POLI 170 - Political Theory

Semester Offered: Fall or Spring
1 unit(s)

An introduction to the nature, types, and problems of political theory. The core of the readings consists of selections from what are considered classic works in the field. The course emphasizes the relevance of these ideas to current political developments and scholarship.

Political Theory: Central Political Concepts and Practices. An examination of central political concepts and practices with reading from the history of political philosophy and contemporary thinkers. The course treats concepts and practices such as freedom, citizenship, equality, the state, revolution, the Socratic question of how best to lead one’s life, conservatism, and anarchism, using readings by thinkers such as Aristotle, Machiavelli, Locke, Mill, Ghandi, Arendt, Foucault, and current authors. Mr. Davison. Mr. Stillman.

This course is an introduction to the discipline of political science: American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Politics, and Political Theory. One introductory course is required of majors. No more than two introductory courses in different subfields may be counted towards the major. Except where otherwise noted, enrollment of juniors and seniors for 100-level courses by permission of the instructor only.