Wintersemester 2007/08 (PDF, 395 kB) - Institut für Politische ...

Prof. Mark R. Thompson, Ph.D.Hauptseminar:Religions and Politics in the U.S.A.(Diplom: Vergleich politischer Systeme -Nordamerika-Schwerpunkt);BA: Modul Pol 6 oder 7)Dienstag, 16:15 - 17:45 Uhr, TSG (Kochstr. 6), HS ABeginn: 16.10.2007From a European perspective, the prominent role of religion in U.S. politics is puzzling, if notdisturbing. Rather than becoming secular like modern societies "should" (according to mostversions of modernization theory), the U.S. appears to have become ever more religious.Instead of being largely relegated to the private domain as most European societies havechosen to do, religion remains very public, and politicized in the U.S.The goal of this seminar is to better understand American religious "exceptionalism" from atheoretical and historical perspective. The Religious Right (but also Left) will be examined aswell as key issues in which religion seems to be particularly influential in politics (foreignpolicy, abortion, stem cell research, etc.).Studierende, die einen Leistungsnachweis („Schein“) erweben möchten, sollen sich per E-Mail bei Tim Dittmann (TimDittmann@gmx.net) um ein Referatsthema bewerben.Literatur: Ahlstrom, Sydney (1975): A Religious History of the American People. New Haven:Yale University Press. Bruce, Steve (2003): Politics and Religion. Cambridge: Polity. Davie, Grace (2007): The Sociology of Religion. London: Sage. Micklethwait, John and Woolridge, Adrian. (2004): The Right Nation. London: AllanLane.