Western Washington University



Western Washington UniversityDept. of Political Science, College of Humanities & Social Sciences PLSC 261 - Introduction to Political Theory (Section 22207)Spring 2019, Old Main 482, TR 12:00 – 1:50Dr. Hoffman, Arntzen 424Office Hours: Tuesday, 2:00 – 2:30; Thursday, 2:00 – 3:00, and by appt.***Course Website*** Assistants:Benjamin Cole, Email: coleb7@wwu.eduDylan Montgomery, Email: montgod6@wwu.edu Course Description:This course provides an Introduction to Political Philosophy & the History of Western Political Thought. The course emphasizes the historical intellectual richness of political philosophy and political thought. Please note that this is not a course on contemporary politics or current events, but a course on the historical evolution of political philosophy and political thought. For each political philosophy that we study, we will read an historical and contextual overview in the main course textbook, Political Ideologies and the Democratic Ideal. We will put strong emphasis on the humanities aspect, including key primary source readings associated with each political philosophy. As such we will read some essential primary source readings from the main canonical thinkers in political philosophy, along with select theorists associated with each theoretical approach in the Ideals and Ideologies anthology. Paying close attention to the historical and contextual overview in lecture and in the main text will go a long way towards helping you to understand the primary source readings in the Ideals and Ideologies reader. The course focuses on the historical traditions of democracy, classical & modern civic-republican thought, liberalism, conservatism, and socialism. We will chronicle the evolution of each ideology through the modern period, to better apprehend each ideology’s twenty-first century application. Throughout, we will analyze the relationship of each philosophy to the democratic tradition. Just as there are many different "flavors" or types of liberalism & socialism (& conservatism), there are many different ways to define democracy. We will conclude the course by contemplating the future of ideology, along with a cautionary note about the difficulty of accurately predicting the future of any particular political theory or ideology. Throughout the quarter, we will address the following questions, considered central to political theory: What is the basis of the political legitimacy of the state? How does each ideology understand liberty, freedom, and obligation? Why are the notions of individual rational autonomy and agency so important in Western thought? Why are these latter notions in such alarming decline today? What is the proper balance between responsibility and liberty – and between equality and liberty? Towards the end of term we will also investigate some considerations of modernity and polity in contemporary society.The course will provide you with a broad overview of the main traditions of Western political thought. It will also provide you with greater familiarization of some essential tools of a liberal arts education, including critical analysis and informed moral discourse, and their roles in making more our communities more open and civil. You will also develop the key ability to apply insights and ideas from the classics of political thought to problems of our own time. Classes will include both lecture and some class discussion of the readings. Course materials, including lecture notes & background notes on the primary source readings will be on the course website at . The course will not use Canvas. All materials will be posted to the website. Typically, I will lecture on the material in the main textbook at the start of each unit, and then allow for discussion when covering the primary source readings in the Ideals & Ideologies reader. There will be occasional in-class hours devoted to class discussion at appropriate points throughout the quarter as well. Careful and civil consideration of others’ ideas and theoretical positions is of course an essential aspect of the humanistic and liberal tradition. Our goal is to go beyond differences to allow for productive discourse & insightful exploration of the ideas and political & social theories that we cover.Required Texts:1) Terence Ball and Richard Dagger, editors. Political Ideologies and the Democratic Ideal 2) Terence Ball and Richard Dagger, editors. Ideals and Ideologies, A ReaderCourse Requirements:Midterm Exam & Final ExamThere will be a midterm exam and a final exam. The exams will comprise primarily multiple choice style questions. I will provide a review sheet, practice questions, and a review session before both the Midterm & Final Exams.We will take periodic class attendance throughout the quarter. NOTE: Make-up examinations and quizzes cannot be given, except for medical or other excused absences. Summary of Graded Assignments1) Midterm Exam ~44 % 2) Final Exam ~48 %3) Attendance ~8 %Grading Standards:The point distribution for all graded work will be as follows:93 - 100A90-92A-88-89B+83-87B80-82B-etc.No Cell Phone Policy & Technology Policy: Cell phones must be silenced and put away. If I see your phone out and in use, I will pause and wait for you to put it away, the first time. The second time, we will ask you to kindly step out so you may take care of pressing matters on the phone or tablet prior to returning to class. If you anticipate that a cellphone related matter may come up, please try to sit towards the back so you can step out of class to attend to your phone, etc. There is no problem with doing this – it’s 2019. Just try to step out politely as a courtesy to your fellow students, TAs, and prof. You may use a laptop to take notes. However, it shouldn’t be used for anything else, aside from consulting a course reading, during class. Again, if pressing matters arise, the best path is to briefly step out of class to attend to them; if you miss anything we’re always happy to fill it in after class (if we can recall it!).Academic Ethics: Academic dishonesty is a serious offense, potentially grounds for dismissal from the university. It is also inimical to the development of good character. Dishonesty includes plagiarism, cheating on exams, and so forth. Please consult for an explanation of what constitutes plagiarism. Western’s policy on plagiarism can be found at . Please note that I must follow university procedures when I identify a case of plagiarism. Other policies: The instructor reserves the right to change the schedule and assignments at his discretion. Please note that there are no provisions for make-up exams. You will be able to drop one quiz. If, due to an excused emergency, you must miss the midterm or final exam, you must email me (charles.hoffman@wwu.edu) or leave a message at 650-2908, in advance of the exam. If the absence is excused, your final will count double. If you are sick or have an emergency situation, please do your best to contact us prior to the exam. Special Accommodations: Western Washington’s policy and commitment is to make reasonable accommodations for students with properly documented disabilities. Written notification from disAbilities resources (DRS) is required. If you are eligible to receive an accommodation, DRS will inform us, and your exams and work will be facilitated & set up accordingly. If you have questions about DRS and how to file for an accommodation, please visit disability Resources for Students in Old Main 110 (650-3083). Their email is drs@wwu.edu.Course Schedule and Readings:Apr 2 & 4 Introduction to the History of Political Thought Studying the History of Political Thought and Political Philosophy Political Ideologies and the Democratic Ideal, Chapter 1Apr 9 & 11 Classical Liberalism – The First Political Philosophy The Contract Theorists: Thomas Hobbes & John Locke Political Ideologies and the Democratic Ideal, Chapter 1 (con’t)Political Ideologies and the Democratic Ideal, Chapter 3, 10th: pp. 50-62, 9th: pp. 44-55, 8th: pp. 45-56 Hobbes’ Leviathan:Ideals and Ideologies, Reading: 3.11, pp. 70-72 only (10th ed), or 3.11, pp. 60-62 only (9th ed), (it is Reading 3.10 in 8th ed, pp. 57-59 only) Locke’s 2nd Treatise on Government:Ideals and Ideologies, Reading 3.12 pp. 83-94 only (10th ed), or pp. 71-79 only (9th ed), (it is Reading 3.11 in 8th ed, pp. 68-77 only)Apr 16 & 18 Classical Liberalism in the Age of Democratic RevolutionsPolitical Ideologies and the Democratic Ideal, Chapter 3, 10th: 62-73, 9th: 55-65, 8th: pp. 56-64Ideals and Ideologies, Reading 3.13 (10th and 9th) (Thomas Paine’s Common Sense) (it is Reading 3.12 in the 8th ed)Ideals and Ideologies, Reading 3.16 (10th and 9th) (Adam Smith’s Wealth of Nations) (it is Reading 3.15 in the 8th ed)Tues, Apr 23 Polis, Republic & Democracy from Antiquity to the European Renaissance: From Aristotle’s Polity to Machiavelli’s RepublicPolitical Ideologies and the Democratic Ideal, 1st half of Chapter 2Ideals and Ideologies, Reading 2.4 (Aristotle)Thurs, Apr 25 Polis, Republic & Democracy from Antiquity to the European Renaissance (con’t)Ideals and Ideologies, Reading 2.5 (Machiavelli)The Modern Republic & the 19th Century Public Sphere (1831-1860)Political Ideologies and the Democratic Ideal, 2nd half of Chapter 2Tues, Apr 30 The Modern Republic & the 19th Century Public Sphere (con’t from Thurs)Continued treatment (from 4/25) of modern republicanism & democracy (2nd half of Chapter 2) Ideals and Ideologies, Reading 2.8 (Alexis de Tocqueville, excerpt from Democracy in America (1835))Thurs, May 2 John Stuart Mill’s On Representative GovernmentReading 2.9 (John Stuart Mill, excerpt from On Representative Gov’t (1861))Utilitarianism & Classical Liberalism After 1800John Stuart Mill’s 19th Century Utilitarian Classical LiberalismPolitical Ideologies and the Democratic Ideal, Chapter 3, 10th: 73-80, 9th: 65-72 top, 8th: pp. 64-70Ideals & Ideologies, Reading 3.18 (10th & 9th) (excerpt from JS Mill’s On Liberty (1859)) Tues, May 7 Split Between Neo-Classical Liberalism & Welfare Liberalism after 1870Political Ideologies and the Democratic Ideal, Chapter 3, 10th: 80-88, 9th: 72-78, 8th: pp. 70-75 Welfare Liberalism & John Rawls’s Theory of JusticePolitical Ideologies and the Democratic Ideal, Chapter 3, 10th: 88-92, 9th: 79-82, 8th: pp. 75-79 Review for MidtermThurs, May 9 Midterm ExamTues, May 14From the Third Way to Obama’s “New” New DealPolitical Ideologies and the Democratic Ideal, Chapter 3, 10th: 92-104, 9th: 82-93, 8th: pp. 79-88Traditional Conservatism: From Edmund Burke to Tory Democracy in the UKPolitical Ideologies and the Democratic Ideal, Chapter 4, pp. 93-105 (8th)Political Ideologies and the Democratic Ideal, Chapter 4, pp. 99-114 (9th)Ideals & Ideologies, Reading 4.24/4.27 Edmund Burke, Reflections on the Revolution in FranceThurs, May 16Conservatism 1900 - 1964Political Ideologies and the Democratic Ideal, Chapter 4 (con’t), pp. 105-113 (middle) (8th)Political Ideologies and the Democratic Ideal, Chapter 4 (con’t), pp. 114-119 (middle) (9th)Tues, May 21 Michael Oakeshott’s 20th Century Traditional Conservatism Ideals & Ideologies, Reading 4.26/4.29 Michael Oakeshott, On Being Conservative Thurs, May 23 From the 1964 Conservative Movement to the Reagan-Rove Coalition After 1980: Individualist Conservatism, Neo- Conservatism, Populism, & the Religious Right Political Ideologies and the Democratic Ideal, Chapter 4 (con’t), pp. 113 – 115 (8th)Political Ideologies and the Democratic Ideal, Chapter 4 (con’t), pp. 119 – 125 (1st para) (9th)Tues, May 28 Strengthening of Religious Right in 1990s & 2000sDecline of Reagan Rove-Coalition after 2012 Political Ideologies and the Democratic Ideal, Chapter 4 (con’t), pp. 116 – 121 (8th)Political Ideologies and the Democratic Ideal, Chapter 4 (con’t), pp. 125 (2nd para) – 129 (9th)Thurs, May 30Socialism from Thomas More to Karl Marx Emergence of Marxist Thought in the Industrial RevolutionPolitical Ideologies and the Democratic Ideal, Chapter 5, pp. 133-142 top (9th ed)Marxist Theory of History & Dialectical MaterialismMarx’s Critique of Capitalism & Theories of Alienation & RevolutionPolitical Ideologies and the Democratic Ideal, Chapter 5, pp. 178–186 (8th ed)Political Ideologies and the Democratic Ideal, Chapter 5, pp. 142-154 (9th ed)Post-Marxism & the rise of Democratic Socialism in Western EuropeFabian Socialism & the British Labour PartySocialism & Welfare Liberalism in the USPolitical Ideologies & the Democratic Ideal, Chapter 6, pp. 186 – 194 (9th)Tues, June 4Critical Western Marxism & CommodificationPolitical Ideologies and the Democratic Ideal, Chapter 6, pp. 173 (bottom) – 174 (bottom) (8th)Political Ideologies and the Democratic Ideal, Chapter 6, pp. 181– 182 (top) (9th)Enlightenment vs. Anti-Enlightenment ThoughtPolitical Ideologies and the Democratic Ideal, (Chapter 7), pp. 191 – 194 only (8th)Political Ideologies and the Democratic Ideal, (Chapter 7), pp. 199 – 202 only (9th)Ideals & Ideologies, Reading 4.25/4.28 (de Maistre) (Just read the 2 short paragraphs at the top -- Considerations on France)See Powerpoint for Chapter 7 on Course Webpage as well Thurs, June 6Whither Ideology? Ideology Past, Present, Future Political Ideologies and the Democratic Ideal, Chapter 11Review for Final ExamTuesday, June 11 Final Exam, 8:00 – 10:00 ................
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