Vincent T. Gawronski

Professor of Political Science

Vincent T. Gawronski Office:

Harbert 321

Contact Information:

Birmingham-Southern College
Box 549007
900 Arkadelphia Rd
Birmingham, AL 35254
Office Phone: (205) 226-4836
Office Fax: (205) 226-4847
E-mail: [email protected]

Brief Career Background:

Gawronski taught at Mesa Community College in Mesa, AZ, Arizona State University in Tempe, AZ, and Florida International University in Miami, FL before coming to Birmingham-Southern College in 2001. Dr. Gawronski has also worked as a consultant for the U.S. Agency for International Development, Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance where he has been involved in the evaluation of training programs for Latin American civil defense personnel and in the assessment of post-impact disaster response and nongovernmental organization capabilities.

Educational Background:

Gawronski received his B.A. in History and Spanish from the University of Texas at Austin (1987) and his M.A. (1993) and Ph.D. (1998) in Political Science from Arizona State University.

Areas of Academic Interest:

Gawronski's area of expertise is Mexico and Central America, where he has maintained two research tracks: political development and the “politics of disaster.” As such, he has worked on several federally-sponsored projects focusing on the political impacts of natural disasters in Latin America. Past projects have focused on governmental and institutional disaster response in the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador as well as political change after the 1985 Mexico City earthquakes. Gawronski's work on the “politics of disaster” and interest in Latin American has led him to the study of migration because natural disasters often force people to emigrate. His latest work has been on the U.S.-Mexico border and the impacts of migration in the United States and in Mexico.

Courses Taught:

PS 101 Introduction to American Government and Politics (1)
A survey of research on the institutions of American government–the Presidency, the Congress, and the Supreme Court–and on political behavior at the mass, elite, and organizational levels. Questions of democratic theory are applied to the American context. Fall, Spring.

PS 235 Introduction to International Relations (1)
An introduction to the study of international relations focusing on interactions of post Cold War international systems and actors.

PS 240 Introduction to Latin American Politics (1)
An introduction to the study of politics in Latin America since its wars of independence. Major themes such as the political legacy of colonialism and the quest for democratic rule are presented within the context of individual countries' experiences (a Leadership Studies designated course; an IC designated course).

PS 366 Politics of Mexico and Central America (1)
An exploration of the political culture and institutions of Mexico and Central America, focusing on the effects of globalization, economic integration, regime type, political change, and the role of the United States. The region's vast diversity and complexities are examined but with an emphasis on the interdependent nature of country relationships. Prerequisite: PS 238 or PS 240 or consent.

PS 368 Political Violence (1)
An examination of the sources, evolution, and outcomes of political violence and revolution, emphasizing the reasons, justifications, and rationalizations for violence in its various manifestations within nation-states. The intersection between violence, religion, and politics will be explored, as well as sources and types of terrorism. Prerequisites: PS 238, PS 240, and junior standing; or consent.

PS 400 Political Economy (1)
The relationships between electoral politics and macro economic policy making in industrialized western democracies. The heaviest emphasis is on the ways in which political incentives may affect economic policy making. Prerequisite: junior standing, PS 101, or consent.

PS 410 Development in the Americas (1)
An advanced course focusing on the patterns of socioeconomic and political development in the Americas, with emphases on the hemispheric effects of globalization and the United States' hegemonic status in the region. Marxist, neoliberal, and globalization theories are utilized to better understand development in Latin America. Prerequisite: senior standing or consent.

PS 445 Democratization (1)
An advanced course addressing the theoretical issues generated by the wave of democratization that began in the early 1970s. It explores democracy's diverse understandings and practices with an emphasis on comparative analyses of transitions from authoritarian rule and the problems associated with democratic consolidation. Prerequisite: PS 238 or consent.

PPM 591 International Political Economy

PPM555 Data Analysis and Statistic