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Academic Year 2005/2006

The Historical Evolution of Power and the Human Psyche
HIST 392 SP

In History 392 we will study the evolution of imperial power through several disciplinary lenses. The history texts examine the escalating arms races among mainly European powers and the United States. European and North American imperialism shaped the modern world. The arms races and mobilizations of vast armies eventually had several paradoxical consequences, as did the economic integration of the globe under European and U.S. expansion. We will study how empires produced projects of liberation and, conversely, how revolutionary liberation projects turned into empires. On the psychohistorical side we will explore theories about the psychological dynamics of groups underlying various kinds of human pseudo-speciation. In connection with group dynamics and pseudo-speciation, we will examine paranoid political movements and their expression in different historical settings. Students will select topics in fields of their interest, present their ongoing work to the seminar toward the end of the semester, and produce a research paper.

MAJOR READINGS

Niall Ferguson, EMPIRE: THE RISE AND DEMISE OF THE BRITISH WORLD ORDER AND THE LESSONS FOR GLOBAL POWER
Sigmund Freud, GROUP PSYCHOLOGY AND THE ANALYSIS OF THE EGO
Dominic Lieven, EMPIRE, THE RUSSIAN EMPIRE AND ITS RIVALS
William McNeill, THE PURSUIT OF POWER
Kenneth Pomeranz, THE GREAT DIVERGENCE: CHINA, EUROPE, AND THE MAKING OF THE WORLD ECONOMY
Andrew Schmookler, THE PARABLE OF THE TRIBES
Fareed Zakaria, FROM WEALTH TO POWER: THE UNUSUAL ORIGINS OF AMERICA'S WORLD ROLE

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Several two-page discussion papers, a research proposal, a preliminary and final bibliography, a draft of the research paper, an oral presentation of the project, and a final research paper of 25-30 pages will be required.

COURSE FORMAT: Seminar

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Level: UGRD    Credit: 1    Gen Ed Area Dept: SBS HIST    Grading Mode: Graded   

Prerequisites: NONE

SECTION 01

Instructor(s): Pomper,Philip    
Times: .M..... 01:10PM-04:00PM;     Location: PAC136;
Reserved Seats:    (Total Limit: 15)
SR. major: 3   Jr. major: 3
SR. non-major: 3   Jr. non-major: 4   SO: 2   FR: 0

Special Attributes:
Curricular Renewal:    Speaking, Writing, Focused Inquiry Course
Links to Web Resources For This Course.

Last Updated on MAR-30-2006

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