PO 351 - Political Thought in the Work of Dostoyevsky

Politics and political theory are themes in all of Dostoyevsky’s major novels. Dostoyevsky was critical of Western liberalism and nihilism, and therefore of two of the major schools of political thought in our own history. Both of these were influential in the political life of Russia in his day. His work is often considered prescient for his ability to predict the consequences of revolutionary action for Russian political development. His insight extends beyond the particular 19th century Russian experience to unveil a broader and deeper view of the forces that shape political life generally. In this course students will read Dostoyevsky through the lens of political theory and explore the relevance of his work to understanding 19th century Russia as well as politics in the 20th and 21st centuries.

Four credits.