Graduate

Why do political cleavages often divide along lines of race and ethnicity? Does human psychology tend towards ‘groupism’? How do government institutions like schools, police and elections increase or decrease the salience of various ethnic and religious boundaries? This course investigates the relationship between identity, groups and politics in the U.S. and around the world. We will consider theories of group identity development; assess empirical approaches to the study of racial and ethnic groups in politics; evaluate intersections of salient identities and look at how politically relevant aspects of identity can be measured for conducting original research.

A forum for the presentation and discussion of research in quantitative modeling. Anyone working on quantitative modeling or empirical testing of quantitative models is welcome to attend. To receive credit for the course, a student must attend regularly and participate actively.  Some weeks we will invite external speakers to present their work.  In other weeks, students may present their own work-in-progress or lead a discussion of work by other scholars (including both influential/classic works or interesting current working papers).

Variable Unit Course: 1.0 to 3.0

This course will explore both recent and earlier theoretical discussions of political representation,
approaching it as both philosophical concept and as a necessary technique of democratic politics.
It will consist of five sections. (1) First, we’ll study Hanna Pitkin’s seminal work The Concept of
Representation (1967), which distinguished among several forms of representation, including
formalistic, descriptive, symbolic, and substantive modes. (2) Next, we’ll review some of the
most important theoretical contributions post-Pitkin. (3) We’ll then turn to another way of
thinking about representation: the distinction between synecdochical (part-for-whole) and
metaphorical (this for that) representation and its political significance in ancient Greece and
Rome. (4) We’ll continue our exploration of earlier historical material by examining canonical
discussions of political representation from early modern English, American, Swiss and French
sources. (5) We’ll close by returning to the immediate present, spending a week on each of three
authors doing exciting work on the theory of representation today: Richard Tuck (Harvard and
Cambridge), Hélène Landemore (Yale) and Wendy Salkin (Stanford). Schedules permitting,
some of them may be able to join us to discuss their current projects.

While the course is primarily aimed at graduate students, advanced undergraduates with
sufficient background are very welcome with permission of the instructor. Please apply by email
to daniela.cammack@berkeley.edu. Attach your transcript and a writing sample and be aware
that I may request a short chat before I approve your enrolment. Auditors are also welcome,
although I’d appreciate it if those who can enroll Sat/Unsat could do so.

This course is a  seminar which can be taken for 0 - 2 units, Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory with the following course description:

A forum for the presentation and discussion of research in progress by graduate students. To receive credit for the course, the student will participate fully, including, as asked, either making a presentation of work in progress or serving as lead  discussant for another student's work. Appropriate works-in-progress include  (but are not limited to) a paper in preparation for submission to a journal, a dissertation prospectus (including early drafts), a dissertation chapter, or a job market paper. Anyone working on theory is welcome.

Please see click on the link below for more information regrarding MIRTH

http://polisci.berkeley.edu/research-and-teaching/lectures-colloquia/monday-international-relations-thoughts-series-mirth

This colloquium exposes graduate students and faculty to work by leading scholars of comparative politics working in diverse substantive areas. Graduate students are expected to read circulated papers of visiting speakers ahead of the colloquium and participate actively in raising questions and making comments.  They are encouraged to meet visiting speakers in their areas of interest in group or one-on-one sessions. 

NOTE: This description is from Spring 2015

A forum for the presentation and discussion of research in progress by graduate students. To receive two units of credit, a student must make at least one presentation of work in progress and serve as a discussant for another student's presentation. To receive one unit of credit a student must regularly attend class and participate in discussion, but will not be required to make a presentation. Appropriate works in progress include (but are not limited to) a paper in preparation for submission to a journal, a dissertation prospectus (including early drafts), a dissertation chapter, or a job market paper. Anyone working on American politics, political behavior, public law, or public administration is welcome.