WORLD POLITICS: PART I
We begin! In this first section of our course, I shall identify the defining aspects of the Modern Nation-State. I shall also outline the characteristics of the particular expression of this state that we know best: Liberal Democracy. I will begin by drawing a connection between two qualities we all share in common: “modernity” and “liberalism.” At this early point in the semester, we will deal with several abstract concepts. In the coming weeks, these abstractions will become real to you when we consider the origins and evolution of the liberal nation-state.
My personal guarantee: By the end of this course, you will see how my abstractions fit together into one neat and tidy, dynamic story. First, we need to agree about the meaning of the terms we use.
1. LECTURE: Wednesday, January 16
Reflections on the evolution of political institutions: The making of the Modern Nation-State and the indeterminate nature of human history.
Today’s Assumption: The Modern Nation-State is distinguished by its capacity to bring together different peoples and contending identities. This state form represents a novel way of organizing human beings. To be clear, not all states are Nation-States. And, not all peoples want to live together. Just look at the disastrous consequences of our experiments in nation-building in Afghanistan and Iraq!
Gould’s Theory of Punctuated Equilibrium
Assignment: Watch the video below and reflect upon the issue of historical change that I will address in today’s class. Also, look ahead to your Friday discussion section.
The nature of historical change as seen by a paleontologist. Stephen Jay Gould talks about the approach to studying fundamental change that I find totally convincing—the theory of evolution. Watch at least the first 6 minutes of this stimulating video: LISTEN As you listen to Gould, ask yourself how his arguments about both human evolution, “punctuated equilibrium” (what does this concept mean?), and the extinction of dinosaurs can be applied to the evolution of political ideas and institutions.
2.DISCUSSION SECTION, Friday, January 18: NO Discussion Section Today.
Our TAs will be attending a professional conference on this day. Therefore, we will not hold regular discussion sections.
Instead we will hold Three Special TA sessions at the beginning of the coming week. Both TAs will be at each special session. Choose one that works best for you. You may attend more than one if you like.
- Monday, January 21, DeBartolo 202: 4:30-5:20
- Monday, January 21, DeBartolo 204: 5:30-6:20
- Tuesday, January 22, DeBartolo 205: 5:30-6:20
Now it’s time to begin reading!
Here is the discussion theme (and an assignment) for these sections. Please turn in the assignment to your respective TA. He or she will have introduced themselves to you before class begins.
American Democracy in Crisis: What does it mean to be a real American?”
How do we decide who belongs in the United States? How do we decide who does not? Assuming you are an American citizen, how did you acquire this title? Should every American do more to reasonably called a citizen?
Trigger Warning for Liberals! Many of these readings come from conservative sites and/or conservative writers:
Primary Reading: Samuel Huntington, “The Hispanic Challenge” (Foreign Policy): PRINT AND READ
Huntington was a preeminent political scientist. Note his incredible prediction on 14.
Emma Lazarus, “The New Colossus,” a plaque on America’s Statue of Liberty: PRINT AND READ
See the original HERE
Bruce Springsteen, “American Land” PRINT AND READ
Edward Hudgins, “What is an American?” (the libertarian Cato Institute) PRINT AND READ
“Alan Dershowitz, “Birthright Citizenship is Bizarre” (the Alt-Right Breitbart News) PRINT AND READ
Christopher Manion, “The Catholic Bishops and Immigration Reform” (the traditionalist Catholic Crisis Magazine): PRINT AND READ
“New York Police Officers Rally in support of Colin Kaepernick” PRINT AND READ
What is an American Car? READ Why am I asking you to read this article?
Consider this policy: “Israeli Law declares the country the ‘nation state of the Jewish people’,” New York Times, July 18, 2018: READ AND PRINT Does this policy make Israel more or less of a nation-state?
Assignment: Write a one-paragraph (no more!) response to the following question: In your opinion, what is the single, most important requirement for being a “true American.” You may only choose one requirement. The point of your paragraph should be to identify this requirement and persuade the reader why it is the single, most important factor. There is a mistake on one of the pages of this syllabus. Please identify it and put its location at the bottom of your paragraph assignment.
Your paragraph should be typed and double-spaced (12 point). We will use this format for discussion-section paragraphs throughout the semester. For this week’s unique discussion sections, bring your paragraphs with you to the section you attend on Monday or Tuesday and hand them in to your respective TA. Thereaftter, your TAs will ask you to send them your paragraphs by 6:00 on the Thursdays preceding every other discussion section.
3. LECTURE: Monday, January 21
Reflections on what it means for citizens of the United States to live in modern times.
Today’s Assumption: We are all Modern. By 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.
Jen Christensen, “The Most Accurate Clock in the World is Redefining the Second” READ What can a clock tell you about modern society?
Oprah Winfrey on pursuing the truth: READ
Alan Burdick, “Some good news, and a Hard Truth about Science,” New York Times, November 18, 2018 READ
The publication of Adolph Hitler’s Mein Kampf is forbidden in Germany, but should we discourage the distribution of any book? READ
An essential part of being modern is agreement on facts. As 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). The acceptance of a factual claim (e.g., a heliocentric model of our solar system) does not prevent one from holding a religious faith (e.g., the existence of God). The believer’s faith in God may be just as true as factual knowledge, but for most scientists, the claim is not empirically verifiable. Throughout much of its history, the Catholic Church has maintained that there is no contradiction between the acceptance of factual knowledge (reason) and faith—they are simply different forms of knowing.
4. LECTURE: Wednesday, January 23
Reflections on a political invention, the Liberal Nation-state. Liberalism is a specific way in which human beings have organized their relations in modern times. However, it is not the only expression of modern politics. As we shall see later, Fascism and Leninism are also forms of modern politics.
Abraham Lincoln invents the liberal nation-state: READ
Today’s Assumption: We are all Liberals. (Sorry, Steve Bannon, but it’s true.)
However, this is no cause for alarm for political conservatives. In making this claim, I do not mean that we are “liberals” in terms of our political affiliation. Rather, I am referring to classical Liberalism, a conception of political order that was invented–not discovered–by people like Adam Smith and John Stuart Mill.
Assignment: Read Chapter II, “Of the Liberty of Thought and Discussion,” in John Stuart Mill, On Liberty (1869): PRINT AND READ
Then, listen to musician Frank Zappa talk about freedom of speech HERE Do you agree with Mr. Zappa? If not, where do we draw the line on what constitutes free speech in a Liberal society? Or should there be a dividing line at all?
The Nazis march on Charlottesville in 2017. Consider these contrasting views:
Anthony Romero, ACLU Executive Director, “Equality, Justice and the First Amendment” PRINT AND READ
K-Sue Park, “The ACLU needs to rethink Free Speech” PRINT AND READ
Not at all a new issue: “Swastika war’ in Skokie” READ
5. DISCUSSION SECTION: Friday, January 25
American Democracy in Crisis: Part II Should there be a limit to the exercise of free speech in a democracy?
One-Paragraph Assignment: Is there something about the exercise of free speech by Nazis that makes it deplorable and in tolerable in a democracy, whereas anti-Nazi protest is defensible?
For this assignment, I do not want you to focus on what steps should be taken to prevent the exercise of free speech from threatening public order. That is a question of policy. Reasonable people can differ about how one should prevent violence. Rather, please think about the broader question: What kinds of speech are acceptable–or unacceptable–in a free, liberal-democratic society.
NOTE: Please do not use electronic devices of any kind during our class, including laptops, cell phones, tablets, tape recorders, FBI trap-and-trace technology or any other personal digital device. My classroom is a tweet-free zone!