See below for Spring 2026 courses taught by AGS Faculty Affiliates.
Unless otherwise specified, all courses below are open to undergraduates. Visit Duke Hub for more information (including whether certain classes or class sections are reserved for freshman, sophomores, juniors, or seniors). All 500 levels are open to juniors, seniors, and graduate students. Other undergrads can get permission from the instructor. Be sure to email professors with any questions about course availability or eligibility.
POLSCI 128: Climate Change: A Political Economy Perspective ~ Prof. Clara Park
MoWed 1:25PM-2:40PM | Biological Sciences 154
This class introduces students to climate change from a political economy perspective. It reviews the main scientific facts about it and how their evolution traces back to political and economic causes. The bulk of the class is devoted to understand the consequences of climate change for domestic and international politics and to study, with the PE tools, the scope and limits of the solutions being proposed to address it. The class is purposefully interdisciplinary and will make use of academic work and data from different social and applied sciences. It is a class designed for first and second year students that could also be of interest to more advanced ones.
PUBPOL 221/POLSCI 204/AMES 214/HIST 224: – 9/11 & Its Aftermath ~ Prof. David Schanzer
TuTh 3:05PM-4:20PM | Sanford 03
With two decades of hindsight, this course examines the enduring impact of the September 11, 2001 attacks and the global counterterrorism response that followed. We will first study the historical, political, and sociological forces that gave rise al Qaeda and its ideology. Building on this foundation, the bulk of the course will chart and assess the U.S. and allied counterterrorism response to the attacks, including military actions (such as wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, targeted killings via drones, and the counter-ISIS campaign), U.S. foreign policy, especially with respect to the Arab Uprisings, intelligence collection (both abroad and against U.S. citizens), law enforcement policy, and homeland security. The course will address thematic issues such as the impact of the attacks on American history, politics, foreign policy, culture and national cohesion. It will also consider global themes such as the effect of 9/11 on Muslim communities around the world, international relations, international law, the role of the United States in global affairs, and human rights. Finally, the course will consider parallels between 9/11 and the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel on October 7, 2023 and assess the geopolitical consequences and ethics of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
PUBPOL 224: Russia in the World ~ Prof. Simon Miles
MoWed 3:05PM-4:20PM | Sanford 03
Traces evolution of Russian Federation foreign policy from the collapse of the Soviet Union at the beginning of the 1990s to the 2022 war in Ukraine. Examines elements of Russian grand strategy: military, economic (especially oil and gas), and diplomatic tools. Explores the role of one individual, President Vladimir Putin, in shaping policy in an increasingly autocratic state. Focuses on Russia’s relations with its neighbors, former allies, Europe, and the wider world, including the United States. Identifies linkages between domestic politics and events and foreign policy. Assignments focus on translating historical knowledge into actionable policy advice to meet current challenges.
It will be an undergraduate lecture probably capped at 50; no special access requirements.
PUBPOL 236/ HISTORY 201: Globalization and History ~ Prof. Giovanni Zanalda
TuTh 11:45AM – 1:00PM | Gray 228
Examination of globalization issues in a historical perspective. Reviews phenomena, institutions, e.g. empires, states, religion, corporation, and international agencies, and policies which enabled exchange of commodities, people, and cultures. Explores empirical evidence on growth and development for different world regions and historians’ and social scientists’ interpretations. Examines benefit of maintaining fine balance between quantitative evidence and historical analysis in assessing waning international integration of societies, markets, and cultures from first wave of European expansion to the present.
PUBPOL 255/ COMPSCI 255: Introduction to Cyber Policy ~ Prof. David Hoffman
TuTh 11:45AM – 1:00PM | Sanford 03
Policy and technical elements of activity in cyberspace will continue to impact and shape global society. Provide a basic understanding of fundamental of cyber technologies and threats, national and international cyber policies and frameworks, and key topical issues in cyber. Students will be required to complete a written mid-term based on lectures and readings, present short classroom briefings, and engage in class discussions. The final will be a capstone written and oral presentation on a realistic cyber scenario applying knowledge from classwork and their own research. No prior skills or knowledge is required.
POLSCI 365/PUBPOL 376: Foreign Policy of the United States ~Prof. Peter Feaver
MoWed 10:20AM-11:10AM | Gross Hall 103 and a discussion section
This course is designed to help students become informed observers of (and perhaps participants in) American foreign policy. We cover the key themes in the historical evolution of American foreign policy and address current challenges and opportunities. The course is divided into four sections: (1) The broad sources that shape foreign policy decisions generally—such as the international balance of power, ideas, and domestic structure—as well as the more specific traditions in American foreign policy, including isolationism and American exceptionalism; (2) How domestic institutions and societal forces influence the process by which foreign policy decisions are made in the United States; (3) The tools that American leaders use to pursue interests in the foreign policy arena, including intelligence, diplomacy, economic sticks and carrots, and military force; and (4) The special foreign policy challenges facing the United States today, as seen through the lens(es?) of the frameworks established in the first three sections. Weekly discussion sections will be devoted to applying the relevant theories learned during lectures to specific foreign policy decisions. The cases provide students with an in depth understanding of pivotal events in American foreign policy. This course is designed as a follow-on to PS160/PPS166 Introduction to International Relations, but capable students can take it without having taken the introductory course.
FECON 379/ ICS 379: Emerging Markets: Finance, Trade, Institutions and the World Economy ~ Prof. Giovanni Zanalda
Tu 3:05PM – 5:35PM | Perkins LINK 071 (Classroom 5)
Analyzes rise of emerging markets/economies and their new role in the context of global economy. Focus on post-1970s growth of countries such as China, India, South Korea, Chile, Mexico, and Brazil (and/or other countries according to students’ interests) with particular emphasis on financial, industrial/trading and institutional aspects, linking such rise to the emergence of vast global economic imbalances and new trend in capital and trade flows of the last decade. Explores economic and policy challenges these countries and their companies increasingly face and implications for the world economy. Prerequisite: Economics 201D and 210D.
POLSCI 432: Money and Power in Christian Thought and the Social Sciences ~ Prof. Kyle Beardsley
MoWed 4:40PM-5:55PM | Gross Hall 104
Inequality – of economic resources and power – presents a number of dilemmas that social scientists have studied and debated, using frameworks from economics, political science, sociology and psychology. Christian thinkers and activists have long considered the challenges posed by inequalities of money and power, and these are common themes preached from the pulpit. Christian scriptures are filled with teachings, including many from Jesus of Nazareth, on issues of money and power. Moreover, Christian individuals and organizations are frequently regarded as part of the problem or part of the solution, depending on the issue. Regardless of one’s own faith background, understanding the various positions that Christians have taken on challenges related to inequality as well as understanding what social science scholarship can tell us about the implications of those positions can equip us to thoughtfully engage these policy debates with profound consequences. This course is designed for students who are curious about diving deep into thorny challenges related to inequalities of money and power. While the focus is on Christian perspectives, there is no presumption that students have a background in either theology or social science scholarship, nor is there a presumption that students have experience in a faith community.
PUBPOL 507: Intelligence for National Security ~ Prof. Tim Nichols
Wed 12:00PM-2:30PM | Sanford 09
This seminar is intended for upper-level undergraduates, graduate students, and professional Fellows who possess an interest in US National Security, intelligence policy, and intelligence-focused issues. During the semester, we will learn about the intelligence function associated with US National Security. Specifically, we will investigate how U.S. national security decision-makers (Legislative and Executive branches) have designed and employed the intelligence apparatus as a key component of national power. Case studies, guest lecturers, and in-class simulations are designed to complement the readings and seminar discussions. In developing a broader understanding of the US intelligence system—its organizations and processes—students will discover how the insatiable appetite for accurate and timely intelligence support has driven the creation of a complicated and confusing, yet effective, intelligence architecture. This class won’t make you an intelligence professional; nor will it reveal anything other than publicly available information. My goal is to offer you an objective look at the intelligence apparatus that tirelessly works to protect the United States.
PUBPOL 509/HISTORY 509: Modern Intelligence History ~ Prof. Jennifer Siegel
TuTh 10:05AM-11:20AM | Sanford 03
This course examines the role of diplomatic and military intelligence in the making of policy. We will explore some of the most significant international events of the 20th century in light of the contribution of both covert and overt intelligence, focusing on the histories of several of the major 20th century intelligence organizations. The course will not be concerned with the intricacies of trade craft, but with the interplay between intelligence and policy. In our final week, we will consider the correlation between the growth of intelligence communities, their legitimization, and delegitimization, and the popular image of spying represented contemporaneously in fiction and film.
POLSCI 555S: Global Politics of AI ~ Prof. Clara Park
This course examines the global politics of artificial intelligence (AI). It covers the impact of AI on security and conflict, geopolitics, the economy, including finance and labor, and the environment. We will examine the challenges of international cooperation and the race to develop AI technology, standards, and national regulations as well as the main actors, interests, and institutions. Open to graduate students and seniors.
PUBPOL 590/ POLSCI 590: Technology & National Security: Managing Strategy and Policy in Periods of Technological Change ~ Prof. John Hillen
MoWed 11:45AM-1:00PM | Rubenstein Hall 149
The interplay between changes in technology, changes in warfare, and changes in strategy and national security policy is dynamic and complex. While much attention in this area is on the impact of new technologies on battlefields, such as the focus on drone warfare in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, or missiles in the conflicts in the Middle East, the societal and public policy ramifications of technology and national security reach far beyond the battlefield. This course will explore the relationship between technological changes and national security policy, with a focus on the United States and especially the modern technologies shaping past, present, and future national security settings. Students will examine how advanced technologies—such as artificial intelligence (AI), cyber capabilities, quantum computing, biotechnology, sensors, stealth, and nuclear systems—shape modern warfare, national security strategies, and international relations. Through case studies, the course examines the role of technology in addressing security threats and the policy frameworks needed to manage its risks and opportunities.
Students will understand the role of technological innovation in shaping national and international security, analyze the policy challenges and strategic implications posed by emerging technologies, evaluate ethical responsibility in national security policy, and explore cases where technology influenced defense decisions and geopolitical outcomes.
The class will use a variety of experiential learning assessment methods in addition to traditional lectures and discussions. Research papers and policy memos will be written and presented, along with simulations and scenario-based exercises. Lectures and discussions will be supplemented by guest speakers from the policy, industry, military, and technology communities. We may also include a trip to a nearby technology/industrial facility.
The instructor has been the CEO of three defense technology companies, served as a Senate-confirmed US official dealing with technology and national security, and has written widely on the topic.
EGR 590 / DESIGNTK 590 Operational AI for Defense and Security ~ Prof. Thomas Sowers
Tu 10:05AM-12:35PM
This applied course immerses students in the rapid design and prototyping of AI-enabled technologies addressing real-world challenges in defense, security, and resilience. Teams work with government and industry partners to define mission-critical problems, build prototype systems, and iterate based on stakeholder feedback. Emphasis is placed on rapid experimentation, human-centered design, and operational value delivery in complex environments.
Open to: Graduate and advanced undergraduate students.
Prerequisites: Coursework or experience in AI, data science, systems engineering, or design innovation recommended.
Economics 590: Tracking Warzone Economic Activity in Ukraine and Planning for Recovery – A Data Science Approach ~ Prof. Charles Becker
TuTh 10:05AM-11:20AM Perkins LINK 088 and Zoom
The 2022 Russian renewed invasion of Ukraine virtually froze data-gathering by Ukrainian statistical agencies from February until early May 2022, and restrictions have continued thereafter, especially in occupied territories. Russian authorities have also discontinued many important economic and social data series to manage perceptions on the effectiveness and impact of economic sanctions, and more broadly, on the war’s implicit cost. This course focuses on utilizing alternative data sources and complementary models to estimate economic data during the invasions (2014, 2022) and then using these to assess consequences. Topics of interest include potential disequilibria in labor and housing markets, the magnitude of inflationary pressure, social consequences of the war, and recovery and rebuilding strategies at the micro and national levels. This course will provide students with advanced knowledge of data analysis, including machine learning, and offer opportunities to apply real-world datasets in economic studies.
A background in economics, statistics and econometrics, and programming skills is expected. Coursework will consist of initial lectures, followed by joint Duke-Ukrainian teams working on specific research projects and making presentations. While the focus is on Ukraine, projects related to other regions of conflict or social disruption may also serve as topics of study. This course is accessible to upper-level undergraduates with strong technical backgrounds.
Economics 627: Soviet and Post-Soviet Economic History ~ Prof. Charles Becker
MoWed 11:45AM-1:00PM Perkins LINK 071
This course traces economic factors leading to the downfall of the Russian Empire and the rise of the USSR, followed by an assessment of the decline and aftermath of the USSR. Particular attention is devoted to the NEP period, earlier Soviet economic models, the famine of the 1930s, the impact of the Great Patriotic War (WWII), industrialization and urbanization, Soviet planning, and declining productivity growth and life expectancy in the 1970s and 1980s. The course then explores the economic consequences of the USSR’s collapse as well as the nature of recovery in various countries that followed. The course concludes with an overview of formal political economy models. Students will be encouraged to explore Census data, household surveys, and other data sources.
POLSCI 667/PUBPOL 667: Civil-Military Relations ~ Prof. Peter Feaver
Tu 8:45AM -11:15AM | Gross Hall 111
The study of civil-military relations addresses a simple puzzle: can we have a military strong enough to protect civilians yet not so strong as to ignore or subvert civilian direction? After all, a military that is strong enough to defend the state from its external enemies might also be strong enough to seize power so as to rule for itself. But if you keep your military small and weak so it will not pose a threat to society, will it be strong enough to carry out the national security policy? How do you ride the tiger of military capability without being swallowed by it?
Does this problem become more acute as civilian society loses its connection with the military? How distinctive must the culture and institutional setting of the military be from its host society to fulfill its special mission? Does the military’s focus on the management of violence require military culture to stand apart from or even contrary to the civilian society from which it springs? Or should the military, particularly in a democracy, adapt to the culture of civilian society, reflecting civilian values and norms of behavior? What is the gap between military and civilian culture and what is its significance for public policy in America?
How is the military instrument of national power integrated with other instruments in America’s national security strategy and what are the challenges for civil-military relations that result from trying to integrate military with diplomatic, economic, psychological, and other elements of national power? What are the implications for civil-military relations of making strategy in public? Finally, how can we develop long-term strategies against both state and sub-state actors within a system that is biased toward near-term decisionmaking and near-term calculations?
This course will look at the classic and recent literature addressing all of these questions and give students a chance to do original research on some aspect of the topic. The course will focus primarily on the U.S. case, but the theoretical frameworks covered have broad application to other advanced democracies and, indeed, have spawned a large literature considering civil-military relations in developing countries.
This course will be co-taught by General CQ Brown, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. As senior military advisor to the President and to Congress, General Brown has been “the dash in civil-dash-military relations” and so brings a distinctive and exceptionally timely perspective to our discussions. The course requires a permission number to register. If you want to take the course, email Professor Feaver.
Note: admission to this course is by permission only. Please email Prof. Feaver if you wish to take the course.
PUBPOL 890: Armed Conflicts and Civil Wars ~ Prof. Shelley Liu
Tu 8:45AM-11:15AM | Sanford 102
Security, Peace and Conflict
PUBPOL 890: Allies, Partners, and Spoilers: Security Cooperation and Strategic Competition ~ Prof. Thomas Ross
Virtual class, for Masters of National Security Policy students – open to MPP students. Reach out to MNSP program coordinator for more information.
Military assistance to foreign nations, or security cooperation, is one of the most commonly employed national security tools to address global crises and to pursue diplomatic, military, and other national security objectives. This course will examine theoretical and strategic foundations of security cooperation, explore how security cooperation has been used in practice and to what degree it has been effective, and consider the major stakeholders, tools, and programs involved in implementation. It will focus primarily on the United States as the world’s most prolific security cooperation provider, while briefly considering other security providers. Through this comprehensive examination of security assistance, students will broaden their understanding of U.S. interagency workings, U.S. national security policy and strategy, and global security dynamics.
PUBPOL 890: Promise and Peril of U.S. Intelligence ~ Prof. Jon Rosenwasser
Virtual class, for Masters of National Security Policy students – open to MPP students. Reach out to MNSP program coordinator for more information.
Spies, satellites, covert action, and double agents—what are these methods, and how do we use them effectively and ethically as tools of public policy? This discussion-oriented class examines perhaps the most under-studied – and misunderstood – aspect of U.S. democracy: intelligence. The central premise is that intelligence has the promise to provide the secret ingredient to successful U.S. foreign policy, yet it often inevitably faces perils like analysis blind spots, adversary spoofing, and weak congressional oversight. Through lectures, class discussion, guest lectures, student briefings, and other classroom exercises, students will learn to apply their repertoire of public policy skills to the intelligence aspect of national security.