Undergraduate Courses

Politics and Society in Russia

[POL 354: Fall 2022, 2024]

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine marks a turning point, not only in the post-Cold War international order, but also in the development of the Russian polity and economy. How did we get here? Who is Vladimir Putin, how did he rise to power, and how has his regime changed over the past two decades? We will take a historical approach to these questions, examining the evolution of Russian politics and society since the collapse of the Soviet Union. After acquiring a basic knowledge of Russia’s political development since Gorbachev, students will explore a variety of themes in contemporary politics, including public opinion, the media, economic reform, civil society and interest groups, state building, federalism, regional diversity, and Russia’s behavior on the international stage. This last theme brings us full circle, back to Putin’s war in Ukraine and its near-future implications. Here, we will consider not only the prospects for Russia’s political future but also how the country might adapt to the other challenges it will face in coming decades—especially climate change.

Topics in Comparative Politics I: The Making of Modern Democracy, from the Middle Ages to the European Union

[POL 377: Fall 2022, 2023, Spring 2025]

This course examines political change in East Central Europe—with limited discussion of Western Europe and Russia for comparison—from the Middle Ages to the present day. How are democracies created and why do they collapse? What is the relationship between democracy and capitalism? Why did early modern states take on such diverse forms, and what was the impact of these variations on subsequent trajectories of democratization and economic development? Did Eastern and Western Europe diverge politically and economically centuries ago, or is the idea of a longstanding east-west divide merely an artifact of Cold War geopolitics? Although we will read the work of historians as well as that of political scientists, this course is not a general survey of East European history; we will concentrate on (classic and more recent) theories and interpretations of state formation, democratization, and long-run growth. Accordingly, some prior knowledge of the broad outlines of European and global history is recommended, though not mandated.

Topics in Comparative Politics II: State and Development in Historical Perspective

[POL 443: Spring 2023, 2024, 2025]

What is the state’s role in economic development? What caused the industrial revolution, and why was Britain at its forefront? These questions have preoccupied social scientists and political practitioners alike since the nineteenth century, and the recent profusion of economic history research suggests that consensus remains as elusive as ever. Much of this literature takes an institutional approach, attributing north-western Europe’s economic precocity to “good” political institutions such as secure property rights. This argument has a distinguished pedigree, but its assumptions are increasingly at odds with the findings of historical scholarship. We will work together to bridge this gap, contrasting the work of historians, political scientists, and economists on the causes of European economic growth, and devoting particular attention to the role of the state in each. Although we will concentrate on the institutional approach and its critics, we will also examine other (including some complementary) explanations for European economic development, including colonialism, class structure, demography, culture, and ideas.

Graduate Courses

Foundations and Approaches to Comparative Politics

[POL 2700: Fall 2023, 2024, with Jacques Bertrand]