Politics and Society
F05, F06
Mansour Farhang
Exploring the nature and functions of politics in modern and modernizing nations, this course focuses on democratic governance and the history of its evolution in theory and practice. It also examines the question of how individuals come to take position on the issues of their time from contrasting viewpoints. The required readings address the group pursuit of freedom, security, economic interests, and value preferences; they also provide a range of analytic and normative perspectives on the concept of authority, legitimacy, identity, pluralism, collectivism, rights, and common good. The course is intended to provide students a basic understanding of their political surroundings and the preliminary tools for more in-depth study of politics.