Amy Yuen
Office
Munroe Hall 312
Tel
(802) 443-5621
Email
ayuen@middlebury.edu
Office Hours
Mondays 1:00-2:00pm and Thursdays 8:30-9:30 am, Tuesdays (Game Theory Only) 8:30-9:30 am, Thursdays (FYSE Only) 2:00-2:30 pm, or by appointment

Amy Yuen joined the Political Science faculty as an assistant professor in the fall of 2007. Dr. Yuen’s research uses game theoretic models, large-N statistical analyses and case studies to unravel the strategic behavior in a wide range of international political phenomena, particularly conflict between and within nations. Her dissertation work examines third party intervention in interstate conflicts. More recent research focuses on peacekeeping efforts to help resolve civil conflict. Why does peacekeeping fail? Rather than focusing on intervention capacity, Dr. Yuen considers the incentives facing belligerents and peacekeepers as an important factor in successfully settling conflict. Her newest project models behavior in the UN Security Council to examine when the Council decides to take up an issue and how the institution affects policy coordination.

Courses Taught

Course Description

Sci Fi and Society
In this course we will explore the allegory and ideas represented in science fiction literature. Frequently, science fiction is a vehicle in which authors explore alternative societal setups, historical analogy, and predictions for how innovations in governance structures, technology, etc. might affect human society. This seminar will explore some of these ideas, particularly around governance structures and societal relations, to discuss themes like conquest and colonialism, societal responsibility and participation, and how different political entities relate to each other. Students will practice analytical and creative writing, as well as other forms of communication to explore these ideas through the lens of science fiction.3 hrs. sem.

Terms Taught

Fall 2025

Requirements

CW

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Course Description

Global Security Studies Senior Thesis
(Approval Only)

Terms Taught

Fall 2021, Spring 2022, Fall 2022, Winter 2023, Spring 2023, Fall 2023, Winter 2024, Spring 2024, Fall 2024, Winter 2025, Spring 2025, Fall 2025, Winter 2026, Spring 2026

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Course Description

Independent Project
(Approval Required)

Terms Taught

Fall 2021, Winter 2022, Spring 2022, Fall 2022, Winter 2023, Spring 2023, Fall 2023, Winter 2024, Spring 2024, Fall 2024, Winter 2025, Spring 2025, Fall 2025, Winter 2026, Spring 2026

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Course Description

Senior Thesis
(Approval Required)

Terms Taught

Fall 2021, Winter 2022, Spring 2022, Fall 2022, Winter 2023, Fall 2023, Winter 2024, Fall 2024, Winter 2025, Fall 2025, Winter 2026

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Course Description

International Politics
What causes conflict or cooperation among states? What can states and other international entities do to preserve global peace? These are among the issues addressed by the study of international politics. This course examines the forces that shape relations among states, and between states and international regimes. Key concepts include: the international system, power and the balance of power, international institutions, foreign policy, diplomacy, deterrence, war, and global economic issues. Both the fall and spring sections of this course emphasize rigorous analysis and set theoretical concepts against historical and contemporary case studies. 3 hrs. lect./disc. (International Relations and Foreign Policy)

Terms Taught

Fall 2021, Spring 2023, Spring 2024, Spring 2026

Requirements

CMP, SOC

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Course Description

Frontiers in Political Science Research
Nothing is more controversial among political scientists than the topic of how to study politics. In this course, we consider a variety of advanced techniques for studying political phenomena, including statistical methods, game theory, institutional analysis, case study techniques, experiments, and agent-based modeling. We will work with concrete examples (drawn from major political science journals) of how scholars have used these techniques, and consider the ongoing philosophical controversies associated with each approach. Students will have the opportunity to conduct original research using a method and subject of their choosing. (Any political science courses) 3 hrs. lect.disc (Methods)

Terms Taught

Fall 2021, Fall 2023

Requirements

DED, SOC

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Course Description

International Politics and WMD
In this course we will examine the international ramifications of nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons use. What is a weapon of mass destruction (WMD)? How have WMD changed the way states behave toward international conflicts and within international crises? How has the development of these weapons influenced the policies states have adopted in response? Beyond these questions, major course themes include the threats of proliferation and the highs and lows of weapons reduction initiatives. 3 hrs. lect./disc. (not open to students who have taken PSCI 1159) (International Relations and Foreign Policy)

Terms Taught

Fall 2022, Spring 2024

Requirements

SOC

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Course Description

Game Theory for Political Science
How do candidates for political office choose their platforms? Why do some conflicts lead to war while others do not? What legislation will legislators introduce? These and many other compelling questions of political behavior often use game theory as a tool to study strategic, or interdependent, decision-making. Students will learn basic concepts of game theory and how to apply them to a range of political phenomena. To succeed, students need only a solid background in algebra. Students who have taken ECON 0280 cannot register for this course. (Any political science course) (formerly PSCI 0393) 3 hrs. lect./disc. (Methods)

Terms Taught

Fall 2022, Fall 2025

Requirements

DED, SOC

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Course Description

International Political Economy
This course examines the politics of global economic relations, focusing principally on the advanced industrial states. How do governments and firms deal with the forces of globalization and interdependence? And what are the causes and consequences of their actions for the international system in turn? The course exposes students to both classic and contemporary thinking on free trade and protectionism, exchange rates and monetary systems, foreign direct investment and capital movements, regional integration, and the role of international institutions like the WTO. Readings will be drawn mainly from political science, as well as law and economics. 3 hrs. lect./disc./(International Relations and Foreign Policy)/

Terms Taught

Spring 2023

Requirements

SOC

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Course Description

War and Peace
What causes conflicts between states and within countries? What factors facilitate or impede their resolution? In this course we will examine interstate and intrastate conflicts and the challenges faced in resolving them, from both practical and theoretical perspectives. Employing some of the most prominent theories on war, and more recent theories of bargaining, negotiation, and conflict, we will draw upon a range of case studies to illustrate and evaluate the theoretical dynamics of conflict and conflict resolution. (PSCI 0109 or by waiver) 3 hrs. lect./disc. (International Relations and Foreign Policy)

Terms Taught

Spring 2022, Fall 2023, Spring 2026

Requirements

SOC

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Course Description

Guns, Drugs, People: The Illicit Economy in the Global Perspective
In this course, we will focus on patterns of illegal activity in the international economy. Students will study phenomena such as illegal trade in arms, animals, and drugs, and the trafficking and smuggling of human beings. The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the systematic analysis of the illicit global economy. Students will be taught to examine the causes of illicit markets, the actors involved ( entrepreneurs, consumers, governments), and how markets respond to efforts to combat them. The objective is for students to understand the phenomenon and its drivers, and to translate this understanding into a critical evaluation of current policy approaches. (International Relations and Foreign Policy)

Terms Taught

Spring 2023

Requirements

CMP, SOC

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Course Description

Independent Projects
A program of independent work designed to meet the individual needs of advanced students. (Approval required)

Terms Taught

Fall 2021, Winter 2022, Spring 2022, Fall 2022, Winter 2023, Spring 2023, Fall 2023, Winter 2024, Spring 2024, Fall 2024, Winter 2025, Spring 2025, Fall 2025, Winter 2026, Spring 2026

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Course Description

Honors Thesis
(Approval required)

Terms Taught

Fall 2021, Winter 2022, Spring 2022, Fall 2022, Winter 2023, Spring 2023, Fall 2023, Winter 2024, Spring 2024, Fall 2024, Winter 2025, Spring 2025, Fall 2025, Winter 2026, Spring 2026

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Course Description

Weapons of Mass Destruction
Technological development has brought human civilization to the point at which we can destroy ourselves in a matter of hours using weapons of mass destruction. What effects do these weapons have on political, and social behavior? Do WMDs deserve their own classification, or is human behavior consistent regardless of the weapon? We explore the technology, political theory and policy that has risen around the prospect of human annihilation. This course includes a college-funded, week-long trip to the Middlebury in DC offices in Washington, DC. Travel takes place the last week of Winter term. Students should contact Professor Yuen directly for approval to register for the course. (not open to students who have taken PSCI 0242 or equivalent) (International Relations and Foreign Policy)

Terms Taught

Winter 2026

Requirements

CMP, SOC, WTR

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Course Description

Data Science Across Disciplines
In this course, we will gain exposure to the entire data science pipeline—obtaining and cleaning large and messy data sets, exploring these data and creating engaging visualizations, and communicating insights from the data in a meaningful manner. During morning sessions, we will learn the tools and techniques required to explore new and exciting data sets. During afternoon sessions, students will work in small groups with one of several faculty members on domain-specific research projects in Geography, Political Science, Restorative Justice, or Healthcare. This course will use the R programming language. No prior experience with R is necessary.

ANTH/LNGT:

BIOL/ESCS: In this section we will work with data collected by elephant seals equipped with oceanographic instruments in the Southern Ocean. Depending on your interests, you can approach the project from different angles: students focusing on biology will explore where the seals travel and what drives their movements, while those interested in earth science will investigate the temperature and salinity profiles gathered during their dives. Working in teams, you’ll combine these perspectives to build a fuller picture of both seal ecology and the oceanographic processes that shape their environment. Along the way, you’ll practice manipulating and visualizing different types of data including maps of seal tracks, temperature and salinity profiles, and cross-sections of ocean properties. We will also bring in satellite and autonomous float data to place seal activity and the data they collect in a broader context. By the end, you’ll have a sense of how these different data sources fit together and what unique insights we gain from using seals as oceanographers.

CLAS:


PSCI 1230: Who votes in elections? Who attends protests? Why? In this session, we will use the tools of data science to explore these and other questions about political participation in the Americas. We will examine engagement in different forms of participation and the demographic, economic, social, and other factors that shape participation. The class will introduce students to the basics of survey research and the study of political participation. Students will complete a final group project showcasing the concepts and tools learned in class.

STAT 1230: In this course students will explore how DNA from the environment (eDNA) can help us identify which species are present in the ecosystem. We will use eDNA data to answer questions like “does the length of a DNA sequence affect how likely we are to identify a species?” and “do different DNA primers work better for identifying certain groups of organisms?” Students will gain experience in the entire data science pipeline, including data wrangling, visualizing research questions, and communicating findings, all while investigating questions in ecology and conservation.

Terms Taught

Winter 2023

Requirements

DED, SOC, WTR

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