PRELIMINARY COURSE SYLLABUS
Quarter: Winter 2017
Course Title: The Origins of Democratic Society: Europe and America in the
Modern Age
Course Code: HIS 66
Instructors:
Professor James Sheehan
http://fsi.stanford.edu/people/james_j_sheehan
Professor David Kennedy
https://history.stanford.edu/people/david-m-kennedy
Grade Options and Requirements:
•
•
•
No Grade Requested (NGR)
o This is the default option. No work will be required; no credit shall be
received; no proof of attendance can be provided.
Credit/No Credit (CR/NC)
o Students must attend 4 out of 5 class sessions.
Letter Grade (A, B, C, D, No Pass)
o This option is not available.
*Please Note: If you require proof that you completed a Continuing Studies course for any reason (for
example, employer reimbursement), you must choose either the Letter Grade or Credit/No Credit
option. Courses taken for NGR will not appear on official transcripts or grade reports.
Tentative Weekly Outline:
Week 1
Origins: Two Democratic Revolutions
Week 2
Democratic Politics and the Problem of Social Equality
Week 3
Democracy and Race
Week 4
Democracy and Gender
PRELIMINARY COURSE SYLLABUS
Quarter: Winter 2017
Week 5
Self-Determination: The Role of Democracy in International Relations
Suggested Reading:
1. Muller v. Oregon:
https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/208/412/case.html
2. Adkins v. Children's Hospital:
https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/261/525/case.html
3. Grutter v. Bollinger:
https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/539/306/case.html
4. Fareed Zakaria, “The Rise of Illiberal Democracy” in Foreign Affairs,
November/December 1997: https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/1997-1101/rise-illiberal-democracy