300003 The Global Luhmann? Systems Theory and World Politics (S) (SoSe 2002)

The seminar will explore the question as to whether Luhmann's systems theory of society can be used in order to understand contemporary developments in international politics. First, the notion of "world society" will be compared to similar concepts in the context of international relations theory. In a second part we will inquire whether systems theory still exibits a "nationalist-methodological" bias which somehow distorts its observation of the political system. Finally, the seminar will discuss and compare a number of concepts central to both IR and systems theory.

Bibliography

To be announced at the beginning of term. In addition to published literature, the seminar will use a number of unpublished draft chapters of a forthcoming edited volume on the subject.