Contemporary Political Theory Syllabus
Institution: Washington State University
Department: Politics, Philosophy, and Public Affairs
Course-level: Undergraduate
Format: Lecture
Enrollment: 28
Description: In this seminar we engage with central themes and approaches of three paradigms in contemporary political theory: critical theory, post-structuralism, and feminist political theory. This course has three goals. First, we engage with these theories to obtain a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of power in contemporary societies. Second, we analyze the ways in which these theories might assist us to think about issues pertaining to injustices and inequalities in such societies. Third, we analyze the ways in which the respective thinkers conceptualize socio-political change. We begin with Marx and Marcuse (critical theory), followed by Foucault and Agamben (post-structuralism), and conclude with Young and Fraser (feminist political theory).
Goals: The study of contemporary texts in political thought will improve students ability (both orally and in writing) to 1) obtain an insight into the main arguments of three central paradigms in contemporary political thought by studying two thinkers per each paradigm; 2) obtain an insight into the main arguments of six central political thinkers; 3) get a deeper understanding of core concepts in contemporary political theory, such as power, justice, inequality, and socio-political change; 4) learn how to critically engage with and respond to contemporary political thought; 5) write coherent essays on the main arguments of the discussed themes and thinkers; 6) learn how to collaborate with your peers and make an effective oral group presentation.
Required Texts: You need to purchase the following six books
1. Karl Marx, The Marx-Engels Reader, Robert C. Tucker (ed.) (second edition, 1978, New York/London: Norton & Company).
1. Herbert Marcuse, One-Dimensional Man: Studies in the Ideology of Advanced Industrial Society (second edition, 2002, New York: Routledge).
2. Michel Foucault, The History of Sexuality. Volume 1: An Introduction, (1990, New York: Vintage).
3. Georgio Agamben, Homo Sacer: Sovereign Power and Bare Life, Daniel Heller-Roazen (trans.) (1995, Stanford: Stanford University Press)
4. Iris Marion Young, Justice and the Politics of Difference (1990, Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press)
5. Nancy Fraser, Fortunes of Feminism: From State-Managed Capitalism to Neoliberal Crisis (2013, London: Verso)
Schedule
Tue 01/12: Introduction to the Course (no reading); assignment of group presentations
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I.Critical Theory
Thu 01/14: Marx 1: “Introduction: Reading Marx,” in John Seed, Marx: A Guide for the Perplexed (2010, Continuum International Publishing), pp. 1-14 (online); For a Ruthless Criticism of Everything Existing, The Marx-Engels Reader, pp. 12-15;
Discussion of oral presentation rubric
Tue 01/19: Marx 2: Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts, The Marx-Engels Reader, pp. 66-81
Thu 01/21: Marx 3: Capital, Volume One, in The Marx-Engels Reader, pp. 294-329
Tue 01/26: Marx 4: Marx, Manifesto of the Communist Party, The Marx-Engels Reader,
pp. 469-500
Thu 01/28: Marcuse 1: “The New Forms of Control,” in One-Dimensional Man, pp. 1-18
Tue 02/02: Marcuse 2: “The Closing of the Political Universe,” One-Dimensional Man, pp. 19-55
Thu 02/04: Marcuse 3: “The Closing of the Universe of Discourse,” One-Dimensional Man,
pp. 84-119
Tue 02/09: Marcuse 4: “The Catastrophe of Liberation,” in One-Dimensional Man, pp. 225-246
You receive study guide for midterm exams
Thu 02/11: Movie: Movie: 99%: The Occupy Wall Street Collaborative Film
II. Post-Structuralism
Tue 02/16: Midterm Exams
Thu 02/18: Foucault 1: “Objective,” in The History of Sexuality, pp. 81-91
Tue 02/23: Foucault 2: “Method,” in The History of Sexuality, pp. 92-102
Wed 02/24: Extra Credit: Humanities Fellows Lecture; Prof. Richard King: Playing with Indigeneity, 5:30 pm, Honors College Lounge
Thu 02/25: Foucault 3: “Domain,” in The History of Sexuality, pp. 103-114
Tue 03/01: Foucault 4: “Right of Death and Power over life,” in The History of Sexuality,
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pp.135-159;
Discussion of expectations for upcoming paper; explanation of the writing guidelines and the writing rubric.
Thu 03/03: Agamben 1: “Introduction,” “Form of Law”, in Homo Sacer, pp. 1-12, pp. 49-62
Tue 03/08: Agamben 2: “Sacred Life,” “The Ban and the Wolf,” in Homo Sacer, pp. 81- 86, pp. 104-111
Thu 03/10: Agamben 3: “The Politicization of Life,” and “Biopolitics and the Rights of Man”, in Homo Sacer, pp. 119-125 and pp. 126-135
First essay due in class (hardcopy and on-line): Discuss and compare the arguments of two thinkers in relation to a specific theme or concept. Whose arguments are more convincing and why? As an example, you might discuss and compare the concepts of freedom as put forth by Marx and Foucault or Foucault and Agamben.
Tue 03/15: Spring Break
Thu 03/17: Spring Break
Tue 03/22: Agamben 4: “Life That Does not Deserve to Live,” and “VP,” in Homo Sacer, pp. 136-143 and pp. 154-159
Extra Credit: Humanities Fellows Lecture; Prof. Claudia Leeb: The Tragedy of Silence: Guilt and Democracy, 5:30 pm, Honors College Lounge
Thu 03/24: No class, Dr. Leeb is presenting at a conference
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III.Feminist Political Theory
Tue 03/29: Young 1: “Displacing the Distributive Paradigm”, in Justice and the Politics of Difference, pp.15-38
Thu 03/31: Young 2: “Five Faces of Oppression,” in Justice and the Politics of Difference, pp. 39-65
Tue 04/05: Young 3: “The Scaling of Bodies and the Politics of Identity,” in Justice and the Politics of Difference, pp. 122-155
Thu 04/07: Young 4: “Social Movements and the Politics of Difference,” in Justice and the Politics of Difference, pp. 156-191
Tue 04/12: Fraser 1: “Struggle over Needs: Outline of a Socialist-Feminist Critical Theory of Late-Capitalist Political Culture,” pp. 53-82
Thu 04/14: Fraser 2: “Feminist Politics in the Age of Recognition: A Two-Dimensional Approach to Gender Justice,” pp. 159-174
Second essay due in class (hardcopy and on-line): Contrast two of the recently discussed contemporary thinkers in relation to a specific theme or concept. Whose arguments are more convincing and why? As an example, you might discuss and compare the arguments for gender justice as put forth by Young and Fraser.
Tue 04/19: Fraser 3: “Feminism, Capitalism, and the Cunning of History,” pp. 209-226
Thu 04/21: Fraser 4: “Between Marketization and Social Protection: Resolving the Feminist Ambivalence,” pp. 227-241
Tue 04/26: Short Movie (to be announced), Presentations of Final Paper, part I
Thu 04/28: Presentations of Final Paper, part II
Optional Revised First Paper due
Fri 05/06: Finals: 8:00 am-10:00 am
Optional Revised Second Paper due