HIS/PSC 227 Spring,
2008
Power and Authority in Non-Western Societies Sola/Govea
MC 402 MWF
COURSE SYLLABUS
Instructors’ contact information
José O.
Solá Rodger
M. Govea
Office:
Phone:
216-523-7189 or 687-3920 216-687-4554,
4541
E-mail: j.sola@csuohio.edu r.govea@csuohio.edu
Department
Homepage: www.csuhio.edu/history www.csuohio.edu/polisci
COURSE OBJECTIVES
HIS/PSC 227 is an
introduction to a facet of social behavior in non-western societies – the use
of power and authority. In this course
we will examine ways in which authority is challenged and power tested in the
cases of Latin America and Central Asia (the latter
focusing on
This is an interdisciplinary
course that subsumes the disciplines of Political Science and History. In the course of instruction, students will
learn about some of the differences in approach employed by these two fields of
inquiry.
At the end of the course,
students will be able to understand the concepts of “power” and “authority”,
and will be able to understand the ways in which power and authority are
universal, and the ways in which the concepts vary according to cultural
context.
The instructors in this
class have chosen to focus on the concept of dissent. The case studies will recount situations in
which there is a challenge to the dominant order, and where the authority of
the government is being questioned. Inevitably,
such cases test the power of the government and the rival group(s). Often, such tests are resolved by
violence. The specific cases we have
chosen will thus suggest a set of generalizations about the nature of violence
as a tool of governmental control or as a means toward revolutionary outcomes.
HIS/PSC 227 Spring, 2008
Power and Authority in Non-Western Societies Sola/Govea
Page Two
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
There are no textbooks for
this course. Instead, there will be
individual readings, handouts or web assignments for each unit. Students should complete readings in advance
of class sessions.
All students will be required
to produce one short (3-5 pg) paper at the end of each module of the
course. There will also be a final
take-home exam (5+ pages) in which students will be asked to integrate the
course material.
EVALUATION
Students will be evaluated
according to the following formula:
Class Participation 10%
Three Short Assignments (3X20%) 60%
Final Assignment 30%
1/23 Foucault on power Foucault,
ECR
1/25 What does “non-western” mean?
1/28 Globalization and westernization Barber, ECR
1/30 Intro to
2/1 Intro to
HIS/PSC 227 Spring,
2008
Power and Authority in Non-Western Societies Sola/Govea
Page Three
COURSE
OUTLINE (continued)
2/4 Legacy of the Soviet system
2/6
2/8 Corruption in
2/11 The “tulip revolution” of 2005
2/13 Reform denied – the aftermath
2/15 TBA
2/18
2/20
2/22 Uprising and violence, November
2006
2/25 Crisis – April 2007
2/27 The demonstrators appear
2/29 Repression and aftermath
HIS/PSC 227 Spring,
2008