Introduction to Political Theory (POLISCI 250)
sect. 1 (W6:15-8:45pm. 324 Hyer Hall)
sect. 2 (T3:45-6:15pm 320 Hyer Hall)

Office: 305 Salisbury Hall. (262) 472-5772
email: mohanp@uww.edu   (Email is my preferred method of communication. I respond to and answer all emails, usually within 24 hours or less. If you do call,  I will try to call you back as soon as possible, but from experience, it is likely to take significantly longer than through email.

Office Hours:  Mondays 6:15-7 pm.,Tuesdays, 2-3:30 pm, Fridays, 2:15-3:30 pm, or by appointment.

Debate Guidelines

Debate groups (both section 1 & 2)

Ideology Comparison Chart

Course Description

  This course will focus on the ideological foundations of American political  discourse and policy debate. That is, we will examine the historical roots  and contemporary expressions of three influential systems of  ideas--liberalism, conservatism, and radicalism-- and how each has  shaped the way Americans think about social problems and what “realistic” solutions to them emerge. While each of these traditions is grounded in American thought, they vary radically from each other in terms of how  they define and prioritize competing values, and how they conceptualize human nature and potential. We will focus most closely on the way in which each tradition defines the central values of justice,  freedom, equality, and community and how current policy debates often  center around different conceptions of these values and how they can best  be realized.

    While the topics of this course can be quite abstract, the focus in our class will be on how these ideas influence contemporary policy debates. The class discussions then will be quite grounded and will concern current issues.

Course Requirements and Grading Criterion
University Non-Discrimination Statement

All of the readings for this course are available on-line. No book needs to be purchased by students nor rented from the textbook library.

COURSE OUTLINE:

Week 1 (Tuesdays, 9/2/03 or Wednesdays, 9/3/03)
        Introduction and Course expectations
        Definition of concepts intro notes

Week 2 (Tuesdays, 9/9/03 or Wednesday, 9/10/03)

    A. Classical Liberalism
        John Locke, The Second Treatise of Government (excerpts)
        John Stuart Mill. On Liberty (excerpts)
        Safire, William. June 2002 J. Edgar Mueller
        Garrow, David. 9/23/01.  The Rule of Fear
 

 notes on classical liberalism

Week 3 (Tuesday, 9/16/03 or Wednesday, 9/17/03)
Week 4  (Tuesday, 9/23/03 or Wednesday, 9/24/03)

   B. Welfare State Liberalism
        Franklin Delano Roosevelt. 1937. Campaign Address
        Krugman, Paul. 2001.  Reckonings: Paying the Price
        Frank, Robert. 2002  The Case For Sanctions
        Helmsley, Robert. 2002.  Losing My Stake in the Economy

notes on welfare state liberalism

classical liberal questions (section 1- due 9/24/03, sect. 2, 9/30/03)
II. Conservatism

Week 5 (Tuesday, 9/30/03 or Wednesday, 10/1/03)
Week 6 (Tuesday, 10/7/03 or Wednesday, 10/8/03)

Notes on Historical Conservatism

questions on welfare state liberalism- due Wednesday, 10/15/03 (sect. 1) and due Tuesday, 10/14/03 (sect. 2)
  A. Historical Conservatism
        Edmund Burke. Reflections on the Revolution in France
        Alexis DeTocqueville. Democracy in America
 

Week 7 (Tuesday, 10/14/03 or Wednesday, 10/15/03)
Week  8 (Tuesday, 10/21/03 or Wednesday, 10/22/03)

    B. Economic Conservatism--Libertarianism
        Friedman, Milton. Economic Freedom, Human Freedom, Political Freedom
        Rosen, Jeffey. 2001.  Being Watched: A Cautionary Tale in An Age of Surveillance
      Thompson, Nicholas. 9/29/03. Netflix Uses Speed to Fend Off Wal-Mart Challenge

notes on libertarianism

Week 9 (Tuesday, 10/28/03 or  Wednesday, 10/29/03)

     C. Cultural Conservatism--Communitarianism
        George Washington University. 2003. The Communitarian Vision
        Libraw, Oliver. 7/2003. Matthew 1040
        Brooks, David. 11/25/01.  The Push to Institutionalize Giving Back May Transform a Generation
        go to Christian Coalition website

notes on cultural conservatism
questions on libertarianism--(due, 11/04/03, for section 2 and 11/12/03 for section 1)

Week 10 (Tuesday, 11/4/03 or Wednesday, 11/5/03)
Week  11 (Tuesday, 11/11/03 or Wednesday, 11/12/03)

questions on communitarianism- for sect. 2- due Tuesday, 11/25/03, sect. 1, due 12/2/03

III. Radicalism
  A. Communism and Socialism
        Marx and Engels, The Communist Manifesto
        Karl Marx The German Ideology
        Weinstein, David. 2000. America's Rags to Riches Myth

notes on historical and modern socialism

Week 12 (Tuesday, 11/18/03 or Wednesday, 11/19/03)
Week 13 (Tuesday, 11/25/03)  (No class, section 1. Thanskgiving Break)

 B. Social Democracy and Socialism,
        Ehrenreich, Barbara. 2001.  Those Who Don't Get By .
  go to Socialist Party
Strom, Stephanie. 11/16/03. For Middle Class, Health Insurance Becomes a Luxury

Week 14 (Wednesday, 12/3/03)
 B. Social Democracy and Socialism,  (cont.)
    Ehrenreich, Barbara. 2001.  Those Who Don't Get By .
  go to Socialist Party

Week 15   (Tuesday, 12/9/03 or Wednesday, 12/10/03)
  IN-CLASS DEBATES

Week 16 (Wednesday, 12/17/03)
  IN-CLASS DEBATES

 final exam- due by Thursday, 12/18/03 at 5 pm.