Politics and Public Policy

This course is a graduate-level introduction to political science. Students will become familiarized with the major concepts and theories in the discipline through topics such as the state, democracy, political parties, and elections. In addition, the course will cover public policy issues such as economic policy and foreign policy.

However, this course is more than just an introduction. For the academic discipline known today as "political science" in the English-speaking world is a body of knowledge that originated in ancient Greece, passed through modern Europe, and developed in the United States in the 20th century. Theories that claim to be universally applicable are in fact deeply rooted in the Western societies.

Therefore, this course aims to rethink political science in a non-Western context. What does the history of Japan tell us about theories that are based on the historical experiences of Britain or Germany? Is there a distinctively East Asian perspective on politics? What are the problems of applying theories to countries that lack the economic or cultural conditions that originated them? By addressing these questions through a close reading of the major texts, this course explores a more inclusive way of thinking about politics.