Open to all majors for winter term.

This course addresses five questions. Why are many countries so eager to develop new technologies? Will new technologies worsen democratic backsliding? Why is it so hard to cooperate on dual use technologies? Why is it so hard to prevent industrial espionage? How will new technologies affect the World Trade Organization? This is an interdisciplinary course integrating anthropology (does technology shape society or vice versa), sociology, East Asian studies (China & South Korea's AI in the 2020s), history (France's nuclear technology in the 1970s & the Soviet development of satellites in the 1950s), Near Eastern Studies (digital authoritarianism in Iran and Syria), and political science.

This course will provide an overview for how gender and conflict intersect in the contemporary world. We will address questions such as why women experience gendered violence, why do women participate in violence, and what backlash do women face in the public sphere. This course will cover topics such as the causes and consequences of war, the role of women in politics (as symbols, victims, activists, politicians, and perpetrators of violence), the causes and consequences of gender-based violence, and the regulation of sex and gender (such as family and citizenship law, abortion, LGBT+ identity, gender inequality).

This course explores the causes and consequences of political polarization in the United States, focusing on both institutional and behavioral perspectives. We'll examine the extent of polarization among voters and elites and discuss whether American institutions are so polarized they can no longer govern effectively. We will trace the evolution of both major political parties and analyze the role of ideological sorting, gerrymandering, and primary elections in American politics. Finally, we will broaden our scope to consider whether we are in a global age of polarization and discuss potential strategies to address America s growing divide.

Dive into the world of political data to uncover the stories behind today's headlines. This course introduces students to the essentials of political data analysis, using R to explore and visualize trends in real-world political events. From election outcomes to social movements, you'll learn how data shapes our understanding of politics and gain hands-on experience working with the tools professionals use. Designed for both political science enthusiasts and those new to the field, this course requires no prior experiencejust a keen interest in how data informs the world around us.