Western Washington University
College of Humanities & Social Sciences
Introduction to Political Theory, PLSC 261, Section 11183
Winter 2017, SL 150, TR15:00 – 16:50
Dr. Hoffman, Arntzen Hall 424
Office Hours: Tuesdays,17:00 – 18:15, and byappt.
TA:Tyler McGrath,
Office Hours: Wednesdays, 2:30 – 3:30 in Arntzen Hall 450
Course Website:
Course description
This course provides an introduction to political theory & the history of modern Western political thought. For each political theory that we study, we will read an historical and contextual overview in the main course textbook, Political Ideologies and the Democratic Ideal. We will read some essential primary source readings from the main canonical thinkers in political philosophy, along with select theorists and activists associated with each theoretical approach in the Ideals and Ideologies anthology. Paying close attention to the historical and contextual overview in lecture and in the main text will go a long way towards helping you to understand the primary source readings in the Ideals and Ideologies reader.
The course focuses on the historical traditions of democracy, classical & modern republicanism, liberalism, conservatism, and socialism. We will chronicle the evolution of each ideology through the modern period, to better apprehend each ideology’s twenty-first century application. Throughout, we will analyze the relationship of each philosophy to the democratic tradition. Just as there are many different "flavors" or types of liberalism & socialism (& conservatism), there are many different ways to define democracy. We will conclude the course by contemplating the future of ideology, along with a cautionary note about the difficulty of accurately predicting the future of any particular political theory or ideology. Throughout the quarter, we will address the following questions, considered central to political theory: What is the basis of the political legitimacy of the state? How does each ideology understand liberty, freedom, and obligation? Why are the notions of individual rational autonomy and agency so important in Western thought? Why are these latter notions in such alarming decline today?What is the proper balance between responsibility and liberty – and between equality and liberty? Towards the end of term we will also investigate some considerations of modernity and polity in contemporary society.
The course will provide you with a broad overview of the main traditions of Western political thought. It will also provide you with greater familiarization of some essential tools of a liberal arts education, including critical analysis and informed moral discourse, and their roles in making more our communities more open and civil. You will also develop the ability to apply insights from the classics of political thought to the political and sociological problems of our own time.
Classes will include both lecture and some class discussion of the readings. Course materials, including lecture notes & background notes on the primary source readings will be on the course website at Typically, I will lecture on the material in the main textbook at the start of each unit, and then allow for discussion when covering the primary source readings in the Ideals & Ideologies reader. There will be occasional in-class hours devoted to class discussion at appropriate points throughout the quarter as well. Careful and civil consideration of others’ ideas and theoretical positions is of course an essential aspect of the liberal tradition. Our goal will be to go beyond philosophical differences to allow for productive discourse & insightful exploration of the ideas and political & social theories that we cover.
Required Texts
1) Terence Ball and Richard Dagger, editors. Political Ideologies and the Democratic Ideal, 8th, 9thor 10thedition.
2) Terence Ball and Richard Dagger, editors. Ideals and Ideologies, A Reader, 8th, 9thor 10thedition.
Course Requirements
Midterm Exam & Final Exam
There will be a midterm exam and a final exam. The exams will comprise primarily multiple choice style questions. I will provide a review sheet, practice questions, and a review session before both the Midterm & Final Exams.
Quizzes
There will be several short quizzes throughout the quarter, so it’s important to stay current with the readings and come to class. Quizzes may be unannounced.
Attendance will comprise approximately 6 % of the course grade. We will take periodic class attendance throughout the quarter.
NOTE: Make-up examinations and quizzes cannot be given, except for medical or other excused absences.
Summary of Graded Assignments
1) Midterm Exam ~40 %
2) Final Exam ~40 %
3) Quizzes 14 %
5) Attendance 6 %
Grading Standards:
The point distribution for all graded work will be as follows:
93 - 100A
90-92A-
88-89B+
83-87B
80-82B-
etc.
Course Policies
Academic Ethics: Academic dishonesty is a serious offense, potentially grounds for dismissal from the university. It is also inimical to the development of good character. Dishonesty includes plagiarism, cheating on exams, and so forth. Please consult for an explanation of what constitutes plagiarism. Western’s policy on plagiarism can be found at
Please note that I must follow university procedures when I identify a case of plagiarism.
Other policies: The instructor reserves the right to change the schedule and assignments at his discretion. Please note that there are no provisions for make-up exams. You will be able to drop one quiz. If, due to an excused emergency, you must miss the midterm or final exam, you must email me() or leave a message at 650-2908, in advance of the exam. If the absence is excused, your final will count double. If you are sick or have an emergency situation, please do your best to contact us prior to the exam.
Please take good care of yourself this quarter -- we will provide an opportunity to re-take a quiz missed due to medical illness only. Since each class meets for two hours, I'd like you to contact one of the TAs if you end up missing three classes so that you can catch up -- we want to do our best to make sure everyone successfully completes the course.
Special Accommodations: Western Washington’s policy and practice is to make reasonable accommodations for students with properly documented disabilities. Written notification fromdisAbilities resources (DRS) is required. If you are eligible to receive an accommodation and would like to request it for this course, please discuss it with me as soon as possible. This conversation will be kept strictly confidential. If you have questions about DRS and filing for an accommodation, please visit disability Resources for Students in Old Main 110 (650-3083). Their email is .
Course schedule and readings
Jan 5Political Thought & Democratic Theory
Interview with Robert Putnam
Jan 10 & 12Introduction to Modern Ideologies & Democratic Theory
Political Ideologies and the Democratic Ideal, Chapter 1
Political Ideologies and the Democratic Ideal, 1st half of Chapter 2
Jan 17Polity, Republic & Democracy from Antiquity to the European Renaissance
Ideals and Ideologies, Reading 2.4 (Aristotle) & Reading 2.5 (Machiavelli)
Jan 19The Modern Republic & the 19th Century Public Sphere (1831-1860)
Political Ideologies and the Democratic Ideal, Chapter 2 – 2nd half
Reading 2.8 (Tocqueville), and Reading 2.9 (Mill)
Jan 24 & 26 Classical Liberalism – The First Ideology
The Contract Theorists: Thomas Hobbes & John Locke
Political Ideologies and the Democratic Ideal, Chapter 3, first half 10th ed pp. 50-62,8th ed: (pp. 45-56)
Hobbes’ Leviathan:
Ideals and Ideologies, Reading: 3.11 p. 70-72 (10th ed), 3.11, p. 60-62 only (9th ed) (it is Reading 3.10 in 8th ed, p. 57-59 only)
Locke’s 2nd Treatise on Government:
Ideals and Ideologies, Reading 3.12 p 83-94 (10th ed.) 3.12, p. 71-79 only (9th ed) (it is Reading 3.11 in 8th ed, p. 68-77 only)
Jan 31 Feb 2 Classical Liberalism in the Age of Democratic Revolutions
John Stuart Mill’s Utilitarian-Based Classical Liberalism
Emergence of Positive Liberty & Welfare Liberalism after 1870
Political Ideologies and the Democratic Ideal, Chapter 3, 10th : 62-70, 8th: pp. 56-64
Political Ideologies and the Democratic Ideal, Chapter 3, 10th:70-88, 8th: pp. 64-74
Ideals and Ideologies, Reading 3.13 (10th and 9th) (Thomas Paine’s Common Sense) (it is Reading 3.12 in the 8th ed)
Ideals and Ideologies, Reading 3.16 (10th and 9th) (Adam Smith’s Wealth of Nations) (it is Reading 3.15 in the 8th ed)
Ideals and Ideologies, Reading 3.18 (10th and 9th) (John Stuart Mill) (Reading 3.17 in 8th ed)
Tues, Feb 7 Welfare Liberalism & John Rawls’s Theory of Justice
Political Ideologies and the Democratic Ideal, Chapter 3, 10th: 88- 92, 8th: pp. 74-79 top
From the The Third Wayto Obama’s “New” New Deal
Political Ideologies and the Democratic Ideal, Chapter 3, 10th: 92-103, 8th: pp. 79-88
Review for Midterm
Thurs, Feb 9Snow Day
Tues, Feb 14Midterm Exam
Thurs, Feb 16Traditional Conservatism: From Edmund Burke to Tory Democracy in the UK
Political Ideologies and the Democratic Ideal, Chapter 4, pp. 93-105 (8th)
Political Ideologies and the Democratic Ideal, Chapter 4, pp. 99-114 (9th)
Ideals & Ideologies, Reading 4.24/4.27 Edmund Burke, Reflections on the Revolution in France
20th Century Traditional Conservatism -- Michael Oakeshott
Ideals & Ideologies Reading 4.26/4.29 Michael Oakeshott, On Being Conservative(Pt. Ionly)
Tues, Feb 21Conservatism 1900 - 1964
Political Ideologies and the Democratic Ideal, Chapter 4 (con’t), pp. 105-113 (middle) (8th)
Political Ideologies and the Democratic Ideal, Chapter 4 (con’t), pp. 114-119(middle) (9th)
Michael Oakeshott’s Traditional Conservatism (con’t from Feb 16)
Ideals & Ideologies, Reading 4.26/4.29 Michael Oakeshott, On Being Conservative (Pts. II & III)
Thurs, Feb 23 From the 1964 Conservative Movement to
Reagan-Rove Coalition After 1980: Individualist Conservatism, Neo-Conservatism, Social Populism, & the Religious Right
Political Ideologies and the Democratic Ideal, Chapter 4 (con’t), pp. 113 – 115 (8th)
Political Ideologies and the Democratic Ideal, Chapter 4 (con’t), pp. 119– 125 (1st para) (9th)
Tues, Feb 28 Strengthening of Religious Right in 1990s & 2000s
Decline of the Reagan Rove-Coalition after 2012
Political Ideologies and the Democratic Ideal, Chapter 4 (con’t), pp. 116 – 121 (8th)
Political Ideologies and the Democratic Ideal, Chapter 4 (con’t), pp. 125 (2nd para) – 129 (9th)
Thurs, Mar 2Socialism from Thomas More to Karl Marx
Emergence of Marxist Thought in the Industrial Revolution
Political Ideologies and the Democratic Ideal, Chapter 5, pp. 133-142 top (9th ed)
Marxist Theory of History & Dialectical Materialism
Marx’s Critique of Capitalism & Theories of Alienation & Revolution
Political Ideologies and the Democratic Ideal, Chapter 5, pp. 178–186 (8th ed)
Political Ideologies and the Democratic Ideal, Chapter 5, pp. 142-154 (9th ed)
Post-Marxism & the rise of Democratic Socialism in Western Europe
Fabian Socialismthe British Labour Party
Socialism & Welfare Liberalism in the US
Political Ideologies & the Democratic Ideal, Chapter 6, pp. 186 – 194 (9th)
Tues, Mar 7Critical Western Marxism & Commodification
Political Ideologies and the Democratic Ideal, Chapter 6, pp. 173 (bottom) – 174 (bottom) (8th)
Political Ideologies and the Democratic Ideal, Chapter 6, pp. 181– 182 (top)(9th)
Enlightenment vs. Anti-Enlightenment Thought
Political Ideologies and the Democratic Ideal, (Chapter 7), pp. 191– 194 only (8th)
Political Ideologies and the Democratic Ideal, (Chapter 7), pp. 199– 202 only (9th)
Ideals & Ideologies, Reading 4.25/4.28 (de Maistre) (Just read the 2 short paragraphs at the
top -- Considerations on France)
See Powerpoint for Chapter 7 on Course Webpage as well
Thurs, Mar 9Whither Ideology? Ideology Past, Present, Future
Political Ideologies and the Democratic Ideal, Chapter 11
Review for Final Exam
Wednesday, March 15 Final Exam, 1:00 – 3:00
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