2024-2025 Academic Year

Fall 2024

PHIL 180 Political Philosophy
Cross-listed with POSC 180-02.

POSC 180 Political Philosophy
Cross-listed with PHIL 180-02.

POSC 290 Democracy and Immigration
This course explores the ways in which democratic states address the common policy challenges of immigration. Some of these challenges are empirical, a matter of determining whether a country has sufficient resources to cope with the conditions produced by migration. How many and what kinds of immigrants should be admitted--only those bringing a clear economic benefit? What about undocumented migrants, including claimants for asylum, how should they be treated? Other issues center on identity and integration: Can the diversity of belief and behavior which immigrants introduce into a political community be reconciled into a cohesive national whole? Governments confront narrow political considerations too: Immigration has changed electoral competition across liberal-democratic states, as virulently anti-immigrant parties of the populist right grow in popularity and power--are mainstream parties helpless to counteract this? Finally, immigration raises normative questions. What is the moral significance of state boundaries, the meaning of human rights, the range of obligations we have to our fellow citizens versus non-citizens? In short, when it comes to immigration, what does justice require?

Spring 2025

PHIL 180 Political Philosophy
Cross-listed with POSC 180-01.

POSC 180 Political Philosophy
Cross-listed with PHIL 180-01.

POSC 290 British Politics
For American students of politics, Britain is an especially fruitful country for comparison. Beyond an alleged 'special relationship' between the United States and the United Kingdom, in many respects US political institutions and practices betray a British political heritage. This course will explore the central institutions and processes of British government, the social, economic, cultural and legal context of British politics, and Britain's past, present, and future relationship with Europe. Among the questions considered: Is the Westminster model of government and party competition past its "sell by date"? Is class waning as an explanatory factor in British politics? Does British immigration policy truly "Put Britain First"? Is the United Kingdom disuniting?" Was leaving the European Union an irreparable mistake?