Introduction to Comparative Politics: The Modern Nation-State

Wednesday, August 27

Lecture: The modern nation-state, a vehicle for comparing diverse polities and societies.

Friday, August 29

Discussion Section: Is there really a clash of civilizations? If so, what does this mean for the Western world? If not, what does this say about our desire to be different?

Read: S. Huntington, in Course Reader (CR), and R. Scruton, The West and the Rest, pp. vii-xi.

 

Monday, September 1

Lecture: What do we mean by the word 'modern'? Are Americans modern in all respects? What are modernity's advantages? What are the tradeoffs with tradition and faith?

Read C. Black, et al., 3-25 (CR), and R. Scruton, The West and the Rest, ch. 1.

Wednesday, September 3

Lecture: Liberalism as One Form of Modernity

Read: John Stuart Mill, "On Liberty," (CR), and Cranston, "John Stuart Mill and Liberty" (CR)

Friday, September 5

Discussion Section: Why are we all liberals? What does 'On Liberty' have to say about us? Why could we not live in a world without our liberal ideals? When do we become discontented with liberalism?

Germany is often referred to as a "militant democracy" because it actively prohibits the publication of "anti-democratic" literature. Is this liberal? Read about it: Germany's policy vs. Nazi propaganda