Aims

The objective of this course is to enable students to understand the complexity of the sociopolitical phenomenon represented by the State, through the study of its philosophical, historical, political, sociological, psychological, economic, geopolitical, legal and managerial components.

Content and teaching methods

The first part of the course covers the genesis and development of modern States. It aims to reconcile the dynamic perspective of social transition with the "structural" approach in which the State is a prerequisite for a concrete sociopolitical formation.
The second part introduces three main ways of modeling the State: the centralisation principle (States and world-system), the differentiation principle (State and social groups) and the condensation principle (State and citizenship).
The third part presents the principal paradigms at the root of sociopolitical models of the State (positivism, dialectics, constructivism, systemism, praxeology).
The course comprises a series of lectures.

Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

Course entry requirements: Students should have taken the Political Science course
Evaluation: Written or oral examination (depending on number of students).
Course materials: Course handout and recommended reading.

Other credits in programs