Formal models are used in political science as abstract representations of political institutions and choices in order to focus attention on key logics and causal mechanisms in a political process. Insightful modeling requires fluency in technical fields such as game theory, as well as the substantive knowledge to craft an appropriate representation of a specific application.
Berkeley’s department offers a broad range of courses in political theory, spanning the history of thought and contemporary theory, and spanning European and American thinkers.
The Berkeley program in empirical methodology and formal theory offers rigorous training that is carefully integrated with major substantive agendas in political science.
International Relations at Berkeley focuses on the study of contemporary and historical problems in world politics, including in international security and international political economy.
Berkeley has a longstanding tradition of distinction in comparative politics. Members of the department’s comparative politics faculty are widely recognized as national and international leaders, and the department’s strengths have grown in recent years.
The study of American politics at Berkeley brings together faculty and graduate students who seek to tackle the most important questions confronting U.S. government and democracy using diverse methodological approaches.