SAGE Video: Course Playlists - Politics & International Relations
Don’t know where to start? Explore our award-winning content through custom course playlists as well as some of our Editors' picks.
Comparative Politics
Professor Svitlana Chernykh outlines varying presidential systems of government. Her discussion includes an analysis of what problems each system is likely to have and why they sometimes fail.Chungshik Moon defines resource curse as a negative effect of a natural resource on the economic, social, or political well-being of a community. This effect can be explained by two factors: deindustrialization and/or low government accountability.Professor Sara McLaughlin Mitchell outlines the three prominent motivations that drive countries to move towards war even though engaging in war is consistently illogical.Campaigns and Elections
Professor Ken Goldstein explains that elections center on the composition of the electorate and the loyalty of partisan groups. Campaigns focus on mobilizing voter turnout among groups likely to support their candidate, and on swaying the opinions of undecided but likely voters.Professor Ken Goldstein analyzes the change in voter demographics between 2004 and 2012. Using historical data he demonstrates how the United States voting demographic has been and is changing, and he considers how it will continue to change.Professor Ken Goldstein discusses the 2012 presidential election and campaign strategies. The 2012 election should have been very competitive, but Barack Obama won by a comfortable margin. Obama's campaign used targeted television advertising, and it spent less than the Republican Party.The Presidency and Executive Branch
Professor Stephen Wayne discusses American presidency and the troubles American presidents face. The American constitution created a system of checks and balances, which limits power and can make it hard for the president to create change. During presidential campaigns, candidates make promises that they cannot enact without Congress and promise more than they could ever accomplish.Professor Anne Marie Cammisa discusses the policy-making process in Congress. She details the different steps in the circular policy-making process, as well as the steps a bill must take to become a law. She pays particular attention to barriers in the legislative process, such as a lack of unity within parties and polarization.Professor Stephen Wayne discusses American presidency and the troubles American presidents face. The American constitution created a system of checks and balances, which limits power and can make it hard for the president to create change. During presidential campaigns, candidates make promises that they cannot enact without Congress and promise more than they could ever accomplish.International Relations
Professor Henry Nau discusses the complexity of international relations as a field of study. Within his explanation he outlines four theoretical approaches to international relations, providing examples of each.Professor Jacqui True explains the role of gender in international relations and in the study of international relations. She points to the effects of greater female participation in foreign relations, including a greater focus on human rights and conflict prevention. She also points to social and cultural structures that deter women from participating in the political sphere.Professor Han Dorussen discusses international relations and the many facets the field has incorporated over the years. He also explains how to find and pursue a worthy topic for research.Public Policy
Dr. Ronald A. Harris explains how to use statistical techniques and quantitative methods to evaluate a program.Professor B. Guy Peters reflects on public administration as a profession. He analyzes its evolution and development throughout modern government.Using concrete examples and current debates, Professor Michael Kraft describes five types of policy analysis: cost-benefit, cost-effectiveness, risk, political feasibility, and ethical.
