Fall 2017

For this iteration of 212A, we will focus on ancient Greek political thought, especially (but not exclusively) the work of Thucydides, Plato, and Aristotle.   Enrolled students (and others on request) will receive a book list.

Note: This description is from Fall 2012.

PS 375 is a two-credit course designed for first-time Graduate Student Instructors (GSIs).  The course seeks to introduce students to practical teaching methods and to foster discussion about effective pedagogy. It also focuses on professional development, in particular on developing skills that are closely related to effective teaching such as presentation skills. The course features student presentations on selected pedagogical topics, panels on key issues related to teaching and to professional development, and discussion of weekly assignments in relation to challenges encountered by GSIs in the course of their teaching.

This seminar is designed to acquaint students with current research approaches in various subfields of American Politics. Particular attention will be given to debates over theory, methodology, and substance. The seminar is not designed to provide a complete survey of the field. Students planning to be examined in American Politics are expected to master recommended readings on their own and should review additional readings included in versions of this seminar offered in the past years.

Note: This description is from Fall 2015

This course is a survey of major theoretical approaches and empirical research in the field of political behavior. It focuses on psychological approaches to understanding political beliefs, attitudes, and actions, and on the implications of individual choices for collective outcomes. The course considers alternative approaches to political behavior, including theories of rational choice, social cognition, learning, emotion, group dynamics, and social identity. Specific topics will include: personality and politics, political socialization, public opinion and political ideology, social influence (authority, conformity, persuasion, and deliberation), mass media influence, racial attitudes, ethnic conflict, and political participation.

Much political behavior, particularly in countries such as China, does not take place within institutionalized channels.  This is mainly because the Party/State aggregates preferences poorly and the popular classes often become frustrated with existing opportunities for participation.  Moreover, honest elections occur only at the lowest levels -- if at all -- and many forms of political activity are forbidden.  In these circumstances, how do ordinary Chinese press for attention to their grievances and for a modicum of responsiveness?  And how do the authorities respond to popular activism, whether it appears on the streets or online?  In this seminar, we will read recently-published books and journal articles that bring to light ongoing debates and emerging topics in the literature on protest and repression. We will pay particular attention to forms of contention that are somewhat noisier and more overt than “everyday resistance” yet still fall short of open rebellion.

Approaches to causal inference using the potential outcomes framework. Covers observational studies with and without ignorable treatment assignment, randomized experiments with and without noncompliance, instrumental variables, regression discontinuity, sensitivity analysis and randomization inference. Applications are drawn from a variety of fields including political science economics, sociology, public health and medicine.

This is a rst course on statistical inference and modeling for use in social science research. It
covers probability and the theory of statistical inference, justications for and problems with common
statistical procedures, and how to apply procedures to empirical social science data to draw conclusions
relevant to positive social theory. We will pay particular attention to the motivation for statistical
inference and modeling from the standpoint of social science. Lectures and reading will primarily
cover theory and simple examples. Problem sets will cover both simple theoretical extensions and
applications of tools we develop to real data.

Required Skills. Students should have completed PS230 or its equivalent with a B or better.
Students should have a working knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, and elementary calculus. The
course is suitable for students with a large range of prior exposure to statistics and mathematics.
Students with Ph.D.-level training in mathematical statistics from a statistics department will not
nd that it pushes their capabilities; students with less background than this should nd at least
some challenges, conceptual or technical. All students capable of gaining admission to a Berkeley
Ph.D. program can fully succeed in this class regardless of prior technical preparation other than the
required skills listed above.

Please note that description is from Fall 2014

TBA

This graduate seminar provides an introduction to the relationship between politics and policy-making in developing countries. Using India as a guide, we will examine the political institutions underlying the policy process and the role played by groups with diverse policy interests. In doing so, we will evaluate the characteristics of political competition and the dynamics of political participation in highly dynamic contexts. The course will begin with a consideration of the major institutional and non-institutional factors shaping policy-making, such as the nature of formal electoral institutions and social cleavages. With this foundation in domestic political economy, we will spend the second half of the course exploring a set of major policy issues facing developing countries today, including economic development, poverty, health, and the environment. Throughout the course we will place India in the context of other developing countries, so as to evaluate the ways in which differing institutional and interest-based constraints may lead to divergent policy choices at both domestic and international levels.

Note: This description is from Fall 2013.