HomeBackgroundPublicationsCoursesLinks

 

Home > Student Info

 

Rate My Professor Reviews

 

 
  Recommendation Letters Policy  
     
  I am happy to write letters of recommendation for students who have received a grade of A- or higher in any of my classes with enrollments of less than 40 students. If you received a grade of A- or higher in one of my large lecture classes, the TA who graded your work would be better suited to write you a recommendation letter. I only write recommendation letters for students after the successful completion of one of my reasonably-sized classes (unless they have already completed one of my classes, and are currently enrolled in another).

If I do agree to write a letter, I require the following:

  1. Statement of purpose or cover letter for the intended application. If you are applying to graduate (including law) school, then I also require a three-page statement explaining why you think that attending immediately after graduation is essential for your personal and professional development.
  2. Explicit instructions to me about the deadline (which should be at least two weeks prior to your request for a letter from me)
  3. Prior work submitted in my class (exams and papers)
  4. Your resume or c.v.
  5. Photocopy of your transcript
  6. Addressed envelopes with sufficient postage
  7. Large self-addressed envelope if you would like me to return your papers and exams.
  
     
  Course Syllabi  
     
 

L32 103B - Introduction to International Politics
Using the events of the twentieth century as a backdrop, this course introduces major approaches, questions, and controversies in the study of global political-economic relations. We will examine the building blocks of world politics, the sources of international conflict and cooperation, and the globalization of material and social relations.
 
   
  L32 108 - Freshman Seminar: World Politics and the Global Economy
This course explores the principles that shape interactions and outcomes in the global political system. It revolves around two enduring questions facing international relations scholars: (1) why, and under what conditions do states fight with one another, and (2) why, and under what conditions do states cooperate? The goal of this course is to help you develop the analytical skills necessary to think systematically about international events. We will explore these broad themes by looking at the evolution of approaches in conceptualizing the international system. We will follow this by an examination of different levels of analysis for understanding the international behavior of states. Finally, we will look at how the international system (and our understanding of it) has changes since the fall of communism, and more recently, since September 11, 2001.
   
  L32 2022 -Crossing Borders 1
This course will explore the idea of "crossing borders" along multiple dimensions. We will use the territorial concept of nation-state borders derived from the Westphalian model as our point of departure. We will subsequently explore alternative notions of crossing borders through topics as diverse as ethnic conflict, the (re)emergence of civilizations, nationalism, intranational class conflict, bureaucratic rivalry, cultural imperialism, "comparative diasporas," international financial architectures, liberalism/free trade, complex interdependence, and globalization. Because we will be approaching these topics from the perspective of the social sciences, a portion of this course will be devoted to introducing students to the basic tenets of social scientific inquiry. This course is required of all IAS majors. Students considering a junior year abroad should enroll freshman or sophomore year.
 
   
  L32 3361 - China under Revolution and Reform
This course examines the political evolution of the Chinese state during the 20th century. Although we will cover the late Qing Dynasty and the Nationalist era, the main focus will be on the People´s Republic of China from 1949 to the present. The course is divided into three parts. The first traces the political history of China over the past century, with particular emphasis on China under Mao Zedong (1949 - 1976) and the reform era under Deng Xiaoping, Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao (1978 - present). The second part looks at the mechanics of the Chinese state, in particular, its governing apparatus, including the government, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), and the People´s Liberation Army (PLA). The third part of the course looks at several contemporary "hot button" issues, using information from earlier sections of this course to analyze these issues in an in-depth, scholarly fashion. Topics may include China´s one-child policy, cross-straits relations with Taiwan, structural economic reform, the environment, state-society relations, and Chinese foreign policy.
 
 
 
  L32 4064 - Current Issues in Contemporary Chinese Politics
This course explores changes currently unfolding in China. It analyzes such topics as the dramatic organizational changes facing the Chinese government bureaucracy and the evolving role of the Chinese Communist Party through in-depth class discussions and paper presentations on various domestic and foreign policy issue areas. These include the economic and political transformation of the Chinese state as it enters the World Trade Organization, the elite politics of succession, the role of China´s military in shaping foreign policy, Sino-US relations, and Cross-Straits relations, among others. Prerequisites: Because this course assumes a basic understanding of Chinese politics, China Under Revolution and Reform or Permission of the Instructor is required.
 
   
  L32 4731 - Global Political Economy
Analysis of the interplay of economics and politics in the world arena, focused primarily on the political basis of economic policies in both advanced and less-developed societies. Treating differing perspective on the international economy, production, trade and finance, and international economic relations.
 
   
  L32 578 - Seminar in International Political Economy 1
This seminar is part of a two-semester sequence that serves as a gateway to graduate study and research in international political economy. This course introduces a wide range of topics. We examine macro and micro approaches to international political economic behavior, collective action, cooperation, aggregation mechanisms, institutions, the interaction of the global and domestic arenas, and hegemony and leadership.