The purpose of this course is to shed light on the history of Liberalism through a comparison between Britain and France. “Liberalism” is a difficult question with manifold definitions and controversial points of view. To build step by step the history of liberal movements, liberal ideas and their contradictions, both through British political history and French history should provide to the students a better understanding of both historical debates and today's issues regarding the notion of Liberalism in context (or, better, Liberalisms).
Traditionally, Britain has been viewed as the country of a successful liberalism whereas France has been sometimes mocked as the country of a failed liberalism or an incomplete liberalism. Those clichés will be questioned during the sessions and put back in a more realistic perspective. Liberalism and anti-liberalism will be addressed during most of the sessions. The course is also conceived at the crossroads of political history, intellectual history and political philosophy.
Nicolas ROUSSELLIER
Séminaire
English
Autumn 2021-2022
An oral presentation (individually or by two students at most) 50% + a final written exam in class 40% + general participation to the debate in the classroom and student involvement 10%
Michael FREEDEN, Liberalism : a Very Short Introduction, Oxford Un. Press, 2015