Spring 2005

GOV 390L • Political Systems of Western Europe

Course Description

This is a broad survey course of Western European politics, although post-Cold War events have drawn the distinction between West and East Europe increasingly into question. In practice the course will focus on the major West European states (Britain, France, Germany and a few others) and the European Union. Considerable attention will be devoted to the development of Western states (democratization, industrialization, and political unification), the idea of Europe, Europe vs. America, the nature of liberal democracy, the evolution of the welfare state and contemporary capitalist political economies, and the process of regional integration. Students will be expected to write a research paper designed to be suitable for presentation at a conference and eventual submission for publication. Grades will be based on class participation and the paper.

Texts

Ash, T. Garton, Free World, 2004. Geddes, Andrew, Politics of Migration & Immigration in Europe, 2003. Kagan, Robert, Of Paradise and Power, 2004. Kapchan, Charles, End of the American Empire, 2002. Nelsen and Stubb, The European Union: Readings on the Theory and Practice of European Integration, 2003. Paxton, Robert O., The Anatomy of Fascism, 2004.

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