INST 101(F) Asia and the World (Same as Asian Studies 201 and Political Science 100)*
Asia looms large in contemporary world politics: Japan is gradually assuming an expanded regional national security role; The People's Republic of China is emerging as a multifaceted Great Power; India is challenged by rising ethno-nationalism. This course will explore both the historical background and current dynamics of political and economic issues in these three countries, drawing on themes of imperialism, nationalism, and globalization. It is an introductory class and, therefore, no prior coursework in political science or Asian studies is necessary.
Format: predominately lecture. Requirements: two short papers and a final exam.
No prerequisites. Enrollment limit: 60 (expected: 60).
INST 101 Order, Disorder and Political Culture in the Islamic World (Same as INTR 295 and Political Science 241) (Not offered 2006-2007; to be offered 2007-2008)*
Southwest Asia, the swath of territory that extends west and south from the Chinese border to east Africa is not usually treated as a single entity, though it is
united together by two important features: culturally it was the heart of Islamic
civilization and Islam continues to provide a common identity to the area in the
face of remarkable ethnic and historical differences; geologically it is the site of
the preponderance of the earth's oil and natural gas reserves. This course will
bring to bear some of the theories of comparative politics and international relations to better understand the region. Naturally terrorism and the obsessions with
the war on terrorism will be important themes in the course, but we will attempt
to both contextualize and judge the significance of those phenomena with a
deeper investigation of the relation between Islam and violence, Islamic political
theory and the tendency towards authoritarianism, the political economy of the
region and the character of the processes of modernization and globalization.
Special emphasis will be given to the transitions from authoritarianism and the
prospects for democratization in the region in comparative conversations with
developments in Eastern Europe and Latin America in the last two decades.
Format: discussion/lecture. Requirements: one midterm paper (4-6 pages) based
on class materials and a final research paper (12-15 pages).
No prerequisites. Enrollment limit: 40 (expected: 20-30.) Preference given to
first-year students and sophomores. Satisfies one semester of Division II requirement.