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HU Credits:
2
Degree/Cycle:
2nd degree (Master)
Responsible Department:
International Relations
Semester:
2nd Semester
Teaching Languages:
Hebrew
Campus:
Mt. Scopus
Course/Module Coordinator:
Nir Rotem
Coordinator Office Hours:
Teaching Staff:
Dr. Nir Rotem
Course/Module description:
In the years after World War II, liberal democracy was spread around the world and a world order based on the principles of Western liberalism was established. In recent years this order has been undermined and the idea of illiberalism is increasingly being promoted. At its core - a regime system based on elections that does not recognize human rights and minorities and hence it is organized around the rejection of liberal ideas. Although critics use the term to describe the retreat of liberal democracy, others embrace it, such as the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán (with his vision of an illiberal democracy). It is important to emphasize that this course will not deal with the question of whether illiberalism is good or bad, nor with Israel and the question of whether it is turning into an illiberal state. These are political and normative questions that you can think about yourself.
What will we discuss in the course? Using a variety of theoretical approaches, we will talk about the rise of modernity and the postmodern crisis as a basis for understanding the social processes that led to the establishment of liberalism in the past and its challenge today. We will discuss the role of authoritarian leaders, the citizens and the issue of trust. We will delve deeper into the social processes that stand behind the erosion in the liberal order, and we will also touch upon the issues of knowledge and truth. Finally, we will examine the institutional mechanisms that also affect the global changes that are taking place in the world today, and we will think about the possibility of establishing alternative orders.
Course/Module aims:
Learning outcomes - On successful completion of this module, students should be able to:
From discussing these issues, the course seeks to develop (1) familiarity with the social basis that underpins the liberal international order; (2) understanding the global processes that fuel the contemporary social situation; (3) integrative analytical ability.
Attendance requirements(%):
100
Teaching arrangement and method of instruction:
Lecture and active participation
Course/Module Content:
In the course we will strive to understand the deep essence of illiberalism, as the central organizing idea of our era. During the semester we will move back and forth between the different stages of social theory and understanding the international system. Thus, after getting to know the concept of illiberalism, we will delve deeper into the ideas that underlie liberalism. In order to understand the state of the international system today and the crisis of democracy, a variety of viewpoints are used: focusing on leadership, citizens, the institutional structure, and culture. In this way we will explore the conceptual and institutional structure of the liberal international order that characterized the 20th century, with the aim of expanding our ability to discuss the processes of change and contestations that are taking place nowadays.
Required Reading:
Full reading list will be provided at the beginning of the semester
Additional Reading Material:
Grading Scheme :
Essay / Project / Final Assignment / Referat 85 %
Presentation / Poster Presentation / Lecture 15 %
Additional information:
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