Politics of Everyday Life
Political Science 491
Winter, 2018
Instructor: Mikhail Myagkov, 931 PLC
Office Hours 9am-12pm Mondays
14:00-1650
Class information at:
http://pages.uoregon.edu/myagkov/ps491winter2018.html
NEW:
First Midterm Questions are here
NEW Second Midterm Questions are here
New Your First Midterm and Quiz 1 and 2 Scores are here
General Description
We often think that the term "politics" refers mostly to the processes by which collective decisions are made – in particular, by governments. On the other hand, this word (politics) can be used more generally to refer to the processes by which we all try to influence each other’s behavior in the normal course of everyday life. This course puts together readings from game theory, evolutionary psychology, decision research and a variety of other disciplines that all, in some way, address such "everyday politics". Some of the materials are analytic – that is, they provide "tools" by which one can address a wide range of specific instances. Other materials are psychological or cognitive – that is, they address attributes of humans as they engage in one another aspect of "everyday politics". Finally, a part of this class will be devoted to learning about laboratory experiments designed to allow students to conduct their own tests of some of models and methods covered in this class. Students will have an opportunity to design their own laboratory experiment, and will write a narrative on their design and results.
Readings
In addition to the required book (see reading schedule below), each week students will have required assigned reading that is related to that week’s topic. Our class web site will provide web links to each of those pieces of readings as well as to some additional pieces mostly related to news and stories that illustrate main subjects of this class. Students are expected to complete each week’s reading by that week’s class time (with the exception of Week 1). There will be a required book in this class, and most of the theoretical concepts will be covered during the lectures. I also recommend the recommended book below as a handbook on various aspects of Game Theory that we will be covering.
Recommended Book: Morrow. “Game Theory for Political Scientists”
Requirements and Grading
There will be two midterm exams each worth 30% of the grade during the 5th and 9th week of the class. One week before the exam, I will circulate a list of study questions, and at the time of the exam, I will randomly select three questions and you should write on any two of your choice. There will be five randomly scheduled in class multiple choice type quizzes each worth 4% of the grade. Each quiz will test basic knowledge of the material covered in prior class sessions. Also, students will be required to search online and elsewhere for “everyday life” news and stories that are related to, and illustrate class topics. There will be questions related to such stories on the midterm exams. Finally, each student will be required to be a part of a group that will design and run a laboratory experiment in decision making. Students will be split into groups of several students each. Each group will either pick or will be assigned by the instructor a subject for experimental design. Students will be working as a team in each group. However, their progress reports will have to be written individually. The report (20% of the grade) will be due is due during the finals week. Each group will have to defend (and possibly run) their own experiments during week 10. I will allow students to turn the final version of the experiments report during the official “final” time of the class. The report should contain literature review, research questions and experimental design. I will provide you with a written feedback for your reports. The second report will contain experimental results, data analysis and conclusions. The report should be about 10 pages long.
GRADING RUBRIC
The final grade will be determined as follows: A:91-100; B: 80-90 ; C 70-79; D: 60-69
HOW MUCH TIME YOU ARE EXPECTED TO SPEND ON THIS COURSE
In-class activities: 30 hours (30 hours lecures)
Assigned readings: 28 hours (roughly 1 hr. x 28 sessions with readings)
Preparing and Running experiments: 48 hours
Studying for exams: 20 hours
Weekly Schedule:
1. Basics of Game Theory; Backward Induction etc
Readings: Pages 1-32
Game Theory Helps in Everyday Life
2. Cooperation, Prisoner’s Dilemma, Collective Actions
Readings: Pages 32- 102
Crimea through the lens of game theory
Orbell and Dawes, "Social Welfare, Cooperator’s Advantage, and the Option of Not Playing the Game" from the American Sociological Review
3. The Nash Equilibrium
Readings: Pages 107-137
4. Making Decisions under Uncertainty
Readings: Pages 137-173
5. Conflict, Power, Agenda Setting and Trust
Readings: Pages 173-235
Readings: William H. Riker, "The Art of Political Manipulation"
Diego Gambetta, "Trust: Making and Breaking Cooperative Relations"
6. Risk, Risky Decisions, Gains and Losses
Readings 235-270
Prospect Theory and Donald Trump
Russia, Nato and Theory of Games
Foreign
Policy Credibility Trap
7. Bargaining and Negotiation
Readings 270-359
Charles Lave and James March, "An Introduction to Models in the Social Sciences" from the
Chapter 5.5 of the "External Exchange
Can Game Theory Prevent Human Extinction?
Diminishing Returns Bargaining
8. Sex, Gender and All That
Readings:
Myagkov and Babkina; Gender and Cooperativeness
Survey of the Experiments in Political Science
How to predict results of the olympics
Readings 359-end
Learning Outcomes
Students learn about the way knowledge is created in Political Science using examples from “Everyday Politics”
Students learn how methods and models of Game Theory can be used to explain and predict human behavior in situations that involve decision making
Through the prism of Evolutionary Psychology , students will acquire an insight for decision making rational in various everyday life situations
Students learn how to read and discuss news and real life stories using knowledge from Game Theory
Students learn about the importance of cultural factors in political decision making and outcomes
Students will learn about experiments in decision making, and will have skills to run and analyze
COURSE POLICIES
Academic Integrity, Plagiarism, Fabrication, Cheating, and Misconduct:
By enrolling in this course, you agree to abide by the University’s Student Conduct Code. Everything in your assignments must be your own work. Neither ignorance of these policies nor the lack of an intention to cheat or plagiarize will be considered a legitimate defense. Raise questions you have with the professor before problems arise. I will flunk all students who plagiarize and will report them to University authorities.
SPECIAL NEEDS AND UO HARASSMENT POLICY
Both I as a professor and the University of Oregon are committed to creating inclusive learning environments. Please notify me if any aspects of my instruction methods or course design result in barriers to your participation. If you have a disability, I encourage you to contact Accessible Education Center in 164 Oregon Hall at 346-1155 or uoaec@uoregon.edu If you have already been in contact with Accessible Education Center and have a notification letter, please provide me with a statement from Accessible Education Center during the first week of class so that we can make appropriate arrangements. University policy requires that students present a notification letter from AEC to receive testing accommodations (see http://aec.uoregon.edu/students/current.html ).
I also have a personal commitments and university responsibility to report any instances of sexual harassment, sexual violence and/or other forms of prohibited discrimination. If you would rather share information about sexual harassment, sexual violence or discrimination to a confidential employee who does not have this reporting responsibility, you can find a list of those individuals at https://safe.uoregon.edu/services. Each resource is clearly labeled as either “required reporter,” “confidential UO employee,” or “off-campus,” to allow you to select your desired level of confidentiality.
Open Learning Environment:
It is my sincere belief that in order to understand “the facts” of anything you must deal with them head on. This means dissecting any “evidence” with the deliberation of a scientists. In some instances this will require us to explore policy arguments that are unpopular and incompatible with our own principles. I expect that all students will be able to discuss potentially controversial topics with maturity, respect and sensitivity. At the same time I also understand that some discussions may be difficult to digest. If you encounter any difficulties with the course subject matter—or with a student’s behaviors in the context of that subject matter— please come talk to me. I want to make this course a fulfilling experience for every student.
CLASSROOM ETIQUETTE
Cellphones: please remember to silence your phone before class.
Respect: I expect our discussions to be lively affairs that bring out the diverse political beliefs of people in the class. Please treat everyone with respect. Listen with an open mind, speak carefully, and focus on the ideas being offered rather than personal attacks.
Course and Contact Information.
The syllabus, assignments, and other handouts are all available from the course web site:
www.uoregon.edu/~myagkov/ps491winter2018.html.
Announcements will be posted to the site; it should be your first port of call if you're unsure about what's happening when and where. The best way to contact me is either to come to my office hours or to send me an e-mail.
Office Hours: I encourage you to stop by early in the quarter so that you can get to know me and vice versa. Don't, in other words, feel shy about coming to see me, whether you just want to chat about the weather or have more substantive course-related issues to discuss.
E-mail: I will respond within twenty-four hours to e-mails that I receive during business hours on Mondays through Thursdays (I do not check e-mail in the evenings or during the weekends). I will try to answer e-mails received prior to mid-afternoon on Friday by 5:00 p.m. but may not manage to respond until Monday.