POLITICAL SCIENCE (POLS) 346.090 Modern Ideologies Dr. Sam Hines Spring 2007 Dean, School of Languages, M-W 5:30-6:45 p.m. Cultures, & World Affairs Maybank Hall, Rm. 207 Office: 96 Wentworth St. / 953-5770 Office Hours: By Appointment Email: hiness@cofc.edu I. Course Description and Objectives: Political Science 346 is an elective course in the Political Theory and Law subfield of the political science major. Political ideologies exerted a considerable influence in politics throughout the world during the 19th and 20th centuries. Some of these ideologies (e.g., fascism) were closely affiliated with nationalism. Others, like communism were explicitly not based on nationalism and claimed international scope. Today, even though fascist regimes were defeated in Italy and Germany in the Second World War, there is ample evidence that ethnicity and nationalistic fervor remain powerful forces. A new politics of identity is everywhere in evidence. In the aftermath of the collapse of communism in the Soviet Union, Eastern Europe, and elsewhere in the world at the end of the 20th century, some have assumed that communism as an ideology has been thoroughly discredited. That judgment is probably premature. The ideals of socialism and communism remain as powerful political impulses and in Cuba, for example, there is still a strong commitment to communism. In particular, the importance of nationalism and the widespread influence of today s dominant ideologies of liberal capitalist democracy and socialism- communism will be discussed and critically analyzed. Our primary objective is to gain familiarity with and understanding of the nature and role of political ideologies and to understand the potential of these political ideas for 21st century politics. In addition to the major political ideologies of the 19th and 20th centuries-- liberalism, conservatism, fascism, socialism, and communism-- we will look at the contemporary appeal of environmentalism and feminism to ascertain whether they are, in fact, operating as ideologies in today s politics. We will also look at Political Islam as a powerful political force today. II. Course Requirements: A. Attendance. Attendance will be taken regularly. I do this primarily to help me get to know you by name. You will find that much is discussed in class and that material is presented that is not in your texts. It is your choice whether you attend or not. My experience has been that poor attendance usually results in poor performance, but the choice is yours. Regular attendance and participation may make a difference in your favor if your grade point average is borderline.
SYLLABUS/ POLS 346, Modern Ideologies, Dr. Hines, Spring 2007, page 2 B. Interview assignment. During the first week of class you will ask five student peers and two adults (parents, faculty, staff) the following questions. 1. How would you identify yourself? Give me four words that describe who you are. (e.g., feminist, Episcopalian, senior citizen, Hispanic, Black, Sig Ep, Tri Delt, Southerner, Mid-westerner) 2. Describe yourself politically. What words (e.g., democrat, republican, liberal, conservative, independent) do you use to define your political identity? What do those words mean to you? We will share the results of these interviews in class and discuss them in relation to the Hoover book on Political Identity. This assignment is not graded but must be done to pass the course. C. Mid-term Examination- An identification (key concepts) and essay exam covering the first half of the course. This exam will be given in March following the spring break. Value: 35% of final grade. D. World Wide Web Assignment. You will locate a site on the www that is sponsored by an ideological group and write a 2-3 page description and critique of the website. Include a copy at least of the home page of the web site you selected. This assignment is due at the next to last class of the semester. Value: 30 % of the final grade. E. Final Examination- Given during the regularly scheduled exam period, this concept and essay exam will emphasize the material covered after the mid-term, but will also include a comprehensive essay question. Value: 35% of the final grade. F. Grading Scale - A= 94-100; A-=90-93; B+= 87-89; B=82-86; B-=80-81;C+= 77-79; C=72-76; C-=70-71D= 60-69; F= below 60. When a letter grade is given (e.g., on the internet assignment), the value will be as follows: A= 95; A-=92; B+= 88; B=85; B-=82; C+= 78; C=75; C-=72 D=65; F= 55. III. Texts: These textbooks are available at the College Bookstore. Kenneth Hoover. The Power of Identity: Politics in a New Key. Chatham, N.J.: Chatham Publishers, 1997. Amin Maalouf. In the Name of Identity: Violence and the Need to Belong. New York: Penguin Books, 2000. Terence Ball and Richard Dagger, Political Ideologies and the Democratic Ideal. 6th edition. New York: Longman Publishers, 2006. Terence Ball and Richard Dagger, eds. Ideals and Ideologies: A Reader. 6th edition. Longman Publishers, 2006.
SYLLABUS/ POLS 346, Modern Ideologies, Dr. Hines, Spring 2007, page 3 IV. Topical Outline with Assignments: We will stick to this schedule as closely as possible, however, it may be necessary to shift times and topics as the semester progresses. Note: The Ball and Dagger textbook is referenced as Ball & Dagger and the Ball and Dagger edited reader is referenced as READER. COURSE SCHEDULE M- Jan. 8 Syllabus and Handouts will be distributed. Course objectives, assignments, and policies will be discussed. Initial essay assignment and web assignment are distributed. W- Jan. 10 What is Political Ideology? What is Political Theory? (handout) Political Ideology as a Problem for Political Theory (handout) READER, Part 1, The Concept of Ideology. Part 1 M- Jan. 15 Martin Luther King Holiday (no class) W- Jan. 17 (No class. Dr. Hines is attending the AAC&U and COPLAC mtgs.) M- Jan. 22 Discussion of Political Ideology as a concept Ball & Dagger, Chapter 1 READER, Chapter 1 W-Jan. 24 M-Jan. 29 W-Jan. 31 M-Feb. 5 W-Feb. 7 M-Feb. 12 W-Feb. 14 M-Feb. 19 Political Identity: Ethnicity and Nationalism: Individual & Group Identity & the Foundations of Ideology Amin Maalouf, In the Name of Identity (entire) Political identity Hoover, chapters 1-3 Conclusion of discussion of Maalouf essay Political Identity Hoover, chapters 4-6 Class discussion of interview results and conclusion of Hoover Hoover, chapters 7-8 The Democratic Ideal FILM Athenian Democracry The Democratic Ideal (Guest lecture by Dr. Friedman) READER, Part Two, pp. 11-68 Ball & Dagger, chapter 2 Democracy in China (Guest lecture by Dr. Liu) Liberalism
SYLLABUS/ POLS 346, Modern Ideologies, Dr. Hines, Spring 2007, page 4 Ball & Dagger, chapter 3 (Tuesday, February 20- - LAST DAY TO WITHDRAW FROM CLASSES) W-Feb 21 M-Feb 26 W-Feb 28 M-Mar 5 W-Mar 7 Liberalism continued READER, Part Three, pp. 69-140 Conservatism Ball & Dagger, chapter 4 Conservatism, continued & Mid-Term Exam Review READER, Part Four, pp. 141-190 Study guide for mid-term exam distributed SPRING BREAK (no class) SPRING BREAK (no class) M- Mar 12 MID TERM EXAM W-Mar 14 M-Mar 19 W-Mar 21 Marxism, Socialism, and Communism Ball & Dagger, chapter 5 Marxism, Socialism, and Communism READER, Part 5, pp. 191-218 Socialism and Communism After Marx, continued Ball & Dagger, chapter 6 READER, Part 6, 219-288 M-Mar 26 W-Mar 28 Fascism and the Authoritarian Right Ball & Dagger, chapter 7 READER, part 7, pp. 289-328 Nazism Film: The Fatal Attraction of Adolf Hitler M- Apr 2 Feminism & Liberation Ideologies Ball & Dagger, chapter 8 READER, Part 8, pp. 329-416 W-Apr 4 M-Apr 9 Environmentalism & Green Politics Ball & Dagger, Chapter 9 Environmentalism continued READER, part 9, pp. 417-450
SYLLABUS/ POLS 346, Modern Ideologies, Dr. Hines, Spring 2007, page 5 Web Assignment due W-Apr 11 Political Islam Ball & Dagger, Chapter 10 M- Apr 16 Islam and Radical Islam READER, part 10, pp. 451-470 W-Apr 18 Review and Conclusions: The Future of Ideologies Ball and Dagger, Chapter 11 READER, Part 11, pp. 471-492 World Wide Web assignment due M- April 23 Review for Final Exam Study Guide distributed Tu April 24 READING DAY Apr 25- May 2 FINAL EXAMS Your final exam will be given during normal class time on the officially scheduled day. Exceptions will require permission of the instructor and approval by the Dean of Undergraduate Studies.