Introduction to Political Ideas That Shape the World

Catalog description

If politics is the study of “who gets what, when, and how,” then political theory is the study of “what” politics means, and “why” it matters.  This class explores the big questions: the meanings of justice, equality, identity, freedom, and power. It introduces students to canonical and lesser studied works, exploring what it means to exist in political community. Over the semester, students will develop expertise in both the subject and methods of political theory. Students will apply those wide-ranging views to navigate the uncertainty of contemporary politics and imagine alternative futures for themselves and others.