Political Science 100
POLITICAL ECONOMY
Fall 2009
Professor Richardson
How do politics determine how wealthy or poor you will be? Or is personal wealth simply a matter of hard
work? Superior intelligence? Or just luck? Whether the policies of governments make a difference to
your personal wealth is one issue. And whether government policies are influenced by “big money” is
(seemingly) another issue. Indeed, is there a connection between money and U.S. laws? Between money
and government policies more generally? When people are successful in influencing policy, is that simply
a matter of hard work? Superior intelligence? Or just luck?
In this course, we will examine a number of connections between economics and politics. In fact, students
will have some degree of choice with respect to which dimensions of political economy they wish to
explore in detail. However, because the U.S. federal budget has recently turned to huge deficits, we will
all pay particular attention to questions of taxes and the distribution of wealth in the United States.
Along the way, we will learn some central concepts and some analytic perspectives about political
economy. What are society’s goals? National defense, public education, and affordable housing are
among the usual ingredients. But how might they be achieved? To what ends do people establish
governments? Are there things that governments properly should do and, if so, why?
Readings
We will read from several sources. Two of them are texts to be purchased at one of the bookstores.
R. Kenneth Godwin and John C. Wahlke, INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL SCIENCE:
REASON, REFLECTION, AND ANALYSIS.
Kevin Phillips, WEALTH AND DEMOCRACY.
Other required readings will include materials placed on Reserve at the College Library, handouts, and
materials of each student’s choosing.
ALL readings are “required readings.”
Communications-B Credit
This course satisfies the Communications-B portion of the General Education Requirement. Course
requirements include classroom attendance and participation, the writing of three papers, one (brief)
classroom presentation, and a final quiz. The three papers and the in-class presentations will be partially
based on outside readings of the student’s choosing. These papers will report your analyses of public
policy issues in the domain of political economy, and handouts providing details of these assignments will
be provided in class and further discussed there. In order to assist in selecting outside readings, students
are required to attend one classroom session dedicated to developing search skills in the university libraries.
This session will meet at our regular class time.
Our class this semester is especially fortunate to have the assistance of two Writing Fellows. Gillian
Leatherberry and Diana Savage are upper-division undergraduates who will work with me to assist you in
developing writing skills commensurate with your critical thinking abilities. In particular, you will see in
the following course schedule that each of your three papers is to be submitted in complete form fully two
weeks before it is due in final, revised form. Note that all due dates are inflexible. Each initial submission
is to be a “polished” paper that is written with the sort of clarity and completeness that you would normally
associate with a “final draft”. Your best effort on this initial version will allow the Writing Fellow who
reads it to provide you with a constructive critique and that, in turn, should enable you to engage in a more
self-confident and satisfying revision. The Writing Fellows do not assign grades to the papers; I will grade
the final submission after you have met with your Writing Fellow to review her comments and have
proceeded with the revisions. The Writing Fellows will assist in your preparation of each of the first two
papers. For the third, longer paper, each student will initially meet with me individually to develop the
topic to our mutual satisfaction. (Of course, I am happy to meet with each of you throughout the semester
for other purposes, as well!)
Graded Work
Course grades will be determined as follows:
classroom participation
one in-class presentation
two short papers (2 x 15)
one longer paper
quiz
= 20%
= 5
= 30
= 25
= 20
Cl;assroom participation is weighted as 20% of the course grade. This ingredient in the course grade will
reflect the caliber and frequency of each student’s general participation in discussions. Of this 20%, each
student begins with the letter grade F on the first day of class. If you attend class faithfully but rarely
participate, this 20% will remain an F grade.
n
n
If you participate only occasionally but in ways that indicate a lack of preparation, you will
receive a D on this portion of the course grade.
If you participate only occasionally but in ways that indicate preparation, you will receive a
grade of C or BC on this portion of the course grade.
In other words, B, AB, and A grades are reserved exclusively for those who are regular – and prepared –
participants in classroom discussions.
My expectation:
I expect all of you to conduct yourselves with integrity, and I have some simple advice for any of you who
may want to rely on short-cuts to cheat your way through this class: Don’t do it! It is a disgrace and is
grossly unfair to your fellow students. Cheating includes, among other things: (1) plagiarism; (2) turning
in work in your name that is not your own; (3) referring to notes or written materials, collaborating with
others, copying someone else’s work, or providing answers to others in any fashion during exams. If you
need more information about the nature of misconduct and university procedures, refer to the Academic
Misconduct Guide for Students. It’s located on the Dean of Students web page at
www.wisc.edu/students/amsum.htm
Contact Information
Neil Richardson
201 E North Hall
W 1:30-3:30 & by app’t.
263-2019
neilrich@polisci.wisc.edu
Diana Savage
dksavage@wisc.edu
Gillian Leatherberry
gsleatherber@wisc.edu
Illness/Class Absence
If you experience any flu-like symptoms (fever with cough or sore throat), please DO NOT ATTEND
CLASS! Indeed, stay home for at least 24 hours after the symptoms have disappeared. As you know, the
H1N1 influenza is a very dangerous threat to us all at this time, and I stand ready to adjust your individual
deadlines for assignments as necessary. I only ask that you communicate with me (phone or email) if you
believe it prudent to miss class on account of sickness. (No notes from medical personnel are expected.)
Course Schedule
Week 1__
Introduction
9-8
Week 2__
9-15
Week 3__
9-22
Liberalism
Godwin & Wahlke, Introduction & Chs. 1 and 2
Democracy and Community
Godwin & Wahlke, Ch. 3
Week 4__
9-29
Week 5__
Economic Growth and Amassing Wealth
Phillips, Chs. 1, 2, & 3
Political Participation
10-6
Godwin & Wahlke, Ch. 5
PAPER #1 DUE
Week 6__
Linking Citizens to Government
10-13
Godwin & Wahlke, Ch. 6
MEET WITH WRITING FELLOW THIS WEEK
Week 7__
Political Parties
10-20
[readings tba]
REVISED PAPER #1 DUE
Week 8
Power & Wealth Internationally
10-27
Phillips, Chs. 4 & 5
Week 9
Power, Wealth, & Technology
11-3
Phillips, Ch. 6
PAPER #2 DUE
Week 10
Wealth & Politics in the United States
11-10
Phillips, Ch. 7
MEET WITH WRITING FELLOW THIS WEEK
Week 11
Wealth & Corruption
11-17
Phillips, Ch. 8
REVISED PAPER #2 DUE
Week 12
MEET WITH PROFESSOR THIS WEEK
Phillips, Ch. 9
11-24
Week 13
12-1
Issue Advocacy Financing
Phillips, Ch. 10
Week 14
12-8
Greed, Speculation, and Reform
Options for Reform (I)
Darrell West and Burdette Loomis, THE SOUND OF MONEY:
HOW POLITICAL INTERESTS GET WHAT THEY
WANT, pp. 235-247 (Reserve Room)
Phillips, Afterword
PAPER #3 DUE
Week 15
Options for Reform (II) and Quiz
12-15
MEET WITH PROFESSOR THIS WEEK
12-18
REVISED PAPER #3 DUE