the Maynard-Knox Professor of Law
Frank Anechiarico
Frank Anechiarico studies constitutional law and public administration.
Government
You will emerge from your government major grounded in international relations, American politics, comparative politics and political theory. If you are accepted into Hamilton’s program in Washington, D.C., you will get a front-line perspective on U.S. government, including working in a Congressional or executive office.
About the Major
The study of politics and public affairs at Hamilton has three tracks: government, world politics and public policy. The government major provides a broad grounding in international relations, American politics, comparative politics and political theory. World politics focuses on either a region or theme, for instance, poverty and inequality, democratization or international law and organization. Public policy is interdisciplinary and includes economics and philosophy.
While it’s hard to pinpoint exact things, the sense of community, the professors, and the campus all come to mind as the three largest reasons that Hamilton has been so great. It’s a very inclusive and supportive environment, and this strengthens the relationships that are created at Hamilton.
Thomas Funk ’15 — World politics major
Careers After Hamilton
- Program Analyst, Department of Homeland Security
- Strategic Marketing Coordinator, NBC Universal Media
- Writer, Comedy Central
- Coordinator for Communications & Outreach, U.S. Department of State
- Orthopedic Surgeon
- Advisor & Associate Counsel, Republican National Committee
- Maynard-Knox Professor of Government, Hamilton College
- Founder/Executive Director/President, New England Center for Children
- Director, Foreign Exchange Distribution, UBS Securities LLC
- President & CEO, Texas International Education Consortium
- Senior Public Affairs Officer, U.S. Department of the Interior
Meet Our Faculty
the Henry Platt Bristol Professor of International Relations
Alan Cafruny
Alan Cafruny is an expert on the political economy of the European Union, and U.S.-European and U.S.-Russian relations.
Associate Professor of Government
Peter Cannavò
Peter F. Cannavò is the author of The Working Landscape: Founding, Preservation, and the Politics of Place.
Assistant Professor of Government
Alexsia Chan
Alexsia T. Chan's research interests include the political economy of development and authoritarian politics.
Assistant Professor of Government
Erica De Bruin
Erica De Bruin's research interests include civil-military relations, military effectiveness, international conflict, and civil war.
Assistant Professor of Government
Gbemende Johnson
Gbemende Johnson’s research explores the litigation of executive privilege in federal courts.
Assistant Professor of Government
Kira Jumet
Kira Jumet's research focuses on protest mobilization leading up to and during the 2011 and 2013 Egyptian uprisings.
James S. Sherman Professor of Government
Philip Klinkner
Philip Klinkner is an expert on American politics, including parties and elections, race relations, Congress and the presidency.
Professor of Government
Robert Martin
Robert Martin wrote Government By Dissent: Protest, Resistance, and Radical Democratic Thought in the Early American Republic.
Professor of Government
Stephen Orvis
Stephen Orvis studies comparative politics with an emphasis on Africa.
Visiting Assistant Professor of Government
David Rivera
David Rivera's interests include international relations and comparative politics.
Associate Professor of Government
Sharon Werning Rivera
Sharon Werning Rivera specializes in the post-communist countries of Eurasia, especially Russia.
Assistant Professor of Government
Heather Sullivan
Heather Sullivan's research explores state capacity, protest and protest management.
College President, Professor of Government
David Wippman
A recognized authority in international law, David Wippman has taught courses on a wide range of related topics.
Professor of Government
P. Gary Wyckoff
An economist by training, Paul Gary Wyckoff's current research focuses on the empirical foundations of public sector decision-making.
Lecturer in Government
Omobolaji Olarinmoye
Omobolaji Olarinmoye's interests include Nigerian politics.
Lecturer in Government
Joel Winkelman
Joel Winkelman studies the work ethic and democracy in the political thought of the Progressive Era U.S.
A Sampling of Courses
International Relations 114FS
Introduction to the theory and practice of world politics. Emphasis on the changing structure of the international system; the role of the nation-state and non-state actors; patterns of conflict and cooperation; the use of force, diplomacy and ideology; the interplay between politics and economics. Writing-intensive. Proseminar.
View All CoursesThe Organization and Politics of American Policing 359F
Review of the history of public safety provision in the U.S.; the impact on the local police function of the wars on drugs and terror, with attention to police relations with ethnic and racial minorities. Analytic approaches to include theories of organizational behavior and criminology. Prerequisite, Government 116 or consent of the instructor Oral Presentations. Proseminar.
View All CoursesViolence, Justice and the State in Latin America 368S
This class explores contemporary issues in Latin American politics, focusing on the ways that the capacity of Latin American states impact people’s everyday lives. The course will consider the role of the state in controlling and contributing to violence and in enhancing and impeding struggles for social justice. Emphasis will be placed on critically reading the theoretical and empirical literature in order to understand and assess the relationship between states and citizens in Latin America. Writing-intensive.
View All CoursesGovernment Failure?:The American Administrative State 376S
Federal administrative activity gains the most attention when the federal government seemingly fails to meet the public’s expectations of good and efficient governance. Examples include the failure to prevent the 9/11 terrorist attacks, FEMA’s sluggish response to Hurricane Katrina, and the various crises facing the Department of Veterans Affairs. This course examines the politics of agency design, delegation, political oversight, and internal agency processes. We will discuss the structure and practices of the federal executive branch and potential reforms to help government work effectively Writing-intensive.
View All CoursesCapitalism, Democracy, and the Workplace 389S
What is the relationship between capitalism and democracy? Do the claims of democracy extend into the workplace? This course examines the development of a market society, the division of labor, and contemporary working conditions, exploring the challenges and possibilities each presents democratic life. It emphasizes critical reading of historical, empirical, and normative texts in order to define and assess the mutual obligations between democratic societies and their citizens and workers. Readings include Adam Smith, Max Weber, Hannah Arendt, C. Wright Mills, and Karl Polanyi. Writing-intensive. Proseminar.
View All CoursesSocial Movements and Political Protest 394F
Why do people protest sometimes but more often not? How do social movements work, and why do some succeed while others fail?Examines the origins, dynamics, and consequences of social movements and political protest, exploring both nonviolent and violent movements that have attempted to reshape politics in countries across the globe. Emphasis on critical reading of the theoretical and empirical literature in order to gain an understanding of how political differences across countries shape and are shaped by protest. Writing-intensive.
View All CoursesToday and Tomorrow
