Scott Wolford

Explore the modern theory of war, viewing conflict between and within states as a political phenomenon, the product of conscious political action in the pursuit of political ends.

GOV 385R: Formal Political Analysis II

Prerequisites:

Graduate standing in Government, GOV 385N: Formal Political Analysis I

Course description:

Builds on the skills developed in Formal Political Analysis I by introducing further refinements of common solution concepts and introduces more sophisticated classes of games; designed to complete a student’s toolkit for producing formal-theoretic research.

Grading policy:

Students will be graded on semi-weekly homework (30%), two exams (50%), and a final paper (20%).

Texts:

Fudenberg, Drew and Jean Tirole. 1991 Game Theory MIT Press.

GOV 385N: Intro to Formal Theory

Prerequisites:

Graduate standing in government

Course description:

This course will help students develop the tools necessary to consume formal theory in academic work and to write their own formal theories. Heavy emphasis will be placed on logic, the construction of valid arguments, and the nature of social-scientific explanation.

Grading policy:

Students will be graded on semi-weekly homework (30%), two exams (50%), and a final paper in which students identify a research question and design a game capable of answering it (20%).

Texts:

Watson, Joel. 2013. Strategy: An Introduction to Game Theory, 3^rd Edition Norton.

GOV 385R: Formal Political Analysis II

Prerequisites:

Formal Political Analysis I

Course description:

Builds on the skills developed in Formal Political Analysis I by introducing further refinements of common solution concepts and introduces more sophisticated classes of games; designed to complete a student’s toolkit for producing formal-theoretic research.

Grading policy:

Students will be graded on semi-weekly homework (30%), two exams (50%), and a final research paper (20%).

Texts:

TBA

GOV 388L International Security

Prerequisites:

Graduate standing in government

Course description:

Explores both the role and the causes of war in the international system, including its initiation, prosecution, and termination, as well as the effects of international institutions, system structure, and domestic politics on the conflict process.

Grading policy:

Students will be graded on class participation (15%), two papers dedicated to summarizing and critiquing the week's readings (35%), and a final research paper (50%).

Texts: TBA

Prerequisites:

Upper-division standing and 6 semester hours of lower-division coursework in government

Course description:

This course explores cutting-edge research on the political origins of war, adopting a scientific approach to argumentation and evidence.

Grading policy:

Students will be graded on three exams (60%) and a combination of quizzes and short writing assignments throughout the semester (40%).

Texts:

Stueck, William. 2004. Rethinking the Korean War Princeton University Press.

Keegan, John. 2004. The Iraq War Vintage.

Prerequisites:

Graduate standing in government

Course description:

This course will help students develop the tools necessary to consume formal theory in academic work and to write their own formal theories. Heavy emphasis will be placed on logic and the construction of valid arguments.

Grading policy:

Students will be graded on semi-weekly homework (30%), two exams (50%), and a final paper in which students identify a research question and specify, but need not solve, a game capable of answering it (20%).

Texts:

Watson, Joel. 2013. Strategy: An Introduction to Game Theory, 3^rd Edition Norton.

GOV 355M World War I in Real Time

Prerequisites:

None

Course description:

This course follows events in the opening months of the First World War, which broke out in August 1914, exactly one hundred years after the outbreak of war. Each week, we will follow events as they happened a century before, beginning with the causes of the war in the July Crisis of 1914, the initial campaigns on the Western and Eastern Fronts, the disaster at Gallipoli, and the expansion of the war around the world through 1915. We will engage modern, cutting edge theories and evidence about the origins and conduct of war to shed new light on why "the seminal tragedy of modern times" occurred when it did and on what we can learn from it in the present.

Grading policy:

Students will be graded on three exams, occasional quizzes and impromptu writing assignments, as well as a brief analysis paper.

Texts:

-    Hastings, Max. 2013. Catastrophe 1914: Europe Goes to War. Knopf.

-    Philpott, William. 2014. War of Attrition: Fighting the First World War. Overlook.

GOV 388L.7 Theory & International Relations

Prerequisites:

Graduate standing in Government; Introduction to Formal Political Analysis

Course description:

This is an applied formal theory course focused specifically on theories of international relations. Students will engage both foundational and cutting edge formal models in the areas of international security, international political economy, and international institutions. Key components of the course include reading and deconstructing models, solving and interpreting one’s own models (developed in the course), and establishing linkages between theoretical and empirical models.

Grading policy:

Students will be graded on the basis of several replications of individual models and a final paper based on a fully-solved and interpreted theoretical model.

Texts:

-    Wolford, Scott. 2015. The Politics of Military Coalitions. Cambridge University Press.

-    Morrow, James D. 2014. Order Within Anarchy. Cambridge University Press.

GOV 365L: War/Peace: China/Japan/Taiwan

Prerequisites:

None

Course description:

This course will use the modern theory of war and diplomacy to learn about patterns of international war and peace in the East Asian region, with a particular focus on China, Taiwan, and Japan, since 1984.

Grading policy:

Students will be graded on three exams (60%) and a combination of quizzes and short writing assignments throughout the semester (40%).

Texts:

Paine, S.C.M. 2012. The Wars for Asia 1911-1949 Cambridge University Press.

Stueck, William. 2004. Rethinking the Korean War Princeton University Press.

GOV 385N: Intro to Formal Theory

Prerequisites:

Graduate standing in government

Course description:

This course will help students develop the tools necessary to consume formal theory in academic work and to write their own formal theories. Heavy emphasis will be placed on logic and the construction of valid arguments.

Grading policy:

Students will be graded on semi-weekly homework (30%), two exams (50%), and a final paper in which students identify a research question and specify, but need not solve, a game capable of answering it (20%).

Texts:

Osborne, Martin J. 2004. An Introduction to Game Theory. Oxford University Press.

GOV 355M World War I in Real Time

Prerequisites:

None

Course description:

This course follows events in the opening months of the First World War, which broke out in August 1914, exactly one hundred years after the outbreak of war. Each week, we will follow events as they happened a century before, beginning with the causes of the war in the July Crisis of 1914, the initial campaigns on the Western and Eastern Fronts, the disaster at Gallipoli, and the expansion of the war around the world through 1915. We will engage modern, cutting edge theories and evidence about the origins and conduct of war to shed new light on why "the seminal tragedy of modern times" occurred when it did and on what we can learn from it in the present.

Grading policy:

Students will be graded on three exams, occasional quizzes and impromptu writing assignments, as well as a brief analysis paper.

Texts:

-       Hastings, Max. 2013. Catastrophe 1914: Europe Goes to War. Knopf.

-       Philpott, William. 2014. War of Attrition: Fighting the First World War. Overlook.

GOV 388L International Security

Prerequisites:

Graduate standing in government

Course description:

Explores both the role and the causes of war in the international system, including its initiation, prosecution, and termination, as well as the effects of international institutions, system structure, and domestic politics on the conflict process.

Grading policy:

Students will be graded on class participation (15%), two papers dedicated to summarizing and critiquing the week's readings (35%), and a final research paper (50%).

Texts:

-       Kydd, Andrew. 2005. Trust and Mistrust in International Relations. Princeton University Press.

-       Powell, Robert. 1999. In the Shadow of Power: States and Strategies in International Politics.  Princeton University Press.

-       McDonald, Patrick. 2009. The Invisible Hand of Peace: Capitalism, the War Machine, and International Relations Theory. Cambridge University Press.

-       Stueck, William. 2004. Rethinking the Korean War. Princeton University Press.

-       Wolford, Scott. 2015. The Politics of Military Coalitions. Cambridge University Press.

Prerequisites:

Graduate standing in government

Course description:

This course will help students develop the tools necessary to consume formal theory in academic work and to write their own formal theories. Heavy emphasis will be placed on logic and the construction of valid arguments.

Grading policy:

Students will be graded on semi-weekly homework (30%), two exams (50%), and a final paper in which students identify a research question and specify, but need not solve, a game capable of answering it (20%).

Texts:

Osborne, Martin J. 2004. An Introduction to Game Theory. Oxford University Press.

Prerequisites:

Graduate standing in government, IR core

Course description:

This course will help second and third year IR students (first or second field) develop a fully realized research paper designed to be a master’s report and/or submitted to a journal.

Grading policy:

Students will be graded on semi-weekly drafts of their papers and component parts (50%) and the quality of the final product itself (50%).

Texts:

None.

GOV 344 American Foreign Relations (38840)

Prerequisites:

None

Course description:

This course examines the theory and practice of American foreign policy, with a particular focus on the post-1945 era. We focus on systematic, scientific explanations for the why and the how of decisions over war and peace, alliances, trade, and foreign aid, and we will discuss both the international and domestic sources of these policies. The goal is to build a useful, practical base of knowledge for understanding both ongoing and future issues in American foreign relations.

Grading Policy:

Students will be graded on three exams (85%) and a combination of quizzes and short writing assignments (15%)

Texts:

Ray, James Lee. 2013. American Foreign Policy and Political Ambition, 2nd Ed. Washington, DC: CQ Press.

Grading criteria: students will be graded on three exams, occasional quizzes and impromptu writing assignments, as well as a brief analysis paper.

Description: This course follows events in the opening months of the First World War---which broke out in August 1914---exactly one hundred years after the outbreak of war. Each day, we will follow events as they happened a century before, beginning with the causes of the war in the July Crisis of 1914, the mobilization of the European great powers, and the initial campaigns on the Western Front that would introduce the world to the horrors of industrial war. We will engage modern, cutting edge theories and evidence about the origins and conduct of war to shed new light on why "the seminal tragedy of modern times" occurred when it did, and on what we can learn from it in the present.

Books

- Fromkin, David. 2005. Europe's Last Summer. Vintage.

- Herwig, Holger G. 2009. The Marine, 1914. Vintage.

- Philpott, William. 2014. War of Attrition. Overlook.

Prerequisites:

Upper-division standing and 6 semester hours of lower-division coursework in government

Course description:

This course explores cutting-edge research on the political origins of war, adopting a scientific approach to argumentation and evidence.

Grading policy:

Students will be graded on three exams (60%), short writing assignments (25%), and occasional quizzes (15%).

Texts:

John Keegan. 2005. The Iraq War. Vintage Books.

Fromkin, David. 2004. Europe's Last Summer. Vintage Books.

Prerequisites:

Graduate standing in government

Course description:

This course will help students develop the tools necessary to consume formal theory in academic work and to write their own formal theories. Heavy emphasis will be placed on logic and the construction of valid arguments.

Grading policy:

Students will be graded on semi-weekly homework (30%), two exams (50%), and a final paper in which students identify a research question and specify, but need not solve, a game capable of answering it (20%).

Texts:

Osborne, Martin J. 2004. An Introduction to Game Theory. Oxford University Press.

Thomson, William. 2011. A Guide for the Young Economist. MIT Press.

WAR AND PEACE IN EAST ASIA: CHINA, JAPAN, TAIWAN

Prerequisites

Upper-division standing and 6 semester hours of lower-division coursework in government or Asian studies

Course description

This course uses cutting-edge political science research on the causes of war and peace to analyze recent, current, and future security issues in East Asia, with a particular focus on how events like World War II, the Korean War, and unipolarity shape current and potential military powers such as China, Japan, and Taiwan.

Grading policy

Students will be graded on three exams (60%), short writing assignments (25%), and a number of in-class quizzes (15%).

Texts

Keohane, Robert. 1984. After Hegemony Princeton University Press Stueck, William. 2004. Rethinking the Korean War Princeton University Press Paine, S.C.M. 2012. The Wars for Asia 1911-1949 Cambridge University Press

Prerequisites

 Graduate standing in government

Course description

Explores both the role and the causes of war in the international system, including its initiation, prosecution, and termination, as well as the effects of international institutions, system structure, and domestic politics on the conflict process.

Grading policy

Students will be graded on class participation (15%), two papers dedicated to summarizing and critiquing the week's readings (35%), and a final research paper (50%).

Texts

Powell, Robert. 1999. In the Shadow of Power Princeton University Press

Kydd, Andrew. 2005.Trust and Mistrust in International Relations Princeton University Press

Wagner, R. Harrison. 2007. War and the State University of Michigan Press

Chiozza, Giacomo, and Hein Goemans. 2011. Leaders and International Conflict Cambridge University Press

Braumoeller, Bear F. 2013. The Great Powers and the International System Cambridge University Press

Prerequisites

Upper-division standing and 6 semester hours of lower-divsion coursework in government  

Course Description

This course explores cutting-edge research on the political origins of war, adopting a scientific approach to argumentation and evidence.  

Grading Policy

Students will be graded on three exams (60%), short writing assignments (25%), and a small independent research project (15%).  

Texts

John Keegan. 2005. The Iraq War Vintage Books. Gen.

Wesley Clark. 2001. Waging Modern War PublicAffairs Press.

Prerequisites:

Graduate standing in government  

Course description:

This course will help students develop the tools necessary to consume formal theory in academic work and to write their own formal theories. Heavy emphasis will be placed on logic and the construction of valid arguments.  

Grading policy:

Students will be graded on semi-weekly homework (30%), two exams (50%), and a final paper in which students identify a research question and specify, but need not solve, a game capable of answering it (20%).  

Texts:

Osborne, Martin J. 2004. An Introduction to Game Theory Oxford University Press.

Explores both the role and the causes of war in the international system, including its initiation, prosecution, and termination, as well as the effects of international institutions, system structure, and domestic politics on the conflict process.

Professor: Scott Wolford

See syllabus