Introduction to Political Theory (820-250-01)
320 Hyer Hall

      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 solutions logically follow from them. 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. 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.

        COURSE OUTLINE:
        week 1 (9/5/01)
        Introduction and Course expectations
        Definition of concepts intro notes
 

        week 2 (9/12/01)
Discussion of terrorist attacks

       week 3 (9/19/01)    week 4  (9/26/01)
 A. Classical Liberalism
        John Locke, The Second Treatise of Government (excerpts)
        John Stuart Mill. On Liberty (excerpts)
       Delsohn & Hubert. 1996. How Liberty's Rules Get Fractured in Quest For Security
  Censorship--No-Play List
(not required, but interesting) Garrow, David. 9/23/01.  The Rule of Fear
notes on classical liberalism
 classical liberalism questions--due 10/03/01
 

week 5 (10/3/01)
          B. Welfare State Liberalism
Franklin Delano Roosevelt. 1937. Campaign Address
Frank, Robert. 2000.  The Costs of Less Government
Krugman, Paul. 2001.  Reckonings: Paying the Price
 notes on welfare state liberalism--(10/3/01) and continued on (10/10/01)

 welfare state liberalism questions

  week 7  (10/17/01)
   week  8  (10/24/01)
        II. Conservatism
        A. Historical Conservatism
        ON-LINE: Edmund Burke. Reflections on the Revolution in France
       ON-LINE: Alexis DeTocqueville. Democracy in America
 notes on historical conservatism

      week 9  (10/31/01)
        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
go to Libertarian Party website
 example of libertarian reasoning

 libertarian notes
 libertarian questions

   Week 11  (11/14/01) Week 13 (11/28/01)
        C. Cultural Conservatism--Communitarianism
        Sullivan, Andrew. 2001. It's A Religious War
    Bruni, Frank, and Laurie Goodstein. 2001. New Bush Office Seeks Closer Ties to Church Groups
   Brooks, David. 11/25/01.  The Push to Institutionalize Giving Back May Transform a Generation
go to Christian Coalition website
 cultural conservative notes

 DEBATE TOPICS AND GUIDELINES

 week 14  (12/05/01)
  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
        B. Social Democracy and Socialism, Anarchism
Ehrenreich, Barbara. 2001.  Those Who Don't Get By .
           go to Socialist Party

 notes on historical socialism and modern socialism
 final exam due 12/18/01

  week 15 & Final Exam Period  (12/12/01--12/19/01)

        IN-CLASS DEBATES