Democracy and Power
PLSC 307, Section 1
Fall 2014
Tuesday-Thursday 12:30-1:45pm
131 Porter Hall
Bradley R. Jackson
bjacks53@emich.edu
601H Pray-Harrold Hall
Department of Political Science
REQUIRED TEXTS:
John Locke, Two Treatises of Government, edited by Peter Laslett, Cambridge University
Press
The Marx-Engels Reader, edited by Robert C. Tucker, W.W. Norton and Co.
José Ortega y Gasset, The Revolt of the Masses, W.W. Norton and Co.
Michel Foucault, Power, edited by James D. Faubion, The New Press
OVERVIEW: Perhaps the primary political question is how power is to be organized.
Should only one person have power and rule as a monarch, or should everyone have an
equal share of political power, as in a pure democracy? What are the intermediate states
between these two extremes? How do different distributions of power affect the lives of
citizens within the state? Are there any powers which must necessarily be given up by
citizens? Are there any powers that citizens should not, or even cannot, renounce? How
much power does the government need to function? Must governmental power be strictly
limited to protect the rights of individual citizens, and if so, what are the proper limits?
How do governments display and wield their power? Do media and science play any role
in supporting state power? How might the people display and wield their own power
against an oppressive state?
In this class, we will ask these and other questions by reading classic works of political
thought. These works will consider a variety of perspectives and historical periods, from
the ancient city, to the English, American, and French Revolutions; from the conflict
between liberalism and Marxism, to the technical, bureaucratic state of today. Questions
about the proper organization of political power have been asked repeatedly throughout
this history, and by surveying the various answers that thinkers have provided, we will
enable ourselves to think through these questions again for ourselves with reference to
our own world. The question of how political power should be distributed is a question
that remains alive today, and this class is designed to offer the conceptual resources
necessary for considering these vital problems. Students will be asked to connect the
thoughts and arguments found in the readings to contemporary issues in America and the
rest of the world. It is hoped that this will encourage active, thoughtful engagement with
contemporary events, while simultaneously adding depth to our historical and theoretical
knowledge of politics.
CLASS STRUCTURE: This class will have a lecture format. Primarily, we will spend
class time discussing the readings. It is therefore imperative that you come to class
having done the reading. If you have not done the reading, the lecture will be less useful
for you. Doing the reading is necessary for another reason: classes like this are better if
students come to them with questions and concerns about the material. Political
philosophy is about principled discussion and debate. We will all get more out of the
class if everyone comes prepared to engage in the discussion.
Be sure to give yourself enough time to complete the readings. These are difficult,
complicated books and what an author means will not always be immediately clear. It is
important that you take time to read these works carefully, since you will be evaluated
primarily on your understanding of these texts.
ASSIGNMENTS: Grades in this class will be determined based on the following:
(1) Six short (500 words) papers in which you relate the concepts in class to some event
in the current news. These papers can be turned in at any point during the semester.
However, no more than one of these papers may be turned per week. Each paper should
be about a different news story. You should not, for example, write two papers on the
same event, even if you can find two news stories about it. Together, these papers are
worth 12% of the final grade.
(2) Two short essays (approx. 1500 words) on topics assigned in class or agreed upon
by the student and instructor. These will be distributed one week before they are due. The
first is due Tuesday 10/7; the second is due Tuesday 11/11. Please bring a paper copy to
class the day the assignment is due. Together, these papers are worth 40% of the final
grade.
(3) One long essay (approx. 3000 words) on a topic assigned in class or agreed upon by
the student and the instructor. Topics will be distributed after the Thanksgiving break.
This paper is due on Thursday 12/11, the last day of class. Please bring a paper copy to
class. This essay is worth 40% of the final grade.
(4) Participation. This sort of class is improved by student participation. Questions and
comments are not only encouraged, they are also required and worth 8% of the final
grade.
GRADING SCALE:
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD+
D
DF
96-100
91-95
85-90
80-84
76-79
72-75
68-71
64-68
60-63
55-59
50-54
<50
4
3.7
3.3
3
2.7
2.3
2
1.7
1.3
1
0.7
0
ACADEMIC HONESTY POLICY: Plagiarism of any kind will not be
tolerated. This includes using direct quotes or close paraphrases without
attribution. Use of Wikipedia is unacceptable, even if cited. Failure to comply with
the academic honesty policy will result in a failing grade on the assignment in
question as well as referral to appropriate university authorities for disciplinary
action.
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES: Students with disabilities should contact the
Disability Resource Center to establish reasonable accommodations. For an appointment
with a disability specialist, visit http://www.emich.edu/drc/.
SCHEDULE:
4-Sep
9-Sep
11-Sep
16-Sep
18-Sep
23-Sep
25-Sep
30-Sep
2-Oct
7-Oct
9-Oct
14-Oct
16-Oct
21-Oct
23-Oct
28-Oct
30-Oct
4-Nov
6-Nov
11-Nov
Introduction
Declaration of Indepedence
Locke's Second Treatise I-III
Locke's Second Treatise IV-V
Locke's Second Treatise VI-VIII
Locke's Second Treatise IX-XII
Locke's Second Treatise XIII-XVI
Locke's Second Treatise XVII-XIX
Marx pp. 469-483
Marx pp. 483-500
Marx pp. 53-65, 143-176
Marx pp. 176-200
Marx pp. 586-617
Marx pp. 525-548
Ortega y Gasset, Chapters 1-4
Ortega y Gasset, Chapters 5-8
Ortega y Gasset, Chapters, 9-12
Ortega y Gasset, Chapters 13-15
Foucault pp. 1-16
Foucault pp. 16-32
Paper 1 Due
Paper 2 Due
13-Nov
18-Nov
20-Nov
25-Nov
27-Nov
2-Dec
4-Dec
9-Dec
11-Dec
Foucault pp. 32-52
Foucault pp. 52-70
Foucault pp. 70-87
Foucault pp. 111-133
Thanksgiving
Foucault pp. 201-222
Foucault pp. 326-348
Foucault pp. 90-105, 134-156
Foucault pp. 423-464
Paper 3 Due