Democratization, Nation Building, and U.S. Foreign Policy
This course will explore some major challenges that follow regime change, in particular promoting a strong civil society and democratic governance, especially in light of extremist developments emerging in many Islamic societies.
The major themes of this course include: defining "civil society" in historical and comparative terms; civil society and the rise of the modern nation-state; the relationship between culture, religion and government; what is "civil society building" and how is it conducted in practice.
"Democratization, sometimes known as 'nation-building' and, most recently, as 'stability and reconstruction,' has played an increasingly central role in U.S. foreign policy. But neither the strategic objectives nor the tactics have been properly thought out in every instance, despite the heavy investment by the U.S. and its allies, and high stakes for world peace."
-Dr. Juliana Pilon
Required Texts
- Civil Society: Theory, History, Comparison, John Hall
- Globalization, Power, and Democracy, Marc Plattner & Aleksander Smolar
- Funding Virtue: Civil Society Aid and Democracy Promotion, Marina Ottaway & Thomas Carothers
Semester Available
Summer Semester
Part of
Introductory Courses (Required)
Specialization in Democracy Building (Required)
Specialization in Comparative Political Culture
Electives
Special Note
Formerly titled "Civil Society Building"
Principal Professor
Juliana Geran Pilon 




