Results for IPS

Is international relations theory valuable for policy makers? The first half of the course will provide students with a foundation in theory by introducing the dominant theoretical traditions and insights in international relations. The second half of the course focuses on several complex global problems that cut across policy specializations and impact multiple policy dimensions. Students will assess the value of major theories and concepts in international relations for analyzing and addressing such complex global policy issues.

Topics: standard theories of open economy macroeconomics, exchange rate regimes, causes and consequences of current account imbalances, the economics of monetary unification and the European Monetary Union, recent financial and currency crises, the International Monetary Fund and the reform of the international financial architecture. Prerequisites: Econ 52 and Econ 165.

Topics in international trade and international trade policy: trade, growth and poverty, the World Trade Organization (WTO), regionalism versus multilateralism, the political economy of trade policy, trade and labor, trade and the environment, and trade policies for developing economies. Prerequisite: ECON 51, ECON 166.

Microeconomic concepts relevant to decision making. Topics include: competitive market clearing, price discrimination; general equilibrium; risk aversion and sharing, capital market theory, Nash equilibrium; welfare analysis; public choice; externalities and public goods; hidden information and market signaling; moral hazard and incentives; auction theory; game theory; oligopoly; reputation and credibility. Prerequisites: ECON 50 and MATH 51 or equiv.

This class provides the economic and institutional background necessary to use "cost-benefit analysis" or CBA to evaluate public policy. We will examine the economic justification for government intervention and apply these concepts in different policy contexts. We will also examine the theoretical foundations and the practical challenges of implementing CBA. The goal of the course is to provide you with the conceptual foundations and practical skills you will need to be thoughtful consumers or producers of CBA.

Introduction to key elements of probability statistical analysis focusing on international and public policy relevant applications. Topics will include the algebra of events and probability, discrete and continuos random variables, exploratory data analysis and elements of mathematical statistics. The two lectures per week will be structured such that they will involve both theoretical and practical components. Students will be introduced to R statistical programming and LaTeX.

Introduction to the use of statistical models, as relevant for decision making and data interpretation in policy contexts. Emphasis on regression analysis, as the most frequently used tool in quantitative policy analysis. The purpose of the course is to enable students to become intelligent consumers of regression analysis. Applied experience in both consuming and producing regression analyses, as well as knowledge of the underlying statistical theory.

The role of governance in the growth and development experience of countries with a focus on the economics of corruption. Topics covered: the concept and measurement of governance; theory and evidence on the impact of corruption on growth and development outcomes, including investment, financial flows, human capital accumulation, poverty and income inequality; the link between governance and financial crises with a focus on the recent global crisis; the cultural, economic, and political determinants of corruption; and policy implications for improving governance. Prerequisite: ECON 50.

(Same as LAW 333.) Introduction to problem framing and problem solving. Theories and research on heuristics and biases in human inference, judgment, and decision making. Experimental and theoretical work in prospect theory emphasizing loss and risk aversion. Challenges that psychology offers to the rationalist expected utility model; attempts to meet this challenge through integration with modern behavioral economics. Decision making biases and phenomena of special relevance to public policy such as group polarization, group think, and collective action.

Focus is on the ideal of a just society, and the place of liberty and equality in it, in light of contemporary theories of justice and political controversies. Topics include financing schools and elections, regulating markets, discriminating against people with disabilities, and enforcing sexual morality. Counts as Writing in the Major for PoliSci majors.

Applied policy exercises in various fields. Multidisciplinary student teams apply skills to a contemporary problem in a major international policy exercise with a public sector client such as a government agency. Problem analysis, interaction with the client and experts, and presentations. Emphasis is on effective written and oral communication to lay audiences of recommendations based on policy analysis. May be repeated for credit for a total of 10 units.

For IPS M.A. students only (by petition). Regular meetings with thesis advisers required.

The relationship between humanitarianism and politics in international responses to civil conflicts and forced displacement. Focus is on policy dilemmas and choices, and the consequences of action or inaction. Case studies include northern Iraq (Kurdistan), Bosnia, Rwanda, Kosovo, and Darfur.

How to find sustainable solutions to intractable internal conflicts that lead to peace settlements. How institutions such as the UN, regional organizations, and international financial agencies attempt to support a peace process. Case studies include Bosnia, East Timor, Kosovo, Burundi, Liberia, and Afghanistan.

This graduate seminar will examine international mediation efforts to achieve negotiated settlements for civil wars over the last two decades. Contending approaches to explain the success or failure of international mediation efforts will be examined in a number of cases from Africa (Sudan, Sierra Leone, Burundi), the Balkans (Bosnia, Macedonia), and Asia (Cambodia, Indonesia/Aceh).

How intelligence supports U.S. national security and foreign policies. How it has been used by U.S. presidents to become what it is today; organizational strengths and weaknesses; how it is monitored and held accountable to the goals of a democratic society; and successes and failures. Current intelligence analyses and national intelligence estimates are produced in support of simulated policy deliberations.

Links among the establishment of democracy, economic growth, and the rule of law. How democratic, economically developed states arise. How the rule of law can be established where it has been historically absent. Variations in how such systems function and the consequences of institutional forms and choices. How democratic systems have arisen in different parts of the world. Available policy instruments used in international democracy, rule of law, and development promotion efforts.

Focus on understanding the diversity of political, social, and economic outcomes in Russia since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Exploration of questions, including: Is Russia still a global power? Where does it have influence internationally, how much, and why? Developmentally, what is the relevant comparison set of countries? Is Russia's economic growth over the last decade truly similar to Brazil, China, and India or is it more comparable to Kazakhstan, Nigeria, and Kenya? How has Russia's domestic political trajectory from liberalizing country to increasingly autocratic affected its foreign policy toward Ukraine, Georgia, and other formerly Soviet states? Finally, is Russia's reemergence as an important global actor more apparent than real?

Study of the role of civil society in protest movements and revolutions which result in either regime change or regime continuity. The course will examine why some protest movements result in change while others do not, and what happens after the protests die out. The course will examine three periods of revolutionary movements in very recent history: Eastern/Central Europe around 1989, some former Soviet Republics in the early 2000s, as well as the Arab Spring countries. We will also compare and contrast these episodes in terms of the actors, environments and ultimate results.

This class surveys the most pressing international security issues facing the world today and includes an award-winning two-day international crisis simulation led by Stanford faculty and former policymakers. Guest lecturers have included former Secretary of Defense William Perry, former U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Gen. Karl Eikenberry, and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Major topics covered: cyber security, nuclear proliferation, insurgency and intervention, terrorism, the Arab Spring, and the future of U.S. leadership in the world. No prior background in international relations is necessary.

Case study approach to the study of contemporary U.S. policy towards Japan, Korea, and China. Historical evolution of U.S. foreign policy and the impact of issues such as democratization, human rights, trade, security relations, military modernization, and rising nationalism on U.S. policy. Case studies include U.S.-Japan trade tensions, anti-Americanism in Korea, and cross-straits relations between China and Taiwan.

China's reemergence as a global player is transforming both China and the international system. Other nations view China's rise with a mixture of admiration, anxiety, and opportunism. Some welcome China's rise as a potential counterweight to US preeminence; others fear the potential consequences of Sino-American rivalry and erosion of the US-led international system that has fostered unprecedented peace and prosperity. This course provides an overview of China's engagement with countries in all regions and on a wide range of issues since it launched the policy of opening and reform in 1978. The goal is to provide a broad overview and systematic comparisons across regions and issues, and to examine how China's global engagement has changed over time.

The development, testing, and proliferation of nuclear weapons will be covered, from World War II through the Cold War to the present. Emphasis will be placed on understanding the evolving role of these weapons, both militarily and politically. It will also examine controversies and opposition movements to nuclear weapons and their use. The course will feature numerous guest speakers from Stanford and beyond. Students will be required to write in-depth analyses of specific nuclear weapons policy questions. Following this course, students are expected to have a deeper understanding of the profound dangers these weapons continue to present to the world today.

(Same as LAW 656) This seminar examines the challenges of managing and resolving violent inter-group and international conflicts. Employing an interdisciplinary approach drawing on social psychology, political science, game theory, and international law, the course identifies various tactical, psychological, and structural barriers that can impede the achievement of efficient solutions to conflicts. We will explore a conceptual framework for conflict management and resolution that draws not only on theoretical insights, but also builds on historical examples and practical experience in the realm of conflict resolution. This approach focuses on the following questions: (1) how can the parties to conflict develop a vision of a mutually bearable shared future; (2) how can parties develop trust in the enemy; (3) how can each side be persuaded, as part of a negotiated settlement, to accept losses that it will find very painful; and (4) how do we overcome the perceptions of injustice that each side are likely to have towards any compromise solution? Among the conceptual issues we will examine include the problem of spoilers who seek to sabotage agreements, the role of mediators, the role international legal rules can play in facilitating or impeding conflict resolution, and the advantages and disadvantages of unilateral versus and reciprocal measures in advancing conflict resolution efforts. Particular conflicts we will explore include the Northern Ireland conflict, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the U.S.-Soviet Cold War rivalry. Prerequisite for undergraduates: consent of instructor.

The global energy landscape is undergoing seismic shifts with game-changing economic, political and environmental ramifications. Technological breakthroughs are expanding the realms of production, reshuffling the competition among different sources of energy and altering the relative balance of power between energy exporters and importers. The US shale oil and gas bonanza is replacing worries about foreign oil dependence with an exuberance about the domestic resurgence of energy-intensive sectors. China¿s roaring appetite for energy imports propels its national oil companies to global prominence. Middle Eastern nations that used to reap power from oil wealth are bracing for a struggle for political relevance. Many African energy exporters are adopting promising strategies to break with a history dominated by the ¿resource curse¿.nThis course provides students with the knowledge, skill set and professional network to analyze how the present and past upheavals in oil and gas markets affect energy exporters and importers, their policymaking, and their relative power. Students will gain a truly global perspective thanks to a series of exciting international guest speakers and the opportunity to have an impact by working on a burning issue for a real world client.

This course focuses on the relationship between global health and human rights. The course will feature leading human rights scholars and practitioners from around the world. We will examine the conceptual linkages between global health and human rights and explore both the promise of the field and the challenges inherent in implementing its norms on the ground. Health and human rights are interrelated in multiple ways: human rights abuses have negative health consequences; health policies and programs can enhance or hinder human rights; and health outcomes are improved by fulfilling the full range of human rights. Stanford students may enroll in the course for 1 Unit credit based upon attendance. The Series is also open to the Stanford community and the general public.

Comparative approach to sustainable cities, with focus on international practices and applicability to China. Tradeoffs regarding land use, infrastructure, energy and water, and the need to balance economic vitality, environmental quality, cultural heritage, and social equity. Student teams collaborate with Chinese faculty and students partners to support urban sustainability projects. Limited enrollment via application; see internationalurbanization.org for details. Prerequisites: consent of the instructor(s).

Historical backdrop of the Nuremberg and Tokyo Tribunals. The creation and operation of the Yugoslav and Rwanda Tribunals (ICTY and ICTR). The development of hybrid tribunals in East Timor, Sierra Leone, and Cambodia, including evaluation of their success in addressing perceived shortcomings of the ICTY and ICTR. Examination of the role of the International Criminal Court and the extent to which it will succeed in supplanting all other ad hoc international justice mechanisms and fulfill its goals. Analysis focuses on the politics of creating such courts, their interaction with the states in which the conflicts took place, the process of establishing prosecutorial priorities, the body of law they have produced, and their effectiveness in addressing the needs of victims in post-conflict societies.

Introduces research methods for conducting studies involving health in low-income context. Focuses on developing a concept note to support a funding proposal. addressing research question of student's interest. Skills developed include developing a compelling research question; synthesizing a focused literature review; selecting and adapting appropriate study design, target population, sampling methods, data collection and analysis; addressing human subject issues; developing productive cross-collaboration.

Students obtain internship in a relevant research or industrial activity to enhance their professional experience consistent with their degree program and area of concentration. Prior to enrolling students must get internship approved by associate director. At the end of the quarter, a three page final report must be supplied documenting work done and relevance to degree program. Meets the requirements for Curricular Practical Training for students on F-1 visas. Student is responsible for arranging own internship. Limited to International Policy Studies students only. May be repeated for credit.

IPS students only. May be repeated for credit.

Presentations of techniques and applications of international policy analysis by students, faculty, and guests, including policy analysis practitioners.

Formal and informal processes involved in U.S. foreign policy decision making. The formation, conduct, and implementation of policy, emphasizing the role of the President and executive branch agencies. Theoretical and analytical perspectives; case studies. Interested students should attend the first day of class. Admission will be by permission of the instructor. Priority to IPS students.

Theories, insights, and concerns of social psychology relevant to how people perceive issues, events, and each other, and links between beliefs and individual and collective behavior. Topics include: situationist and subjectivist traditions of applied and theoretical social psychology; social comparison, dissonance, and attribution theories; social identity, stereotyping, racism, and sources of intergroup conflict and misunderstanding; challenges to universality assumptions regarding human motivation, emotion, and perception of self and others; the problem of producing individual and collective changes in norms and behavior.

Multiculturalism has become a major theory supporting religious accommodations for minority groups. However, such accommodations can give rise to a number of problems, especially if the accommodated group adheres to norms that are illiberal in nature. Exploration of the different justifications for accommodating religious groups from the point of view of multicultural theory. Discussion of the different problems that such accommodations might generate and identify potential solutions. Examination of issues from the point of view of both Western liberal democracies and nation states. Special emphasis will be given to the Israeli millet system.

What are the barriers to reform and innovative thinking in government? What are the factors that need to be taken into account when implementing change? What are the bureaucratic structures and power relationships that policy-makers must understand and navigate in order to embed reform? The aim of this seminar is to give students a detailed understanding of how political change happens and an understanding of why it often doesn¿t. Using cases studies from successful and unsuccessful reform programs around the world, this course will expose students to innovations in key public sector issue areas including education, healthcare, well-being, and government transparency and accountability; provides a sense of what's it's like actually trying to make change happen in a government context, and will equip students with the skills and understanding to be able to make change happen in a government setting.

The Arab spring demonstrated that even long-standing authoritarian regimes may be vulnerable to sudden collapse. Introduction to theories of authoritarian vulnerability and resilience. Why are some autocrats more or less durable in the face of challenges to their rule? Exploration of theories rooted in regime type, resources, state capacity, parties, popular protest, and leadership. The second part of the course will then explore the utility of competing approaches through close examinations of regime crises in Ethiopia in 1974, Iran in 1978 and China in 1989.

Scholars and policy analysts have long emphasized the strength of the rule of law as a key determinant of economic development and social opportunity. They also agree that the rule of law requires an effective and accountable legal system. The growth of transnational organized crime is a major impediment, however, to the creation of effective and accountable legal systems. nThis seminar examines how and why transnational criminal organizations have developed in Latin America, explores why they constitute a major challenge to the consolidation of democratic societies, economic development and individual rights. It also examines the efforts of governments to combat them, with a focus on the experiences of Mexico, Colombia, and Brazil. The course examines these cases in order to draw lessons¿by pointing to both successes and failures¿of use to policy analysts, legal scholars, and practitioners.

(Same as LAW 611.) Sponsored by the Stanford Center on International Conflict and Negotiation (SCICN). Conflict, negotiation, and dispute resolution with emphasis on conflicts and disputes with an international dimension, including conflicts involving states, peoples, and political factions such as the Middle East and Northern Ireland. Guest speakers. Issues including international law, psychology, and political science, economics, anthropology, and criminology.

Introduction to India, Af-Pak and China. Analyzes historical forces that shaped the region, recent history and current state of key countries: the economic and political rise of India and China; rise of the Taliban and Al Qaeda in Afghanistan; Pakistan's government, military, and mullahs; and China's impact on the region. nnExplores U.S. policy in depth: U.S. intervention in- and upcoming withdrawal from Afghanistan, U.S. relations with Pakistan and India, the "pivot to Asia" and its implications for US-China relations and the strategic balance in Asia. nnSatisfies the IPS policy writing requirement.