1 GVPT100 – Introduction to Government and Politics Winter 2009 Susan Lee [email protected] This class is designed to give students an introductory overview of Government and Politics as it is studied today. Some of the questions that will be explored are: Why is a government necessary? What is its role? What is the role of citizens? How important is freedom in the world of politics? Power? Happiness? Money? What is the best form of government? Such questions are clearly difficult to answer, but through writings from ancient, modern, and contemporary times, this class will begin to address the issues that political thinkers have entertained for years. Required texts * selections will be handed out in class. Sophocles Antigone Plato The Republic Machiavelli The Prince Dostoevsky The Grand Inquisitor *Hobbes Leviathan Rousseau Social Contract and the Discourses Marx Early Writings *Marx, Engels The Communist Manifesto Tocqueville Democracy in America *Putnam Bowling Alone *Barber Consumed Course requirements Quizzes 20% Paper 1 20% Paper 2 20% Exam 20% Participation 20% Quizzes will be given at the beginning of class. They will be unannounced, and mainly to make sure you are keeping up with the readings. The highest 4 quiz scores will count. Paper assignments will be emailed in advance. Papers must be typed, double-spaced, and 4-5 pages. Papers 1 and 2 (hard copies) must be handed in at the beginning of class on the day they are due. Late papers will not be accepted. The exam will be essay format, given in class on our last day, Jan. 22. Extra credit You may earn 3% extra credit points by preparing a 5-10 minute presentation based on that day’s reading. There will only be one presentation per day. At the very least, your presentation must include a summary of the main argument, discussion points, and a possible paper topic. Weather If class is cancelled due to weather, there will be a short essay assignment (1-2 pages) based on that day’s reading. The assignment will be given to you by email, and it will be due the following class day. If class is cancelled on a day a paper is due, email the paper as an attachment by noon of that day.2 Reading Schedule I What is the purpose of government? Jan. 5 Sophocles Antigone Jan. 6 Plato The Republic (327a – 367e, 427d – 449a, 514a – 521b) Jan. 7 Machiavelli The Prince (Ch. 8, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 25, 26.) Jan. 8 Dostoevsky The Grand Inquisitor (Ch. 5 titled The Grand Inquisitor) II Human nature and politics. Jan. 12 PAPER 1 DUE Hobbes Leviathan (Part 1 ch. 13, 14. Part II ch. 17, 18, 21) Jan. 13 Rousseau Discourse on the Arts and Sciences Discourse on the Origin of Inequality Jan. 14 Marx Early Writings (Economic and Philosophical Manuscripts: Estranged Labor, Private Property and Communism, Money) Jan. 15 Marx, Engels The Communist Manifesto III Contemporary democracy. Jan. 19 NO CLASS Jan. 20 PAPER 2 DUE Tocqueville Democracy in America (pp. 3-15, 61-65, 180-186, 391-396, 403-410, 439-443, 479-492, 500-503, 546-553, 587-588, 661-673) Jan. 21 Putnam Bowling Alone (ch. 1, 10, 13, 14, 15) Jan. 22 Barber Consumed (pp. 3-37, 128-144) IN-CLASS