FALL SEMESTER 2009
Charismatic Leadership and International Relations
(The Fletcher School, Tufts University, Course)
The concept and the theory of charisma and charismatic authority have been formulated, elaborated, and applied in what was essentially a domestic political setting. Do they also have specific implications for diplomacy and international relations? This is an intriguing but neglected question, which will be explored with reference to relevant historical examples (Napoleon, De Gaulle, but also Hitler and Khomeini), including three from Modern Greece (E. Venizelos, C. Karamanlis, A. Papandreou).
SPRING SEMESTER 2010
Religion and Nationalism
(The Fletcher School, Tufts University, Course)
Nationalism has often been compared to a ‘secular’ or ‘civil’ religion. The reverse side of the same coin, however, is that religion has often provided a ready-made initial core of national identity, which has proved remarkably resilient over the centuries. Few denominations actually coincide with a single ‘chosen people’ or nation. In most cases, a religion or denomination is common to several nations. How can it become identified with any one among them in particular? It is here that differences between religions in terms of authority structure and organization become crucial. These issues will be examined on the basis of several examples, both from the various Christian denominations and from other religions.