POL 314: Issues in Amer Pol Thought

Course Description

Fundamental and recurring issues in American political thought, as they appear in the most influential and representative works on public affairs since the end of the Civil War. Topics may include Social Darwinism and its progressive critics, "revisionist" critiques of the Constitution, political aspects of philosophic pragmatism, the "revolt against formalism" in law, political doctrines of Progressivism and the New Deal, mid-century changes in progressive liberalism, the revival of classical liberalism and its "fusion" with traditional conservatism, political-philosophical aspects of environmentalism, the political thought of the civil rights movement and its critics, feminism and its diversification, and the capacities of American political culture and institutions to conduct a sustained opposition to terrorism. The course concentrates on analyzing extended works of reasoning in books, essays, judicial opinions and other public documents.POL 304, American Political Thought, is recommended as a forerunner to this course.