Fall/Winter Timetable

POL485Y1Y L0101

Graduate Course Code: POL2027Y1Y L0101

Topics in Political Thought II

Comparative Political Theory

Themes

This course will engage with the emerging sub-field of comparative political theory (CPT), as we consider what it means to take seriously a wide range of (mostly) non-Western traditions of political thinking and what methodologies might be appropriate for this endeavour. The readings and discussions will pay particular attention to understanding different traditions on their own terms, and probing the limits of mutual intelligibility. The project of “comparison” is broadly interpreted, to include comparisons between and within different traditions of political thought as well as interpretive projects that consider the work of individual thinkers. In addition to engaging in-depth with several non-Western traditions, we will consider the prospects for the broader de-parochialization of the discipline of political theory and the pedagogical implications of CPT.

Texts

To include readings by Fred Dallmayr, Leigh Jenco, Roxanne Euben, Andrew March, Farah Godrej, Michael Freeden, Sandy Grande as well as a number of primary source readings in translation.

Format and Requirements

Weekly participation, seminar presentations, annotated bibliographies and term papers.

Prerequisites

POL320Y1 or POL320Y5 or (POLC73H3 and POLC74H3)