The implications of economic liberalization on political development and the influence of political developments on economic reforms. The comparative study of market transitions and their social consequences, which factors strengthen the democratic institutions and which aggravate authoritarian trends. Special attention to the social consequences of economic liberalization and its political implications. This is an interdisciplinary course and students are expected to combine the methodology of comparative politics with that of economics and sociology. By comparing the contemporary Russian situation with those in Latin America, we can study some general interactions of economic liberalization and political democratization and place Russian developments into the international context.
All courses are three-credit unless otherwise noted.
Students will write short papers on common reading assignments and longer papers on topic chosen by the student. There will be about 175 pages of reading per week. This course will involve a group 'response' to a contemporary policy problem in international relations. All students will participate in a collectively researched and jointly written report designed to replicate the kinds of work done by staffers and committees in public policy circumstances. This is a graduate seminar.