Democracy and Power
PLSC 307, Section 1
Winter 2015
Tuesday-Thursday 11:00-12:15pm
115 Marshall Hall
Bradley R. Jackson
bjacks53@emich.edu
601H Pray-Harrold Hall
Department of Political Science
REQUIRED TEXTS:
Aristotle’s Politics, translated by Carnes Lord, Second Edition, University of Chicago
Press, 2013
The Federalist Papers, edited by Clinton Rossiter, Signet Classics, 2003
The Anti-Federalist Papers and the Constitutional Convention Debates, edited by Ralph
Ketcham, Signet Classics, 2003
Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America, translated by Harvey Mansfield and
Delba Winthrop, University of Chicago Press, 2000
Francis Fukuyama, The End of History and the Last Man, Free Press, 1992
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 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 should attempt to use the ideas in assigned readings to
ask questions about and gain insight into the contemporary political world. 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 February 10; the second is due Tuesday March 17. 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 two weeks prior to the due date.
This paper is due on Thursday April 16, 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:
6-Jan
8
13
15
20
22
27
29
3-Feb
5
10
12
Reading Assignment
Introduction
Aristotle's Politics Book I
Aristotle's Politics Book III
Aristotle's Politics Book III (cont.)
Aristotle's Politics Book IV
Aristotle's Politics Book IV (cont.)
Aristotle's Politics Book V
Aristotle's Politics Book V (cont.)
Aristotle's Politics Book VI
Aristotle's Politics Book VII
Anti-Federalist Papers pp. 31-85
Anti-Federalist Papers pp. 86-89,
92-113, 134-165, 171-182
Assignment 1 Due
17
19
Feb 23 - March 1
3-Mar
5
10
12
17
19
24
26
31
2-Apr
7-Apr
9-Apr
14-Apr
16-Apr
Anti-Federalist Papers pp. 199-217,
227-237, 256-308
Federalist Papers 1, 2, 6, 9, 10, 14
WINTER RECESS
Federalist Papers 23, 37-39, 47-51
Federalist Papers 52-54, 57, 62, 63
Federalist Papers 68-72, 78, 84, 85
Tocqueville pp. 3-15, 27-58, 66-93
Tocqueville pp. 100-110, 143-172,
180-186
Tocqueville pp. 187-199, 210-235
Tocqueville pp. 235-302
Tocqueville pp. 302-384
Tocqueville pp. 399-410, 417-428,
479-492
Tocqueville pp. 500-524, 530-539,
558-578, 606-617
Tocqueville pp. 639-650, 661-676
Fukuyama pp. xi-xxiii, 3-51
Fukuyama pp. 143-208
Fukuyama pp. 287-339
Assignment 2 Due
Final Paper Due