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Course Offerings

Course Details

Fall 2011-2012
* NES 418 / REL 418 / POL 418 (SA)  

Religion and State Relations in Comparative Perspective

Mirjam Künkler

In this comparative seminar we examine models of secularism in contemporary Europe, North America, South Asia and the Middle East, and explore the implications of religion-state relations for the quality of democratic citizenship. We start with an overview of the relationship between religion, democracy and secularism and ask what role religion should and should not play in democratic public discourses. We then compare the institutional models of secularism. In a final section, we study the relationship between religious freedom and human rights, and the challenge religious laws can create for democratic and democratizing politics.

Sample reading list:
The Hedgehog Review special issue "After Secularization"
John Rawls, The Idea of Public Reason Revisited
Charles Taylor, The Secular Age (selections)
John Bowen, Why the French Don't Like Headscarves (selections)
Eisgruber, Christopher, and Lawrence Sager, Religious Freedom and the Constitution (selections)
Ernst-Wolfgang Bockenforde, The Rise of the State as a Process of Secularization
See instructor for complete list

Reading/Writing assignments:
Three essays of about 1200 words (five pages). Each essay will be due at the beginning of lecture in weeks 4, 8, and 11. A final essay, about six pages in length, is due in the Near Eastern Studies Department office in Jones Hall by 5 pm on Dean's Date. There will be no written midterm and final examinations.

Requirements/Grading:
Papers - 72%
Class/Precept Participation - 28%

Schedule/Classroom assignment:

Class numberSectionTimeDaysRoomEnrollmentStatus
20332 S01 1:30 pm - 4:20 pm T   Frist Campus Center   207   Enrolled:18 Limit:18 Closed