This course explores the institutions established in West European nations intended to preserve social stability, produce economic prosperity, and guarantee democracy, asking whether these goals are complementary or contradictory. A country-by-country examination of post-war political development in Britain, France, Germany, Italy, and Sweden. Emphasis on the political problems of the present. Accordingly, the course closes with an examination of the European integration process and the sweeping changes of East Europe affecting all of Europe.

In Rome, this course offers an introductory overview of the main issues facing the largest EU member states and their political systems with emphasis on the various paths followed in the past century, political parties, electoral systems, local government, and domestic and foreign policies. This latter aspect is developed to include an outline of EU enlargement and neighborliness strategies, relations with Russia, regional and global security problems, as well as the transatlantic and European debates on terrorism and war. This course includes an academic excursion outside of Rome. The exact location will be announced in the course schedule.