Comparative Analysis of Wealth, Policy, and Power

Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Exploration of strategic interactions that give rise to social problems around world, what can be done to address them, and how different polities have tried (and sometimes failed) to mount effective response. Applications include climate change, antivaccination movement, protest and repression, war and formation of states, corruption, and human and drug trafficking. Letter grading.

Review Summary

Clarity
10.0 / 10
Organization
10.0 / 10
Time
5-10 hrs/week
Overall
5.0 / 10

Reviews

    Quarter Taken: Spring 2020 In-Person
    Grade: B

    This class isn't hard. I could have gotten an A in non-COVID times, but alas.. I didn't really enjoy this class as much as I thought I would. It's essentially political science, and I've just switched from poli sci, so maybe that's why.
    Anyway, the lectures were very clear and easy to follow, but on 1.5x speed. The pre-recorded lectures are good quality, but unfortunately I found the pace and volume to be very sleep-inducing. I couldn't make it through a lecture without a break or other distraction. However, when I did pay attention, I understood everything. But usually I preferred to just read the slides myself without the lecture.
    Super easy quizzes, just make sure you understand all of the slides and you'll be fine.
    There were a TON of readings, so much so that scared me into not doing them. They were interesting when I read some, tough.
    The policy memo is why I have a B; it was my first kind of paper like that and I didn't do well. The op-ed is a lot easier, though.
    Overall, not a good choice for a GE unless you just want political science. But easy and interesting depending on your attention span.

    Quarter Taken: Winter 2023 In-Person
    Grade: A

    He talks slow in class but records lectures, midterms are easy true/false questions with short answer. Content is interesting does include game theory.

Course

Previously taught
24S 23W 22W 21S 20F 20S 19S

Grading Information

  • No group projects

  • Attendance not required

  • 1 midterm

  • 10th week final

  • 100% recommend the textbook