Introduction to Comparative Politics: The Rage of Traditional Society
Monday, November 3
Lecture: The Reason behind Traditional Society. What do traditional societies share in common? What makes them work?
Read: R. Scruton, ch. 3; and R. Lowenthal, "Government in the Developing Countries" (CR)
Wednesday or Thursday, November 5 and 6
Required Film: "Monsoon Wedding" 7:00 pm each night, in DBT 102 on Wednesday; and DBT 126 on Thursday
Friday, November 7
Discussion Section: Meet to discuss "Monsoon Wedding" and the noisy collision between traditional society and modernity.
Second Essay Assignment Due to your Respective TA
Monday, November 10
Lecture: The Bitter and Brutal Legacy of Colonialism. Where would these peoples have been without the intrusion of the liberal powers?
Read: M. Walker, "The Making of Modern Iraq" (CR)
Wednesday, November 12
Lecture: The Sensible Logic of Primordial Peasant Societies
Read: G. Foster, "Peasant society" (R) and the first half of de Jesus, Child of the Dark
Friday, November 14
Discussion Section: Meet to discuss the poverty of the powerless
Monday, November 17
Lecture: The Grinding Despair of Political Exclusion
Read: Linden, "The Exploding Cities" (CR); and the rest of Child of the Dark; The DeJesus Project
Wednesday, Nov. 19
Lecture: The General and the Dictator as Protector and Prophet: A Quick-fix Soluton to Pathologies in National Identity
Read: T. Rosenberg, excerpt from Children of Cain (CR); and A. Baram, "Broken Promises" (CR)
Friday, November 21
Discussion section: Meet to discuss our responsibility, if any, to the developing world. Is this a state responsibility? Or a personal responsibility?
Read: K. Jowitt, "Rage, Hubris, and Regime Change" (CR); and compare: Holy Cross Missions
There will be no class on Monday and Wednesday, November 24 and 26.
Monday, December 1
Lecture: The Developing World, Adrift in a Sea of Global Liberalism
Read: R. Scruton, ch. 4; and Distribution of the Internet
Wednesday, December 3
Lecture: The Mad, Beguiling, and Efficient Rationale of Terrorism
Read: de Gramont, "Transformation of moral idealism" (CR)
consider:Radical Islam
Friday, December 5
Discussion Section: This is the last section. Be prepared to discuss the "age of rage" themes of the last two lectures against the backdrop of two articles, F. Fukuyama, "The End of History" (sections I and 2 are not required) (CR); and William Pfaff, "Progress" (CR). Pfaff is an ND alum.