American Political Theory POL 265 Introduction. Introduction Foundations, Transformations, Identity –4 sets of events have led to our understanding of

American Political TheoryAmerican Political TheoryPOL 265POL 265

IntroductionIntroduction


Foundations, Transformations, IdentityFoundations, Transformations, Identity– 4 sets of events have led to our 4 sets of events have led to our

understanding of Islamic fundamentalismunderstanding of Islamic fundamentalism1. September 111. September 11thth

2. Military action in Afghanistan – creation of the 2. Military action in Afghanistan – creation of the enemy! Who were the enemies?enemy! Who were the enemies?

3. USA PATRIOT Act & Homeland Security (“axis of 3. USA PATRIOT Act & Homeland Security (“axis of evil”-2002 State of the Union)evil”-2002 State of the Union)

4. Failure to gain support from UN for military 4. Failure to gain support from UN for military incursion into Iraqincursion into Iraq

(ever notice many of our enemies were our former (ever notice many of our enemies were our former allies)allies)

American “self examination” periodAmerican “self examination” period– Why are we in this period?Why are we in this period?– Are we hated? Does it matter?Are we hated? Does it matter?– Why do people want to kill innocent Why do people want to kill innocent

Americans, when all America does is offer Americans, when all America does is offer hope to generations of refugees from hope to generations of refugees from oppression everywhere? (book, not me)oppression everywhere? (book, not me)

– This class is designed to examine ourselves This class is designed to examine ourselves and our current standing in the global and our current standing in the global communitycommunity



If we are so concerned about Islamic If we are so concerned about Islamic fundamentalism why aren't we concerned fundamentalism why aren't we concerned about American fundamentalism?about American fundamentalism?

Sure Islam is religion, but are American Sure Islam is religion, but are American beliefs a type of religion?beliefs a type of religion?

The founders knew that we need a good The founders knew that we need a good “shake up” every so often, do we need “shake up” every so often, do we need one now?one now?– Jefferson will discuss this need to transform Jefferson will discuss this need to transform

itself every generationitself every generation

IntroductionIntroductionMuch of this class will walk us through Much of this class will walk us through American history and its connection to American history and its connection to political thoughtpolitical thoughtMuch of it will revolve around the Much of it will revolve around the Constitution, I will not take the time to go Constitution, I will not take the time to go back over itback over itWe are going to discuss our history with We are going to discuss our history with topics such as slavery, mass genocide of topics such as slavery, mass genocide of the American Indians, rampant sexism, the American Indians, rampant sexism, discrimination of many races, Japanese discrimination of many races, Japanese internment camps, and the list goes on …internment camps, and the list goes on …


We have also seenWe have also seen– UrbanizationUrbanization– Increased concentration of wealth in giant Increased concentration of wealth in giant

corporationscorporations– Explosion of mass media (cell phones, Explosion of mass media (cell phones,

computers, TV, radio, satellite)computers, TV, radio, satellite)– Secular v. ReligiousSecular v. Religious– Political AlienationPolitical Alienation– Decreased civic participationDecreased civic participation– globalizationglobalization


Key points of American political theory Key points of American political theory (Rankin’s version)(Rankin’s version)– What is in it for the theorist? Why does it What is in it for the theorist? Why does it

matter to them?matter to them?– How do they view human nature?How do they view human nature?– What is the purpose of a social life?What is the purpose of a social life?– What remedy is suggested?What remedy is suggested?– Is violence an option? Is violence an option?


American ideologyAmerican ideology– Liberalism (liber-Latin for, free)Liberalism (liber-Latin for, free)

In love with the individual and the ability to be In love with the individual and the ability to be freefree

Believe in an open and tolerant societyBelieve in an open and tolerant society

People are able to pursue their own ideas and People are able to pursue their own ideas and interests with as little interference as possibleinterests with as little interference as possible

Created as a reaction to 2 features of medieval Created as a reaction to 2 features of medieval society in Europe: religious conformity and society in Europe: religious conformity and ascribed statusascribed status


ConservatismConservatism– Usually seeking to conserve traditions or Usually seeking to conserve traditions or

customary way of life in their societycustomary way of life in their society– Usually tend to resist changeUsually tend to resist change– But they vary on what is worth preservingBut they vary on what is worth preserving– Burke writing against the French RevolutionBurke writing against the French Revolution

The king, aristocracy and the church all gave The king, aristocracy and the church all gave stabilitystability

Jacobin success means they themselves will have Jacobin success means they themselves will have a “society adrift in the sea, all sail and no anchor”a “society adrift in the sea, all sail and no anchor”

– Dislike of liberalism, but why?Dislike of liberalism, but why?

IntroductionIntroductionConservatives feel that society is more than the Conservatives feel that society is more than the individual but part of a larger wholeindividual but part of a larger wholeIndividualism challenges that collective whole effort Individualism challenges that collective whole effort that make s a country strongthat make s a country strongWordsworth said “getting and spending” that “lay Wordsworth said “getting and spending” that “lay waste our powers”waste our powers”– Conservatives initially draw issue with capitalism due to its Conservatives initially draw issue with capitalism due to its

individual emphasisindividual emphasis

Many conservatives see democracy as a threat to social Many conservatives see democracy as a threat to social order, much like Aristotle and his fear of the mobocracyorder, much like Aristotle and his fear of the mobocracyHere we see a big difference from our modern Here we see a big difference from our modern conservatives or the neo-cons!conservatives or the neo-cons!Classical Conservative (Burkean) and modern Classical Conservative (Burkean) and modern conservatives have an uneasy alliance centered around conservatives have an uneasy alliance centered around respect for private property and a fear of communismrespect for private property and a fear of communismThis fear has been replaced by what? This fear has been replaced by what?

IntroductionIntroductionConservatism today sees an alliance with the Conservatism today sees an alliance with the religious right or the evangelical protestants religious right or the evangelical protestants and the neo cons?and the neo cons?What exactly is a neo-con?What exactly is a neo-con?– Irving Kristol, former managing editor of Irving Kristol, former managing editor of

CommentaryCommentary and now a Senior Fellow at the and now a Senior Fellow at the conservative American Enterprise Unit in Washington conservative American Enterprise Unit in Washington and the Publisher of the hawkish magazine and the Publisher of the hawkish magazine The The National InterestNational Interest, a neoconservative is a "liberal , a neoconservative is a "liberal mugged by reality," meaning someone who has mugged by reality," meaning someone who has become more conservative after seeing the practical become more conservative after seeing the practical impact of liberal foreign and domestic policies. impact of liberal foreign and domestic policies.

Does this definition work for you?Does this definition work for you?Who are prominent Neo Cons?Who are prominent Neo Cons?


It is this battle that will finish off our It is this battle that will finish off our classclass– 11stst half is a brief history of American half is a brief history of American

Political thoughtPolitical thought– 22ndnd half pits the liberal ideology against half pits the liberal ideology against

the neo conservative ideologythe neo conservative ideology

Be preparedBe prepared– We will also watch a three part BBC We will also watch a three part BBC

special titled “The Politics of Fear”special titled “The Politics of Fear”

Documents

American Political Theory POL 265 Introduction. Introduction Foundations, Transformations, Identity –4 sets of events have led to our understanding of