GOVT 4291

GOVT 4291

Course information provided by the Courses of Study 2016-2017.

This course examines scientific controversies that become political. Why does some science become politicized rather than normalized and routinized? How do societies deal with collective uncertainty and risk entailed in authoritative scientific findings? How do social movements respond to niches in contentious knowledge to expand influence? To what extent is science made politically vulnerable by its commitment to incremental evidence-based knowledge in contention with junk science? What do interest-based explanations of politics tell us and leave out? An archetypal case is climate change, but it is one of many. Topics range broadly and will be adjusted to student interests.

When Offered Fall.

Distribution Category (SBA-AS)

View Enrollment Information

Syllabi: none
  •   Regular Academic Session.  Combined with: BSOC 4291STS 4291

  • 4 Credits Graded

  • 17127 GOVT 4291   SEM 101

  • Government seniors and juniors given preference. This class fulfills the government senior seminar requirement.