PSCI 244 - Solving Puzzles in Political Science

Students will gain an understanding of the causes of some important puzzles in contemporary politics. For example, why do powerful dictators often allow opposition parties to exist? Why are the front lines of some civil wars spared from violence? Why do people's ethnic identities shift between religion and race? Through a variety of research-based reading and data analysis, students will gain the skills to explain real-world political outcomes through a theoretical lens. Students will critically reflect on issues such as corruption, racial identity, conflict and autocracy, to understand the structures, interests, and processes that shape contemporary politics.