Political Theory
Political theory is concerned primarily with the structures of political neighborhood and organizations. It concentrates on humanity and the ethical purposes of political association. To clarify these principles, political theorists make use of sustaining political works from ancient Greece to today and on various works by ethical thinkers. Political theory likewise focuses on empirical research into the method political institutions operate in practice. Here political theorists subject beliefs about political life discovered in important political writings to re-examination in the light of continuous human behavior. In either case, political theory looks for to eventually deepen political thinking and to stimulate people to responsible and imaginative political action.POL S 201, Introduction to Political Theory, offers trainees with an overview of the primary lines of believed in political theory. Advanced courses focus on given concepts, subjects, and thought in political theorizing.
Comparative PoliticsComparative politics is a broad field with a range of techniques and goals. Some scholars and researchers compare modern political systems in order to judge which types finest offer particular values: order, equality, freedom, or economic security and well-being for their people. Others suggest that the main function of comparative politics is to provide an understanding of how and why various societies develop various kinds of political institutions. Still others utilize relative politics as a way of discovering basic laws and theories that will describe human political habits and its irregularity.
Comparative politics courses are of 2 standard types. One offers comparisons of a particular set of issues or organizations in a number of various countries. The 2nd type provides thorough analyses of the standard political organizations and procedures of a single country or group of countries in a world region.
The majority of trainees will want to start their research study of comparative politics with the Intro to Relative Politics (POL S 204), which combines the 2 primary approaches by including relative conversations of specific issues, issues, processes, and organizations in a wide array of political settings in addition to in-depth readings and lectures on a few of the significant nations in the contemporary world. International Relations
The field of worldwide relations is interested in establishing an understanding of why states and non-state global stars, like the United Nations and international corporations, communicate as they do. Worldwide relations is a diverse field both in terms of what kinds of habits are studied and how they are studied. International dispute, especially war, continues to be a crucial focus of the field. Why do wars begin? Who wins and why? How can wars be avoided? What is the role of international law and companies? As the world has actually become more interdependent, scholars have actually become more familiar with the value of international economic activity. As an outcome, scholars are evaluating world trade, interactions, advancement, foreign financial investment, and international finance. How states make diplomacy choices is another important area of study. National security policy, nuclear deterrence, arms control and defense costs decisions are case in points of diplomacy choices. POL S 203, International Relations, presents the trainee to International politics. This is the structure for a wide range of offerings at the 300 and 400 levels, such as American diplomacy, global environmental politics, worldwide political economy, and worldwide conflict.American Federal government and Politics Students of American government and politics seek an understanding of politics as practiced in the United States. In addition to courses on the American presidency, the U.S. Congress, and the courts, the department offers specialized courses on such topics as the political role of mass media, the politics of race and ethnicity, constitutional law, policy formation, state politics, and American political thought.
A few of the broad questions that concern trainees in this field are: How and why did American political institutions, concepts, and practices establish as they have? How does one tackle evaluating them? Are American political institutions, concepts and practices distinct, or are they comparable to other societies? How might American politics be improved? POL S 202, Introduction to American Politics, is suggested preparation for many other courses in American Politics. To get first-hand experience with the American political system, students are encouraged to take part in academic internships in Washington D.C., Olympia, or Seattle. Political Methodology
The subfield of political approach is worried about the philosophical bases of political science, social science, empirical research study style and analysis, and practical field research study experience.
Courses in the political methodology field cover philosophical problems relating to the possibility of a science of politics, the resemblances and differences in between website government and other social sciences, alternative modes of description, and the truth of understanding claims. They also examine the formulation of speculative and non-experimental research designs for making causal reasonings about political procedures and habits and explore the. usage of statistics, mathematics and computer systems for the analysis of political information created by such research designs. Students are likewise offered a chance to carry out specific and group research study projects through workshops. The political method professors have current research study and teaching interests in such varied topics as mass media, feminist theory, language politics, political economy, logical option theory, and public law.