Time Schedule:
Sooenn Park
POL S 273
Seattle Campus
How to understand and explain relationships of power. Readings from Marxism, Weberian sociology, anarchism, classical political philosophy, and contemporary political science. May also include works of fiction.
Class description
Why and in what ways does the concept and phenomenon of power become a "problem" in contemporary politics? How should we locate power in the modern political discourses of rights, freedom, equality, justice and the common good? How does power operate under these apparently benign banners? Or should we rather conclude that power is something essentially benign itself? The course has two purposes. One is to have us acquainted with various ways of imagining the kinetic relationship amongst power, virtue, liberty, authority, force and violence. The other is to trace the genealogy of two of the most dominant modern discourses, capitalism and liberalism. Comparing them with classical political discourses, on the one hand, and situating them within critical modern literature, on the other, we will attempt to analyze the peculiar power effects of these dominant discourses. The readings will include works of Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Weber, Marx, Gramsci, Foucault and Freud.
Student learning goals
General method of instruction
Recommended preparation
POLS 201 recommended.
Class assignments and grading
Weekly reading assignments of 80-120 pages; two take-home mid-term exams; final paper
Participation: 10%; Two exams: 30 % each; Final paper:30 %
