Political Narrations: Antigone, the Melian Dialogue, Michael Kohlhaas, the Grand Inquisitor and Ragtime - Hardcover

by Ingo Juchler (Author)

Analyzes narrations embedded in political disputes

Vivid presentation of political concepts in Antigone, the Melian Dialogue, Michael Kohlhaas and Ragtime

Offers an interdisciplinary approach for a better comprehension of civics

Back Jacket

This book analyzes narrations embedded in political disputes, allowing readers to gain a deeper understanding of modern political reality. The author explores this theme in readings of the Sophocles tragedy Antigone, the Melian Dialogue of Thucydides, Heinrich von Kleist's novella Michael Kohlhaas, Fyodor Dostoevsky's The Grand Inquisitor and E.L. Doctorow's Ragtime novel, taking into account the relevant interdisciplinary aspects of the narratives. His study of these four narrations focuses on key political concepts, such as might and right, self-interest, legality and justice, the nation-state and democracy, and relates them compellingly to current actuality. Since narrations can exert comprehensive and lasting influence on individuals' political discernment, this systematic analysis allows for a better comprehension of politics in education and civics.

Author Biography

Ingo Juchler studied Politics, German Philology and Education at the universities of Trier and Marburg. His dissertation examines the 1960s student movements in the US and West Germany; his habilitation treatise is concerned with democracy and political judgment. Prof. Juchler has held teaching posts at Weingarten PH (College of Education) and the Universities of Augsburg and Göttingen. Since 2010 he is Professor of Civic Education at the University of Potsdam.