  While focused on contemporary national politics, we will also consider insights from state governments as well as legislatures around the globe.

Technology and War

How does weapons technology affect how states fight and the ways in which international politics work? This course considers the relationship between technology and war by considering three key questions: in what context did different weapons develop? have any weapons had a revolutionary effect on war? how have different war strategies changed the conduct of international politics? We will consider the development and effects of weapons including gunpowder, tanks, submarines, nuclear weapons, and drones.