
Leah E. Gilbert
Associate Professor of Political Science
Leah Gilbert is an Associate Professor in Political Science at Lewis & Clark College. Her research and teaching interests include democratization, civil society, authoritarianism, post-communist politics (with an emphasis on Russia), and European politics (with an emphasis on Germany). She speaks German and Russian and has conducted intensive fieldwork in both languages.
Gilbert, along with Payam Mohseni, is the author of an article that introduces a new conceptual map and taxonomy for hybrid regimes published by Studies in Comparative International Development (September 2011). An earlier version received recognition in the form of the Honorable Mention, Sage Paper Award for Best Qualitative Methods Paper Presented at the American Political Science Association, 2009. In addition, she has published several articles on the development and impact of civil society on democracy in Russia and Europe. Currently her research explores the legal regulation of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in nondemocratic regimes. This research includes the development of a unique system of measurement of legal regulatory barriers for NGOs. These measures are available for download at: https://payammohseni.com/papers/.
Specialty
Comparative PoliticsAcademic Credentials
PhD, Political Science, Georgetown University (2012) BA, Political Science and German, St. Olaf College (2002)
Teaching
Fall 2020
MWF 10:25am-11:25am
Introduction to the central questions in comparative politics. Fundamental differences in the organization of states, democratic political institutions (presidentialism versus parliamentarism, 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. Propositional and predicate calculus, deductive techniques, and translation into symbolic notation.
Prerequisites: None.
POLS 325: European Politics
TTH 11:40am-1:10pm
This course addresses the many political challenges that face individual European countries and the European Union in the 21st century. To contextualize and understand these challenges, this course will first investigate Europe’s historical political development and then use a combination of in-depth case studies and comparative analyses to examine topics such as political parties, electoral systems, political participation, immigration, and post-communism. Throughout the course, we will frequently compare the trajectory of Europe and individual European countries with the United States.
Prerequisites: POLS 102
Restrictions: Sophomore standing required
POLS 435: Topics in Comparative Politics
MW 3:00-5:00pm
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).
Prerequisites: POLS 102.
Restrictions: Senior Standing Required
Research
Political Science is located in John R. Howard Hall on the Undergraduate Campus.
email polisci@lclark.edu
voice 503-768-7640
fax 503-768-7637
Chair Ellen Seljan
Political Science
Lewis & Clark
615 S. Palatine Hill Road MSC 12
Portland OR 97219