Liberal Democracy
May 29th, 2016 by amcadams
PART II
This section of our course is devoted to the making of the LIBERAL-DEMOCRATIC NATION-STATE. I use the word “making” quite deliberately. By considering the long evolution of the idea of liberal democracy and the invention of viable institutions to put it into practice, I hope to show you why there was nothing inevitable about the rise of liberal politics, values, and ideas in the western world. In the most meaningful sense, you are lucky to live in a liberal society! Once we have worked our way through this historical background, I will provide you with some clues for understanding why democratic institutions in the United States and Europe seem to be in such a mess today.
6. LECTURE: Monday, September 5
Reflections on the development of a social, political, and economic culture that was conducive to the rise of LIBERALISM.
Today’s Assumption: Today, I’ll cover a number of several developments in Europe that eventually made MODERN LIBERALISM possible, although certainly not inevitable.
Assignment: Print and read the following chapter by Max Weber, one of the most influential articulators of the concept of unintended consequences. As you reflect upon the essay by the Catholic priest, Martin Luther, keep in mind that we can never understand our culture or ourselves as individuals without recognizing that those of us who grew up in North America were all raised as “Protestants.”
Max Weber, The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism, only chapter 5: PRINT AND READ
Martin Luther, “The Freedom of a Christian” READ This is a long essay by a great CATHOLIC thinker; you should only seek to identify the major points as you look through it.
7. LECTURE: Wednesday, September 7
Reflections about a meteoric development that shaped the character of LIBERALISM as we know it today. This event was the opening of the boundaries of the political realm to the participation of ever broader sectors of society. It took place in different ways and in different countries. It is still taking place around the world today.
Today’s Assumption: The tumultuous intrusion of the “unwashed and unwanted” into the LIBERAL arena was totally unanticipated by those whose decisions made it possible, but only they could make it possible. How do we account for this unforeseeable transformation? Since people in power do not intentionally make decisions that undermine their interests, I shall argue that a hostile ideology like LIBERALISM could only have arisen as the unintended consequences of the decisions of power holders.
NOTE: “In a democracy it’s your vote that counts. In feudalism it’s your count that votes!”
For this section, you should begin reading the following assignments. I will not touch on all of them today, but I want to spread out your reading so you do not get overwhelmed by too much reading at the same time.
Assignment: Begin thinking about the impact of the twin revolutions in political participation that took place in America (1776) and France (1789). You may recall my daring assertion in our second class that the American Revolution may not have been as revolutionary as it seemed.
Roger Kingdon, America the Unusual, chapter 4
Kim R. Holmes, “The Great Divide: The Ideological Legacies of the American and French Revolutions” PRINT AND READ Take note of the very different kinds of revolutions that occurred in America and France. Could one say that the French Revolution was even more revolutionary than its counterpart in America? Also note their different implications.
The French National Assembly, “Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen” READ
8. DISCUSSION SECTION: Friday, September 9
Discussion themes: Your discussions will be based on the following them: “Why are we all Protestants?” You should keep the following themes in mind as well: 1) If we are all Protestants, what happened to Catholicism? and 2) What does any of this have to do with politics? 3) Is McAdams crazy?
Assignment: There is a two part assignment: First, in one paragraph, identify the three main points in Weber’s argument about the origins of Protestantism. Make sure you understand how these three points combine into a cohesive argument.
Second: Write a single paragraph response to the following: What does McAdams see in Weber’s argument that makes him declare that ‘You are all Protestants’? And is McAdams right?
p.s. I realize that not all of you identify as Catholics or even consider yourself religious. However, consider this possibility: Even atheists are Protestants!
9. LECTURE: Monday, September 12
Reflections on the evolution of POLITICAL PARTIES in the West: Cadre parties, Mass parties, and Catch-all parties.
Today’s Assumption: POLITICAL PARTIES have been major instruments for including disparate groups of people into the modern nation-state, both in LIBERAL societies and, as we shall see later, other societies. Today, the Catch-all party is the predominant party in the LIBERAL world.
Assignment: Reflect upon the way politics is conducted in the U.S. What is the reward for compromise? What is the price of conviction? Are we now look experiencing the collapse of Catch-all parties in the U.S.?
Roger Kingdon, America the Unusual, chapter 2
Michael Kazen, “How can Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders both be ‘populist’?” READ
Bart Bonikowski and Noam Gidron, “Trump and Sanders aren’t blazing new trails: READ
10. LECTURE: Wednesday, September 14
Reflections: The rise of FASCISM in Europe in the first half of the twentieth century was a fundamental challenge to the values and institutions of LIBERALISM. The LIBERAL response to FASCISM was the WELFARE STATE. Today, all LIBERAL states are WELFARE STATES.
Today’s Assumptions: LIBERALISM’S victory over FASCISM was far from certain. The salutary outcome of this contest was facilitated in large part by two factors: military power and the West’s readiness to embrace the state’s role in the LIBERAL WELFARE STATE. Recently, some American politicians have equated the WELFARE STATE with SOCIALISM, but that’s inaccurate. In contrast, FASCISM was a SOCIALIST system and so was another political identity we’ll consider in a few weeks, LENINISM.
Assignments:
On the subject of FASCISM, read both Benito Mussolini’s prognostications as well as the testimonies of some of people who fell in love with the movement. Then, reflect upon the significant of the recent rise of fascist movements in Europe. Could FASCISM be in our future? Or is the MODERN WELFARE STATE enough to save us? Or are these issues only Europeans should worry about?
Benito Mussolini, “The Doctrine of Fascism” PRINT AND READ
Steinhoff, Pechel, and Showalter, Voices from the Third Reich (PDF FILE)
Peter Foster, “The rise of the far right is not a false alarm,”The Telegraph PRINT AND READ
On the subject of the WELFARE STATE read:
Kingdon: America the Unusual, chapters 1 and 3.
Comparing Welfare States READ
And, “Going Dutch” READ (doc file)
11. DISCUSSION SECTION: Friday, September 16
Discussion: For this section, identify the distinguishing features of a FASCIST solution to social welfare issues and then compare them to those of a LIBERAL WELFARE STATE. Reflect on these questions: What is the definitive boundary line between the two systems? Why might some people be tempted to cross this line in the direction of FASCISM?
Assignment: Write one paragraph in response to this question: What would be necessary for the United States to become a fascist state?
Your first REFLECTIVE ESSAY is HERE
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12. LECTURE: Monday, September 19
Reflections on the contradictory and conflictual characteristics of LIBERALSM.
Today’s Assumption: LIBERALISM can’t live up to its name unless it has certain essential features. Yet by nature, LIBERALISM is unstable. The LIBERAL policies our government espouses today are not necessarily the same as it will espouse tomorrow; they are frequently not the same as it espoused yesterday. And it’s a good thing, too! If LIBERAL states, such as Iceland, Luxembourg, Slovenia, Liechtenstein, Andorra, and the US didn’t change, they wouldn’t be LIBERAL at all.
Assignments:
Kingdon, America the Unusual, ch. 5.
What does citizenship have to do with it? HERE
What does Notre Dame have to do with it? Read about Notre Dame students battling the Ku Klux Klan: READ
What does Colin Kaepernick have to do with it?
Required Film #1 (Evening), “The War at Home,”
There will be two showings of this film. You can choose either Monday, September 19 or Tuesday, September 20. Both showings will be at 7:00. Location: Fitzpatrick Hall of Engineering, 356a (both showings)
If it is impossible for you to view the film on either of these evenings, you will be able to find it in the Hesburgh Library Audio-Visual Center. However, I strongly recommend that you see the film one of these evenings since you will get a better impression by viewing it on a big screen.
13. Wednesday, September 21
We will have an in-class discussion today instead of a lecture. Prepare for this discussion by re-reading the assignments for Monday and reflecting on “The War at Home” (if you were able to see it on Monday or Tuesday) and “There is Silence in the streets” READ (Is this article no longer accurate?).
Consider this: Under what circumstances would you resort to VIOLENCE to protect LIBERALISM? (Is this a trick question?).
14. DICUSSION SECTION: Friday, September 23.
Your first REFLECTIVE ESSAY is due on this date. It is your responsibility to make sure that your TA receives your essay on time. Your essay should have a title and be double-spaced. See above for all of the other specifications. Make sure you put your name on it.