1 - 10 of 22 results for: POLISCI

Our understanding of warfare often derives from the lofty perspective of political leaders and generals: what were their objectives and what strategies were developed to meet them? This top-down perspective slights the experience of the actual combatants and non-combatants caught in the crossfire. This course focuses on the complexity of the process by which strategy is translated into tactical decisions by the officers and foot soldiers and on what actually occurs on the field of battle. We will visit Washington, DC, and meet with national security officials and members of non-government organizations there. In addition, we will spend a day visiting the battlefields of Gettysburg (July 1863) in Pennsylvania, and the Little Bighorn (June 1876) in Montana. The course's battlefield tours are based on the "staff rides" developed by the Prussian Army in the mid-1800s and employed by the U.S. Army since the early 1900s. While at Stanford, students will conduct extensive research on individual participants at Gettysburg and Little Bighorn. Then, as we walk through the battlefield sites, students will brief the group on their subjects' experience of battle and on why they made the decisions they did. Why did Lt. General Longstreet oppose the Confederate attack on the Union Army at Gettysburg? What was the experience of a military surgeon on a Civil War battlefield? What role did just war principles or law play in the treatment of enemy fighters and civilians? Why did Custer divide his 7th Cavalry troops as they approached the Little Bighorn River? What was the role of Lakota Sioux women after a battle? The final part of the class covers contemporary military conflicts discussing what the US public, political leaders, and military commanders have learned (and not learned) from the past. The course is open to students from a range of disciplines; an interest in the topic is the only prerequisite.

Approaches to the study of conflict and cooperation in world affairs. Applications to war, terrorism, trade policy, the environment, and world poverty. Debates about the ethics of war and the global distribution of wealth.

Students will assist faculty with research projects. They will also attend workshops/seminars and complete written assignments that demonstrate their knowledge of research design, data analysis, and software. Students must apply through Summer Session and may not enroll without permission of the instructors.

Ethical and political questions in public service work, including volunteering, service learning, humanitarian assistance, and public service professions such as medicine and teaching. Motives and outcomes in service work. Connections between service work and justice. Is mandatory service an oxymoron? History of public service in the U.S. Issues in crosscultural service work. Integration with the Haas Center for Public Service to connect service activities and public service aspirations with academic experiences at Stanford.

Causes, effects, and solutions to various forms of corruption in business and politics in both developing regions (e.g. Asia, E. Europe) and developed ones (the US and the EU).

Qualified Political Science students obtain employment in a relevant research or industrial activity to enhance their professional experience consistent with their degree programs. The student if responsible for arranging their own internship/employment and gaining faculty sponsorship. Prior to enrolling students must complete a petition due no later than May 15th. An offer letter will need to be submitted along with the petition. At the completion of the summer quarter, a final report must be submitted to the faculty sponsor documenting work done and relevance to degree program. Meets the requirements for Curricular Practical Training for students on F-1 visas. May be repeated for credit but the course will not count toward the Political Science major requirements.

World politics is often described as a state of war. And yet, the historical record suggests that war is the exception, not the rule. In this course, we seek to understand why relations between most states, most of the time, are defined by peace and cooperation. We will explore the causes of international conflict and how international institutions -- from formal international organizations to international law and norms -- promote cooperation and help states resolve their conflicts peacefully. Students will engage classic texts and cutting-edge research and leverage evidence-based theory to develop policy solutions to important contemporary global challenges in policy-design labs.

May be repeated for credit. Requires a petition that can be found on our Political Science website.