Robinson A239
Charles Hauss
993-2959 (o)
538-6280 (h)
M,T,W,R 3-4
TR, 9:30-10:15
chauss@gmu.edu
http://classweb.gmu.edu/classweb/chauss/index.htm
Thirty years ago, a course in Western European politics would have served as the introduction to comparative politics. Since then, the world has changed in two ways that have changed its structure and place in the curriculum dramatically and which will also be important in the way we work this semester.
First, European politics is, frankly, not as
important as it once was because we now understand that an
introductory course has to include the rest of the world, as we do in
Government 133. Second and more importantly, European politics itself
can no longer focus only on the Western half of the continent or on
the domestic issues of comparative politics. Thus, we now include the
"transitional" governments of Eastern Europe and the "supranational"
bodies, most notably the European Union.
Government 334 there has two sets of goals.
Substantively, we will:
Explore the domestic politics of Western and Eastern Europe alike, concentrating on the factors that sustain and threaten democracy and the uncertainties regarding the role of the state in steering the economy and providing social services.
Examine the creation, strengths, and weakness of European institutions, primarily the European Union and NATO.
Pedagogically, we will focus on your:
Analytical and writing skills.
Use of the Internet as a research tool and a way of communicating information to others.
Ability to work in groups.
Much of your work will revolve around the Internet. I have prepared comparative politics online which will serve as a starting point for your Internet work. I will also create a small web site for the course which focuses on the group presentation topics later on.
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Class Web sites (later) |