Introduction to Comparative Politics: The Rise of Liberalism
Monday, September 8
Lecture: Laying the Foundations of Liberalism -- Three Revolutionary Events. Where did liberalism come from? Why did liberal thinking develop if people didn't want it?
Read: excerpts from C. Stephenson, Medieval Feudalism (CR), and M. Weber, The Protestant Ethic, ch. 5 (CR).
Wednesday, September 10
Lecture: An Explosion of Political Passion -- Mass Politics Challenges the ancien regime. Where do these people come from? And why now?
Read: G. Fasel, excerpt from Modern Europe (CR); "Declaration of the Rights of Man"; and R. Scruton, ch. 2. Also, begin reading John Kingdon, America the Unusual, ch. 4.
Friday, September 12
Discussion Section: Why are we all Protestants?
Monday, September 15
Lecture: Fascism, Or Twentieth-century Liberalism in Crisis. What does fascism have to do with the rise of liberalism? Why did average people support fascist dictatorships? Is there a fascism in our future?
Read: B. Mussolini, "Doctrine of Fascism" (CR); and excerpts from Voices of the Third Reich
Reflect: Nazism for Kids (Warning! This is an offensive site. I am including it to show you that hatred and bigotry are still very much a part of our world. In this sense, the battle against liberalism is far from over.)
Watch: Hitler speaks!! (Real Player)
Wednesday, September 17
Lecture: The Welfare State, the Modern Response to the Strong State
Read: J. Kingdon, chaps. 1, 2, and 3
Read: Comparing Welfare States
Friday, September 19
Discussion Section: Fascism versus the Welfare State. How are these these two ideologies alternative routes to social peace?
Monday, September 22
Lecture: Liberalism as an Historical Process, Or are we really the End of History?
Read: S. Huntington, excerpts from Promise of Disharmony; C. West, Race Matters, pp. 1-8; G. Wills, "New Revolutionaries," (all in CR); and J. Kingdon, America the Unusual, ch. 5.
Required Film: Thursday or Monday, September 18 and 22
"The War at Home, 7:00 pm, one showing each night, in DeBartolo 126
Wednesday, September 24
Special In-Class Discussion Section: Meet to discuss the character of liberalism in the United States.
Friday, September 26
First Essay Assignment Due to your Respective TA
No Discussion Sections