Instructor:  Laurel  Sprague
Office  hours:  W  3:30-­‐5:00
Office  location:  601E  Pray-­‐Harrold
Email:  lspragu2@emich.edu
Winter  2015
Class  hours:  M/  W  2:00-­‐3:15
Class  location:  Marshall  108
Department  phone:  734.487.6970
This  class  focuses  on  contemporary  issues  in  political  theory.  Building  from  the  foundation  provided  for   us  by  20 th  century  political  thinkers,  John  Rawls,  Michel  Foucault,  and  Jürgen  Habermas,  this  class  will   examine  power,  justice,  democracy,  and  self-­‐determination  from  multiple  angles  and  perspectives.
Following  the  lead  of  Pierre  Bourdieu,  we  will  begin  with  –  and  continually  circle  back  to  –  where  we,   ourselves,  find  ourselves  placed  and  place  ourselves  within  these  questions.  For  the  main  part  of  our   semester  together,  we  will  focus  on  issues  of  democracy  and  difference,  analysing  the  ways  in  which   many  of  the  most  thought-­‐provoking  political  philosophers  of  our  time  have  responded  to   contemporary  questions  of  identity,  culture,  hegemony,  fairness,  historical  injustice,  (in)equality,   representation,  and  legitimacy  within  political  systems.  These  contemporary  philosophers  come  from   various  backgrounds,  including  feminist,  socialist,  liberal,  republican,  cosmopolitan,  multiculturalist,   post-­‐colonial,  and  traditionalist  political  theory.  In  the  last  weeks  of  class,  we  will  use  a  series  of  debates   between  four  contemporary  political  philosophers  and  public  intellectuals  (some  more  public  than   others)  –  Judith  Butler,  Jürgen  Habermas,  Charles  Tayler,  and  Cornel  West  –  to  engage  with  the   particularly  pressing  political  issue  of  the  role  of  religion  in  the  public  sphere.  Students  are  expected,   throughout  the  class,  to  measure  their  experiences  and  thoughts  against  the  theories  studied  and  to   question,  analyse,  debate,  agree,  change  your  minds,  and  generally  immerse  yourselves  in  the  big   political  questions  of  autonomy  and  community,  freedom  and  fairness,  self-­‐governance  and  obligation   of  our  time.
Required  Texts
Seyla  Benhabib,  editor.  1996.  Democracy  and  Difference:  Contesting  the  Boundaries  of  the  Political.
Princeton,  New  Jersey:  Princeton  University  Press.    ISBN:  9780691044781.
Judith  Butler,  Jurgen  Habermas,  Charles  Taylor,  and  Cornel  West.  2011.  The  Power  of  Religion  in  the
Public  Sphere.  Eduardo  Mendieta  and  Jonathan  Vanantwerpen,  editors.  New  York:  Columbia  University
Press.  ISBN:  9780231156462.
Optional  Text
Michel  Foucault.  1995.  Discipline  and  Punish:  The  Birth  of  the  Prison.  Alan  Sheridan,  translator.  New
York:  Vintage  Books.
Additional  texts  will  be  assigned  and  made  available  via  email/web.

Course  Requirements
Students  are  expected  to  read  the  texts  closely  before  each  class  period  and  come  prepared  to  ask   questions  and  discuss  each  author’s  propositions  about  such  philosophical  concepts  as  power,  justice,   democracy,  autonomy,  community,  and  difference.
Your  grade  in  the  class  will  be  based  on  the  following:
Participation  10%
Students  are  expected  to  come  to  class  having  completed  the  readings  and  prepared  to  engage  in   discussions.  Your  participation  grade  will  be  based  less  on  the  quantity  of  your  contributions  than  on   your  ability  to  ask  meaningful  questions  and  listen  and  respond  respectfully  to  your  fellow  students  and   your  willingness  to  try  on  new  ideas  and  critically  evaluate  multiple  viewpoints.
You  can  miss  up  to  three  classes  without  penalty  to  your  participation  grade;  however  more  than  three   absences  will  result  in  a  reduction.
I  may  use  a  “Fish  Bowl”  format  (described  in  the  first  class)  for  participation  to  allow  students  greater   opportunity  for  engagement  and  feedback  from  me.
Response  papers  20%
Most  class  periods  will  start  with  a  question  for  discussion  that  highlights  a  fundamental  concern  from   the  reading  for  that  day.    Two  times  during  the  semester,  to  be  determined  by  you,  you  must  write  and   turn  in  a  3-­‐4  page  response  to  a  discussion  question.  This  response  paper  must  demonstrate  an   understanding  of,  an  analysis  of,  and  a  response  to  the  ways  in  which  the  author  under  discussion  for   that  class  period  would  respond  to  the  question.  The  response  paper  is  due  one  week  after  the  assigned   reading  upon  which  it  is  based.
Quizzes  20%
A  few  times  during  the  semester,  I  will  administer  short  quizzes  with  a  maximum  of  10  short  answer   questions.  These  are  designed  to  make  sure  you  are  able  to  identify  the  philosophers  we  study  with  the   main  components  of  their  theories.    Quizzes  will  be  cumulative  across  the  semester.
Final  Paper  30%
Your  final  grade  in  the  class  will  be  based  on  a  paper  of  approximately  10  pages  in  which  you  will   examine  a  contemporary  political  issue  using  the  political  thought  of  one  (or  possibly  two)  of  the   theorists  discussed  during  the  semester.  Further  instructions  will  be  provided.  Due  by  12  pm  on  April  27.
Presentation  20%
Because  a  crucial  element  of  contemporary  political  thought  is  engagement  and  dialogue  with  ideas  and   fellow  thinkers,  each  student  will  provide  a  short  (5-­‐7  minute)  presentation  of  the  basic  questions  and   ideas  that  form  your  final  paper.  Time  for  presentations  will  be  provided  during  the  final  weeks  of  class.

Grading  Scale
The  grading  scale  for  the  class  is  as  follows:
A  93-­‐100  percent     A-­‐  90-­‐92.9  percent     B+  87-­‐89.9  percent     B  83-­‐86.9  percent
B-­‐  80-­‐82.9  percent     C+  77-­‐79.9  percent     C  73-­‐76.9  percent
D+  67-­‐69.9  percent     D  63-­‐66.9  percent     D-­‐  60-­‐62.9  percent
C-­‐  70-­‐72.9  percent
F  <59.9  percent
Communicating  with  the  Instructor
It  will  be  easiest  to  contact  me  via  email.  If  you  need  to  speak  with  me  during  my  office  hours,  call  the   political  science  department  office  at  734  487  3113  and  ask  to  be  connected  with  me.
You  are  urged  to  use  your  EMU  email  address.  I  will  use  the  EMU  email  addresses  if  I  need  to   communicate  information  to  the  class,  for  example,  if  there  is  an  unexpected  class  cancellation.  If  you   choose  to  communicate  with  me  using  another  email  address,  identify  yourself  clearly  in  the  subject   line.  You  should  know  that  I  delete  messages  when  I  do  not  know  the  sender  to  protect  my  system  from   email  viruses.
Discussion  Guidelines
Listen  closely  to  one  another.  This  includes  trying  to  verify  that  you  understand  what  the  other  person  is   saying,  particularly  when  you  disagree.
Speak  respectfully,  in  agreement  and  disagreement.  Do  not  interrupt  each  other.
Allow  each  other  to  change.  No  one  is  bound  to  any  one  statement.  Anyone  can  change  her  or  his  mind.
Understand  that  no  student  in  this  class  can  be  asked  to  speak  for  her  or  his  racial,  ethnic,  religious,  or   any  other,  group.  No  group  is  homogenous.  Each  of  us  speaks  as  a  unique  individual  with  our  own   opinions  and  experiences.
General  Guidelines  for  Behavior  in  College  Classrooms
§ Turn  off  your  cell  phone  and  computer  before  class  starts.
§ If  you  need  to  leave  early,  let  me  know  ahead  of  time.
§ Arrive  a  few  minutes  before  class  so  that  class  can  start  on  time  without  interruptions.
§ Do  not  engage  in  side  conversations  during  lectures  and  discussions.
§ Do  not  read  newspapers,  magazines,  web  pages,  or  any  other  materials  not  related  to  class   during  class  time.
§ Arrive  ready  to  discuss  the  day’s  topic  and  readings.
§ Use  class  email  addresses  and  instructors’  email  addresses  only  for  class-­‐related  questions  and   information.
§ If  you  are  absent,  it  is  your  responsibility  to  get  the  information  from  the  class  you  missed  from   another  student.  Make  friends.

Accessibility
If  you  have  a  disability  and  are  registered  with  the  Student  s  with  Disabilities  office,  please  see  me   during  the  first  week  of  class.  We  will  set  up  a  meeting  to  determine  how  we  can  best  work  together  to   ensure  that  you  are  able  to  fully  and  fairly  participate  in  all  aspects  of  the  class.  Please  bring  your   paperwork  from  EAS  to  our  meeting.
To  contact  the  Students  with  Disabilities  Office,  go  to  http://www.emich.edu/drc/index.html.
Academic  Honesty
Students  are  expected  to  know  and  abide  by  all  University  rules  on  academic  honesty  and  deportment.
If  you  are  uncertain  of  your  responsibilities  as  a  student,  consult  the  Student  Conduct  Code.  The  full  text   is  available  at  http://www.emich.edu/policies/chapter8/8-­‐1_policy.pdf.  Any  violation  of  provisions  on   academic  honesty  will  be  prosecuted  to  the  full  extent  allowable.
Here  are  some  examples  of  the  kinds  of  actions  that  constitute  academic  dishonesty:
§ Plagiarizing—willfully  presenting  the  language,  ideas,  or  thoughts  of  another  person  as  one’s   original  work;
§ Revealing  the  form  or  content  of  an  examination  or  quiz;  attempting  to  secure  a  copy  of  or   information  about  a  future  examination  or  quiz  without  authorization  from  the  instructor;
§ Copying  another’s  answers  in  an  in-­‐class  or  take-­‐home  examination,  paper,  laboratory  work,  or   class  assignment;  using  crib  notes,  prepared  blue  books,  or  other  types  of  unauthorized   materials;
§ Discussing  answers  during  an  in-­‐class  examination  or  a  take-­‐home  examination  without  the   instructor’s  permission;
§ Submitting  work  completed  for  a  previous  course  for  a  subsequent  course  without  the   permission  of  the  instructor;  submitting  the  same  paper  in  two  or  more  concurrent  courses   without  the  informed  consent  of  the  instructors;
§ Stealing,  damaging,  or  concealing  materials  or  equipment  necessary  to  the  academic  well-­‐being   of  the  college  community,  such  as  library  books,  computer  files,  and  audiovisual  equipment.” 1
Registration  Information  and  Dates
Incomplete  grades  are  not  a  matter  of  right.  An  "I"  grade  will  be  granted  only  in  the  most  highly  unusual   circumstances.  University  policy  requires  all  incompletes  to  be  completed  within  one  year.
University  policy  requires  the  instructor's  signature  for  dropping  a  class  after  the  drop/add  period.  In   addition,  instructors  are  required  to  note  whether  the  student  is  failing  at  the  time  the  class  is  dropped.
1
These  examples  are  taken  from  Washington  College’s  Honor  code:   http://catalog.washcoll.edu/17_honor.html

I  reserve  the  right  to  exercise  the  discretion  given  to  me  under  University  policy  and  not  approve  a  drop   request.
If  you  need  to  drop  this  class,  you  must  do  so  by  the  official  drop  date.  If  you  fail  to  drop  this  class   officially  by  the  last  official  drop  date  and  you  are  failing  to  class,  you  will  be  given  a  grade  of  F  for  the   course.
NOTE:  The  University  (as  per  federal  guidelines)  requires  all  instructors  to  indicate  whether  any  students   who  received  an  F  grade  stopped  attending  classes.  If  you  stop  attending  the  class  and  receive  an  F,  your   financial  aid  may  be  at  risk.
The  University  Writing  Center
The  University  Writing  Center  (115  Halle  Library;  487-­‐0694)  offers  one-­‐to-­‐one  writing  consulting  for  both   undergraduate  and  graduate  students.  Students  can  make  appointments  or  drop  in  between  the  hours   of  10  a.m.  and  6  p.m.  Mondays  through  Thursdays  and  from  11  a.m.  to  4  p.m.  on  Fridays.  Students   should  bring  a  draft  of  what  they’re  working  on  and  their  assignment  sheet.
The  UWC  also  offers  small  group  workshops  on  various  topics  related  to  writing  (e.g.,  Organizing  Your
Writing;  Incorporating  Evidence;  Revising  Your  Writing;  Conquering  Commas;  Using  APA  or  MLA).
Workshops  are  offered  at  different  times  in  the  UWC.  Visit  the  UWC  page  (http://www.emich.edu/uwc  )   to  see  our  workshop  calendar.  To  register  for  a  workshop,  click  the  link  from  the  UWC  page  for  the  type   of  workshop  you  wish  to  attend.
The  UWC  also  has  several  satellite  sites  across  campus.  These  satellites  provide  writing  support  to   students  within  the  various  colleges.  For  more  information  about  our  satellite  locations  and  hours,  visit   the  UWC  web  site:  http://www.emich.edu/uwc.
The  Academic  Projects  Center  (116  Halle  Library)  also  offers  one-­‐to-­‐one  writing  consulting  for  students,   in  addition  to  consulting  on  research  and  technology-­‐related  issues.  The  APC  is  open  11  a.m.  to  5  p.m.
Mondays  through  Thursdays  for  drop-­‐in  consultations.  Additional  information  about  the  APC  can  be   found  at  http://www.emich.edu/apc  .  Students  visiting  the  Academic  Projects  Center  or  any  of  the   satellites  of  the  University  Writing  Center  should  also  bring  with  them  a  draft  of  what  they’re  working  on   and  their  assignment  sheet.
Disclaimer:  I  reserve  the  right  to  make  changes  to  the  syllabus,  examination,  and/or  grading  policy  if   required  during  the  course  of  the  semester.

READING  SCHEDULE
Week  1  (Jan  5  and  7)
Week  2  (Jan  12  and  14)
Week  3  (Jan  21)
Week  4  (Jan  26  and  28)
Week  5  (Feb  2  and  4)
Week  6  (Feb  9  and  11)
Week  7  (Feb  16  and  18)
Week  8  (Mar  2  and  4)
Week  9  (Mar  9  and  11)
Week  10  (Mar  16  and  18)
Week  11  (Mar  23  and  25)
Week  12  (Mar  30  and  Apr  1)
Week  13  (Apr  6  and  8)
Weeks  14  and  15  (Apr  13,  15,  20)
Reflexivity
Pierre  Bourdieu  (2003)  Participant  Objectivation.   http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1467-­‐9655.00150/full
A  Theory  of  Justice
John  Rawls  (1957)  Justice  as  Fairness.     http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0022-­‐
362X%2819571024%2954%3A22%3C653%3AIJAF%3E2.0.CO%3B2-­‐6
On  Power  …  and  the  Body
Michel  Foucault  (1975,  1995).  Discipline  and  Punish.  (All  provided)
Part  1,  Chapter  2:  The  Spectacle  of  the  Scaffold,  pp.  32-­‐69
On  Power  …  and  the  Body,  cont.
Part  3,  Chapter  2:  The  Means  of  Correct  Training,  pp.  170-­‐194
Part  3,  Chapter  3:  Panopticism,  pp.  195-­‐228
Part  4,  Chapter  2:  Illegalities  and  Delinquency,  pp.  257-­‐292
Democratic  Theory  (Democracy  and  Difference  (D&D),  Part  1)
Chapter  1:  Jürgen  Habermas
Chapter  2:  Sheldon  Wolin
Democratic  Theory,  cont.
Chapter  3:  Jane  Mansbridge
Chapter  4:  Seyla  Benhabib
Democratic  Theory,  cont.
Chapter  6:  Iris  Marion  Young
Equality,  Difference,  and  Public  Representation  (D&D,  Part  2)
Chapter  7:  Anne  Phillips
Chapter  8:  Will  Kymlicka
Chapter  10:  Jean  Cohen
Culture,  Identity,  and  Democracy  (D&D,  Part  3)
Chapter  12:  Chantel  Mouffe
Chapter  13:  Bonnie  Honig
Culture,  Identity,  and  Democracy,  cont.
Chapter  14:  Fred  Dallmayr
Chapter  16:  Carlos  Forment
Ta-­‐Nihisi  Coates  (2014).  The  Case  for  Reparations.   http://www.theatlantic.com/features/archive/2014/05/the-­‐case-­‐for-­‐ reparations/361631/
Does  Democracy  Need  Foundations?  (D&D,  Part  4)
Chapters  17  and  18:  Richard  Rorty  and  Robert  Dahl
Chapters  19  and  20:  Amy  Guttman  and  Benjamin  Barber
The  Power  of  Religion  in  the  Public  Sphere
Introduction,  Jurgen  Habermas,  Charles  Taylor,  and  Dialogue  between
Habermas  and  Taylor  (pp.  1-­‐69)
The  Power  of  Religion  in  the  Public  Sphere,  cont.
Judith  Butler,  Cornel  West,  Dialogue  between  Butler  and  West,  and
Concluding  Discussion  (pp.  70-­‐117)
Presentations