Formal Political Theory
Field of Study for the PhD: Formal Political Theory
Formal political theory uses techniques from mathematics, probability theory, and game theory to model political phenomena of interest. There are many uses of formal modeling: normative vs. positive, predictive vs. explanatory, generation of hypotheses versus structural estimation. The advantage of formal modeling is that it exposes assumptions of analysis, permits rigorous inference; it thereby disciplines the researcher and (with careful writing) facilitates the precise communication of ideas.
Formal Theory at Rochester
The formal theory field at Rochester is designed to equip students with needed tools for applied research in substantive fields, and also to train students who want to pursue research in pure formal theory at the highest level in the discipline. The first-year sequence is required for all PhD students. For the major field, a student must complete the two-course first-year sequence and two additional courses from the advanced graduate seminars in formal theory, passing these four courses with an average GPA of 3.5 and no grade lower than a B-. For the minor field, a student must complete the first-year sequence and one additional course from the advanced graduate seminars, passing each course with a B- or better.
Formal Modeling Sequence: 407 and 408
The PhD program includes two semesters of formal modeling taken by all graduate students. The year-long sequence is a self-contained course in mathematical modeling, beginning with the basic rational choice model (cost-benefit analysis, constrained optimal choice, choice under uncertainty), covering the classical results of social choice theory (Arrow’s theorem, Black’s median voter theorem, Plott’s theorem on instability of majority rule), and applications of static games (electoral competition, public good provision, contests), dynamic games (sequential voting, bargaining), and Bayesian games (signaling, cheap talk, principal-agent problems). In addition to the sequence and formal theory seminars, formal modeling (as a basic tool of analysis) is woven into many substantive courses on American politics, comparative politics, and international relations.
Seminars
- PSCI 508: Theoretical Implications of Empirical Models
- PSCI 527: Models of Domestic Institutions
- PSCI 546: Modern Political Economy: Theory
- PSCI 561: Revealed Political Preferences
- PSCI 575: Topics in Political Economy
- PSCI 577: Theories of Conflict
- PSCI 580: Models of Non-Democratic Politics
- PSCI 584: Game Theory
- PSCI 586: Voting and Elections
- PSCI 587: Structural Modeling and Estimation
- PSCI 588: Models of Democratic Politics
- PSCI 589: Advanced Formal Methods in Political Economy