Political Theory
Faculty
- JEAN
AXELRAD CAHAN,
Professor
Ph.D., John Hopkins University, 1983.
Fields: History of political thought, democratic theory, and American political thought. - ARI KOHEN, Schlesinger Assistant Professor of Social Justice and Assistant Professor of Political Science
Ph.D., Duke University, 2004
Fields: Contemporary Political Theory, Human Rights, Ethnic Conflict, and Restorative Justice
Undergraduate Courses
POLS 108.
Political Ideas (3 cr) [ES]
Introduction to major political concepts and controversies that have
developed in the Western world. Liberty, equality, democracy, human nature,
among others. Readings come from leading political theorists, past and
present.
POLS 380.
American Political Thought (3 cr) [ES]
Theories and conceptions underlying development of the American system
of government, attention being chiefly directed to the views of publicists
and statesmen.
POLS 385.
Democratic Theory (3 cr) [ES]
Modern democratic theory beginning with the social contract philosophers
of the 17th and 18th centuries. Role of representatives and citizen participation.
In addition to looking at several different models of democracies the
class also reads critics of modern democracy.
POLS 483.
Ancient and Medieval Political Theory (3 cr) [IS]
Important systems of, and contributions to, political thought in the
ancient and medieval periods of Western civilization and their relevance
to modern ideas and institutions.
POLS 484.
Modern Political Theory (3 cr) [IS]
Major European political theorists from the renaissance to the modern
day and their relevance to contemporary ideas and institutions.
POLS 485.
Contemporary Political Theory (3 cr) [IS]
Survey of recent literature in political theory that examines a variety
of perspectives. In addition to readings in modern liberalism the class
considers texts in communitarianism, feminism, identity politics and nationalism
among others. Focus on evaluation of the problem of ensuring a just society.
Graduate Courses
POLS 880.
Core Seminar in Political Theory (3 cr)
Students required to read extensively and to take a final examination.
Rigorous survey of some of the major areas of concern in empirical and
normative political theory.
POLS 885.
Contemporary Political Theory (3 cr)
Recent literature in political theory that examines a variety of perspectives.
In addition to reading in modern liberalism the class considers texts
in communitarianism, feminism, identity politics and nationalism among
others. Evaluation of the
problem of ensuring a just society.
