Democracy and national security.  We want both, but sometimes they
can be in conflict.   In this course we will examine this difficult
relationship both normatively and empirically.  How do domestic
democratic politics affect a state’s external vulnerability?  How do
democracies respond to aggression?  How can the core values of
democratic life – an open public realm, freedom of the press,
individual civil liberties – be reconciled with the harsh realities
of wartime?  September 11th and subsequent global events have
underscored the importance of a measured and systematic investigation
of these (and other) important questions.  While students should not
expect a course on “current events,” students should anticipate that
material covered in this course will likely relate directly to
ongoing political struggles in this and other countries.  Students
should expect to attend class regularly, participate actively in
frequent in-class discussions, complete several short written
exercises, and complete a midterm and final exam.