Political Science

Department Website:
https://www.haverford.edu/political-science

The Political Science Department seeks to address issues of power, citizenship, government, and justice in the United States and throughout the world by studying the diversity of political life and thought in our own age and in the past. Our goal is to provide students with a deep understanding of the core concepts and practices of politics and government while developing the analytical, research, and writing skills that enable them to think critically and creatively about existing structures of power and privilege. In doing so, we hope to nurture a lifelong fascination and engagement with the political realm.

Haverford’s program is designed to provide an understanding of how and why decisions are made. For many students this knowledge serves as the foundation for participation in public affairs and the shaping of the policies that affect their communities and their personal lives. Many majors choose to go on to law school. Many others choose to go into government service, journalism, teaching, or community organizing, among other career pathways. Given that most of our classes are small enough to allow ample discussion and dialogue, students leave Haverford well equipped for those continuing discussions that determine the quality of life in our society.

Learning Goals

The Political Science Department provides students with an opportunity to explore politics and government from multiple vantage points—at the grassroots, the nation-state, and the global community—and from a variety of theoretical, conceptual, comparative, historical, and experiential perspectives.

We aim to:

  • provide students with a broad background in the discipline of political science, including its multiple methods and subfields as well as substantive knowledge (i.e., facts, concepts, theories, etc.) about different debates and topics within the discipline.
  • guide students so they can make pathways through the curriculum in ways that reflect an accumulation of learning and that help them develop a greater level of mastery over at least one body of scholarship within political science.
  • cultivate critical, analytic and synthetic thinking about local, national, international and transnational politics, as well as about the nature of political power, governance, citizenship, and justice.
  • help students acquire the skills of communication, collaboration, and listening necessary for effective participation within an intellectual community.
  • train students to carry out sustained independent research.
  • prepare students to become informed and reflective citizens who are knowledgeable about the forces that shape political life.

Haverford’s Institutional Learning Goals are available on the President’s website, at http://hav.to/learninggoals.

Curriculum

We offer courses in the five subfields of political science at the introductory, intermediate, and advanced levels. We coordinate our offerings with those at Bryn Mawr in order to provide a wide range of subjects.

Courses fall into the following five subfields:

  • American Politics (A): major institutions; bureaucracy; discrimination; urban politics and urban policy; and ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and class in relation to American politics.
  • Comparative Politics (C): politics and governments throughout the world; women and politics; comparative political economy; human rights; civil war and revolution; and transitions to democracy.
  • International Relations (I): international political economy and international security; the state system; international organizations; causes of war, terrorism, peace-building, and reconciliation; and American foreign policy.
  • Globalization and Global Governance (G): cosmopolitan theory; democracy and global governance; capitalism and its critics; global economy; global civil society and global justice movements.
  • Political Theory (T): justice, equality, and liberty; power, authority, and order; democratic theory; American political thought; feminist theory; and politics and culture.

Major Requirements

  • Two of the following 100-level courses to enter the major: POLS H121, POLS H131, POLS H151, POLS H161, and POLS H171. These courses must represent two different subfields.
  • Six elective courses taken above the 100 level. No more than four of the elective courses for the major may come from institutions outside of the Tri-Co.
  • A 300-level research seminar, taken in the department during the fall semester of the senior year. (This is in addition to the six elective courses described above.)
  • A combination of introductory and elective courses that includes representation of three of the five subfields, with work at the intermediate or advanced level in at least two subfields.
    • Students may count some courses in either of the two subfields but not in both.
    • With the consent of a member of the department, students may substitute two or three intermediate- or advanced-level courses from another department for the third subfield, where this serves to complement and strengthen the student’s work within the department. For example, a student concentrating in international politics might offer international economics courses as a subfield; a student in comparative politics might offer courses in an area study; a student in political theory might offer social and political philosophy courses; or a student in American politics might offer social policy courses. Students can count such substitutions towards fulfilling the subfield requirement only. They cannot count these towards political science course credit and cannot use them to fulfill the introductory, elective, and seminar requirements outlined above.
  • All senior majors write a thesis and complete an oral defense of the thesis through enrollment in POLS H400.

Senior Project

The senior thesis represents the capstone of the political science major. It is a year-long independent research project designed and implemented by each senior political science major with the guidance and support of an assigned thesis advisor. Students receive one credit for an advanced-level seminar in the fall semester of their senior year. With few exceptions, this seminar is taken with the student’s thesis advisor. During the fall semester seminar students select a research topic, formulate a research question, begin acquiring conceptual and theoretical sophistication through a comprehensive review of the relevant scholarly literature, and prepare a thesis proposal or research design. This proposal will guide each student’s original research during the spring semester. Near the end of the fall semester seniors submit their thesis proposals to all members of the department and present their thesis proposals before the department faculty and fellow students. These proposal defenses are intended to provide students with useful critical feedback during the fall semester when there is still time to make major adjustments to the project if necessary. They are also intended to build an esprit de corps among majors while giving them valuable experience with oral presentation and public accountability.

In the spring semester students register for POLS H400, a supervised research and writing course. During this semester, students conduct independent research and write up their findings with the guidance and feedback of their advisor. Throughout the spring semester students meet regularly with their thesis advisor and submit drafts of thesis chapters to their advisor. After students submit their final written theses in April, they are required to give a 30-minute oral defense of their theses to their advisor and at least one other political science faculty member in early May.

Senior Project Learning Goals

The goal of the thesis is to promote the ongoing acquisition of research and analytical skills, as well as the ability to carry out extensive projects independently and consistent with the highest standards of excellence. Most students writing a thesis will identify an interesting and important research question, explore how other scholars have attempted to address that question, and devise a viable research plan. Students who choose to concentrate in political theory pursue normative research and focus on interpretation and analysis of philosophical texts. Students are expected to conduct their own research, often using both primary and secondary sources, and to evaluate how their findings relate to existing scholarship in the field.

Senior Project Assessment

Students are assessed based upon their proposal, their written thesis, their oral defense, and their performance throughout the thesis process. They are evaluated according to several criteria, including:

  • their conceptualization of a research question.
  • their ability to effectively and concisely present their argument and findings.
  • their ability to draw conclusions and extensions of their research to broader arenas.
  • their engagement with secondary material and use of primary sources.
  • their ability to identify, critique, develop, and apply core concepts and theories.
  • their ability to obtain a basic understanding of research methodologies.
  • their ability to comprehend and respond to questioning.
  • the quality and organization of their writing.
  • the timely submission of work and responsiveness to feedback.
  • the originality of their ideas and the ambition of their project.
  • the breadth of their knowledge related to their thesis topic.
  • the depth of their knowledge related to their thesis topic.
  • their comprehension of the scope and limitations of their own research.

During the fall semester, students receive feedback from their professor and their peers on various assignments that often include a combination of the following: thesis proposal, annotated bibliography and literature review. The presentation of the thesis proposal in the fall semester is an opportunity for members in the department other than the advisor to weigh in on and evaluate a student’s progress. The feedback received in the fall from fellow students and the department faculty at the thesis proposal defense is beneficial for students as they move ahead with their projects in the spring.

Throughout the spring semester students receive feedback from their thesis advisor through regular meetings and comments on thesis drafts. The schedule for the submission of drafts and individual meetings in the spring semester is determined by the student and his/her advisor. Prior to the oral defense of the thesis in May each student submits a thesis abstract. This abstract is an important element of the defense in that it is designed to serve as a succinct overview of the thesis argument and methodology. The defense is attended by the student, the thesis advisor, and one other member of the department faculty. After the defense, the two faculty members discuss the student’s project and overall performance. Ultimate responsibility for grading of the thesis (POLS H400) belongs to the supervising faculty member.

Requirements for Honors

The department awards honors to senior majors who have demonstrated excellence in their coursework in political science and their senior thesis. The department may grant high honors to a select number of senior majors who have attained an outstanding level of distinction in their political science courses and senior thesis.

Concentrations and Interdisciplinary Minors

The department contributes to multiple concentrations, including those in Peace, Justice, and Human Rights; Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies; African and Africana Studies; Latin American, Iberian, and Latino Studies; and Gender and Sexuality Studies.

Study Abroad

The department encourages students to spend a semester or a year studying abroad. Credit for courses taken abroad will be determined on a case-by-case basis. Students will need to provide documentation about the content (e.g., syllabi, papers, and exams) of courses taken abroad.

No more than two study-abroad courses per semester (four courses per year) can be counted towards the political science major.

Research and Fieldwork

Faculty have conducted research in Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, and students have had opportunities to assist faculty members with field research in places like Guatemala and Mali. The department encourages students to supplement their classroom work by studying abroad or applying for a grant from the College’s Center for Peace and Global Citizenship (https://www.haverford.edu/cpgc) to undertake internships in other countries.

Prizes

The department awards up to five prizes annually:

The Emerson L. Darnell 1940 Prize Fund: Named in honor of Emerson Darnell, a Quaker alumnus who dedicated his life’s work to advocating peaceful social change and defending the civil rights of the individual. The prize is awarded annually to the student who presents the best paper demonstrating an appreciation of the Bill of Rights as the foundation of American law and the very fabric of American society.

The Harold P. Kurzman Prize: Awarded for the senior who has performed the best and most creatively in political science course work.

The Stephen H. Miller Memorial Award: Presented in honor of Stephen H. Miller ‘62, who lost his life while serving his country and his fellow man in South Vietnam while taking part in village development as a member of the United States Information Agency. This award is presented to the graduating senior in political science who best exemplifies the ideal of political involvement and social service expressed in Miller’s life and career.

The Herman M. Somers Prize in Political Science: Given in recognition of the research and teaching of Red Somers. Awarded to the graduating senior(s) who presents the best senior project that reflects the interest in policy, respect for evidence, and the humane concern for improving society that characterized Somers’ work.  

The Harvey Glickman Prize:  Awarded to the graduating senior in Political Science whose senior thesis displays the greatest innovation in pushing the theoretical boundaries of the discipline and its subfields.     

Affiliated Faculty

Craig Borowiak
Associate Provost & Professor of Political Science

Jack Hasler
Visiting Assistant Professor of Political Science

Anita Isaacs
The Benjamin Collins 1920 Professor of Social Science; Professor of Political Science; Coordinator of Latin American and Iberian Studies

Jeffrey Lamken
Visiting Professor of Political Science

Steve McGovern
Professor of Political Science

Barak Mendelsohn
Professor of Political Science

Vatsal Naresh
Assistant Professor of Political Science

Zachary Oberfield
Professor and Chair of Political Science

Joshua Ramey
Visiting Assistant Professor of Peace, Justice, and Human Rights

Susanna Wing
The William Penn Foundation Professor in Political Science; Professor of Political Science; Coordinator of African and Africana Studies

Courses

POLS H121  AMERICAN POLITICS  (1.0 Credit)

Zachary Oberfield

Division: Social Science
Domain(s): B: Analysis of the Social World

This course examines the dynamics of the political process as seen in the Congress, the Presidency, and the judiciary. It also focuses on the roles that interest groups, public opinion, the media, and political parties and elections play in the American political system.

(Offered: Fall 2025)

POLS H131  INTRODUCTION TO COMPARATIVE POLITICS  (1.0 Credit)

Susanna Wing

Division: Social Science
Domain(s): B: Analysis of the Social World

An introduction to basic concepts and themes in comparative politics analyzed through case studies. Themes include political authority and governance structures; political culture and identity politics; political participation and representation; and political economy.

(Offered: Fall 2025)

POLS H151  INTERNATIONAL POLITICS  (1.0 Credit)

Barak Mendelsohn

Division: Social Science
Domain(s): B: Analysis of the Social World

This course offers an introduction to the study of international politics. It considers examples from history and addresses contemporary issues, while introducing and evaluating the political theories that have been used by scholars to explain those events. The principal goal of the course is to develop a general set of analytical approaches that can be used to gain insight into the nature of world politics – past, present and future.

(Offered: Fall 2025)

POLS H161  GLOBAL POLITICAL ECONOMY: RACE, LABOR, POWER  (1.0 Credit)

Craig Borowiak

Division: Social Science
Domain(s): B: Analysis of the Social World

An introduction to the study of the global political economy with a focus on racial and class inequalities. The course examines how the global economy is governed and how power asymmetries contribute to racialized forms of labor exploitation and social dislocation. Attention will be paid to how larger economic forces influence local politics and shape individual experiences. Key themes include: racial capitalism, international trade and finance, globalization, global inequality, neoliberalism, multinational corporations, sweatshops, global cities.

(Offered: Spring 2026)

POLS H171  INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL THEORY  (1.0 Credit)

Vatsal Naresh

Division: Social Science
Domain(s): B: Analysis of the Social World

An introduction to central concepts of political life through exploring the questions and problems surrounding democratic freedom, power, authority and citizenship. Reading from ancient, modern, and contemporary sources, literary as well as philosophical, American as well as European, will be included.

(Offered: Fall 2025)

POLS H213  SEPARATION OF POWERS AND CONSTITUTIONAL LAW  (1.0 Credit)

Jeffrey Lamken

Division: Social Science
Domain(s): B: Analysis of the Social World

The U.S. Constitution establishes a framework for government that preserves individual liberty. The Constitution protects liberty, in part, through a Bill of Rights that promises freedom from certain types of government intrusion. The Constitution also seeks to guarantee liberty through the structural framework it establishes. This course will examine one of those structural protections—the separation of powers among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the U.S government. Lottery Preference: Political Science majors

(Offered: Fall 2025)

POLS H215  CONSTITUTIONAL LAW AND CIVIL RIGHTS: GENDER, SEXUALITY, AND RACE  (1.0 Credit)

Division: Social Science
Domain(s): B: Analysis of the Social World

This course will provide an overview of constitutional law and its effects on civil rights, with a particular emphasis on gender, sexual orientation, and race. Prerequisite(s): One course in political science or consent of the instructor

POLS H216  THE SUPREME COURT  (1.0 Credit)

Division: Social Science
Domain(s): B: Analysis of the Social World

Examines the Supreme Court's interpretation of the civil rights and civil liberties expressed in the U.S. Constitution and its impact on American society and politics. Prerequisite(s): One 100-level course in Political Science

(Offered: Spring 2026)

POLS H218  THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM  (1.0 Credit)

Zachary Oberfield

Division: Social Science
Domain(s): B: Analysis of the Social World

An analysis of the politics and policies surrounding the U.S. criminal justice system.

POLS H224  THE AMERICAN PRESIDENCY  (1.0 Credit)

Zachary Oberfield

Division: Social Science

This course examines theories of presidential power and the interplay between presidents, Congress, the bureaucracy, and the public.

(Offered: Spring 2026)

POLS H226  SOCIAL MOVEMENT THEORY  (1.0 Credit)

Steve McGovern

Division: Social Science
Domain(s): B: Analysis of the Social World

Theoretical analysis of origins and development of mass-based protest movements in the U.S. Scholarly explanations of recruitment of individuals, modes of organization and leadership, strategies and tactics, countermovements, and the impact of movements on policy and politics.

POLS H227  URBAN POLITICS  (1.0 Credit)

Steve McGovern

Division: Social Science
Domain(s): B: Analysis of the Social World

Examines who wields power in American cities amidst broad social and economic change. Includes both historical and contemporary analysis of urban politics, with close attention to the influence of race, ethnicity, and class.

(Offered: Fall 2025)

POLS H228  URBAN POLICY  (1.0 Credit)

Steve McGovern

Division: Social Science
Domain(s): B: Analysis of the Social World

Assessment of public policies aimed at revitalizing U.S. cities following several decades of suburbanization and capital disinvestment. Focus on economic development, housing and community development, environmental protection, transportation, education, crime, and the management of regional sprawl.

(Offered: Spring 2026)

POLS H231  POPULISM AND THE CRISIS OF DEMOCRACY: A COMPARATIVE PERSPECTIVE  (1.0 Credit)

Division: Social Science
Domain(s): B: Analysis of the Social World

Populism is a global trend observed in diverse countries like Turkey, Poland, India, and the US. This course adopts a global and comparative perspective to analyze populism's historical, political, economic, and cultural contexts. It explores different theories, including ideational, strategic, and performative understandings of populism. Additionally, it examines various factors influencing populism's emergence, its relationship with democracy, political systems, and popular movements. The course concludes by applying these concepts to regional and country case studies. Pre-requisite(s): One political science course or consent of instructor. Lottery Preference: Political Science Majors

POLS H235  AFRICAN POLITICS  (1.0 Credit)

Susanna Wing

Division: Social Science
Domain(s): B: Analysis of the Social World

Analysis of political change in Africa from the colonial period to contemporary politics. Selected case studies will be used to address central themes including democracy, human rights, gender, interstate relations, economic development, and globalization. Prerequisite(s): one course in political science or consent of the instructor.

POLS H241  IMMIGRATION POLITICS AND POLICY  (1.0 Credit)

Anita Isaacs

Division: Social Science
Domain(s): B: Analysis of the Social World

Examines the causes and rights of forced migrants and refugees along with the responses and responsibilities of the international community. Focus on Mexico and Central America. Prerequisite(s): One political science course or instructor consent

(Offered: Fall 2025)

POLS H242  WOMEN IN WAR AND PEACE  (1.0 Credit)

Susanna Wing

Division: Social Science

Analysis of the complex issues surrounding women as political actors and the ways in which citizenship relates to men and women differently. Selected cases from the United States, Africa, Latin America, and Asia are studied as we discuss gender, domestic politics, and international relations from a global perspective. Prerequisite(s): one course in POLS or instructor consent

POLS H253  INTRODUCTION TO TERRORISM STUDIES  (1.0 Credit)

Barak Mendelsohn

Division: Social Science
Domain(s): B: Analysis of the Social World

After being marginalized in international relations scholarship for years, in the aftermath of 9/11 terrorism has moved to the forefront of scholarly interest. The purpose of this course is to survey the various theories concerning terrorism from diverse perspectives employing rationalist and psychological theories to explain terrorism-related phenomena.

POLS H256  THE EVOLUTION OF THE JIHADI MOVEMENT  (1.0 Credit)

Barak Mendelsohn

Division: Social Science
Domain(s): B: Analysis of the Social World

This course explores the evolution of the jihadi movement, focusing on its ideological development throughout the twentieth century, and the structural changes it has gone through since the jihad to drive the Soviets out of Afghanistan during the 1980s.

POLS H260  GOVERNING THE GLOBAL ECONOMY IN TIMES OF CRISIS  (1.0 Credit)

Craig Borowiak

Division: Social Science
Domain(s): B: Analysis of the Social World

An examination of how the global economy is governed and how governance bodies have responded to and/or been complicit in crises and their aftermaths. Critical attention will be paid to power asymmetries in the international system and their consequences. Particular focus will be paid to the history and politics of global finance. Other cases might include the international governance of intellectual property rights, digital governance, and international trade regimes, among other possibilities. Prerequisite(s): One political science course or instructor consent

(Offered: Fall 2025)

POLS H260B  GOVERNING THE GLOBAL ECONOMY IN TIMES OF CRISIS  (1.0 Credit)

Craig Borowiak

Division: Social Science
Domain(s): B: Analysis of the Social World

An examination of how the global economy is governed and how governance bodies have responded to and/or been complicit in crises and their aftermaths. Critical attention will be paid to power asymmetries in the international system and their consequences. Particular focus will be paid to the history and politics of global finance. Other cases might include the international governance of intellectual property rights, digital governance, and international trade regimes, among other possibilities. Prerequisite(s): One political science course or instructor consent

(Offered: Fall 2025)

POLS H262  GRASSROOTS ECONOMIES: CREATING LIVELIHOODS IN AN AGE OF URBAN INEQUALITY  (1.0 Credit)

Craig Borowiak

Division: Social Science
Domain(s): B: Analysis of the Social World

The aim of the course would be to examine the political and economic constraints generated by poverty and racial and class segregation in contemporary urban environments and how grassroots economic initiatives rooted in mutual aid often fill the gaps and provide alternative ways to meet needs and generate supportive community. Examples of such initiatives range from guerrilla gardens and artist collectives to worker cooperatives and informal revolving loan funds. Many of these initiatives are informal. Some are legal, others less so. Many also fall under the radar of mainstream studies, which instead focus on capitalist markets, government welfare, and nonprofit philanthropy. Though many grassroots economic initiatives take place on a relatively small scale, they have a much larger footprint and impact when they are looked at together. The course will engage with them both theoretically and with numerous concrete examples and interactive experiences with practitioners. We will also examine various efforts in different cities to cultivate solidarity-based economic alternatives through public-private partnerships and grassroots coalitions. Case studies will be drawn from a variety of countries, though the focus will be on U.S. cities, with a particular emphasis on Philadelphia. This course will be taught in Philadelphia as part of the Tri-Co Philly Program. Prerequisites:Priority in registration will be given to students participating in the Tri-Co Philly Program (https://www.haverford.edu/philly-program) and Political Science majors. Remaining seats are available to other Tri-Co students, by lottery, if demand exceeds remaining spaces in the course. If you are interested in the program, you must fill out the application, which is due on Friday, April 5 by 11:59 pm. This program includes registering for two of three of the program’s courses, which include this course or Food Cultures in Philadelphia (ENGL B287) or Philadelphia and the 2024 Election (SOCI 056C). Those not participating in the Philly program do not need to complete the application and can simply pre-register for the class.

POLS H264  INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS  (1.0 Credit)

Staff

Division: Social Science
Domain(s): B: Analysis of the Social World

An introduction to the wide range of international institutions that structure international relations such as the UN, ICC, UNHCR, UNDP, EU, African Union, WTO, IMF, World Bank, and NGOs. The course explores the following questions: What are these international organizations (IOs)? Why do states establish IOs? Can IOs change states’ behaviors? How effective are IOs? How do they challenge states? The course will survey the field, first focusing on recent developments in IO theory and relevant debates, and then covering a range of substantive issue areas such as security, human rights, refugees, trade, investment, climate, and so on. Case studies will be used to illustrate real-world examples and enhance understanding of key concepts. Pre-requisite(s): One political science course or consent of the instructor. Lottery Preference: Political Science majors and minors.

POLS H265  CAPITALISM AND THE HISTORY OF POLITICAL ECONOMIC THOUGHT  (1.0 Credit)

Craig Borowiak

Division: Social Science
Domain(s): B: Analysis of the Social World

Theoretical approach to the role of politics and markets in modern societies. Draws from the history of political economic thought to evaluate the modern capitalist system and its critics. Key authors include the Mercantilists, Adam Smith, anarchist authors, Karl Marx, Karl Polanyi, F.A. Hayek, J.M. Keynes, and Milton Friedman. Prerequisite(s): One political science course or instructor consent

POLS H271  COMPARATIVE AND TRANSNATIONAL STUDIES: FROM KUALA LUMPUR TO KANSAS CITY  (1.0 Credit)

Division: Social Science
Domain(s): A: Meaning, Interpretation (Texts); B: Analysis of the Social World

How can comparative lenses on the one hand, and transnational lenses, on the other, make sense of a globalizing world and its workings? This course uses both lenses to understand the ways we live now. Also, the ideas and practices that shaped them. So we study, for example, how modernity was built by the Black Atlantic, by creolizing, and by different diasporas and their homelands. And how constitutionalisms in Spanish America and U. S. states resemble each other. Or how the Arab world and East Asia shared debates over dealing with Eurocentrism.

POLS H274  ENDS AND MEANS: MORAL CHOICES IN POLITICS  (1.0 Credit)

Staff

Division: Social Science
Domain(s): B: Analysis of the Social World

Can politics be moral? Can the end justify the means? Examines how to make moral choices in politics, and the moral dilemmas it poses, by scrutinizing how great theories answered these questions, including Machiavelli, Thoreau, Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, Camus, Sartre, Dewey, Trotsky, Rosa Luxemburg, Reinhold Niebuhr, and Elizabeth Anscombe. A special focus on the ethics of war.

POLS H275  POLITICAL BEHAVIOR  (1.0 Credit)

Division: Social Science

An exploration of political behavior – the ways in which everyday citizens think about and participate in politics. Students will examine the social and psychological foundations of political life and behavior with special emphases on methodology, measurement, and research design. This includes the study of phenomena such as ideology, public opinion, political participation, and voting. The course will focus primarily on political behavior in the United States, though students will learn concepts and skills that apply in other contexts as well. During the course, students will develop their own original research design. Prerequisite(s): One political science course or consent of instructor. POLS121 is recommended.

(Offered: Spring 2026)

POLS H277  INTRODUCTION TO QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS IN POLITICAL SCIENCE  (1.0 Credit)

Jack Hasler

Division: Quantitative; Social Science
Domain(s): B: Analysis of the Social World

Introduces students to the quantitative analysis of politics. Students will learn how to formulate a research question, design a research project, find a relevant dataset, produce descriptive statistics and visualizations, and conduct basic statistical analysis. Prerequisite(s): One introductory course in political science

(Offered: Spring 2026)

POLS H281  FEMINIST POLITICAL ECONOMY  (1.0 Credit)

Joshua Ramey

Division: Social Science
Domain(s): A: Meaning, Interpretation (Texts)

This course is an introduction to current debates in radical feminism. Beginning with the psychanalytical, Marxist, and Black Radical feminists of the 1960’s and 70’s, the course outlines contemporary radical feminist positions on race, gender, consumption, domesticity, care, labor, ecology, and the prospects of collective life within and beyond capitalist planetary endgame. Crosslisted: POLS. Pre-requisite(s): PEAC 101 or 201 or any PHIL or POLS class, or consent of instructor. Lottery Preference: PJHR and GenSex students first

(Offered: Fall 2025)

POLS H283  AFRICAN POLITICS, AFRICAN NOVELS AND FILM  (1.0 Credit)

Susanna Wing

Division: Social Science
Domain(s): A: Meaning, Interpretation (Texts); B: Analysis of the Social World

The study of politics in Africa through African literature. We explore themes including colonial legacies, gender, race and ethnicity, religion and political transition as they are discussed in African literature. Crosslisted: Political Science, Africana Studies Prerequisite(s): One previous course in political science or instructor consent

POLS H294  FEDERALISM AND CONSTITUTIONAL LAW  (1.0 Credit)

Division: Social Science
Domain(s): B: Analysis of the Social World

What does it mean to think like a lawyer? We will explore that question (and many others) as we examine the area of constitutional law known as federalism. The federalism debate is about which government—the federal government or each state—should decide hot-button issues such as whether to legalize marijuana; whether to require masks to curb the spread of COVID-19; whether to ban the sale of food made from animals confined in cruel conditions; whether to allow the sale of abortion-inducing drugs; and whether to give undocumented students (Dreamers) the benefit of in-state college tuition. Readings will be abridged versions of Supreme Court cases, lower court cases, and related commentary. Writing assignments will be case summaries, two short papers, and one longer paper in lieu of an exam. Classes will be discussion based, and there will be opportunities to play the role of lawyer or judge in mock oral arguments known as moot courts.

POLS H296  TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE: THE POLITICS OF ACCOUNTABILITY  (1.0 Credit)

Anita Isaacs

Division: Social Science
Domain(s): B: Analysis of the Social World

Challenges of transitional justice--confronting human rights violations in the aftermath of violent conflict and repressive dictatorship. We will address questions raised in transitional justice studies, focusing on purpose, goals and implications, and assessing practical experiences with key transitional justice mechanisms, including truth commissions, trials and reparations. Prerequisite(s): one course in political science or instructor's approval

POLS H298  FROM NATIONAL-LIBERATION REPUBLIC TO POPULIST STATE: THE STATE AND ECONOMY IN TURKEY  (1.0 Credit)

Staff

Division: Social Science
Domain(s): B: Analysis of the Social World

This course offers a comprehensive review of modern Turkish history, delving into the origins and consequences of its current challenges. It examines these issues in the broader context of semi-peripheral countries and dependence. The topics encompass various social, political, and economic challenges that Turkey has faced since late Ottoman times, including underdevelopment, problems in democratic consolidation, relations with the West, industrialization, class conflict, military coups, economic liberalization, economic crises, political cleavages, and the rise of AKP’s authoritarian populism. Pre-requisite(s): One semester of Political Science is recommended but instructor's permission is sufficient.

POLS H301  DEVELOPMENT, HUMAN RIGHTS, AND TRANSNATIONAL INJUSTICES  (1.0 Credit)

Staff

Division: Social Justice; Social Science
Domain(s): B: Analysis of the Social World

What are the worldwide obstacles to peace and justice? How can we surmount them? This course examines theories of some of the leading obstacles to peace and justice worldwide, and of what global citizens can do about them. The three obstacles we consider are colonialism and its legacies, whether we live in a global racial order, and whether the global economic order harms the poor and does them a kind of violence. The two solutions we will consider are the project of economic and social development, and the practice of human rights. The course aims, first, to give students some of the knowledge they will need to address these problems and be effective global citizens. Second, to understand some of the major forces that shape the present world order. Third and finally, to hone the skills in analysis, theory-building, and arguing that are highly valued in legal and political advocacy, in public life and the professions, and in graduate school. Crosslisted: Independent College Programs, Political Science

POLS H313  ARMED NON-STATE ACTORS IN INTERNATIONAL POLITICS  (1.0 Credit)

Barak Mendelsohn

Division: Social Science
Domain(s): B: Analysis of the Social World

The principal goal of the course is to expose students to various types of armed nonstate actors and gain insights into their motives and activities. The course also introduces analytical lens through which scholars have sought to conceptualize the interplay between states and armed nonstate actors. Prerequisite(s): One course in political science or instructor consent

POLS H315  RESEARCH IN AMERICAN POLITICS  (1.0 Credit)

Zachary Oberfield

Division: Social Science
Domain(s): B: Analysis of the Social World

This course helps students prepare for a senior thesis in political science. Specifically, it assists students in choosing a topic, developing a literature review and hypothesis, and generating a research design to test their hypothesis. Prerequisite(s): Junior or senior standing or instructor consent

(Offered: Fall 2025)

POLS H318  CONTEMPORARY POLITICAL IDEAS AMID GLOBAL TRANSFORMATIONS  (1.0 Credit)

Division: Social Science
Domain(s): A: Meaning, Interpretation (Texts); B: Analysis of the Social World

This course examines how contemporary political ideas and movements, like nations, global solutions, or solidarity are affected by the global transformations that are now underway in the wake of COVID-19. We will explore how these transformations are reshaping these ideas, in light of the particular interests of students in the course.

POLS H320  DEMOCRACY IN AMERICA  (1.0 Credit)

Steve McGovern

Division: Social Science
Domain(s): B: Analysis of the Social World

This seminar explores some of the most pressing challenges to American democracy today, including the intensification of ideological and partisan polarization, increasing economic inequality, and ongoing constraints faced by marginalized groups. The course is geared toward students preparing for a senior thesis in political science.

(Offered: Fall 2025)

POLS H329  POWER AND POLIITCS IN PHILADELPHIA  (1.0 Credit)

Steve McGovern

Division: Social Science
Domain(s): B: Analysis of the Social World

This course examines power and politics in contemporary Philadelphia. We will devote particular attention to the potential and limitations of grassroots mobilization as a mechanism for effecting positive change. To what extent can movement organizations, advocacy groups, and community-based organizations alter long-standing policies, practices, and institutions in a large, American city like Philadelphia? To what extent are their efforts impeded by well-established interests and structural forces rooted in race, ethnicity, class, and culture? How have recent societal shifts affected underlying tensions between Old Philadelphia and New Philadelphia? We will explore who wins and who loses in the political arena through a series of case studies of key policy issues, including criminal justice reform, immigrants’ rights, precarious labor, gentrification and affordable housing, urban development, and workforce diversity. How these policy issues are resolved will reveal much about the nature of power and whether the source of that power springs from the bottom-up or remains primarily a top-down phenomenon. This discussion-based seminar will feature guest speakers, site visits, and an opportunity to conduct your own research on power and politics in Philadelphia. Pre-requisite(s): One course in political science or consent of instructor

POLS H330  TOPICS IN COMPARATIVE POLITICS  (1.0 Credit)

Susanna Wing

Division: Social Science
Domain(s): B: Analysis of the Social World

This is a workshop course built around student interests and senior thesis topics. We will explore issues including, but not limited to, ethnicity, religion, gender and the state. We will look at how states pursue both political and economic development and how they cope with violent conflict. Prerequisite(s): Three courses in POLS AND junior or senior status, or instructor consent

(Offered: Fall 2025)

POLS H331  RESEARCH AND WRITING IN COMPARATIVE POLITICS  (1.0 Credit)

Anita Isaacs

Division: Social Science
Domain(s): B: Analysis of the Social World

This seminar on research and writing in comparative politics seeks to foster advanced reading, analysis, writing and workshopping skills among advanced political science majors Prerequisite(s): 5 courses in political science at the introductory and intermediate levels

(Offered: Fall 2025)

POLS H332  SHORT OF WAR: DETERRENCE AND COMPELLENCE IN INTERNATIONAL POLITICS  (1.0 Credit)

Barak Mendelsohn

Division: Social Science
Domain(s): B: Analysis of the Social World

The course examines the way international relations' theory addresses policies short of war, particularly the security policies states use to promote their political and strategic objectives, to dissuade rivals from attacking, to manage crisis situations, and to promote peaceful resolution to interstate conflicts. Prerequisite(s): One political science course or instructor permission

POLS H334  POLITICS OF VIOLENCE  (1.0 Credit)

Anita Isaacs

Division: Social Science
Domain(s): B: Analysis of the Social World

This semester the seminar will focus on the causes and manifestations of structural and political violence in the Americas. Topics include the rise of white supremacy in the United States, and escalating political repression, gang violence and organized crime in Mexico and Central America. Cross-listed: Political Science/Peace, Justice and Human Rights

POLS H342  THE POLITICS OF GENDER AND SEXUALITY  (1.0 Credit)

Susanna Wing

Division: Social Science
Domain(s): B: Analysis of the Social World

Advanced course explores the politics of gender and sexuality in comparative perspective. Includes readings in feminist theory and methods and examines the state and power structures through a gender sensitive lens. Cases primarily from Africa, Europe and the United States. Crosslisted: Gender and Sexuality concentration. Prerequisite(s): Previous course in gender and sexuality and Domain B (or SO), POLS 242 (Women in War and Peace) recommended.

POLS H350  TOPICS IN INTERNATIONAL POLITICS: TERRORISM IN THE US IN THE 1960-70  (1.0 Credit)

Barak Mendelsohn

Division: Social Science
Domain(s): B: Analysis of the Social World

This seminar, which would be offered only once (Spring 25), explores domestic terrorism in the US during the turbulent times of the 1960-70s. The seminar focuses on the Weather Underground organization: exploring its rise and demise; its ideology, strategy, and internal dynamics; and its relationship with the New Left protest movement. The seminar also explores the role of race and gender in shaping domestic terrorism in the U.S. during that era, examining additional players, such as African-American separatist terrorism, and Puerto Rican ethno-nationalist terrorism. Lastly, the seminar compares the dynamics producing domestic terrorism in the US and in Europe, with particular attention to the left-wing social movements of the era in Western Europe, especially in Germany. Prerequisite: A course in international or comparative politics or consent of instructor.

POLS H351  INTERNATIONAL SECURITY  (1.0 Credit)

Barak Mendelsohn

Division: Social Science
Domain(s): B: Analysis of the Social World

This course offers an introduction to the study of international security. It considers examples from history and addresses contemporary issues, while introducing and evaluating the political theories that have been used by scholars to explain those events. The principal goal of the course is to develop a general set of analytical approaches that can be used to gain insight into the nature of world politics - past, present and future. The first section introduces key conceptual issues and review main theoretical approaches in the field. The second section addresses specific issues in international security such as war, military doctrines, alliances, crisis, deterrence, grand strategy, and proliferation.

(Offered: Fall 2025)

POLS H357  INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS THEORY: CONFLICT AND THE MIDDLE EAST  (1.0 Credit)

Barak Mendelsohn

Division: Social Science
Domain(s): B: Analysis of the Social World

Conflicts in the Middle East since World War I. Cleavages are discussed that have contributed to the emergence of violent conflicts in the region and discusses particular conflicts.

POLS H366  ADVANCED RESEARCH IN GLOBAL GOVERNANCE  (1.0 Credit)

Craig Borowiak

Division: Social Science
Domain(s): B: Analysis of the Social World

Research seminar designed for students interested in working on long research papers or preparing for senior theses related to the global governance subfield or similar fields. The course will cover research methodologies, writing strategies, and discussions of contemporary global governance scholarship, which will be used to anchor the course thematically and to model different approaches to research. Students' independent research will be complemented with regular and intensive collaborative workshopping of one another's work in class. Prerequisite(s): Three courses in POLS AND junior or senior status, or instructor consent

(Offered: Fall 2025)

POLS H367  POLITICS, MARKETS, AND CRISES: CURRENT CHALLENGES IN GLOBAL POLITICAL ECONOMY  (1.0 Credit)

Staff

Division: Social Science
Domain(s): B: Analysis of the Social World

This course acquaints you with the fundamental debates and empirical issues in contemporary Global Political Economy (GPE), while also enhancing your critical analysis skills. After a brief introduction to the divided status of the field of GPE, we will explore various challenges in the global economic system and their political causes and implications. Topics covered include WTO/trade liberalization vs. trade wars, transnational corporations and global value chains, labor and the gig economy, gender dynamics, financialization and financial crises, development goals and the poverty reduction, global shocks (COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine), the BRICS, and the evolving global economic order. Pre-requisite(s): One semester of Political Science or instructor's permission

POLS H375  ADVANCED TOPICS IN POL THEORY: SOCIAL STRUCTURES  (1.0 Credit)

Vatsal Naresh

Division: Social Science
Domain(s): C: Physical and Natural Processes

This course examines the main contemporary theories of politics by focusing on a central topic of political philosophy: How to justify authority. We will explore how these political theories can be used to deal with contemporary problems as defined by particular interests of students in the course.

(Offered: Fall 2025)

POLS H381  GARBAGE: THE POLITICS, PROBLEMS, AND POSSIBILITIES OF POLLUTION  (1.0 Credit)

Jessica Croteau

Division: Social Science
Domain(s): B: Analysis of the Social World

What if waste—something we often overlook as mere garbage—held significant political and social power? This course invites an exploration of waste as a complex and deeply political subject, examining how pollution and discarded materials impact ecological and social systems in ways that are both profound and frequently unnoticed. We will critically engage with issues such as plastic and food waste, nuclear waste, waste colonialism, and the concept of “wasteland.” Crosslisted: POLS. Lottery Preference: #1 - Senior ENVS and POLS majors; #2 - Junior ENVS and POLS majors; #3 - ENVS minors

(Offered: Fall 2025)

POLS H400  SENIOR THESIS  (1.0 Credit)

Anita Isaacs, Barak Mendelsohn, Craig Borowiak, Steve McGovern, Susanna Wing, Zachary Oberfield

Division: Social Science
Domain(s): B: Analysis of the Social World

This course consists of tutorials and intensive research, culminating in a senior thesis. Prerequisite(s): Limited to political science senior majors

(Offered: Spring 2026)

POLS H460  TEACHING ASSISTANT  (1.0 Credit)

Zachary Oberfield

Division: Social Science

Teaching assistant. Prerequisite(s): Instructor consent

(Offered: Fall 2025)

POLS H480  INDEPENDENT STUDY  (1.0 Credit)

Staff

Division: Social Science

This course is conducted through individual consultation; supervised independent reading and research is expected; research papers and oral reports on special topics are based upon the individual interests of advanced students. Prerequisite(s): Instructor consent

(Offered: Fall 2025)