Courses » » Political Science 398. Experimental Courses

Politics and Religion

Democratic politics, it is said, requires separation of church and state. In liberal democratic societies the state stays neutral to the different religious orientations of its citizens since the laws that the state implements are legislated under the condition of separation. Religions’ recent resurgence in the public sphere, however, poses a threat to the Jeffersonian wall between religion and politics. How so? Why? And, at what cost for democracy?

In order to address these concerns, we shall investigate a variety of ideas on the makeup of religion, the nature of politics and, the appropriate pattern of interaction between the two.

Ethics and International Affairs

This course examines some of the most pressing ethical issues, questions, and debates in world politics. Topics covered include humanitarian intervention, the ethics of war, global distributive justice, international law and human rights, counterterrorism, and foreign aid.