This 2-week course was first designed during the summer of 2021. The first courses took place in the summer of 2022. The course is accredited by the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), Department of Philosophy (code: 73ΦΛΣ220).
The lectures offer to students the opportunity to explore Greek and Mediterranean history by familiarizing with the basic aspects of ancient Greek and Roman political thought, combining their historical development with modern perspectives and issues. The course focuses on the emergence and historical evolution of democracy. It will also shed light on the concept of political representation, on issues related to foreign policy and international order. In addition, it incorporates non-western political schools of thought and, finally, traces the emergence of empires with multi-ethnic and cosmopolitan character (such as the Byzantine and Western Roman Empire) prefiguring the modern transnational states. Upon completing this course, participants will be able to critically reflect on the cross-cultural dimensions of ancient political thought and how it bears upon contemporary challenges.
• Additional organisations involved: Study in Greece (Organization for the Internationalization of Greek Universities), NKUA, AUIS (American University of Iraq and Sulaymaniyah, Kurdish Region of Iraq).