Comparative Politics Program
As with the other social sciences, political science is concerned with human behavior. What distinguishes political science is its interest in: "Who gets what, when, and how." Some of the questions dealt with by political science include: On what basis is political power allocated? What societal needs and cultural values lead to the creation of different settings? How are authoritative policy decisions made and implemented? How is power distributed and used in the international system? To what extent and by what means do citizens participate in politics? At West Point, the Political Science program offers three disciplines for concentration: American Politics, Comparative Politics, and International Relations. Political Science students may pursue any of the three disciplines, outlined below, as either a major, a major with honors, or a political science minor.
Cadets pursuing the study of Comparative Politics have the opportunity to analyze the sources of stability or instability in political regimes, and to examine the conditions that promote either democracy or dictatorship in a number of diverse settings, ranging from Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, to Africa, as well as the United States. Not only do students examine political institutions and policies, but they also explore the meanings and sources of change that may spring from the ballot box or the barrel of a rifle.
The West Point Comparative Politics Program provides cadets with the intellectual tools and knowledge of the core comparative politics theories and concepts to better understand why some states fail and others remain stable. Cadets are afforded an opportunity to view critical comparative politics issues in a multi-perspective manner by taking related courses both in and out of the Department. After mastering the core concepts, cadets can tailor their program towards a regional (e.g., Africa, Middle East, etc.) or functional (e.g., terrorism, democratization, political and cultural anthropology, etc.) focus. The comparative politics courses and related electives provide cadets with the knowledge and framework to apply the core concepts and theories to relevant case studies and issues. Finally, the integrative experience provides an in-depth study of the non-US perspective towards the security environment by examining the security predicaments of primarily the developing world. To help understand and anticipate the behaviors of weak states and non-state actors, cadets study the effects of non-traditional security issues, appreciate a non-western view of the world, understand the limitations of these actors’ elements of power, and understand how they might assess risk.
The integrative experience enables cadets to apply both the core curriculum and the comparative politics concepts, theories and cases they have learned to analyze non-U.S. state and non-state actors’ behaviors. Specifically, cadets view comparative politics through a security prism to better understand how other states and non-state actors view the security environment; this is the first step required to better understand and anticipate these actors’ behaviors. The course focuses on the security predicaments of primarily weak states and non-state actors in the developing world. Cadets study the effects of non-traditional security issues on these actors, appreciate a non-western view of the world, understand the limitations of these actors’ elements of power, and understand how they might assess risk. For example, cadets look at security dilemmas that states face by analyzing their politico-military strategies and the domestic, regional, and international factors that affect them. Cadets examine questions such as, "What is the nature of security in weak or failing states?" "How do such states plan for their security?" and "What factors influence their choices?" Cadets address these questions by integrating the literature of comparative politics and other relevant disciplines into their analyses to better understand and anticipate state and non-state behaviors in the changing security environment.