Faculty & Staff

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

John Holzwarth
Assistant Professor of Political Science
John R. Howard Hall 328
phone: 503-768-7604
e-mail: holzwrth@lclark.edu

Classes for Spring 2012

POLS 331 Western Politics: Hobbes to Foucault 
Great works of political philosophy from early modernity to the present. Themes include social contract theory and justifications for obedience to government, revolutionary theory, the effects of democratic government on individuality and society, and the dangers of politics in the present day. Works may include Hobbes’ Leviathan, Locke’s Second Treatise of Government and A Letter Concerning Toleration, Rousseau’s Discourse on the Origin of Inequality and On the Social Contract, Burke’s Reflections on the Revolution in France, Marx and Engels’ Manifesto of the Communist Party, de Tocqueville’s Democracy in America,
Nietzsche’s Beyond Good and Evil, and Arendt’s The Origins of Totalitarianism.

POLS 316 Ethics and Public Policy
Rigorous consideration of controversial issues in contemporary normative political theory. Introduction to major frameworks for ethics. Topics may include abortion, euthanasia, punishment and the death penalty, multiculturalism, affirmative action, women’s rights, gay rights, animal rights, just war theory, social welfare. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Curtis Johnson
Department Chair
Dr. Robert B. Pamplin, Jr. Professor of Government
John R. Howard Hall 330
phone: 503-768-7726
e-mail: johnson@lclark.edu 

Classes for Spring 2012

POLS 309 American Political Thought and Ideology
The evolution of political ideas from the pre-revolutionary era through the founding period, Civil War, early 20th century, and New Deal, up to present divisions between “liberals,” “conservatives,” and other contemporary political orientations. Readings include Locke, Montesquieu, Madison, Jefferson, de Tocqueville, Lincoln, Keynes, Hayek, Harrington, and others. 

CORE 107-19 Explanation and Discovery
Multidisciplinary approaches to studying a diverse world of ideas, methods, and perspectives. Theme and content vary by section, but all seminars display historical and disciplinary breadth and focus upon topics in the liberal arts tradition. Past spring section themes have included “The Art of War,” “Am I My Brother’s Keeper?” and “Understanding How We Understand the Mayas.” 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Todd Lochner
Associate Professor of Political Science
John R. Howard Hall 332
phone: 503-768-7756
e-mail: tlochner@lclark.edu

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ellen Seljan
 Assistant Professor of Political Science
John R. Howard Hall 331
phone: 503-768-7709
e-mail: eseljan@lclark.edu

Classes for Spring 2012

POLS 103 US Government: National Politics
The politics of the founding period; interactions within and among the executive, legislative, and judicial branches; the federal division of institutionalized powers; public opinion, interest groups, and political parties; the policy process in areas such as defense, welfare, civil rights and liberties, international affairs.

POLS 302 Political Parties/Interest Grp
The structure and functioning of political parties from the local to the national level;
organization, staffing, and policy development of parties. Pluralist analysis, group theory, impact of interest group activity on the American political system.

 

 

 

                  

Christopher Wendt
Assistant Professor of Political Science
John R. Howard Hall 329
phone: 503-768-7642
e-mail: cwendt@lclark.edu

Classes for Spring 2012

CORE 107-27 Exploration and Discovery II
Multidisciplinary approaches to studying a diverse world of ideas, methods, and perspectives. Theme and content vary by section, but all seminars
display historical and disciplinary breadth and focus upon topics in the liberal arts tradition. Past spring section themes have included “The Art of War,” “Am I My Brother’s Keeper?” and “Understanding How We Understand the Mayas.”
 
POLS 102 Intro to Comparative Politics
Introduction to the central questions in comparative politics. Fundamental differences in the organization of states, democratic political institutions (presidentialism versus
parliamentarianism, for example), and domestic social forces (for example, social capital, ethnic versus nonethnic identities). The impact of political organization on economic performance and social peace.

POLS 435 Topics in Comparative Politics
Advanced seminar focusing on problems and concepts in comparative politics. Specific content varies; examples of topics include state failure and civil war, electoral competition and legislative behavior, migration and integration, institutional design, and ethnicity and nationalism. Assignments are organized around a substantial seminar paper (25 pages or longer).

Professor Emeritus

Donald G. Balmer
 Dubach Professor Emeritus
John R. Howard Hall 309
phone: 503-768-7641
e-mail: balmer@lclark.edu

Staff

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Claire Kodachi
Administrative Coordinator
Political Science
John R. Howard Hall 224
phone: 503-768-7640
e-mail: ckodachi@lclark.edu