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POLI SCI 348

ANALYSIS OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

3-4 credits.

Focuses on how to analyze problems in international politics by the use of game theory. Examples include governments making choices about the size of their military forces, barriers to trade, or international agreements on environmental issues. Analysts study strategic interaction using both informal and mathematical methods. Provides a good introduction to the basics of game theory -- a tool useful in many different settings -- as well as an introduction to the study of world politics. From the perspective of quantitative reasoning, one of the most important set of lessons center on the logic of strategic interaction and the notion of equilibrium. Along with basic game theory students will also be introduced to the pragmatic use of mathematical tools including algebra, set theory, functions, and probability theory. Not open to students with credit for POLI SCI 376 prior to fall 2017

Prerequisites & course information

Requisites: Satisfied Quantitative Reasoning (QR) A and ( POLI SCI 140 or INTL ST 101 ) Course Designation: Core GenEd - Mathematics & Quantitative Reasoning Comm QR - Quantitative Reasoning B Breadth - Social Science Level - Intermediate L&S Credit - L&S Liberal Arts and Science Repeatable for Credit: No Last Taught: Spring 2026 Learning Outcomes: 1. Understand the logic of strategic interaction. Audience: Undergraduate 2. Master the basics of non-cooperative game theory. Audience: Undergraduate 3. Be able to apply the logic of strategic interaction to international politics. Audience: Undergraduate 4. Master the algebra necessary to solve games with complete and incomplete information. Audience: Undergraduate 5. Master the algebra necessary to solve both one-time and iterated games. Audience: Undergraduate 6. Understand the logic of signaling games. Audience: Undergraduate Learning Outcomes: 1. Understand the logic of strategic interaction. Audience: Undergraduate 2. Master the basics of non-cooperative game theory. Audience: Undergraduate 3. Be able to apply the logic of strategic interaction to international politics. Audience: Undergraduate 4. Master the algebra necessary to solve games with complete and incomplete information. Audience: Undergraduate 5. Master the algebra necessary to solve both one-time and iterated games. Audience: Undergraduate 6. Understand the logic of signaling games. Audience: Undergraduate

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