Hitler, Stalin and de Gaulle each embody one of the three major regime types
that competed in Twentieth-Century Europe: Fascism, Communism and liberal
democracy.  Each figure was also so influential in the development of his
own system that questions of the impact of personality on their political
strategies have always arisen.  With Hitler, both his intense personal
magnetism and his obsessional racism have been considered key to explaining
the course of the Third Reich.  The "intentionalist" argument about the
Holocaust, now being used to argue for that event's uniqueness, is a
testimony to the importance given to the personality of the Nazi leader.
After all, it is Hitler's intentions that are in question in this
discussion, not those of German elites or even of the leadership cadre of
the Nazi party.

With Stalin, theoretical options (and more practical ones) are given a
larger role, but Stalin's departure from so much in the European socialist
tradition, when combined with his dictatorial control within the Soviet
Union, have often posed the question of the effect of his personality on the
development of the Soviet system.  In any case, it is obvious that the
Soviet system, with all its strengths and weaknesses, was his achievement.
Finally, the character of  "le grand Charles" has always been seen, by
follower and detractor alike, as key to his politics.

Grades will be based on a combination of class discussion and a series of
three writing assignments, one for each of the course sections.  These will
be short analytical papers centered around the themes treated in the
classes.  Students will be given an opportunity to rewrite the first and
second papers for improved grades.  Since the papers will cover the course
material, there will be no exams.

Readings will combine selections from the writings of Hitler, Stalin and de
Gaulle, biographies of all three figures and a short general text for
background.  Each section of the course (devoted to a specific figure) will
include a video presentation.

BL SPR99 COAS E104 0112 Robinson
Sex, Technology, and Power