{"id":2,"date":"2017-07-31T11:14:41","date_gmt":"2017-07-31T11:14:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sites.nd.edu\/world-politics-2017\/?page_id=2"},"modified":"2018-01-05T16:51:36","modified_gmt":"2018-01-05T20:51:36","slug":"sample-page","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sites.nd.edu\/world-politics-2017\/sample-page\/","title":{"rendered":"Modern Politics"},"content":{"rendered":"

PART I<\/strong><\/p>\n

The first section of our course is devoted to examining the character of the Modern Nation-state<\/strong>. To this end, I will begin by drawing a \u00a0connection between two qualities we all share in common: \u00a0\u201cmodernity\u201d and \u201cliberalism.\u201d At this early point in the semester, we will deal with several abstract concepts. \u00a0Once we begin to consider the origins and evolution of these concepts, these abstractions will become real to you.<\/p>\n

My personal guarantee: \u00a0By the end of this course, you will see how my abstractions fit together into one neat and tidy, dynamic story. \u00a0First, we need to agree about the meaning of the terms we use.<\/p>\n


\n1. LECTURE:\u00a0 Wednesday August 23<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Reflections on the evolution of political institutions: The making of the Modern Nation-state<\/strong> and the indeterminate nature of human history<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s Assumption<\/em>: The Modern Nation-State<\/strong><\/em> is distinguished by its capacity to bring together different peoples and\u00a0contending identities. \u00a0This state form represents a novel way of organizing human beings. \u00a0To be clear, not all states are NATION-STATES. \u00a0And, not all peoples want to come together.\u00a0 Sometimes, things just don\u2019t work out, especially in politics.\u00a0 Just look\u00a0at the disastrous circumstances our disastrous<\/em> experiments in nation-building in Afghanistan and Iraq.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Gould’s Theory of Punctuated Equilibrium<\/p><\/div>\n

Assignment<\/em>:\u00a0 Watch the video below\u00a0and reflect upon the issue of historical change which I address in today\u2019s class. \u00a0Also, look ahead to your Friday discussion section. \u00a0NOTE:\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0you have reading assignments and a short essay which you must turn in at the beginning of your section.<\/p>\n

The nature of historical change<\/em>.\u00a0 Paleontologist Stephen Jay Gould talks about the approach to studying change which I happen to find totally convincing\u2014the theory of evolution.\u00a0\u00a0Watch the first 6 minutes of this stimulating video:\u00a0LISTEN<\/a>\u00a0 As you listen to Gould, ask yourself how his arguments about human evolution, \u201cpunctuated equilibrium\u201d (what does this concept mean?), and the extinction of dinosaurs might be applied to the evolution of political ideas and institutions.<\/p>\n


\n2. DISCUSSION SECTION:\u00a0 Friday, August 25<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

American Democracy in Crisis: What does it mean to be a real American”<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

What does it mean to be a real American? How do we decide who\u00a0belongs\u00a0<\/em>in the United States? How do we decide who does not? Assuming you are an American citizen, how did you acquire this title?\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Trigger Warning<\/a> for\u00a0Liberals!<\/strong> \u00a0Most of these readings come from conservative sites and\/or conservative writers:<\/p>\n

Emma Lazarus, \u201cThe New Colossus,\u201d on America\u2019s Statue of Liberty:\u00a0\u00a0PRINT AND READ<\/a><\/p>\n

See the original\u00a0HERE<\/a><\/p>\n

Bruce Springsteen, “American Land” PRINT AND READ<\/a><\/p>\n

Edward Hudgins, “What is an American?” (Cato Institute) PRINT AND READ<\/a><\/p>\n

“Husband of Trump Supporter Deported to Mexico” (Breitbart News)\u00a0PRINT AND READ<\/a><\/p>\n

Christopher Manion, “The Catholic Bishops and Immigration Reform” (Crisis Magazine): PRINT AND READ<\/a><\/p>\n

Samuel Huntington, “The Hispanic Challenge” (Foreign Policy): PRINT AND READ<\/a><\/p>\n

This is the most important article in the group since Huntington was a preeminent political scientist. \u00a0Note his incredible prediction on 14.<\/p>\n

“New York Police Officers Rally in support of Colin Kaepernick” PRINT AND READ<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"

Colin Kaepernick (right) cannot find a job, but Blain Gabbert (left) can<\/p><\/div>\n

What is an American Car? READ<\/a><\/p>\n

Warren Buffett’s “Ovarian Factor” and You:\u00a0 READ<\/a><\/p>\n

Assignment<\/strong><\/em>: Write a one-paragraph<\/em>\u00a0(no more!) response to the following question: \u00a0What is the single, most important requirement for being a “true American.” \u00a0You may only choose one requirement. \u00a0The point of your paragraph should be to identify this requirement and persuade the reader why it is the single, most important factor?<\/p>\n

Your response should be typed and double-spaced (12 point). \u00a0We will use this format for discussion-section paragraphs throughout the semester. \u00a0Make sure your bring your paragraphs to your discussion. \u00a0Your TAs may want to work out other arrangements for the deadlines of your paragraphs after the first week of class.<\/p>\n


\n3. LECTURE:\u00a0 Monday, August 28<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Reflections on what it means for citizens of the United States to live\u00a0in\u00a0modern times<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s Assumption<\/em>: \u00a0We are all Modern<\/strong><\/em>. \u00a0By this statement, I mean that we share conceptions of truth and ideas about how to organize our lives which differ fundamentally from those held by other societies in the world.<\/p>\n

Jen Christensen, \u201cThe Most Accurate Clock in the World is Redefining the Second\u201d\u00a0READ<\/a><\/p>\n

Ray Bradbury,\u00a0Fahrenheit 451<\/em>. \u00a0Start reading this book now and finish it as soon as possible. What would it be like to live in a world where humans were deprived of the capacity to pursue facts?<\/p>\n

An essential part of being modern is agreement on facts. \u00a0As a result of our capacity to reason, we pursue the truth through the scientific method (even though we don’t always recognize that this is what we are doing). \u00a0Faith is different. \u00a0It may be just as true as factual knowledge, but its claims are not (normally) empirically verifiable. \u00a0Throughout much of its history, the Catholic Church has maintained that there is no contradiction between reason and faith—they are simply different forms of knowing.<\/p>\n


\n4. LECTURE:\u00a0 Wednesday, August 30<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

Reflections on a political invention, the Liberal Nation-state<\/strong>.\u00a0 Liberalism<\/strong>\u00a0is a specific way in which human beings have been organized in modern times. However, it is not the only expression of modern politics. Others forms include FASCISM and LENINISM.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Today\u2019s Assumption<\/em>:\u00a0 We are all Liberals<\/strong><\/em>.\u00a0 (Sorry, Ted Cruz, Rand Paul, and Scott Walker, but it\u2019s true.) \u00a0However, this no cause for alarm.\u00a0 In making this claim, I do not mean that we are \u201cliberals\u201d in the politically-charged sense that is thrown around bvy\u00a0American politicians.\u00a0 Rather, I am referring to classical Liberalism<\/strong><\/em>, a conception of political order that was invented (not discovered) by people\u00a0 like Adam Smith and John Stuart Mill.<\/p>\n

Assignment<\/em>:\u00a0 Read Chapter II, \u201cOf the Liberty of Thought\u00a0and Discussion,\u201d in John Stuart Mill,\u00a0On Liberty\u00a0<\/em>(1869): \u00a0PRINT AND READ<\/a><\/p>\n

Then, listen to musician Frank Zappa talk about freedom of speech\u00a0HERE<\/a>\u00a0 Do you agree with Mr. Zappa?\u00a0 If not, where do we draw the line on what constitutes free speech in a LIBERAL society?\u00a0 Or should there be a dividing line at all?<\/p>\n

The Nazis march on Charlottesville:<\/p>\n

Anthony Romero, ACLU Executive Director, “Equality, Justice and the First Amendment” PRINT AND READ<\/a><\/p>\n

K-Sue Park, “The ACLU needs to rethink Free Speech” PRINT AND READ<\/a><\/p>\n

Not at all a new issue: “Swastika war’ in Skokie”\u00a0READ
\n<\/a><\/p>\n

5. DISCUSSION SECTION:\u00a0 Friday, September 1<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

American Democracy in Crisis: Part II \u00a0How much should we limit free speech?<\/p>\n

One-Paragraph Assignment<\/em>: \u00a0If one must define an acceptable boundary between justifiable speech and intolerable speech in a democracy, can it be done?<\/p>\n

For this assignment, I do not want you to focus on whether demonstrations are safe or not. That is a question of policy. Rather, please think about the broader question of what kinds of speech are acceptable–or unacceptable–in a free, liberal-democratic society.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

PART I The first section of our course is devoted to examining the character of the Modern Nation-state. To this end, I will begin by drawing a \u00a0connection between two qualities we all share in common: \u00a0\u201cmodernity\u201d and \u201cliberalism.\u201d At this early point in the semester, we will deal with several abstract concepts. \u00a0Once we […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":114,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.nd.edu\/world-politics-2017\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.nd.edu\/world-politics-2017\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.nd.edu\/world-politics-2017\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.nd.edu\/world-politics-2017\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/114"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.nd.edu\/world-politics-2017\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2"}],"version-history":[{"count":38,"href":"https:\/\/sites.nd.edu\/world-politics-2017\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":642,"href":"https:\/\/sites.nd.edu\/world-politics-2017\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2\/revisions\/642"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.nd.edu\/world-politics-2017\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}