Capitalism, Democracy, and Geopolitics in Europe

As the home of parliamentary democracy in the era of mass politics, Europe is today contending with the new challenges of twenty-first century politics. This course begins by examining how different versions of capitalism and the welfare state emerged in Europe. It then asks which new forces reinforce and which undermine democratic politics in Europe today. Topics include immigration, religious diversity, technology competition, military conflict on Europe’s perimeter, and underlying changes in European geopolitics.