People and Politics Worldwide
Western European Political Heritage

What historic events significantly shaped Western Europe’s political heritage?

Magstadt says:
The Enlightenment
The Reformation
The Industrial Revolution

The Enlightenment

It’s effect on politics? 

Belief in human reason, rationality

Decline in faith (?)

Decline in trust in traditional authorities (monarchies, feudal aristocracies, church);

Culminates in new political theory:
Liberalism

Stressing:  natural rights, i.e., Individual rights
  Liberty
  Equality

In Europe, e.g., French Revolution, also Fraternity as a political value to be achieved What does this mean?

The Reformation

Also a democratizing event laying the groundwork for liberalism by stressing each person_s inherent equality before God (each has a soul) and equal ability to reason (therefore can develop a personal relationship with scripture/God independent of Church hierarchy)

The Industrial Revolution

Takes of in Europe first

Why?

What does/would Diamond say?

How can we extend the Diamond thesis to explain Western Europe’s economic and political development?

Europe advantaged in terms of geography, climate

made it easier for Europeans to move beyond subsistence to generating surpluses; basic needs being met at this earlier stage, meant Europeans could go on to discover and invent things that would help them explore and then conquer and economically exploit other parts of the world.

One can argue thus that Europe’s prosperity enabled it to democratize earlier and more thoroughly than many parts of the world

Both in terms of political rights, enfranchisement AND in terms of Social Democracy, social rights, commitment to equality of outcome, welfare state, etc.

Also consider European social democracy as an antidote to fascism

Questions to consider:

What are the primary similarities and differences between American and W Europe political cultures?

Why do the US and W Europe differ in terms of the scope of their welfare states, i.e., why has Europe moved further in the direction of social democracy than the US?

Is European social democracy likely to be attained in other parts of the world?  Why or why not?