This course surveys how political institutions affect and are shaped
by political processes, policies, economic performance, welfare,
human and minority rights, political stability, immigration, civil
war, and other factors. We will learn about how these factors vary
through time, across states, within them and across regions of the
globe.  We will use broad comparative studies and sometimes focus on
specific countries.  We will also address some big questions in a
comparative context: why are some countries democratic while others
are not?  How do political parties adopt their policy positions?  How
are laws and policies produced in different political systems?  Where
do civil wars emerge? Why do some countries prosper while others
don't?  What are the routes to economic development?