Corruptn/Patronage/Clientelism

3 Credits · Level: Graduate, Undergraduate

This course will focus on three forms of misuse of political power for personal and political gain: corruption, patronage, and clientelism. The course will examine how each phenomenon is defined and measured, what are considered their main causes, in what ways they may be damaging for political and economic systems in which they exist, and whether and how they may be contained. In doing so, we will also pay close attention to the theoretical and empirical tools used to formulate and answer research questions. Finally, the lectures and course assignments will be designed to encourage students to identify and develop research questions of interest towards their senior thesis.