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What is politics – the quest for the common good (Plato, 360 BCE) or who gets what, when, and how (Lasswell, 1936)? This course introduces you to the study of politics by reading many (excerpts) of the foundational texts of political science. Each session, matching newspaper articles on current political affairs will stimulate our debate about the relevance of these texts for today’s world. The readings and our discussions in class will provide you with a historical understanding of what defines politics in the modern age: states and nations in the international system, collective action and representation in mass societies, trajectories of democracy and dictatorship, politics and development in the context of capitalism. We study how the individual relates to her/his political system: how interests are being formed and compete, how political parties and interest groups act as intermediaries between the individual and the state, how social change and contention might transform politics. A key objective is to discover and understand the concerns, the language and the methods of political science. Thus, you will develop an analytical understanding of core concepts such as power, authority, democracy, collective action, interests, or social capital. Simultaneously, you will explore how major theoretical approaches differ in their interpretation and explanation of political reality, as well as in the normative demands they put forward. This is a discussion course, and students will be expected to participate actively in debate during class.
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