{"id":13,"date":"2018-11-20T23:34:08","date_gmt":"2018-11-21T03:34:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sites.nd.edu\/worldpolitics-2019\/?page_id=13"},"modified":"2019-09-17T12:15:53","modified_gmt":"2019-09-17T16:15:53","slug":"liberal-democracy","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sites.nd.edu\/worldpolitics-2019\/liberal-democracy\/","title":{"rendered":"Liberal Democracy"},"content":{"rendered":"
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PART II <\/strong>In the first section of this course, we focused on abstractions. Now, we get concrete!\u00a0 This section is devoted to the\u00a0making<\/em>\u00a0of the\u00a0Liberal Democratic Nation-state<\/em><\/strong>. \u00a0I use the word \u201cmaking\u201d quite deliberately.\u00a0 Everything has a history, including even you.\u00a0 To understand any phenomenon, we need to begin with its roots. The roots of\u00a0Liberal democracy<\/strong>\u00a0and the invention of viable institutions to put this idea into practice have long histories that had nothing to do with how they came out. In this light, I shall argue that there was nothing inevitable about the rise of liberal politics, values, and ideas in the western world.\u00a0 Unfortunately, there is also nothing inevitable about liberal-democracy’s survival.<\/p>\n

We are very are lucky to live in a liberal society!\u00a0 See what Warren Buffett has to say about the \u201cOvarian Factor\u201d:\u00a0\u00a0READ<\/a><\/p>\n

Once we have worked our way through this historical background, I will provide you with some clues for understanding the crisis of liberal democratic politics in the US and Europe today.<\/p>\n


\n6. LECTURE: \u00a0Monday, January 28<\/strong><\/p>\n

Reflections on the development of a social, political, and economic culture that was conducive to the rise of\u00a0Liberalism.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Today\u2019s Assumption<\/em>: \u00a0I shall cover several major events in Europe between the fifth and nineteenth centuries\u2013the fall of the Roman empire, the birth of feudalism, and the Industrial Revolution\u2013that eventually made\u00a0Modern Liberalism<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0possible, although certainly not inevitable.<\/p>\n

Assignment<\/em>: \u00a0Print and read the following chapter (Chapter 5) by Max Weber, one of the most influential, early social scientists and a pioneer of the theory of \u201cunintended consequences.\u201d \u00a0As you reflect upon the essay by the\u00a0Catholic<\/em>\u00a0priest, Martin Luther,\u00a0keep in mind that we can never understand our culture, or ourselves as individuals, without recognizing that those of us\u00a0who grew up in\u00a0North America were all raised as \u201cProtestants.\u201d Yes, this is true even of those Americans who self-identify as Catholics.\u00a0 To make sense of this statement, the key point is to understand what I mean by \u201cProtestant.\u201d<\/p>\n

Max Weber,\u00a0The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism<\/em>,\u00a0only chapter 5: \u00a0PRINT AND READ<\/a><\/p>\n

Martin Luther, \u201cThe Freedom of a Christian\u201d\u00a0READ<\/a>\u00a0 This is a long essay by an angry Catholic priest.\"\" Don\u2019t worry about the details of Luther\u2019s argument (there\u2019s too much you that you won\u2019t know).\u00a0 Just seek to get a general sense for the tone and content of his argument.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

7. Polar Vortex Day:\u00a0 Wednesday, January 30<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Alas,\u00a0 we lose an entire day of our course.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n


\n8. DISCUSSION SECTION: \u00a0Friday, February 1<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Discussion themes:<\/em>\u00a0 Your discussion today will be focus on the following theme:\u00a0 \u201c<\/em>America\u2019s culture of radical individualism means that we are\u00a0all Protestants?\u201d\u00a0 You should keep the following questions in mind:\u00a0 1) If McAdams is right (and not crazy), what does he mean by calling American Catholics \u201cProtestants\u201d?; 2)\u00a0 Is the culture of radical individualism that grew out of Protestantism and is epitomized by the archetypical American hero, such as Arnold Schwarzenegger (see\u00a0Pumping Iron<\/a>) and Eminem (see\u00a0Eight Mile<\/a>), a good thing?<\/p>\n

p.s. I realize that not all of you identify as Catholics or even consider yourself religious. \u00a0However, I say this unto you: You are all Protestants. Indeed, even atheists are Protestants in America!<\/p>\n

Assig<\/em>nment<\/em>:\u00a0 Does Notre Dame represent a successful alternative to the unintended product of Protestantism that Weber calls the \u2018iron cage?\u201d\u00a0 Write one succinct, tightly argued paragraph.<\/p>\n


\n9. LECTURE:\u00a0 Monday, February 4<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Reflections about a meteoric development that shaped the character of\u00a0Liberalism<\/strong>\u00a0as we know it today: \u00a0the opening of the boundaries of the political realm to the participation of ever broader sectors of society<\/em>. \u00a0This development took place in different ways and in different countries. \u00a0It is still taking place around the world today, even in the United States.<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s Assumption<\/em>: The tumultuous intrusion of the \u201cunwashed and unwanted\u201d into the\u00a0Liberal<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0arena was unanticipated and, for the most part, not welcomed by those whose decisions\u00a0made it possible. Yet only they could have made this development possible. \u00a0How do we account for this unforeseen and unforeseeable transformation? \u00a0Since people in power do not intentionally make decisions that will undermine their interests, I shall argue that a hostile ideology like\u00a0Liberalism<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0could only have arisen as the\u00a0unintended consequences<\/em>\u00a0of the decisions of power holders.<\/p>\n

NOTE:\u00a0 \u201cIn a democracy it\u2019s your vote that counts. In feudalism, it\u2019s your count that votes!\u201d (McAdams)<\/p>\n

For this section, you should begin reading the following assignments and consider the significance of the twin revolutions in political participation that took place in America (1776) and France (1789). In touching on these events, I want to give you a sense for how\u00a0the idea of a liberal-democratic revolution<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0may be understood in different ways.\u00a0 As we will see, these different ideas can lead to different conceptions about what a\u00a0liberal-democratic nation-state<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0owes citizens.\u00a0 Not all\u00a0liberal states<\/strong>\u00a0are alike.\u00a0 Given their diverse histories and cultures, it would be strange if they were.<\/p>\n

Readings:<\/em>\u00a0 .<\/p>\n

Roger Kingdon,\u00a0America\u00a0<\/em>the Unusual<\/em>, chapter 4<\/p>\n

The American \u201cDeclaration of Independence\u201d\u00a0PRINT AND READ<\/a><\/p>\n

The French National Assembly, \u201cDeclaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen\u201d\u00a0PRINT AND READ<\/a><\/p>\n

The ways of thinking behind the American Revolution and the French Revolution were different in important ways, although each resulted in liberal democratic institutions. If you are interested in learning more about the roots of these differences, feel free to read this excellent article: \u00a0Kim R. Holmes, \u201cThe Great Divide: The Ideological Legacies of the American and French Revolutions\u201d\u00a0READ<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0Could one say that the French Revolution was even more revolutionary than its counterpart in America? \u00a0This reading is not required.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

10. LECTURE:\u00a0 Wednesday, February 6<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Reflections on the evolution of\u00a0Political Parties<\/strong>\u00a0in the West: Cadre parties, Mass parties, and Catch-all parties<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s Assumption<\/em>:\u00a0\u00a0Political Parties\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>have been major instruments for including disparate groups of people in the\u00a0modern nation-state, both in\u00a0Liberal<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0societies and, as we shall see later, other societies.\u00a0 Today, the catch-all party\u00a0is the predominant type of party\u00a0in the\u00a0Liberal<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0world, but it is increasingly under threat.<\/p>\n

Assignment<\/em>:\u00a0 Reflect upon the role of catch-all parties in an era of intense polarization.\u00a0 If election to office is dependent on the financial contributions of special interests and the fickle behavior of electorates, what is the reward for politicians to engage in compromise?\"\"\u00a0 Are their political benefits to refusing to compromise?\u00a0 In an era of populist politics, are we now experiencing the collapse of catch-all parties?\u00a0 If catch-all parties should fail, what type of party will replace them? Or will liberal democracy simply fade away without them?<\/p>\n

Roger Kingdon, \u00a0America\u00a0<\/em>the Unusual<\/em>, chapter 2<\/p>\n

Michael Kazen, \u201cHow can Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders both be \u2018populist\u2019?\u201d \u00a0READ<\/a><\/p>\n

Cas Mudde and Cristobal Kaltwasser,\u00a0Populism<\/em>, chapters 1, 5. READ<\/p>\n

Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt, \u201cThis is how democracies fail,\u201d\u00a0New York Times<\/em>, January 19, 2018\u00a0\u00a0PRINT AND READ<\/a><\/p>\n

Yet, the story is always more complicated:<\/p>\n

Max Fischer, “After a rocky 2018, populism is down but far from out in the West,”\u00a0New York Times<\/em>, January 5, 2019:\u00a0 PRINT AND READ<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

11. DISCUSSION SECTION:\u00a0 Friday, February 8<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Discussion:<\/em>\u00a0 As a result of Polar Vortex day, I have had to change the topic of this section and move things around.\u00a0 On Monday, I’ll talk about the differences between fascism and the liberal welfare-state.\u00a0 For now I just want you to reflect on what you’ve read by this date.<\/p>\n

For today’s section, just go with the articles you’ve already read as well as the ones below.<\/p>\n

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 <\/p>\n

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Cas Mudde and Cristobal Kaltwasser,\u00a0Populism<\/em>, chapters 3 and 4.<\/p>\n

David Brooks, \u201cHow Democracies Perish,\u201d\u00a0 New York Times<\/em>, January 11, 2018\u00a0READ<\/a>.\u00a0 Who is right, Brooks or Deneen (Notre Dame)?<\/p>\n

Assignment<\/em>:<\/p>\n

\"\"
Neo-Nazi Protest in Charlottesville<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Please write an introductory paragraph about the following question. In writing this paragraph, you should imagine that you are writing the introduction for a longer paper:<\/p>\n

Paragraph topic<\/em>: “Will populism eventually lead to the demise of liberal democracy?”\u00a0 If yes, why? If no, why not?\u00a0 You may only take one\u00a0 side.<\/p>\n

We have two goals in making this assignment:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. The first goal is to get you to think about the meaning of “populism” and “liberal democracy.”<\/li>\n
  2. The second is to get you to think about the form a great<\/em>\u00a0introductory paragraph should take. Unlike the paragraphs that you have written up to this point, an introductory paragraph for a paper in this course would typically do the following things: 1) state the issue; 2) identify an argument and a counterargument; 3) take a firm stand; and 4) provide the reader with a sense of how you will proceed.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Your\u00a0first\u00a0REFLECTIVE ESSAY ASSIGNMENT is\u00a0 HERE<\/strong>. It is due on next Friday, February 15, at noon.<\/strong><\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    12. LECTURE:\u00a0 Monday, February 11<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

    General reflection:\u00a0\u00a0<\/em>The advent of\u00a0Fascism\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>in Europe in the first half of the twentieth century was a searing challenge to the values and institutions of\u00a0Liberalism<\/strong><\/em>.\u00a0 The\u00a0Liberal\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>response to\u00a0Fascism\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>was the\u00a0Welfare State<\/strong><\/em>.\u00a0 Today, all\u00a0Liberal\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>states are\u00a0Welfare\u00a0<\/em>States<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0in one respect or another.<\/p>\n

    Today\u2019s Assumptions<\/em>: We may like to think that\u00a0Liberalism<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0would be inevitably welcomed by all people.\u00a0 Yet, its victory over\u00a0Fascism\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>was far from certain.\u00a0 The good news is that\u00a0liberal democracy<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0won.\u00a0 Yet its triumph was largely facilitated by the convenient conjunction of two factors:\u00a0 military power and the West\u2019s readiness to accept the state’s strong role in a\u00a0Liberal Welfare State<\/strong><\/em>.\u00a0 During the Obama years, some of the President\u2019s critics equated the\u00a0Liberal Welfare State<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0with\u00a0Socialism<\/strong><\/em>–indeed, the current US President has reinvoked the\u00a0 threat of Socialism<\/em><\/strong>–but this claim is historically problematic. Fascism<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0was a\u00a0Socialist<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0system of government; so was another political identity that we will consider in a few weeks,\u00a0Leninism<\/em>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Assignments<\/em>: There are a lot of readings under the two topics below (Fascism and Welfare State), but aside from Mussolini\u2019s crucial essay, most are short.<\/p>\n

    I.\u00a0\u00a0On the subject of\u00a0Fascism<\/strong><\/em>, read both Benito Mussolini\u2019s prognostications as well as the testimonies of some of people who fell in love with the movement. Then, reflect upon the significance of the recent popularity of neo-fascist movements in Europe and the US. Could\u00a0Fascism<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0be lurking in our future? \u00a0Or is the\u00a0Modern Welfare State<\/strong>\u00a0enough to save us?<\/p>\n

    Major Reading<\/em>: Benito Mussolini, \u201cThe Doctrine of Fascism\u201d \u00a0PRINT AND READ<\/a>\u00a0 Don\u2019t worry about all the details, just get a general sense for his argument and why it might be appealing.<\/p>\n

    Steinhoff, Pechel, and Showalter,\u00a0Voices from the Third Reich\u00a0<\/em>(PDF FILE<\/a>)<\/p>\n

    Good or bad news on the contemporary horizon?<\/p>\n

    Dan Holleran, “The Opportunistic Rise of Europe\u2019s Far Right,”\u00a0The New Republic<\/em>, February 16, 2018\u00a0PRINT AND READ<\/a><\/p>\n

    Timothy Snyder is worried (Guardian<\/em>, October 30, 2018)\u00a0\u00a0PRINT AND READ<\/a><\/p>\n

    Thomas Meaney is not as worried (New Statesman<\/em>, September 12, 2018)\u00a0\u00a0PRINT AND READ<\/a><\/p>\n


    \n2.\u00a0<\/em> On the subject of the\u00a0Welfare State<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0read:<\/p>\n

    Kingdon:\u00a0America\u00a0<\/em>the Unusual<\/em>, chapters 1 and 3.<\/p>\n

    Pew Foundation: \u00a0\u201cFive Ways in Which Americans and Europeans are Different\u201d\u00a0PRINT AND READ<\/a><\/p>\n

    Comparing Welfare States\u00a0\u00a0SKIM<\/a>\u00a0 This page will give you a sense for the diverse types of liberal welfare states.<\/p>\n

    And, \u201cGoing Dutch\u201d\u00a0READ<\/a>.\u00a0 A personal account of the Welfare State in action!\u00a0 I have spent a good amount of my life living in Germany, and I have consistently been amazed at the benefits of a social-democratic welfare state.<\/p>\n

    13.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>EVENING FILM: Monday, February 11 0r Tuesday February 12<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

    Required Film #1 (Evening), \u201cThe War at Home”<\/i><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

    We will watch a film about the necessarily conflictual and unstable character of\u00a0liberal democracy<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

    Also,\u00a0What! Protest at Notre Dame?\u00a0 READ<\/a><\/p>\n

    To make it easy for you to attend this viewing, we will have two showings of this film:\u00a0 On Monday, February 11 AND on Tuesday, February 12, both at 7:00 pm.\u00a0 Location:\u00a0 B062 Jenkins Nanovic Hall<\/strong><\/p>\n

    If it is impossible for you to view the film on either of these evenings, you may be able to find it on-line.\u00a0 I have also asked Hesburgh Library to order a copy.\u00a0 However, I strongly recommend that you see the film on one of these evenings since you will get a better impression by viewing it on a big screen.<\/p>\n

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    \n


    \n<\/strong>14. LECTURE:\u00a0 Wednesday, February 13<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

    Reflections on the inherently contradictory and conflict-ridden characteristics of\u00a0Liberalism<\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n

    Today\u2019s Assumption<\/em>:\u00a0Liberalism<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0 can\u2019t live up to its name\u00a0unless it has certain\u00a0essential<\/em>\u00a0features. I have already outlined four characteristics. \u00a0Yet by nature,\u00a0Liberalism<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0 is unstable.\u00a0 The\u00a0Liberal-democratic<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0character of our government today is not necessarily the same as it will be tomorrow; jt is certainly not the same as it was yesterday (especially in the current political climate!).\u00a0 Still, this capacity for change can be a very good thing.\u00a0 Indeed, if such\u00a0Liberal-democratic<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0bastions as Iceland, Monaco, Slovenia, Liechtenstein, Andorra, and the U.S. didn\u2019t change over time, they wouldn\u2019t be\u00a0Liberal<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0 at all.<\/p>\n

    Liberal democracy<\/strong>\u00a0is not only inherently conflictual. Regrettably, the features that make this political identity great can also be the source of its unraveling. \u00a0In certain circumstances, good causes can be transformed into ugly sources of unrest and instability.\u00a0 We can see this in the U.S. and Europe today.<\/p>\n

    Reading assignments\u00a0<\/em>(most of them are short):<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

    America is one darn complicated country<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Suzy Hansen, “Unlearning the Myth of American Innocence”\u00a0 READ<\/a><\/p>\n

    \n

    The Good\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Kingdon,\u00a0\u00a0America\u00a0<\/em>the Unusual<\/em>, ch. 5.<\/p>\n

    Chris \u00a0McGreal, \u201cThe S-word: How Young Americans Fell in Love with Socialism\u201d\u00a0READ<\/a><\/p>\n

    What does citizenship have to do with it?\u00a0READ<\/a><\/p>\n

    What does Notre Dame have to do with it? \u00a0Read about Notre Dame students battling the Ku Klux Klan: \u00a0READ<\/a><\/p>\n

    \u2026the Bad, and the Ugly<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \u201cWhat happens when a millennial goes fascist?\u201d\u00a0Los Angeles Times\u00a0<\/em>READ<\/a><\/p>\n

    Richard Fausset, \u201cA Voice of Hate in America\u201d:\u00a0READ<\/a>\u00a0 This article was widely criticized after its publication for humanizing fascism and extremism.\u00a0 Do you think this is a fair criticism?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

     <\/p>\n

    \n

    There\u00a0are Leftist extremists, too<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

    See Peter Beinart, \u201cThe Rise of the Violent Left,\u00a0The Atlantic,\u00a0<\/em>READ<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

    Anonymous, #OpDomesticTerrorism:\u00a0SCAN<\/a><\/p>\n

    Anonymous \u2013 Message to Charlottesville #OpDomesticTerrorism\u00a0WATCH<\/a><\/p>\n

    Consider this<\/em>:\u00a0\u00a0Under what circumstances would you\u00a0resort to\u00a0violence<\/em>\u00a0to protect\u00a0Liberal Democracy?\u00a0 <\/strong><\/em>Or do you think the preservation of Liberal Democracy<\/strong><\/em> isn’t worth the risk of violence?\u00a0 If so, why?<\/p>\n

    \n

    \"\"<\/p>\n

    \n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

    \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0“I am Anonymous”<\/p>\n

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     <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

    15.\u00a0 NO DISCUSSION SECTION:\u00a0Friday, February 15<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n

    Your\u00a0Reflective Essay<\/strong>\u00a0will be due on this date.\u00a0 There will be no discussion section since you have been writing your essay.<\/p>\n

    It is your responsibility to make sure that your TA receives your essay on time. He or she will clarify when and how you are to turn it in. Your essay should have a title and be double-spaced. \u00a0See above for all of the other specifications. \u00a0Be sure to put your name on your essay.<\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

    NOTE:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0Please do not\u00a0use 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.\u00a0 My classroom is a tweet-free zone!<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    PART II In the first section of this course, we focused on abstractions. Now, we get concrete!\u00a0 This section is devoted to the\u00a0making\u00a0of the\u00a0Liberal Democratic Nation-state. \u00a0I use the word \u201cmaking\u201d quite deliberately.\u00a0 Everything has a history, including even you.\u00a0 To understand any phenomenon, we need to begin with its roots. The roots of\u00a0Liberal democracy\u00a0and … Continue reading “Liberal Democracy”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":114,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-13","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.nd.edu\/worldpolitics-2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/13","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.nd.edu\/worldpolitics-2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.nd.edu\/worldpolitics-2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.nd.edu\/worldpolitics-2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/114"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.nd.edu\/worldpolitics-2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13"}],"version-history":[{"count":101,"href":"https:\/\/sites.nd.edu\/worldpolitics-2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/13\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":945,"href":"https:\/\/sites.nd.edu\/worldpolitics-2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/13\/revisions\/945"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.nd.edu\/worldpolitics-2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}