How to Rule the World: Empire and Global Governance from Greece to America

From Babylon and Persia to Greece and Rome, empires have risen and fallen, but they always seem to make a comeback. Their defenders point to the stability they bring to a chaotic world. Their detractors point to the harsh rule required to maintain them. This course will explore arguments for and against empire, drawing on history, philosophy, and political theory, with a special focus on the Greeks and Romans. Then, in light of the parallel problems of empire and global governance, we will ask what lessons we can learn for the practice of international affairs today. Contemporary topics will include global institutions, foreign intervention, East Asia policy, and NATO and Eastern Europe.