CURRENT COURSES at POMONA COLLEGE

POLI005: Introduction to Comparative Politics (every spring)

Why do some countries become rich while others remain poor? When and why do we see the outbreak of political violence - or even revolution? Where do nation-states come from, and why do some become democracies? Speaking of democracies, are they threatened by rising levels of nationalism and populism globally? This class introduces major analytical approaches in the field of comparative politics in order to better understand how and why political systems - and their problems - vary across the globe.

POLI152: When to Talk and When to Fight: Political Dialogue and Resistance (every fall; previously “ID1: Politics of Protest”)

Why do people protest? What tactics do they use? When is protest successful and when is it not -- and why?  This class uses both theoretical readings and case studies to explore the dynamics of political protest and mass mobilization in the U.S. and beyond. Strategies of interest include street protests, violent rebellion, civil disobedience, boycotts, corporate campaigns, divestment campaigns, transnational mobilization, and online mobilization.

POLI160: Comparative Politics of Europe (every fall)

This course explores the three key political challenges facing Europeans in the post-war era: what is Europe, where are its boundaries, and who is European? Topics include the emergence, expansion and possible contraction of the EU/euro zone, immigration and multiculturalism, the return of nationalism and, populism, political realignment, the collapse of the post-war social contract, and the challenges of national vs. supranational governance.

POLI158: Chronicle of a Death Foretold? Global Perspectives on Democratic Decay (new in SP20)

In 1989, Francis Fukuyama famously declared liberal democracy the “final form of human government”. Thirty years later, in every region of the world, liberal democracy is in retreat. Why? This class takes a comparative approach to understanding democratic decay, drawing from cases in Asia, Europe, the Americas, and Africa. Starting with basic theories of democracy, we will explore the role that institutions, nationalism, populism, capitalism, demographic change, and technological change play in testing the foundations of liberal democratic states. Letter grade only.

POLI159: Diversity and Democracy (new in 2023)

Democracy is described as government ‘of the people, for the people, by the people.’ But what if a society consists of multiple peoples? How do we come to agreement about the common good? How do we reconcile individual rights with demands for group rights ? Or can we? Can democracies be both diverse and inclusive, or are these societies doomed to be fractious or failures? Through putting the United States in comparative perspective with other pluralistic liberal democracies, we will explore how different countries deal with similar competing demands for rights and recognition. Key topics include multiculturalism, religious freedom, minority language rights, indigenous rights, electoral access, immigration, and the legacy of slavery.

OTHER COURSES

Citizenship and Migration in Comparative Perspective (taught FA2015 at Swarthmore)

This course examines how different nations develop institutions of citizenship, and how these institutions shape responses to immigration.  Starting with an introduction to various typologies of citizenship, we will then use cases from North America and Europe in order to explore key theoretical and policy debates in the field of citizenship and migration studies.  Topics include the evolution of citizenship policy, the multiculturalism debate, denizenship, pluralism, and assimilation. 

POLS036 - Policy in Practice (taught SP17 & SP18 at Swarthmore)

What does the policymaking process look like from the view of practitioners?  This class focuses on putting students in the position of different political actors - from legislative staffers to issue advocates, to bureaucrats and more - in order to gain both theoretical and practical knowledge of how preferences become policy.  The capstone project for the course will be a policy report developed for a real-world 'client'.  Skills to be developed include strategic analysis, writing for internal and external audiences, negotiation strategy, and briefing presentations.