2007-08 - Pitzer College

214 POLITICAL STUDIES
POLITICAL STUDIES
147. International Environmental Politics. Following an exploration of human effects on
ecosystems, we look at collective action problems associated with transnational
environmental problems. The role of national and subnational level politics in
promulgating international level solutions to environmental problems is examined.
Vertical and horizontal interactions of the institutions designed for environmental
protection are analyzed. Fall, H. T. Nelson.
Political Philosophy
150, 151. History of Political Philosophy. A year-long course surveying the major ancient
and modern responses to the perennial issues of politics: justice, freedom, equality, the
good society, the state, responsibility. Readings will be drawn from Plato, Aristotle, the
Bible, Augustine, and Aquinas, as well as Machiavelli, Descartes, Hobbes, Locke,
Rousseau, and Marx. The first semester is not a prerequisite for the second but is strongly
recommended 150. S. Snowiss. [not offered 2007-08] 151. Spring, Staff.
154. Political Thought: East and West. A comparative study of Eastern and Western
political philosophy dealing with such questions as the relationship between different
concepts of nature and the political order, morality versus expediency, and hierarchy versus
equality. Among the authors and schools to be considered are Heraclitus, Taoism, the
Bible, Plato, Descartes, Machiavelli, Kautilya, and Confucius. S. Snowiss. [not offered 2007-08]
155. Anarchist History and Thought. This course provides an introduction to the history
and theory of anarchism. Major theorists covered include Godwin, Bakunin, Kropotkin,
Goldman, and others. The course will also add to materials available online at Anarchy
Archives. D. Ward. [not offered 2007-08]
160. Contemporary Political Thought. This course will introduce students to major
theorists of the 20th century by focusing on trends in democratic theory. Political events
of the 20th century and the advent of new research methods provided major challenges
to previously optimistic views of democracy and the capacity of citizens for selfgovernment.
We will trace the debates that emerged from these events up to current
discussions of what democracy can and should be. [not offered 2007-08]
162. Year 2012: Utopia or Oblivion? The discipline of futurology is only 30 years old but
provides systematic projections and the identification of trends. We will explore the
future from various vantage points: social science, science fiction, philosophy, science,
and pataphysics. These materials are focused on three major questions: (1) What are the
immediate problems we face and how might they be aggravated or ameliorated by
technological advances? (2) What would be the ideal human community? (3) What do
non-ordinary experiences have to teach us about our knowledge of ourselves? S. Snowiss.
[not offered 2007-08]
163. Feminist Theory. An examination of major feminist writers who critique the
contemporary world from various perspectives and are engaged in philosophizing about
new ways of thinking and defining political concepts such as power, authority, the state
and rights as well as the changing determinants of the construction of relationships and
identities. We will critically examine those arguments and their far-reaching
consequences for social organization and politics. PreEnrollment is limited. Prerequisite a
course in GFS or Political Philosophy. Fall, S. Snowiss.
Public Policy
174CH. U.S. Immigration Policy and Transnational Politics. Examines the factors
shaping the size and composition of past and contemporary immigration flows to the
U.S.. Areas examined include the role of economics, social networks, policy and politics
in shaping immigration flows and the process by which immigrants simultaneously
participate in the politics of sending and receiving countries. Spring, A. Pantoja.
176. Environmental Policy. (Formerly Political Studies 166) This course will examine such
environmental policy issues as air and water resources, toxic and hazardous wastes,
energy, and public land. Our concern will be both with the formation of policy and with
the consequences of existing policy. The focus will be national and regional (Southern
California) but we will also examine selected international issues. J. Sullivan/K. Purvis-Roberts.
[not offered 2007-08]
179. Special Topics in Public Policy. [not offered 2007-08]
181/196. Senior Seminar: The Politics of Water. This course will examine policy issues
involved in the supply of water for cities and farms. We will look particularly at the arid
west and at such issues as the pricing of water, the effects of dams, water privatization,
and water quality. Considerable attention will be paid to these issues in California and to
selected international cases. J. Sullivan. [not offered 2007-08]
182. Seminar in Minority Politics. This advanced seminar examines the political
attitudes and behaviors of African Americans, Latinos, Asian Americans, Native
Americans, and homosexuals in the United States. Particular attention is paid to
quantitative research and analysis, though the contributions of qualitative scholarship are
considered. A. Pantoja. [not offered 2007-08]
183. Welfare State in Comparative Perspective. This course will examine the origins and
contemporary development of welfare states in industrial democracies. Particular
attention will be paid to the role of ideologies in shaping welfare states. Liberal,
conservative, socialist, feminist, and Christian/religious social thought will be covered.
Country cases to be examined will reflect student interest, but will include the U.S.,
Britain, Germany and Sweden. N. Boyle. [not offered 2007-08]
215
184. Science, Technology, and Politics. A treatment of issues raised by developments in
science and technology and their consequences for citizens, communities, countries, and
the global order. American science and technology policy processes are examined in some
detail and compared with those in other countries. Policy case studies examine topics
such as the humane genome project, genetically modified foods, information and
communication technologies, the AIDS pandemic, and global warming. T. Ilgen.
[not offered 2007-08]