Toward these ends, rational choice theorists define the latter category of social phenomena extremely broadly. As a result, rational choice theory has found application to ideas still thought by many political scientists to be outside the purview of the theory.
People say the damnedest things.
This course will begin with basic topics in social choice theory, followed by basic results of spatial voting models, and move to noncooperative game theory via their common study of sophisticated voting and agenda control. About half the course will be devoted to noncooperative game theory, constituting a complete introduction to the basic elements of that theory. A Spatial Theory Approach Along with these two required texts, available in the bookstore, we will occasionally draw on outside readings in the form of journal articles and book chapters. These will be available on reserve in the Department Office. This course web site will change as the semester goes along to reflect changes in our schedule, exam dates, problems, and special items that come up along the way.