IWP 621
Four credits

This course explores the relationship between promoting a strong civil society and democratic governance abroad, especially in light of extremist developments emerging in many Islamic societies. The major themes of this course include: defining “civil society” in historical and comparative terms; civil society and the rise of the modern nation-state; the relationship between culture, religion and government; how “civil society building” is conducted in practice; post-Cold War challenges in building civil society, with special focus on endemic corruption worldwide; and finally, civil society as a cauldron for extremism in the Islamic world.

Semester Available