Strategic concerns are an important element to many political decisions. Therefore,
the formal analysis of strategic choices is fundamental to political science and
enhances one’s understanding of politics in general.  This course introduces modern
tools and techniques of formal analysis.  The formal analysis in this class is 
deductively structured and logically based.

The course has three broad goals. Our first goal is to learn about theories of
individual and collective choice.  Such knowledge will make you a better consumer of
related research.  Our second goal is to understand the application of such theories
to various aspects of American politics. (Depending on students’ interests, we may 
discuss applications in other subfields as well.)  Within American politics, formal
analysis has been central to issues ranging from candidate strategy to the design of
legislative systems.  Our third goal is to develop our own applications of the tools
and techniques discussed.  The careful application of formal work will be a prominent 
concern throughout the course.

Individual Preferences
	Ways to Aggregate Preferences.  Basic Social Choice Results
	Dominant Strategy Equilibria, Iterated Dominance, Nash Equilibria
	Normal Form Games and Extensive Form Games.  Nash Equilibria in Subgames
	Subgame Perfection
	Beliefs and Equilibrium Refinements
	Equilibrium Selection Issues: Equilibrium Refinements versus Narrow
         Applications

All academic work must meet the standards contained in "A Culture of Honesty."  
Students are responsible for informing themselves about these standards before 
performing academic work.  The penalties for academic dishonesty are severe and 
ignorance is not an acceptable defense.  Also note that the course syllabus is a 
general plan for the course and that deviations announced to the class by the 
instructor may be necessary.  (www.uga.edu/ovpi/academic_honesty/academic_honesty.htm).