Game Theory and Politics

This course, intended for upper-division undergraduate students, offers an introduction to the tools of rational choice and game theory for analyzing politics. In addition to basic mathematical analysis of these models, we will develop a conceptual understanding of rationality and strategic behavior and apply these concepts to real-world political behavior and institutions. We will draw on examples from American politics, including electoral competition, Congress, and the bureaucracy. Although the course is primarily lecture based, participation in structured games and strategic interactions during class will allow students to apply the theoretical frameworks discussed in the course firsthand. We will conclude with a discussion of the strengths and limitations of rational choice and game theory to explain political behavior, especially through the lens of experimental studies.