What a subject!: political institutions

The State is a modern political institution. But before its emergence, other institutions were in charge of regulating social conflict. In my major, I have had not one but three subjects on political institutions: Power, Politics and Government, Evolution of Institutions I and Evolution of Institutions II.

Since I was a child I have been very interested in universal history and especially in political history. Political institutions and their development are the combination of my interests. I have learned, for example, that Athenian democracy was direct, but limited to a minority of people. I have also learned that feudalism is not a dark period, but one where fragmentation of political power reigned, which was confused with the Catholic Church's power. But definitely, what interested me the most was that the modern state is the result of the bourgeoisie's struggle to conquer power for its own benefit, and it had been trying to do so since the 12th century.

It may at first look like just a history subject, but it's very important as a political scientist to know where political institutions come from, to analyze their historical burdens and their implications in our present. I enjoy thinking of political processes as long stories. 

In the Athenian democracy, any citizen had the right to express an opinion.

Confusion of political and religious power.

The struggle for liberty, equality and fraternity was a bourgeoisie's historical struggle.