This course will examine the current state of politics in the sustained democracies of Western Europe as well as the new democracies of Eastern Europe. Attention will be given to the challenges of political and economic transition in the former communist countries. The course will also examine issues of ethnicity and nationalism in Europe. Implications of the enlargement of NATO and the deepening and widening of European integration will be studied.
Prerequisite(s): POLSC 009 Introduction to International Relations or POLSC 020 Introduction to Comparative Politics or approval of the instructor.
POLSC 009 Introduction to International Relations (3 hours)
This course provides an introduction to a basic understanding of the concepts of international relations. It focuses on the interrelationship of nations and how they coexist and interact with each other. It will expose the student to the theories of international relations and how these theories apply to current problems and experiences.
POLSC 020 Introduction to Comparative Politics (3 hours)
This course provides an introduction to the concepts and methods of comparative politics. It highlights those factors that are common to all political systems and the ways in which political behavior and institutions differ between nations. It will achieve these goals by examining the problems that all political systems face: political violence, power transfer, public policy, and what role the government plays in the society.
