This course introduces students to the theories and practice of the policy-making process. There are four primary learning objectives. First, understanding how the structure of political institutions matter for the policies that they produce. Second, recognizing the constraints that policy makers face when making decisions on behalf of the public. Third, identifying the strategies that can be used to overcome these constraints. Fourth, knowing the toolbox that is available to participants in the policy-making process to help get their preferred strategies implemented. While our focus will primarily be on American political institutions, many of the ideas and topics discussed in the class apply broadly to other democratic systems of government.

This course introduces students to the theories and practice of the policy-making process. There are four primary learning objectives. First, understanding how the structure of political institutions matter for the policies that they produce. Second, recognizing the constraints that policy makers face when making decisions on behalf of the public. Third, identifying the strategies that can be used to overcome these constraints. Fourth, knowing the toolbox that is available to participants in the policy-making process to help get their preferred strategies implemented. While our focus will primarily be on American political institutions, many of the ideas and topics discussed in the class apply broadly to other democratic systems of government.

This course introduces students to the theories and practice of the policy-making process. There are four primary learning objectives. First, understanding how the structure of political institutions matter for the policies that they produce. Second, recognizing the constraints that policy makers face when making decisions on behalf of the public. Third, identifying the strategies that can be used to overcome these constraints. Fourth, knowing the toolbox that is available to participants in the policy-making process to help get their preferred strategies implemented. While our focus will primarily be on American political institutions, many of the ideas and topics discussed in the class apply broadly to other democratic systems of government.

Keeping in mind the difficulties of teaching about an adversary embroiled in a war, this course will seek to analyze Russian politics as objectively as possible, with an eye to understanding long-term continuities and changes through alternating periods of stability and turmoil. This necessarily entails a consideration of historical complexities, especially the Soviet era (1917-1991). Thus, the first part of the course examines the origins and evolution of the Soviet regime from Lenin to Gorbachev. The point would be to identify some key continuities and transformations political dynamics, economic development, social conditions, and geopolitical ambitions -- particularly aspects that would later affect the evolution of post-Soviet Russia.  The rest of the course delves into the evolution of politics, economics, society and foreign policy, first during the early years of transition under Boris Yeltsin (1992-99), but primarily under Vladimir Putin (2000 - present). In this section, we track the evolution of Russia’s political system, the fluctuations in economic growth, and changing social conditions over time. In the process, we will consider the rise of the oligarchs, patterns of political protest, social/demographic trends, and the role of natural resources. We will then turn to the drivers of Russia’s foreign policy since the break-up of the USSR, trying to identify the sources for the sharp decline in Russia’s relations with the US/West since even before the invasion of Ukraine. We will trace some of the key forces that paved the way to the invasion of Ukraine, especially and speculate about what the future holds in terms of peace and conflict in the region.  In all these domains analysis will be informed by an underlying question: how “normal” is post-Soviet Russia’s trajectory when compared to non-western powers with their own competing historical inheritances and geopolitical aspirations (e.g. China, India, Turkey, etc.).

Keeping in mind the difficulties of teaching about an adversary embroiled in a war, this course will seek to analyze Russian politics as objectively as possible, with an eye to understanding long-term continuities and changes through alternating periods of stability and turmoil. This necessarily entails a consideration of historical complexities, especially the Soviet era (1917-1991). Thus, the first part of the course examines the origins and evolution of the Soviet regime from Lenin to Gorbachev. The point would be to identify some key continuities and transformations political dynamics, economic development, social conditions, and geopolitical ambitions -- particularly aspects that would later affect the evolution of post-Soviet Russia.  The rest of the course delves into the evolution of politics, economics, society and foreign policy, first during the early years of transition under Boris Yeltsin (1992-99), but primarily under Vladimir Putin (2000 - present). In this section, we track the evolution of Russia’s political system, the fluctuations in economic growth, and changing social conditions over time. In the process, we will consider the rise of the oligarchs, patterns of political protest, social/demographic trends, and the role of natural resources. We will then turn to the drivers of Russia’s foreign policy since the break-up of the USSR, trying to identify the sources for the sharp decline in Russia’s relations with the US/West since even before the invasion of Ukraine. We will trace some of the key forces that paved the way to the invasion of Ukraine, especially and speculate about what the future holds in terms of peace and conflict in the region.  In all these domains analysis will be informed by an underlying question: how “normal” is post-Soviet Russia’s trajectory when compared to non-western powers with their own competing historical inheritances and geopolitical aspirations (e.g. China, India, Turkey, etc.).

Keeping in mind the difficulties of teaching about an adversary embroiled in a war, this course will seek to analyze Russian politics as objectively as possible, with an eye to understanding long-term continuities and changes through alternating periods of stability and turmoil. This necessarily entails a consideration of historical complexities, especially the Soviet era (1917-1991). Thus, the first part of the course examines the origins and evolution of the Soviet regime from Lenin to Gorbachev. The point would be to identify some key continuities and transformations political dynamics, economic development, social conditions, and geopolitical ambitions -- particularly aspects that would later affect the evolution of post-Soviet Russia.  The rest of the course delves into the evolution of politics, economics, society and foreign policy, first during the early years of transition under Boris Yeltsin (1992-99), but primarily under Vladimir Putin (2000 - present). In this section, we track the evolution of Russia’s political system, the fluctuations in economic growth, and changing social conditions over time. In the process, we will consider the rise of the oligarchs, patterns of political protest, social/demographic trends, and the role of natural resources. We will then turn to the drivers of Russia’s foreign policy since the break-up of the USSR, trying to identify the sources for the sharp decline in Russia’s relations with the US/West since even before the invasion of Ukraine. We will trace some of the key forces that paved the way to the invasion of Ukraine, especially and speculate about what the future holds in terms of peace and conflict in the region.  In all these domains analysis will be informed by an underlying question: how “normal” is post-Soviet Russia’s trajectory when compared to non-western powers with their own competing historical inheritances and geopolitical aspirations (e.g. China, India, Turkey, etc.).

Keeping in mind the difficulties of teaching about an adversary embroiled in a war, this course will seek to analyze Russian politics as objectively as possible, with an eye to understanding long-term continuities and changes through alternating periods of stability and turmoil. This necessarily entails a consideration of historical complexities, especially the Soviet era (1917-1991). Thus, the first part of the course examines the origins and evolution of the Soviet regime from Lenin to Gorbachev. The point would be to identify some key continuities and transformations political dynamics, economic development, social conditions, and geopolitical ambitions -- particularly aspects that would later affect the evolution of post-Soviet Russia.  The rest of the course delves into the evolution of politics, economics, society and foreign policy, first during the early years of transition under Boris Yeltsin (1992-99), but primarily under Vladimir Putin (2000 - present). In this section, we track the evolution of Russia’s political system, the fluctuations in economic growth, and changing social conditions over time. In the process, we will consider the rise of the oligarchs, patterns of political protest, social/demographic trends, and the role of natural resources. We will then turn to the drivers of Russia’s foreign policy since the break-up of the USSR, trying to identify the sources for the sharp decline in Russia’s relations with the US/West since even before the invasion of Ukraine. We will trace some of the key forces that paved the way to the invasion of Ukraine, especially and speculate about what the future holds in terms of peace and conflict in the region.  In all these domains analysis will be informed by an underlying question: how “normal” is post-Soviet Russia’s trajectory when compared to non-western powers with their own competing historical inheritances and geopolitical aspirations (e.g. China, India, Turkey, etc.).

This lecture course, after introductory sessions which outline the EU's core institutions, is built on an exposition of the works of major thinkers who have reflected on the European Union's origins, outcomes and significance. It critically reviews their arguments, especially their relevance to major recent crises, notably: the failure of the European Constitution, the current crisis of credibility facing the Euro. Whether the European Union is a confederation, a federation, an empire, or a novel political formation shall be examined. Whether its recent major widening signals an end to its institutional deepening will be discussed. Whether the Union has "a democratic deficit" is examined, as is the claim that in external relations it represents a novel form of soft power.

This lecture course, after introductory sessions which outline the EU's core institutions, is built on an exposition of the works of major thinkers who have reflected on the European Union's origins, outcomes and significance. It critically reviews their arguments, especially their relevance to major recent crises, notably: the failure of the European Constitution, the current crisis of credibility facing the Euro. Whether the European Union is a confederation, a federation, an empire, or a novel political formation shall be examined. Whether its recent major widening signals an end to its institutional deepening will be discussed. Whether the Union has "a democratic deficit" is examined, as is the claim that in external relations it represents a novel form of soft power.

This lecture course, after introductory sessions which outline the EU's core institutions, is built on an exposition of the works of major thinkers who have reflected on the European Union's origins, outcomes and significance. It critically reviews their arguments, especially their relevance to major recent crises, notably: the failure of the European Constitution, the current crisis of credibility facing the Euro. Whether the European Union is a confederation, a federation, an empire, or a novel political formation shall be examined. Whether its recent major widening signals an end to its institutional deepening will be discussed. Whether the Union has "a democratic deficit" is examined, as is the claim that in external relations it represents a novel form of soft power.