Description
One of the most significant developments in American politics over the last few decades has been the massive growth and expansion of the carceral state. More people are physically incarcerated and on programs like parole and probation than ever before: now, 1 in 31 Americans is under some form of correctional control. What explains this massive shift? How do our political institutions affect the nature and character of coercive institutions? These questions are vital for our understanding of democracy, equality, and punishment in America. Political science has only recently begun to engage seriously with the implications of this massive expansion. This class engages directly with theoretical and empirical material to address the above questions and more. We will read academic articles and books, and you will be expected to take the time to read and understand the material. At the end of this course, you will understand the complex nature of our coercive institutions and the ways in which political science and other academic disciplines seek to understand them.