as terrorist attacks as entirely random events, the fact is that patterns of behavior exist at the international level. Our job is to figure out how we can identify patterns in international relations, propose explanations for those patterns, and discover new patterns of our own. We explore political phenomena such as interstate and civil conflict, the formation and growth of supranational institutions, and conflict management. The class views international politics through the lens of strategic choice. Strategic choice means that international actors are purposive, and their actions are pursued in anticipation of how other actors will behave. Actors have unique interests they want to achieve in international relations, but cannot always achieve their interests because of other actors' preferences and behavior. Moreover, they are constrained by an institutional framework of norms, rules, and international law. It is the combination of interests, interactions, and institutions that produces global politics as we observe it. Strategic choice may seem like a simple and obvious concept, but it is a powerful framework that helps us move away from perceiving international politics as entirely random, and start looking for patterns in behavior.
International Organization (Graduate) Can countries find order in an anarchic world? If so, how? Addressing these questions not only tells us a great deal about global politics, it provides insight into human nature. We ask if human beings can work together to provide collective goods, or if our self-interests are too strong to foster sustained cooperation. This course explores a particular type of cooperation: the constitution of global order and the international organization of states. We investigate various sources of international order, including regimes, institutions, law, and norms. We also explore how states cooperate in a number of issue arenas, such as peace and security, human rights, and environmental issues. By the end of the semester, students are able to explain when and why countries cooperate, and how order emerges in an anarchic world.
Advanced Quantitative Methods (Graduate) Regression analysis is a powerful tool for understanding the world around us. This class introduces the theory, methods, and practical application of linear regression. By the end of the semester, students understand and evaluate social science research that uses regression analysis. They can use regression to address a research question of interest. Finally, students learn and apply additional techniques of statistical analysis, including logit and probit. Any regression course requires some knowledge of basic statistical concepts and techniques. We begin with a brief review of descriptive statistics, sampling distributions, statistical inference, and hypothesis testing before moving on to applied techniques. The focus is on the nature of the basic linear regression model. Regression makes several key assumptions. We examine these assumptions in depth and explore the consequences of violating them.