Government

If the Social Sciences area has any middle ground, Government is just that. Every college has a political science department, but the Government Department offers much more. Courses range from McCloskey's almost purely historical American Constitutional Development (124) to Hanford's practical State Government (140) and Friedrich's philosophical History of Political Thought (106--for seniors).

What concentration in Government can do and why it attracts the largest clientele are difficult questions. In a way, it offers a general education in somewhat informed citizenship; but unless politics or government service is one's anticipated career, it can give little practical assistance. Government concentration has never been known to boost anybody into Law School; but many lawyers do find its courses of some value in practice.

Outside of course instruction, Government is severely curtailed in department-to-you services because of the large number of students clamoring for them. Tutorial for all who want it is a goal the department is far from attaining, although it determinedly tries to distribute its favors as liberally as possible.

All Gov. Is Divided

Courses are divided among three sections: Political Theory and Comparative Government; American Government, Public Law, and Public Administration; and International Law and Relations. Seniors must take a four-hour examination in whichever of the areas they have chosen, in addition to the three-hour Departmental exam. Perhaps no department offers and welcomes a wider range of topics for theses (required for honors candidates).

Concentration requirements are: four fall courses in the department, including Gov. 1; one full course in History; and either Economics 1 or Social Sciences 115 professor Harris' Economics for the Citizen.

Gov. I is considered by many the least valuable basic course in the College. The first half, devoted to theory and theoreticians, is taught by Elliott; Holcombe rambles through the spring term on "political institutions in the contemporary world."

So Firm, So Fully Packed

The first section of courses, Theory, is the smallest. Beer gives 112 and 113, Parliamentary and Comparative Government, respectively, with increasing authority but with notable variations in degree of interest. Fainsod's Know Your Enemy 1 (Gov. 115: Dictatorship and the Government and Politics of the Soviet Union) has been a great box office success since the Cold War began. Topping off the group is Friedrich's weighty 106, which "traces the development of political thought and jurisprudence from Greek and Jewish antiquity . . . to the nineteenth century and relates it to cultural and institutional growth." This course is open only to seniors and graduate students, with a knowledge of European history recommended. McCloskey, a rapidly rising star in the department, this year takes on 107, American Political Thought.

Locals Grab Lead

American Government is the best stocked, with such popular favorites as McCloskey (Constitutional Development, 124), Cherington (Problems in Federalism, 153; and 155: Government Regulation of Industry). Maass' Conservation (157) was well taught and well received in its second outing. Lambie dissects municipal and Hanford state government in 140 and 141-2.

The international area came up this year with an acceptable substitute for Payson Wild, who left for Northwestern last year. Bundy conducted the ever-popular 170, International Law, and 185, the U. S. in World Politics; but the preliminary catalogue lists no 1950-51 instructor for this pair. Emerson, Hopper, and Cheever split up the rest of a somewhat pedestrian selection.

At the end of four years of Government concentration, the best one can expect to have gained is a certain awareness of the political life teeming in every cranny. In any case, the years will have been far from dull.