East Meets West.

Catalog description

What is the “East”? What is the “West”? While both terms are recognizable in our present geo-political moment, they have raised distinct—and often conflicting—political, economic, and social images for centuries. In this course, we will consider—from a distinctly Christian perspective—how various actors across the globe contributed to this long and storied past. Further, by looking at modern constructions of “East” and “West”—particularly during moments of global encounter when prominent thinkers, travelers, and writers were exposed to, and (re)imagined global societies—we will collectively determine the degree to which we might find these framings persuasive (or not) as they bear on both Christian faith/practice and on the world. Through dialogue and writing, students will assess disparate articulations of “East” and “West” in the history of political thought while also establishing their own scholarly and political voices. In so doing, students will work out a nuanced view of global politics as well as the history of global encounters, both within and outside of the global church. Prerequisite: Recommended PSCI 145 .