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Politics and Values

What is the proper relationship between the individual and society? Do societies have shared values? Is politics the right arena for enforcing values, or are values best left to individual choice? Are there any values that can be shared and enforced internationally?

In the Politics and Values community, you will have the opportunity to explore these questions together with a select group of your peers. You will live and study together, in an intensive year-long course.

During the fall semester, we will examine the ancient view that states exist to mold good men; the early modern view that states create their own right and wrong; the founding American view that states must tolerate and respect the different value-orientations of their citizens (including Supreme Court cases that address some of the most difficult questions about our rights); and the skepticism of modern political science about the project of democratic values.

In the spring, we will look at the connection of values with cultures and nations; the problems of national and ethnic violence; and international attempts to curb violence and establish boundary-crossing values.

Politics and Values counts for 6 credits (equivalent to 2 courses) each semester, and fulfills all of the introductory requirements of a Political Science major (PSC 1, 2, and 3, plus the political theory requirement). Additionally, your 12 credits satisfy the social science portion of the General Curriculum Requirement and, of course, count toward graduation.

If you're up for the challenge, submit a resume with academic credentials (including test scores) or a photocopy of your GWU application, along with a 500-word essay on any political topic (an essay written for a high school class will suffice). Notification of admission will be given in mid-July.

If you have further questions, or to submit an application: Contact Professor Steven Kelts kelts@gwu.edu (202) 994-7582 Department of Political Science Monroe 415 Washington, DC 20052