Power Politics And The State

AY2014/2015 Semester 2

Power is a fundamental feature of social life, and it is manifested most obviously in the role of political institutions, especially in the modern nation-state. This subject examines the nature and exercise of power and political control. In tracing the making of the modern state, it considers the ideological processes that legitimise political rule and government authority, especially in relation to nation-building and citizenship. In drawing contrasts between "fascist" and "democratic" states, it discusses the processes of democratisation, including the changing relations between state and civil society, the role of social movements, the protection of human rights, and the mechanisms of conflict resolution.