Click on course title below to view the syllabus used the last time the course was offered. Please consult the published Courses of Instruction or check with the Department of Government to verify course offerings.

Govt 90gs: Civil Society in Asia    (offered Spring 2008)
This seminar examines civil societies in Asia, with particular emphasis on East Asia. After tracing how the concept evolved in Western and Eastern Europe, it explores: how the term applies in the Asian context; how globalization, religion, ethnic conflict, market reforms, international NGOs, corruption, the Internet, post-September 11 developments, and other forces are affecting civil societies in Asia; and the relation between developments in civil society and democratization in Asia.

Govt 90iq: Japan in the Social Sciences  (offered Fall 2006)
This seminar analyzes politics, society, and policy in contemporary Japan. It brings theories and approaches from political science, sociology, economics, and other disciplines to bear on basic issues and problems relating to Japan in comparative perspective over the period from 1868 to the present, focusing mainly on the past decade. It takes the measure of Japanese democracy; of the socio-political system that is emerging from the "lost decade"; and of Japan's evolving international role.

Govt 2148 (with Grzegorz Ekiert): Civil Society, West and East    (offered Fall 2007)
Focusing in particular on European and Asian settings, the seminar examines debates over what civil society is, notions of public space and social capital, and the role of civil society in political transitions.

Govt 2262: Politics and Political Economy in Japan    ( offered Spring 2008)
Explores major issues in Japanese politics and political economy in historical and comparative perspective, including pre- and post-1993 developments in Japan's party system; the changing role of bureaucracy; big business in policymaking; and the international, socio-cultural, economic, and political determinants of domestic policy choices.

Govt 3006 (with Robert Putnam and Margarita Estevez-Abe): Research Workshop in Comparative Politics    (offered Fall 2003/Spring 2004)
This advanced workshop will focus on research topics in comparative politics representing a wide range of methodological traditions, and offers participants an opportunity to present their work-in-progress, benefit from critiques of it, and discuss theoretical and methodological issues. Graduate students at all stages of the research process, from preliminary prospectus drafting to thesis completion, are welcome.