Professor Langdon Winner
Science and Technology Studies STSS-6360
Thurs. 6:00-8:50 in Sage 5203

This class is a graduate seminar focusing upon central themes and perspectives in contemporary political thought. Our particular focus this semester is democracy, technology and empire. Far and away the most important activity for us this term is to read a number of challenging books and to think about them carefully. Much of what we will do in class is to talk about and compare contrasting ways of thinking about politics and society. What are the issues in political life that people consider most important? What strategies do they employ in discussing them? How do prominent thinkers define such key concepts as freedom, justice, equality, authority, order, and power? How do they distinguish between matters of public and private interest? What are some causes of the widespread belief that democracy is in crisis?

Some of the books examine social and political life in America today. Others focus upon global power and human relationships within and around technological systems. Students are encouraged to discuss not only their understandings of course materials, but also their own thinking about politics, society and personal responsibility. There is no preferred theory or ideology in this course; all ideas will be heard and brought into the debate.

Meetings. We will meet once a week in seminar. Our first step will be to briefly discuss issues in the news of the week that relate to course themes. Then there will be a brief talk about ideas in the readings, setting the stage for the discussion. After that, one or more members of the class will help guide the discussion for the evening. You will know a week in advance when it is your turn to play this crucial role and I will help you prepare. All students should come ready to discuss what they find most notable, intellectually fruitful or problematic in the texts.

Readings. Because we are reading each of several selected works very carefully over a period of weeks, it is important that you purchase the books, annotate them as you read, and bring them to class. Occasionally there will be other brief selections assigned as well. You must do all the readings on time and come prepared to talk about them intelligently.

Books for purchase: These books are available at the student union:

Hannah Arendt, The Humam Condition
Manuel Castells, The Power of Identity
Lawrence Lessig, The Code and Other Laws of Cyberspace
Robert McChesney, Rich Media, Poor Democracy
Alisdair McIntosh, Soil and Soul
Kevin Phillips, Wealth and Democracy
Robert D. Putnam, Bowling Alone
Eric Schlosser, Fast Food Nation

And choose one of the following books:
Chris Hedges, War is a Force That Gives Us Meaning
Robert D. Kaplan, Warrior Politics

Other materials: One aim of this class is to enable you to recognize and evaluate political ideas in a variety of contexts. Please do read a newspaper regularly (high quality online publications are fine). The books we read will be supplemented by articles on the syllabus or added as we move along. I invite students to suggest additional readings.

Grades. Your grade in the course will be determined by your performance in the following work:

1. Class participation, including facilitating discussion: 25%
2. Mid-term take home exam: 25%
3. Seminar paper: 50%

Mid-term take home exam. Held the week before the Thanksgiving holiday, the exam will ask you to write short essays on important ideas from the readings and discussions.

Seminar paper. Select a topic about contemporary politics that interests you, perhaps a topic relevant to your research plans. Consult with Mr. Winner about the readings and questions you will pursue. Hand in a brief prospectus no later than October 9. Turn in your paper, roughly 15- 20 pages long, in lucid, elegant prose. The paper is due the last meeting of the class, December 4.

Office hours. I will hold office hours Tuesday and Friday 1-2 in Sage 5707 and by appointment. My telephone: x 8498; home: 766-9194 email address: winner@rpi.edu.

Scholarly integrity: I assume that all written work you submit will be your own. Discussion with your fellow students is strongly encouraged and you may prepare for exams together, if you please. But any evidence of cheating or other academic dishonesty will be met with an appropriate penalty.

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Schedule of meetings:

Week #1: Monday, August 25 - Introduction to the seminar

Students discuss their interests related to contemporary political thought.
From Mr. Winner: brief comments on "Democracy, Technology and Empire"
Discussion of reading: Bill Moyers, "This is Your Story - The Progressive Story of America. Pass It On"
http://www.commondreams.org/views03/0610-11.htm

Week #2: Thursday, September 4 - The Public and Private Realm

Reading: Hannah Arendt, The Human Condition, Introduction,
and chapters I, II, III, and IV

Week #3: September 11 - Action, Freedom and Modernity

Readings: The Human Condition, Chapters V and VII.
Hannah Arendt, "The Revolution and Its Lost Treasure"
(on digital reserve)

Week #4: September 18 - Democracy and Oligarchy

Reading: Kevin Phillips, Wealth and Democracy (entire)

Week #5: September 25 - The Exhaustion of Public Life

Reading: Robert Putnam, Bowling Alone

Week #6: October 2 - Globalization, Identity and Meaning

Reading: Manuel Castells, The Power of Identity, chapters 1, 2, 3, and 4

Week #7: October 9 - The Market and Erosion of State Power

Readings: The Power of Identity, chapters 5, 6 and Conclusion
Susan George, "A Short History of Neoliberalism"
http://www.zmag.org/CrisesCurEvts/Globalism/george.htm
Elizabeth Martinez and Arnoldo Garcia, "What is Neoliberalism?" -- http://www.corpwatch.org/issues/PID.jsp?articleid=376

Week #8: - no class

Week #9: October 23 - War, Nihilism and Neo-Imperialism

Everyone read: Robert Kaplan, "Supremacy by Stealth"
http://www.theatlantic.com/issues/2003/07/kaplan.htm
Choose one of the following books:

Chris Hedges, War is a Force That Gives Us Meaning
or
Robert D. Kaplan, Warrior Politics

Week #10: October 30 - The Media and Corporate Power

Reading: Robert McChesney, Rich Media, Poor Democracy

Week #11: November 6 - Technologies in Everyday Life

Reading: Eric Schlosser, Fast Food Nation

Week #12: November 13 - Politics in Cyberspace

Reading: Lawrence Lessig, Code and Other Laws of Cyberspace

Week #13: November 20 - Empire and Ecology

Reading: Alastair McIntosh, Soil and Soul: People versus Corporate Power
Part One

Week #14: Thanksgiving holiday

Week #15: December 4 - Community, Resistance and Hope

Readings: Alastair McIntosh, Soil and Soul: People versus Corporate Power
Part Two