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2009 Summer Session Course Listings
Note: Northwestern day school students need permission from the dean of their school to enroll in School of Continuing Studies courses. SCS courses are indicated by a -CN after the course number (example: ACCOUNT 204-CN Sec. 28). The majority of Summer Session courses do not need dean approval.
Political Science
Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences
POLI SCI 220-0 Sec. 28 
Cancelled
American Government and Politics
CAESAR Class Number: 40656
8 weeks,
EVAN,
6/23 - 8/13
TuTh 6:30 - 8:30pm
Toby W Bolsen
POLI SCI 250-0 Sec. 28
Introduction to Comparative Politics
CAESAR Class Number: 42790
8 weeks,
EVAN,
6/23 - 8/13
TuTh 10am - noon
Christopher Day
This course will be held in University Hall room 102.
This course will introduce students to the political systems of countries other than the U.S. It will focus on the problem of creating stable democracies around the globe. The first half of the course will deal with issues of political development: state-building, democratization, ethnic conflict, revolution, and economic growth. The second will explore the nature of political institutions: electoral systems, executive-legislative relations, and federalism. Students will learn both to understand the variety of political systems around the world and to analyze current political events. This course counts toward the Weinberg College social and behavioral sciences distribution requirement, Area III.
POLI SCI 302-0 Sec. 26
Modern Political Thought
CAESAR Class Number: 42791
6 weeks,
EVAN,
6/23 - 7/30
TuTh 9:30am - noon
Lars Toender
This course will be held in University Hall room 121.
This course is an introduction to the history of modern political thought and its ramifications for contemporary politics. In our discussions, we will pay special attention to the way political philosophers have understood the relationship between government, the economy, and religion. Readings will include selections from John Locke, Adam Smith, Karl Marx, and Friedrich Nietzsche. This course counts towards the Weinberg College social and behavioral sciences distribution requirement, Area III. This course also counts toward the Weinberg College historical studies distribution requirement, Area IV. This course also counts toward the Weinberg College ethics and values distribution requirement, Area V.
POLI SCI 320-0 Sec. 26
The Presidency
CAESAR Class Number: 42792
6 weeks,
EVAN,
6/22 - 7/29
MW 1 - 3:30pm
Daniel J. Galvin
This course will be held in University Hall room 102.
An examination of the historical and theoretical development of the American presidency. Special attention is given to the political evolution of the office over the course of American history, to the changing place of the presidency in the constitutional system, to theories of presidential power and presidential leadership, and to contemporary problems and debates.
POLI SCI 342-0 Sec. 26
International Organizations
CAESAR Class Number: 40320
6 weeks,
EVAN,
6/23 - 7/30
TuTh 9:30am - noon
Ian Hurd
This course will be held in Kresge Hall room 4425.
This course examines a number of international organizations (IOs) and inquires into their powers, structures, laws, and problems. Taking a legal as opposed to a conceptual or historical approach, it regards IOs as political and legal institutions and examines the constitutional bases for their existence. Each class session focuses on a different international organization - such as the UN, the WTO, or the IMF - and students read its constitutional document; consider its rules, laws, and structure (membership, decision making, finance, etc.); and discuss the main problems it faces in the pursuit of its objectives. The course presumes a basic knowledge of international relations and introduces concepts from international law as needed. The class operates as a seminar rather than a lecture and so relies on student contributions to the discussion. This course counts toward the Weinberg College social and behavioral sciences distribution requirement, Area III.
POLI SCI 361-Z Sec. 28 
Democratic Transitions
8 weeks,
Off Campus,
6/15 - 7/31
Days and times are TBA
Staff
The course explores the various processes of transition from authoritarian rule to democracy in Europe, and their aftermaths. Case studies from Western, Central and Eastern Europe are placed in a comparative perspective in order to arrive at general conclusions. Material for the course will be presented by political scientists and leading protagonists of recent political events. The course begins with a discussion of Europe as a geopolitical entity and identifies the Continent's main divisions. It characterizes European non-democratic regimes of the past and turns towards dissident activities of Central and Eastern Europe. Fundamental challenges to democratization - nationalism, legacy of the past - are discussed in the conclusion of the course, along with theories and concrete instances of transition.This course is a Study Abroad course and takes place in Prague.
POLI SCI 390-0 Sec. 26
Does Pay-to-Play Politics Undermine Our Democracy?
CAESAR Class Number: 42793
6 weeks,
EVAN,
6/23 - 7/30
TuTh 3:30 - 6pm
Donald J Gordon
This course will be held in Parkes Hall room 212.
This course will examine the history of corruption in Chicago politics and the issues of campaign finance reform as a backdrop to the broader scope of how money influences our elected officials and whether that influence subverts the democratic process, diminishes the authority of the electorate and impairs the sovereignty of those who serve us.
POLI SCI 390-0 Sec. 36
Cancelled
Politics, Press and Presidential Campaigns
CAESAR Class Number: 42794
6 weeks,
EVAN,
6/22 - 7/29
MW 4 - 6:30pm
Lawrence Stueplnagel
This course will be held in Kresge Hall room 4416.
Presidential elections are hard fought and often controversial. The 2008 election was no exception. In 2000, while George W. Bush was ultimately elected, the fallout from the recount and the Supreme Court decision that gave Bush the victory will be felt and studied for years to come. This class will examine presidential races using the 2008 and 2000 races and the press coverage of the controversies that surrounded them as the central point. We will also explore the coverage of previous races and challenge some of the myths about elections and their outcomes. As we examine the 2008 campaign, we will analyze the Internet's impact on this, "YouTube" election. Your grade will be determined by a one-to-two page Op-Ed article (25%), and 8-10 page term paper (30%), a take-home final exam (30%), and your class participation (15%). I will not grant extensions for either the Op-Ed piece or term paper. They are due at the beginning of the class on the date listed on the syllabus. Failure to make the deadline will result in a lower grade for that assignment. Your grade will be reduced by 50% each day the paper is late. Please submit your papers in both hard copy and electronic form via email. Most of you have not written an Op-Ed article before. I urge you to look at the opinion pages of The New York Times and The Chicago Tribune. Your term papers should be thoroughly researched on a topic that pertains to the class and greatly interests you. I expect to see footnotes from all or your sources. I expect you to keep track of the daily news by reading at least one national newspaper (The New York Times, Chicago Tribune, The Chicago Sun Times). The Washington Post also has an excellent web site that is available free of charge, www.WashingtonPost.com. I also expect you to watch local and national television newscasts. I also find The Daily Show With John Stewart to be an excellent source of press criticism. This class will be run like a seminar. Be prepared to discuss both your readings and the events of past and the current presidential campaign. For those of you with a VCR or DVD recorder, if you copy a program or story that you want to share with the class, by all means bring it. Notify me in advance if you want to share a program so that we can discuss how we might incorporate it into the lecture.
Indicates an Evening Course.
Indicates a Study Abroad Course.
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