This seminar explores the comparative politics of selected countries and conflicts in the contemporary Middle East and North Africa. We focus on understanding the causes and consequences of popular uprisings, civil wars, and protracted conflicts. The class is taught through discussion, with students taking active, participatory roles. Themes include changing forms of governance, changing practices of warfare, gender and minority rights, economic and environmental problems, protest and activism, state-society relations, and migration and refugees. Students read memoir, journalistic accounts, and theoretical articles in comparative politics to understand important developments. Specific country and issue cases change each year; recent seminars have addressed Israel-Palestine, Syria, Egypt, Iran, and Iraq. Writing, reading, and discussion intensive class. Designed as follow-on course to POLT 559, Comparative Politics of the Middle East, counts as capstone course for the Middle East Minor. Writing intensive.

Senior POLT honors-in-major students (see department for honors-in-major requirements), with a cumulative average of 3.20 or greater, may undertake a special honors project in an area of their choice. The result of this special project is a significant written product constituting an honors thesis, under the supervision of a faculty sponsor. Students must initiate the project discussion and obtain approval of the undergraduate curriculum committee before undertaking the project. The honors thesis constitutes the tenth course in the major. Writing intensive.

Why is American government designed the way that it is (and how does it change?)? Whose interests are protected and whose interests are limited by its design? What do successful reforms tell us about the future of reform?

This course is about cooperation at the international level. With a focus on international organizations, we examine what roles international institutions (both IGOs and NGOs) play in global governance and their effects in various issue areas. We examine their historical origins, functions, and the international and domestic political forces that impact their effectiveness. The course also considers the role of international organizations on world order including conflict resolution, peacekeeping, development, and human rights.