American Political Theory POL 265

1. American Political TheoryPOL 265 Introduction

2. Introduction • Foundations, Transformations, Identity • 4 sets of events have led to our understanding of Islamic fundamentalism • 1. September 11th • 2. Military action in Afghanistan – creation of the enemy! Who were the enemies? • 3. USA PATRIOT Act & Homeland Security (“axis of evil”-2002 State of the Union) • 4. Failure to gain support from UN for military incursion into Iraq (ever notice many of our enemies were our former allies)

3. Introduction • American “self examination” period • Why are we in this period? • Are we hated? Does it matter? • Why do people want to kill innocent Americans, when all America does is offer hope to generations of refugees from oppression everywhere? (book, not me) • This class is designed to examine ourselves and our current standing in the global community

4. Introduction • If we are so concerned about Islamic fundamentalism why aren't we concerned about American fundamentalism? • Sure Islam is religion, but are American beliefs a type of religion? • The founders knew that we need a good “shake up” every so often, do we need one now? • Jefferson will discuss this need to transform itself every generation

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

6. Introduction • We have also seen • Urbanization • Increased concentration of wealth in giant corporations • Explosion of mass media (cell phones, computers, TV, radio, satellite) • Secular v. Religious • Political Alienation • Decreased civic participation • globalization

7. Introduction • Key points of American political theory (Rankin’s version) • What is in it for the theorist? Why does it matter to them? • How do they view human nature? • What is the purpose of a social life? • What remedy is suggested? • Is violence an option?

8. Introduction • American ideology • Liberalism (liber-Latin for, free) • In love with the individual and the ability to be free • Believe in an open and tolerant society • People are able to pursue their own ideas and interests with as little interference as possible • Created as a reaction to 2 features of medieval society in Europe: religious conformity and ascribed status

9. Introduction • Conservatism • Usually seeking to conserve traditions or customary way of life in their society • Usually tend to resist change • But they vary on what is worth preserving • Burke writing against the French Revolution • The king, aristocracy and the church all gave stability • Jacobin success means they themselves will have a “society adrift in the sea, all sail and no anchor” • Dislike of liberalism, but why?

10. Introduction • Conservatives feel that society is more than the individual but part of a larger whole • Individualism challenges that collective whole effort that make s a country strong • Wordsworth said “getting and spending” that “lay waste our powers” • Conservatives initially draw issue with capitalism due to its individual emphasis • Many conservatives see democracy as a threat to social order, much like Aristotle and his fear of the mobocracy • Here we see a big difference from our modern conservatives or the neo-cons! • Classical Conservative (Burkean) and modern conservatives have an uneasy alliance centered around respect for private property and a fear of communism • This fear has been replaced by what?

11. Introduction • Conservatism today sees an alliance with the religious right or the evangelical protestants and the neo cons? • What exactly is a neo-con? • Irving Kristol, former managing editor of Commentary and now a Senior Fellow at the conservative American Enterprise Unit in Washington and the Publisher of the hawkish magazine The National Interest, a neoconservative is a "liberal mugged by reality," meaning someone who has become more conservative after seeing the practical impact of liberal foreign and domestic policies. • Does this definition work for you? • Who are prominent Neo Cons?

12. Introduction • It is this battle that will finish off our class • 1st half is a brief history of American Political thought • 2nd half pits the liberal ideology against the neo conservative ideology • Be prepared • We will also watch a three part BBC special titled “The Politics of Fear”