Political Science

Courses Empirical Analysis and Research Methodology

PLSC 503b, Quantitative Methods II: Foundations of Statistical Inference  Fredrik Sävje

An intensive introduction to statistical theory for quantitative social inquiry. Topics include foundations of probability theory, statistical inference from random samples, estimation theory, linear regression, maximum likelihood estimation, and nonparametric identification.
W 3:30pm-6pm

PLSC 504a, Advanced Quantitative Methods  Fredrik Sävje

The aim of this course is to provide students with the understanding and tools to critically consume and conduct statistical research. The theme is the challenge of drawing reliable causal inference. We will learn: how to use graphical methods to transparently analyze and present data; how to discipline our analyses against multiple-comparisons bias; how to use nonparametric methods to avoid implausible assumptions; how strong research design is essential to causal inference; how Bayesian inference provides the mathematical vocabulary for thinking about scientific inference; how causal graphs allow us to express and analyze causal assumptions, choose control variables, and think about selection bias; how placebo tests allow us to test assumptions; how to build and understand Likelihood and Bayesian models including Logistic and Probit models; how to think about and analyze time-series cross-sectional data. We will review instrumental variables methods and regression-discontinuity designs, though it is assumed that you have already covered these in PLSC 503. The course assumes students have command of the material covered in PLSC 500 and PLSC 503, including basic probability theory, matrix algebra, and the linear regression model.
F 1pm-3:15pm

PLSC 505b / SOCY 508b, Qualitative Field Research  Elisabeth Wood

In this seminar we discuss and practice qualitative field research methods. The course covers the basic techniques for collecting, interpreting, and analyzing ethnographic data, with an emphasis on the core ethnographic techniques of participant observation and in-depth interviewing. All participants carry out a local research project. Open to undergraduates with permission of the instructor.
Th 3:30pm-5:20pm

PLSC 508b, Causal Inference and Research Design  Winston Lin

This seminar exposes students to cutting-edge empirical and statistical research across the social and health sciences, with a focus on topics relevant to causal questions in the domain of political science. Readings and discussions focus on selected methodological topics, such as experimental design, partial identification, design-based inference, network analysis, semiparametric efficiency theory, and qualitative/mixed-methods research. Topics vary from year to year. Statistical training at the level of PLSC 504 is expected, though training in probability theory at the level of S&DS 541 or ECON 550 is suggested.
T 3:30pm-5:20pm

PLSC 510a, Introduction to the Study of Politics  Milan Svolik

The course introduces students to some of the major controversies in political science. We focus on the five substantive themes that make up the Yale Initiative: Order, Conflict, and Violence; Representation and Popular Rule; Crafting and Operating Institutions; Identities, Affiliations, and Allegiances; and Distributive Politics. We divide our time between discussing readings on these subjects and conversations with different members of the faculty who specialize in them. There is also some attention to methodological controversies within the discipline. Requirements: an annotated bibliography of one of the substantive themes and a take-home final exam.
T 9:25am-11:15am

PLSC 518b, Introduction to Game Theory  Alexandre Debs

This course offers a rigorous introduction to noncooperative game theory. The goal is to help students understand the key concepts and ideas in game theory and to provide students with a road map for applying game theoretic tools to their own research. Topics include strategic form games, extensive form games, and Bayesian games, among others. Students are assumed to have mathematical knowledge at the level of the Political Science Math Camp.
MW 9:25am-10:15am

PLSC 520b, Game Theory and Political Science  Christian Salas

Introduction to game theory—a method by which strategic interactions among individuals and groups in society are mathematically modeled—and its applications to political science. Concepts employed by game theorists, such as Nash equilibrium, subgame perfect equilibrium, and perfect Bayesian equilibrium. Problems of cooperation, time-consistency, signaling, and reputation formation. Political applications include candidate competition, policy making, political bargaining, and international conflict.
MW 1:30pm-2:20pm

PLSC 529a, Mathematics for Political Science  Christopher Li

This course builds on the material seen in math camp. It covers foundational concepts and techniques in mathematics that are relevant to quantitative and formal research. Students learn to read and write rigorous mathematical proofs. Topics include real analysis, optimization, and probability theory.
M 10:30am-11:20am, W 3:30pm-4:20pm

PLSC 530a or b, Data Exploration and Analysis  Staff

Survey of statistical methods: plots, transformations, regression, analysis of variance, clustering, principal components, contingency tables, and time series analysis. The R computing language and Web data sources are used.
HTBA

PLSC 540a and PLSC 541b, Research and Writing  Deborah Beim and Hélène Landemore

This is a required course for all second-year students. It meets for the first six weeks of the fall term and the first six weeks of the spring term. The fall meetings are devoted to discussion of research design as well as individual student projects. The spring meetings are devoted to discussion of drafts of student papers. The work of the spring-term seminar includes criticism of the organization, arguments, data evaluation, and writing in each student’s paper by the instructors and the other students. Using this criticism, and under the supervision of the instructors, each student conducts additional research, if necessary, rewrites the paper as required, and prepares a final paper representing the best work of which the student is capable. Students must submit a one-page outline of the proposed project for the first fall-term meeting and a complete draft of the paper at the first meeting in the spring.
Th 4pm-6pm

PLSC 509b, Philosophy of Science for the Study of Politics  Hélène Landemore

An examination of the philosophy of science from the perspective of the study of politics. Particular attention to the ways in which assumptions about science influence models of political behavior, the methods adopted to study that behavior, and the relations between science and democracy. Readings include works by both classic and contemporary authors.
W 1:30pm-3:20pm

PLSC 534a, Theories of Distributive Justice: Formal Models of Political Theory  John Roemer

We survey the main theories of distributive justice proposed by political philosophers since John Rawls, including A. Sen, R. Dworkin, G.A. Cohen, and R. Arneson. We use economic models to study these theories, and we critique them from the economic and philosophical viewpoints. We then read Thomas Piketty’s book Capital in the Twenty-First Century. If time permits, we introduce a microeconomic theory modeling how people cooperate in economic settings, to be contrasted with Nash equilibrium, a model of how people compete. Prerequisite: microeconomics, at least at the intermediate level, or permission of the instructor.
W 9:25am-11:15am

PLSC 565a, Democracy and Distribution  Ian Shapiro

The attention showered in 2015 on Thomas Piketty’s book Capital in the Twenty-First Century brought issues of inequality in the distribution of income and wealth to the forefront of public and scholarly attention. An enormous body of research has been produced over the past two decades to understand the nature of the dramatic rise in inequality, especially in the United States, and its causes. A long list of proposals for legal change has emerged in response to the outpouring of data and analysis. This course explores the facts and the causes of and political barriers to potential responses to these recent developments, principally but not exclusively in the United States. Ultimately, the question requires an examination of the relations between democracy and the distribution of income and wealth. Particular attention is paid to the ways in which different groups, classes, and coalitions affect, and are affected by, democratic distributive politics. Attention is paid to theories of distribution, politics of distribution, distributive instruments, and the implementation of policies affecting distribution. Substantive topics covered include regulation, protectionism, taxes, social insurance, welfare, public opinion, education, and unions. Follows Law School academic calendar.
M 2:10pm-4pm

PLSC 576a, Ancient Greek Political Development  Daniela Cammack

This course explores the varieties of political experience in the ancient Greek world in the Archaic, Classical, and Hellenistic periods. Attention is given to different regime types (monarchy, tyranny, aristocracy, oligarchy, democracy), places (Athens, Sparta, Crete, Carthage, Syracuse, Persia), political forms (city-state, alliance, empire), institutions (assembly, council, courts, offices), and persons (political leader, citizen, woman, foreign resident, slave).
Th 9:25am-11:15am

PLSC 580a / PHIL 674a, Borders, Culture, and Citizenship  Seyla Benhabib

The contemporary refugee crisis in Europe and elsewhere; new patterns of migration, increasing demands for multicultural rights on the part of Muslim minorities in the West, and transnational effects of globalization faced by contemporary societies. This course examines these issues in a multidisciplinary perspective in the light of political theories of citizenship and migration, and laws concerning refugees and migrants in Europe and the United States.
MW 1:30pm-2:20pm

PLSC 583a / GMAN 651a / PHIL 734a, Contemporary Critical Theory  Seyla Benhabib

An examination of the themes of statelessness, migration, and exile in the works of Arendt, Benjamin, Adorno, Shklar, and Berlin.
T 3:30pm-5:20pm

PLSC 592a, Advanced Topics in Ancient Political Thought: Plato, Aristotle, Cicero  Daniela Cammack

An opportunity to read, or to reread, the most significant political statements of three foundational figures in Western political thought, paying attention to both historical context and philosophical argument. Particular focus on the relationships between (a) the just (to dikaion) and the advantageous (to sympheron) and (b) the honorable (honesta) and the useful (utilis). Prerequisite: some experience of political theory or intellectual history is expected.
T 3:30pm-5:20pm

PLSC 597a, Lincoln’s Statecraft and Rhetoric  Steven Smith

This class is based on a reading and interpretation of Lincoln’s major speeches and letters. Its purpose is to understand his views on the problem of slavery, equality, and race in American society, but also to consider the relation of words to deeds in the practice of his statecraft. We also situate Lincoln within the history and theory of statesmanship.
MW 2:30pm-3:45pm

PLSC 628a, Theories of Political Action  Karuna Mantena

The course examines twentieth-century theories of political action, focusing on Marxist, existentialist, progressive, anarchist, and anticolonial thinkers and activists. We look at how they wrestled with the legitimacy and efficacy of new forms of mass political action, such as the boycott, the general strike, as well as revolutionary violence. We cover debates on the use of violence and nonviolence as a technique of popular protest and collective mobilization. Thinkers to be considered include Lenin, Sorel, Weber, Niebuhr, Gandhi, Camus, Fanon, King, Arendt. Prerequisite: prior course work in political theory.
T 7pm-8:50pm

PLSC 629a / HIST 656a, Histories of Political Thought  Isaac Nakhimovsky

The intersection between political theory and intellectual history, examined from a historiographical rather than an exclusively methodological perspective. The course aims to develop a comparative framework for discussing the kinds of preoccupations and commitments that have animated various important contributions to the history of political thought since the nineteenth century.
W 9:25am-11:15am

PLSC 640b, Advanced Topics in Modern Political Philosophy  Giulia Oskian

This seminar is designed to survey modern political philosophy at a level appropriate for graduate students (to help them prepare for the field exam) and for advanced undergraduates who have completed substantial course work in intellectual history and/or political theory. This term, the seminar addresses the topic of democracy and inequality from Rousseau to Marx. We pursue the politics of classical political economy by tracing discussions of the identity of the modern representative republic, the nature of capitalism or commercial society, and the relation between the two from Rousseau to Marx. While the main focus is close analysis of the writings of Rousseau, Smith, and Marx, we also mark the trajectory from Smith to Marx via readings from Kant, Hegel, Condorcet, Malthus, Ricardo, and Proudhon.
T 3:30pm-5:20pm

PLSC 656a, Global Governance  Yuriy Sergeyev

Examination of global policy problems, the acceleration of interdependence, and the role, potential, and limits of the institutions of global governance to articulate collective interests and to work out cooperative problem-solving arrangements. Consideration of gaps in global governance and controversies between globalization and state sovereignty, universality, and tradition.
W 1:30pm-3:20pm

PLSC 662a, Strategy, Technology, and War  Paul Bracken

Long term technology strategies of major powers (US, China, Russia, EU, India) for their impact on national security and world order. New technologies include cyberwar, nuclear modernization, mobile missiles, space war, AI, big data, Internet of Things. Institutional changes include Cybercommand, CIA Directorate of Digital Innovation, etc. Key issues include defense private equity, Silicon Valley and the Pentagon, digital transformation of the Navy, arms control and grand strategy. Relevant for students with an interest in technology management.
MW 11:35am-12:50pm

PLSC 695a / GLBL 905a, International Security  Nuno Monteiro

This course covers the main theories and problems in international security. After analyzing the main theoretical traditions devoted to understanding international security and world order, we discuss a variety of topics such as: the causes of war; the role of nuclear weapons and the problems with their proliferation; coercion, signaling, and crisis bargaining; military effectiveness; and U.S. grand strategy. Students acquire broad familiarity with the canonical literature in these fields, understand how to apply scholarship to analyze contemporary international security problems, and learn to identify opportunities for new research. The course is designed for master’s and Ph.D. students who plan to pursue either policy or scholarly work in international security. Seminar sessions may feature outside guest scholars. Besides the weekly seminar sessions, students are strongly encouraged to attend weekly reading group sessions in which we dissect recent scholarship on the same topics for which we have read the canonical works.
T 1:30pm-3:20pm

PLSC 698a, International Political Economy  Didac Queralt

This course examines how domestic and international politics influence the economic relations between states. It addresses the major theoretical debates in the field and introduces the chief methodological approaches used in contemporary analyses. We focus attention on four types of cross-border flows and the policies and international institutions that regulate them: the flow of goods (trade policy), the flow of capital (financial and exchange rate policy), the flow and location of production (foreign investment policy), and the flow of people (immigration policy).
F 3:30pm-5:20pm

PLSC 709b, Comparative Constitutional Law  Bruce Ackerman

An effort to define the key concepts adequate for an evaluation of the worldwide development of modern constitutionalism since the Second World War. Enrollment limited. Follows Law School academic calendar.
HTBA

PLSC 714b, Corruption, Economic Development, and Democracy  Susan Rose-Ackerman

A seminar on the link between political and bureaucratic institutions, on the one hand, and economic development, on the other. A particular focus is the impact of corruption on development and the establishment of democratic government. Enrollment limited to fifteen.
HTBA

PLSC 723b, Politics in Latin America  Ana De La O

Overview and analysis of politics in Latin America. The emergence of democracy and the forces that led to the unprecedented increase in inequality in the twentieth century. Topics include institutional design, historical legacies, corruption, clientelism, and violence.
T 1:30pm-3:20pm

PLSC 734a or b / SOCY 560a or b, Comparative Research Workshop  Julia Adams and Staff

This weekly workshop is dedicated to group discussion of work-in-progress by visiting scholars, Yale graduate students, and in-house faculty from Sociology and affiliated disciplines. Papers are distributed a week ahead of time and also posted on the website of the Center for Comparative Research ( Students who take the course for a letter grade are expected to present a paper-in-progress the term that they are enrolled for credit.
HTBA

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