April 1999
Reinhard Heinisch
heinisch+@pitt.edu
This course is designed to introduce you to the political systems of Western and Eastern Europe. Politics here is to be understood in the broadest possible terms. We shall discuss, therefore, not only the types of goverments, but also the economic, social and cultural factors that make the systems of Europe unique and different from the United States and other regions of the world. Discussion topics will include: schooling, health care, labor unions, the welfare system, youth movements, history and other issues. You will hear, for example, about Germany's "Welfare Capitalism" and the constitutionality of Britain's unwritten constitution. We shall discuss also the rise of the New Right and the Greens, the breakup of the Soviet Union, European integration, the war in the Balkan as well as German reunification.
It is my hope that you will develop a broader understanding and appreciation for political developments in other countries. This may not only help you to be better informed about a region in which the U.S. has vital political, strategic and economic interests, but to develop a critical perspective of your own country. One always needs a point of reference to evaluate the strenghts and weaknesses of one's own society.
April 1999
Reinhard Heinisch
heinisch+@pitt.edu