previously taught courses

Some Previous Courses
Dr. Nathan Busch

GOVT 100: Politics and Society
(F05, F06)

This course is designed to introduce you to the meaning of politics and develop your ability to communicate knowledge of the subject in a meaningful way. We begin our study of political philosophy with our common opinions about justice, law, and political life. Our goal is to evaluate those opinions critically and move beyond them without violating common sense. We follow the lead of some of the greatest minds of Western civilization by considering the questions, arguments, and dilemmas that animated the great political philosophers. As we engage ourselves in the debate among these geniuses, we strive to grasp the importance of the most fundamental questions of human life and move closer to answering them.

GOVT 215: Comparative and International Politics
(F04, S05, S06, S07)

This course examines major issues in world affairs, including security issues, international financial and trading regimes, global ecopolitics and ethnic conflicts. It also provides elaborate coverage of emerging crises or conflicts or other notable world developments. International relations is one of the most fascinating subjects you will encounter because it is constantly changing. This is particularly true in the past decade. Since the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the way in which we view world politics has undergone a profound transformation. New actors and issues have gained prominence and have challenged our fundamental beliefs about the very nature and substance of international relations. This course will introduce you to the major contemporary issues in international affairs and it will place these issues in their historical context.
Syllabus

GOVT 338: Politics of Weapons Proliferation
(F05)

As stated in the 2002 National Strategy to Combat Weapons of Mass Destruction, the gravest danger facing the United States “lies at the crossroads of radicalism and technology. Our enemies have openly declared that they are seeking weapons of mass destruction, and evidence indicates that they are doing so with determination.” This course examines the threats posed by the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction to aspiring states and terrorist groups and the strategies that the United States and the international community have employed to prevent the of these weapons. Key topics that we will examine include the technologies necessary for these weapons, the relevant treaties and international agreements that attempt to prevent WMD proliferation, and the primary countries and terrorist groups that are attempting to acquire these weapons.
Syllabus

GOVT 340: Might and Right Among Nations
(S05, S07)

The main purpose of the course is to acquaint students with the evolution of international relations thought by means of a close reading and critical examination of classics in the tradition of political philosophy. Readings will be drawn from the works of classical thinkers including Thucydides, Machiavelli, Grotius, Hobbes, Rousseau, and Kant, as well as selections from some representative contemporary theorists. From these will emerge the concepts, assumptions, issues, and main lines of debate that continue to dominate thinking about world politics today: the legitimate basis of political authority, the nature of sovereignty, the rights and duties of individuals and groups, the implications of “human nature” for world politics, the existence and significance of “international society,” and the possibilities and limits of international ethics.
Syllabus

GOVT 357: Classical Political Thought
(S06)

This course introduces students to classical political thought through a study of some of the seminal works of Greek antiquity. We will begin by examining the Aristophanes’ presentation of Socrates, the figure whose famous investigations of moral and political questions gave birth to political philosophy in its classical form. After reading Aristophanes’ Clouds, we will turn to Plato’s Lovers, which presents an intriguing, yet perplexing, examination of the philosopher and activity of philosophizing. After that, we will then turn to Plato’s Republic, one of the earliest and yet most profound works ever written on the question of justice and the nature of politics. We will then study Aristotle’s Politics, examining Aristotle’s vision of happiness, human excellence, and political life. Throughout the course, we will reflect on issues such as the demands of justice, the character of human nature, and the relationship between politics and other aspects of human life (e.g., economics, the family, friendship, and philosophy). We will also consider whether ancient thought can provide an alternative perspective from which we can gain a deeper appreciation of what is distinctive about modern political life.
Syllabus

GOVT 358: Modern Political Thought

This course is an introduction to Modern Political Philosophy. We will focus on the writings of the political philosophers who invented modernity. As we read their primary texts we will use a great deal of care to examine how their thoughts have shaped our lives. Modernity is not just a chronological designation, but a break with the tradition of thought beginning in Greece and continuing in medieval times. We turn to these non-relativistic roots of modernity to find a noble foundation for our government.
Syllabus

This course aims to introduce students to the fundamental concepts of the international political system and develop their ability to communicate knowledge of the subject in a meaningful way. The course will focus on theoretical concepts that form the heart of the international system. In addition to dealing with the “realist” approach to the pursuit of international power and peace, certain other approaches will also be examined. Among the topics to be explored are the roles and limitations of international law and organizations, the “moral” approach to statecraft, and the basic elements of diplomacy. Students will be encouraged to analyze current events in light of the principles and theories of international politics that are studied.
Syllabus

During the Cold War, studies in international conflict and security were dominated by the threat to the United States and Western Europe posed by the Soviet Union. After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the risks of direct nuclear war between the U.S. and the Soviet Union eased. But other dangers surfaced, including risks of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, increased regional tensions, and international terrorism. The terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 highlighted many of these risks and revealed other issues that were not previously recognized. This class will examine the new dimensions of international conflict and security that have arisen in the Post-Cold War era and after September 11.
Syllabus

The events of September 11 fundamentally changed international perceptions of security and the subsequent formulation of security policy. This course will examine the approaches the world has taken to recent world events. This course will examine critical issues in global security policy by addressing central issues, such as historical approaches security, the critical changes in security policies after 9/11, and some of the critical debates over what global security policies should be. The final section of this course will examine global security “hot spots” and the class will consider how the United States and the rest of the world should address these problems.
Syllabus