POLS 490R-002: Advanced Seminar: Political Monitoring (Fall 2012)

Semester Details: The term “monitoring” is frequently used in the social sciences. As a political concept, however, it is fully investigated—especially its impact on political behavior and effective governance. This upper-division seminar will systematically study monitoring in political affairs, with an emphasis on comparative politics and international affairs. First, monitoring as a concept will be defined, especially in relation to other important concept such as accountability. Second, we will question how monitoring is utilized in psychology, economics, law, and other related disciplines. Third, seminar participants will ask “What is effective monitoring?” Fourth, student will investigate the importance of monitoring within such contexts as democratic theory and the institutionalization of collective decision-making. Finally, explanatory factors such as transparency on effective monitoring in political affairs will be identified. As a seminar, the students themselves will research and to class for discussion specific examples of political monitoring.