POL 101 - Introduction to Political Science

The aim of this course is providing the students with a substantial basic knowledge for the Political Sciences and to assist in the development of the analytical tools necessary for successful completion of the Political Science major. In addition, the course aims to assist students in developing the citizenship skills necessary for an individual interested in politics.

This course is designed to introduce the students to Political Science. It is organized in a problem-solving structure which means that we will begin the course with a problem, and then pursue the rest of the weeks in trying to understand the problem in its deeper historical, structural, ideological, and institutional context, and also to learn and discuss possible solutions to it. The main problem that will be the driving force of our course is this: Is there a crisis in politics? Since contemporary politics and world order is an outcome of modernity and modern worldview which first emerged in Europe, and then spread to the rest of the world through wars, colonization and modernization processes, we need to understand this modern worldview in its origin and its evolution in history. In doing this, we will examine how this worldview were translated into politics through particular institutions, ideas, values, principles and structures, such as nation-state, liberal democracy, nationalism, a particular form of economy, political party, international system, political culture, media, government, legislation, judiciary, bureaucracy, society and identity. Only after understanding how contemporary politics came into being and evolved in time, can we start thinking in a well-informed way about how this current crisis can – if at all – be overcome.