This course contrasts two conflicting views that have long shaped political theory and practice—idealism and realism. The debate between them starts with the origins of philosophy in ancient India and Greece, and can be traced right through to the 20th century’s most extreme examples of idealism and realism, Gandhi and Hitler.
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By gaining a clear grasp of political institutions, we’re better equipped to engage with government and politics. In this course, you’ll explore essential topics such as how the federal bureaucracy is organized, the intricacies of Congress and the legislature, the operations of the Supreme Court, the challenge of campaign finance, the media and politics, and America’s deep political polarization.
The 20th century transformed the political, social, and economic structures of the world in ways no one could have imagined as the 1800s came to a close. Even today, more than a century later, that transformation is far from complete. This course is a comprehensive 48-lecture examination of this extraordinary period and is designed around history’s ideas as much as its events.
Liberty. Democracy. Rights. Community. Without even realizing it, we all use the fruits of political philosophy. The question is, are we using them well? The Modern Political Tradition: Hobbes to Habermas is your opportunity to navigate the labyrinth of Western political and social theory. Guided by award-winning Professor Lawrence Cahoone of the College of the Holy Cross, these 36 eye-opening lectures reveal how political philosophers, in responding to the societal problems and changing conditions of their day in revolutionary ways, created virtual blueprints of action for leaders to implement—for good or ill. You’ll gain not only the tools necessary to comprehend the omnipresent language of politics, but a thorough understanding of the wellspring of thought that has emerged over centuries of political philosophy.
Americans wage many of today’s fiercest policy debates and culture wars as battles over constitutional meaning. In the 12 lectures of Law School for Everyone: Constitutional Law, Professor Eric Berger offers the same introduction to constitutional law he provides to his own law students. You’ll come away from this course with a better understanding of our founding document’s many nuances and complexities, and the central role it plays in shaping our way of life.
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