Margaret Hanson
Assistant Professor of Political Science
- Office
- Munroe 303
- mh1@middlebury.edu
- Office Hours
- Fall 2025: Wednesday 2:00-3:30 (in person), Thursday 4:00-5:30 (via zoom), and by appointment
Margaret Hanson is a political economist and sociolegal scholar. Her research examines how law, politics, and economics interact to shape state-society relations in former Soviet states, particularly autocracies. This includes projects focused on migration, democracy and citizenship, corruption, and economic governance. Her work has been published in Perspectives on Politics, the Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, Europe-Asia Studies, Law and Social Inquiry, and Problems of Post-Communism, and her book, Seeking a Corruption Equilibrium: Authoritarian Legality in Central Asia, is under review.
Courses Taught
PSCI 0103
Current
Intro to Comparative Politics
Course Description
Introduction to Comparative Politics
This course offers an introduction to the comparative study of political systems and to the logic of comparative inquiry. How are different political systems created and organized? How and why do they change? Why are some democratic and others authoritarian? Why are some rich and others poor? Other topics covered in this course include nationalism and political ideologies, forms of representation, the relationship between state institutions and civil society, and globalization. The goal in this course is to use comparative methods to analyze questions of state institutions -- how they arise, change, and generate different economic, social, and political outcomes. 3 hrs. lect. disc. (Comparative Politics)
Terms Taught
Requirements
PSCI 0210
Current
Frontiers in Political Science
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
Requirements
PSCI 0227
Upcoming
Russian Politics
Course Description
Russian Politics
In this course we will study politics in the Russian Federation. We will begin by placing Russian authoritarianism in historical context: first, we will examine the rise of communism under late Tsarist rule; then, we will turn to the evolution of Soviet rule, culminating with the collapse of the USSR and its dissolution into successor states. In the remainder of the course, we will explore politics, economics, and governance in the contemporary Russian state. Throughout, we will use the lenses of law and institutions, political economy, state-society relations, and nationalism and identity to understand evolution and continuity in Russian politics. 3 hrs. lect./disc. (Comparative Politics)
Terms Taught
Requirements
PSCI 0475
Upcoming
Authoritarian Legality
Course Description
Authoritarian Legality
“Authoritarian legality” is used to describe the role of legal institutions in non-democracies. Scholars frequently distinguish between rule by law – where law and courts are wielded instrumentally – and rule of law, where government is beholden to the law. In autocracies, the former is assumed to prevail. However, the legal reality in autocracies is seldom so clear-cut. In this course we will explore the role of law and courts and the nature of rights in authoritarian regimes. Among the topics we will address are law and legitimation, legal institutions and accountability, legal mobilization, and the relationship between law, markets, and society, with a particular emphasis on political development and change in contemporary dictatorships. Comparative Politics
Terms Taught
Requirements
PSCI 0500
Current
Upcoming
Independent Project
Course Description
Independent Projects
A program of independent work designed to meet the individual needs of advanced students. (Approval required)
Terms Taught
PSCI 0700
Current
Upcoming
Honors Thesis
Course Description
Honors Thesis
(Approval required)
Terms Taught