POLI 616. Modern Political Analysis.

Introduction to the basic concepts and theoretical methods underlying modern approaches to the study of politics. The scope ofthe discipline will be delineated and the foundations of empirical and normative research, including the philosophy and methodology of science especially as these apply to social science, will be considered. Topics include: theories of social ontology, conceptual analysis, probability, causation, conditional analysis, social choice, decision theory, game theory, and key theoretical and normative concepts such as legitimacy, authority, equality, freedom, power,oppression, domination, capitalism, socialism, regime types, social structure.