Syllabus
HON351 (Section 001)
"AMERICAN IDEALS IN GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE"
North Carolina State University
Spring Semester 2008
Tuesday, Thursday, 3:00-4:15 PM
Caldwell 212
A quotation to think about-----
"Maintaining your integrity inevitably means declining to follow every new trend
and appearing out of touch with mainstream culture. I think the Founding Fathers
would agree with me. They knew all about holding unpopular opinions."
From an op-ed piece by Jeffrey Shaffer in the Christian Science Monitor, June 30, 2006.
INSTRUCTOR
Professor of Political Science and Public Administration
North Carolina State University
Office: Caldwell 207
Phone (with voice mail): 515-3755
E-Mail: soroos<a>ncsu.edu
Website: http//:social.chass.ncsu.edu/soroos/
Office Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays 10:00-11:30; 4:15-5:00
THE TOPIC OF THE SEMINAR
The ascendance of the United States and the western world over the Soviet Union and communism less than two decades ago brought an end to the Cold War that had dominated world affairs the end of World War II. The United States entered the 21st century as the only remaining superpower, and American ideals such as democracy, freedom, human rights, market economics, and free enterprise were being embraced around the world as never before. However, the terrorist acts of last September 11, 2001 reminded Americans that not all peoples welcome the international dominance of the United States and regard American ideals as a threat to their deeply held cultural values. The United States led war against Saddam Hussein's government has been justified in part as an effort to extend American ideals such as freedom and democracy to the Iraqi people. These events have caused many Americans to reflect on the nature of American values, how these values are being promoted internationally, the extent to which they are being sacrificed domestically in the fight against terrorism, and why so many people around the world hold negative opinions about the United States and what it stands for.
This course will examine core American ideals, how they evolved, what differentiates them from competing ideologies, and the extent to which they are transferable to countries with very different cultures, histories, and levels of economic development. It will also critically inquire about the extent to which the United States has been achieving its ideals and how successful it has been in promoting these values globally. The course will be divided into three parts devoted to the following topics and questions indicated for each.
I. Distinguishing American Ideals
What are the core American ideals? To what extent are American ideals subject to differing interpretations?
How do American ideals fit into the evolution of political and economic thought in the Western world?
Are American values the culmination of humanity's ideological evolution?
What are the principal alternatives to American ideals; such as fascism, socialism, and communism?
To what extent is the United States achieving its basic ideals? Does the United States provide a favorable model for other nations to emulate?
Are there insights Americans can learn from the values and perspectives of other societies?
II. Democratization and Human Rights Around the World
Is there a global trend toward the adoption of democratic forms of government?
What differences are there in the practice of democracy in various countries around the world?
What experiences have the former socialist and developing countries had in converting their political systems to democracies?
What conditions seem to favor a successful transition to democracy and the maintenance of democratic regimes?
Are there countries in which electoral processes may exacerbate political or ethnic conflict and lead to a breakdown of civil order?
Why do some elected governments veer toward authoritarianism and the dential of civil and political rights?
Should the United States support democracy universally even if elections lead to governments that are hostile to American interests?
III. Economic Liberalism and Globalization
What is economic globalization? What differentiates contemporary globalization from the economic interdependence of previous era?
What factors have given rise to economic globalization?
What are the benefits of economic globalization? How broadly are these benefits distributed within and among societies?
What are the implications of economic globalization for democracy?
Why has economic globalization aroused a strong political backlash in the United States and around the world? What arguments are made against economic globalization as it has evolved?
Has the momentum toward economic globalization has been weakening in recent years?
COURSE OBJECTIVES
As an honors seminar, the course will have several general objects including----
broadening of personal knowledge and perspectives
examining alternative conceptions of American values
developing research skills
improving writing skills
gaining confidence in oral communication
encouraging creativity and intellectual risk taking
BOOKS/READINGS TO PURCHASE
Terence Ball and Richard Dagger, Political Ideologies and the Democratic Ideal, 6th edition, Longman, 2006 (4th or 5th editions are also okay)
Manfred B. Steger, Globalization: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford University Press, 2003.
Washington Post National Weekly Edition (will be distributed each week compliments of the NC State Honors Program)
TERM PAPER ASSIGNMENT
Each student will write a term paper with a target length of 10-15 doublespaced pages. Ten pages is the minimum for an acceptable paper. The paper may be longer than 15 pages, but keep in mind the grade will be based more on quality than length. Papers will be graded on both substance and composition.
Each student will select a term paper assignment on the basis of his/interests. The following are two types of topics that would be appropriate for the course.
Country Paper. The paper would focus on a specific country of the student's choosing and explore how democracy and/or economic globalization are working out in that country. Examples of countries that might be interesting are Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Hungary, Georgia, Iran, India, Thailand, Mongolia, Uzbekistan, Uganda, Peru, Ecuador, Mexico, Haiti, Venezuela, Argentina, South Africa, Pakistan, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Israel, Lebanon, and Egypt, but many other countries are good possibilities. Developing countries probably work better than other developed ones for this assignment.
Other Possibilities. With the approval of the instructor, students may use their imaginations to design other types of projects which might be undertaken individually or jointly in a group. For example, the project could be to write a "Dialogue among a Group of Classical Political Philosophers on the Contemporary World." This project could also take form of a one act play or a film to be presented to class.
Timetable
Thursday, February 21 - submit topic (required)
Thursday, March 27 - submit outline (required)
Thursday, April 10- submit first draft (optional)
Tuesday, April 22- submit final draft (required)
Website Resources
Freedom House, Country Reports on Freedom, 2007
Freedom House, Country Reports on Press Freedom, 2007
Reporters without Borders, Rankings on Press Freedom, 2007
World Bank, Worldwide Governance Indicators, 2007
US Department of State, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, 2006
US Department of State, Country Reports on Religious Freedom, 2007
United Nations Development Program, Human Development Index
Transparency International, Corruption Perceptions Index 2006
World Economic Forum, Global Competitiveness Report 2007-08
Economic Freedom of the World Report 2005 (Fraser Institute)
(These following sites have not been updated recently, but may include some useful links)
Globalization, Democracy & Term Paper Resource Websites
Internet Sites for Researching Countries
EXAMINATIONS
There will be two midterms and a final examination. Additional information about the format for the examinations and final essay and what they will cover will be provided later.
ATTENDANCE POLICY
This being a seminar that places emphasis on participation on class participation, regular attendance is expected of all students. Unexcused absences will result in a reduction in grades as follows: 4-6 (one-step reduction; e.g., B to B-), 7-9 (two-step reduction; e.g., B to C+), 10-12 (three step reduction; e.g, B to C) and 13 or more (failure of course). Those with 0-1 absences will receive a one-step boost (e.g., B to B+)
CLASS SESSIONS
This being a seminar course, lectures will be held to a minimum to give priority to class discussions of most topics. Students are expected to complete all of the assigned readings prior to each class session and to come prepared to discuss them. Note also for most class sessions there is a link to an on-line study guide available for each topic in the syllabus that can be used to prepare for the class discussions.
Because most class sessions will be devoted to class discussion, use of laptop computers during class is strongly discouraged. Limited use of computers for taking notes may be allowed, but other uses such as checking email and web surfing is not permitted during class time. Past experience suggests that these latter uses detract from the class experience for all students. Such computer uses will be a strong negative factor in the class participation portion of the grades for students who abuse this policy.
GRADES
Grades for the course will be based on the three examinations (45%---15% each for the two midterms and the final), the term paper (30%), and participation in class discussions (25%). The grade scale will be 97-100 (A+), 93-96 (A), 90-92 (A-), 87-89 (B+), 83-86 (B), 80-82 (B-), 77-79 (C+), 73-76 (C), 70-72 (C-). A grade below 60 is failing.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
Students are expected to do their own work. Terms papers must be written by the students submitting them and exclusively for HON351. Plagiarized papers will receive no credit and will be referred to the Office of Student Conduct.
DISABILITY POLICY
The seminar will be conducted according to the University policy for students with disabilities. Students with hearing, visual, motor, learning, or other disabilities are asked to make any needs known at the beginning of the term so that appropriate adjustments can be made.
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
UNIT I: COMPETING IDEOLOGIES
Jan 10 - Course Introduction
Optional activity:
Take the Civics Literacy Quiz and compare your results with those of students from other universities/colleges
Jan 15 - Film: "Is America #1" (ABC documentary by John Stoessel) (study guide)
Dominique Moisi, "The Clash of Emotions: Fear, Humiliation, Hope, and the New World Order," Foreign Affairs, Vol. 86, No. 1, January/February 2007, pp. 8-12.
Minxin Pei, "The Paradoxes of American Nationalism," Foreign Policy, Vol. 136, May/June 2003, pp. 31-37. (electronic reserves)
Other articles (optional)
"Milton Friedman, 94, Free-Market Economist, Dies," New York Times, November 17, 2006
"Numbers Show a Second-Rate US," Christian Science Monitor, August 28, 2006
Jan 17 - Perceptions of America and Its Values (study guide)
Pew Global Attitudes Project, Global Unease with Major Powers (browse on line)
Joseph S. Nye, "The Decline of America's Soft Power," Foreign Affairs, Vol. 83, No. 3, May/June 2004, pp. 16-20.
Michael Mandelbaum, "David's Friend Goliath," Foreign Policy, Vol. 152, January/February 2006, pp. 50-56. (electronic reserves)
Other articles (optional)
"If the Shoe Fits," Christian Science Monitor, June 27, 2006
"Britons Tire of Cruel, Vulgar US: Poll," Agence France Presse, July 3, 2006
"The Language Was Universal," Christian Science Monitor, Sept. 11, 2006
"Why Turks No Longer Love the US," Christian Science Monitor, November 1, 2007
Jan 22 - Democracy as Political Ideology (study guide)
Ball and Dagger, chs. 1-2
Jan 24 - Liberalism as an Ideology (study guide)
Ball and Dagger, ch. 3
Other articles (optional):
George Will, "CATO: Upholding the Idea of Liberty," CATO's Letter, Summer 2006, 1-6
"Paul's Apostles," Mother Jones, Vol. 33, No. 1, January/February 2008, pp. 40-44. (refers to the presidential campaign of Ron Paul)
Websites (optional)
Jan 29 - Liberalism in Critical Perspective (study guide)
George Perkovich, "Giving Justice Its Due," Foreign Affairs, Vol, 84, No. 4, (July/August 2005) (electronic reserves)
Paul Starr, "Why Liberalism Works," American Prospect, April 2007, pp. 34-40
Other articles (optional)
Daniel Akst, "Strive We Must," Washington Quarterly, Autumn 2007, Vol. 31, 4, pp. 46-54
Benjamin Barber, "The Lost Art of Cooperation," Washington Quarterly, Autumn 2007, pp. 56 -61
David Brooks, "The American Way of Equality," International Herald Tribune, January 15, 2007
Lynne Adrian, "Disasters and What They Show Us About America's Values," Chronicle of Higher Education, October 7, 2005.
Websites (optional)
World's Smallest Political Quiz (class exercise)
American Civil Liberties Union
Jan 31 - Speech by Robert Reich in Stewart Theater
February 5 - Conservatism as an Ideology (study guide)
Ball and Dagger, ch. 4
John Micklethwait and Adrian Wooldridge, "Introduction" to The Right Nation: Conservative Power in America,
Penguin, 2004 (electronic reserves)
David Brooks, "The Republican Collapse," New York Times, October 5, 2007
Websites (optional):
Republican Party (Statement of Principles)
Other articles (optional):
Jay Dixit, "The Ideological Animal," Psychology Today, January-February, 2007, pp. 81-86
"Neoconservatism," Wikipedia Encyclopedia
Ezra Klein, "Rise of Republicrats," The American Prospect, September 2006, pp. 40-43
"New Quest in British Politics: Public Happiness," Christian Science Monitor," January 17, 2007
Feb 7 - Socialism/Communism as an Ideology and as Practiced in the Soviet Union and Elsewhere (study guide 1) (study guide 2)
Ball and Dagger, chs. 5 and 6
Other articles (optional)
"Socialist Senator Makes US History," BBC, January 2, 2006 Sanders Website
"N. Korea Escalates 'Cult of Kim' to Counter West's Influence," Christian Science Monitor, January 3, 2007
"Israel's Oldest Kibbutz Votes for Privatization," Guardian (UK), February 20, 2007
Websites (optional)
International Committee of the Fourth International
Feb 12 - Fascism/Nazism as Ideologies (study guide)
Ball and Dagger, ch. 7
Websites (optional):
Feb 14 - Midterm #1
Feb 19 - Liberation Ideologies (study guide)
Ball and Dagger, ch. 8
Other articles (optional):
"Australia to Admit Past Wrong; Helpful?", Christian Science Monitor, February 12, 2007
"Africans' Lingering Bias Against Blacks," Christian Science Monitor, February 7, 2007
"Anti-Immigrant Sentiments Fuel Resurgence of the KKK," Christian Science Monitor, February 9, 2007
Website (optional):
UN Conference on Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia, and Related Intolerance
Feb 21 - Environmentalism as Ideology (study guide)
Term Paper Topic is Due
Ball and Dagger, ch. 9 (chapter 11 optional)
Herschel Elliott and Richard Lamm, "A Moral Code for a Finite World," Chronicle of Higher Education, November 15, 2002, pp. B7-B9
"In Wake of Latest Climate Report, Calls Mount for Global Response," Christian Science Monitor, February 5, 2007
Other articles (optional):
Garrett Hardin, "The Tragedy of the Commons"
Kenneth Boulding, "Economics of the Coming Spaceship Earth"
Bill McKibben, "Reversal of Fortune," Mother Jones, March/April 2007
IPCC, "Climate Change 2007: The Synthesis Report," (Summary for Policymakers)
"New Analysis Counters Claims that Solar Activity is Linked to Global Warming," Guardian/UK, July 11, 2007
"Are Sunsports Suspect in Global Warming?" Christian Science Monitor, September 27, 2007
Websites (optional):
Environmental Performance Index (rankings of nations)
Wikipedia, Green Parties Worldwide
Negative Population Growth (Advertisements)
ay
UNIT II: DEMOCRACY IN GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES
Feb 26 - Democracy on the Rise (study guide)
Freedom House, Freedom in the World 2008 (read Overview Essay, and browse Tables and Graphs)
Joseph T. Siegle, et al., "Why Democracies Excel," Foreign Affairs, Vol. 83, No. 5, Sept./Oct 2004, pp. 57-71
Websites (optional):
Freedom House (Wikipedia entry)
Wikipedia, History of Democracy
World Bank, Worldwide Governance Indicators 2007
Feb 28 - Democracy in Decline (study guide)
Fareed Zakaria, "The Rise of Illiberal Democracy" Foreign Affairs, Vol. 76, No. 6, Nov/Dec 1997, pp. 22-43 (electronic reserves)
Azar Gat, "The Return of Authoritarian Great Powers," Foreign Affairs, Vol. 86, No. 4, July/August 2007, pp. 59-69 (electronic reserves)
Other articles (optional):
"Venezuela's Chavez Tightens Grip," Christian Science Monitor, January 10, 2007
Fund for Peace, "The Failed State Index 2007,"
Parade Magazine, "The World's Ten Worst Dictators," February 17, 2008
The World's Most Repressive Societies
SPRING BREAK
March 11 - America's Role in Promoting Democracy (study guide)
Thomas Carothers, "The Backlash Against Democracy Promotion," Foreign Affairs, Vol. 85, No. 2, March /April 2006, pp. 55-68 (electronic reserves)
Michael Mandelbaum, "Democracy without America," Foreign Affairs, Vol. 86, No. 5, September/October 2007, pp. 119-130 (electronic reserves)
Other articles (optional):
Yuri Ushakov (Russian Ambassador to the US), "From Russia, with Liking," Christian Science Monitor, February 7, 2007
Websites (optional):
United Nations Development Program, Democratic Governance
Community of Democracies Wikipedia entry
US Department of State: Democracy, Human Rights and Labor
ACE Project of the International Foundation for Electoral Systems
International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance
National Endowment for Democracy Wikipedia entry
March 13 - Democracy for Iraq and the Muslim World (study guide)
Ball and Dagger, chapter 10
Stephen Biddle, "Seeing Baghdad, Thinking Saigon," Foreign Affairs, Vol 85, No. 2, March/April 2006, pp. 2-14 (electronic reserves)
"Iranians Love Affair with Americans," Christian Science Monitor, January 19, 2007
Other articles (optional):
"A Widening Rift: Sunni-Shiite Tension in Spreading across the Arab World," Washington Post, February 12, 2007
March 18 - Democracy and Confronting Terrorism (study guide)
F. Gregory Gause, "Can Democracy Stop Terrorism," Foreign Affairs, Vol. 84, No. 5, Sept/Oct 2005, pp. 62-76 (electronic reserves)
Philip Gordon, "Can the War on Terror be Won?" Foreign Affairs, Vol. 86, No. 6, November/December 2007, pp. 53-66 (electronic reserves)
Other articles (optional):
"The Myth of Muslim Support of Terror," Christian Science Monitor, February 23, 2007
March 20 - Democracy and Religion in Global Perspective (study guide)
Walter Mead, "God's Country," Foreign Affairs, Vol 85, No. 5, Sept/Oct 2006, pp. 24-43. (electronic reserves)
Timothy Shah and Monica Toft, "Why God is Winning," Foreign Policy, No. 155, July/Aug 2006, pp. 38-43. (electronic reserves)
Other articles (optional):
"Obama Seeks to Clarify His Views on Race," Christian Science Monitor, March 19, 2008
Colbert Report, The Word: the Gospel of John
Stephen Holmes, "The European Dilemma," The American Prospect, March 18, 2007
Bill Miller, "UN Challenges Conflict of Civilizations Theory," UNA-USA, March 20, 2007
"In Africa, the Missionary Tables Have Turned," Christian Science Monitor, March 1, 2007
"Evangelical Leaders Join Global Warming Initiative," New York Times, February 8, 2006 Statement of Initiative
Websites (optional):
Danish Cartoon Controversy (Wikipedia entry)
March 25 - Midterm #2
UNIT III: THE TREND TOWARD ECONOMIC GLOBALIZATION
March 27 - Globalization: Definitions and History (study guide)
Term Paper Outline is Due
Steger, ch. 1-2
Websites: (optional)
Carnegie Council, Essential Resources on Globalization
April 1 - Economic Globalization (study guide)
Steger, ch. 3
Amy Stewart, "Flower Power," Foreign Policy, No. 161, July/August 2007, pp. 44-52 (electronic reserves)
Websites: (optional)
Open Society Institute (George Soros)
World Economic Forum (New York Times site)
Global Competitiveness Report 2007-08
Economic Freedom of the World Report (national rankings page.14) (Cato Institute)
April 3 - Technology and the Global Labor Market (study guide)
Friedman, "The World is Flat, After All" New York Times , April 3, 2005
Stephen Cohen and Bradford Delong, "Shaken and Stirred," Atlantic Monthly, Jan.-Feb 2005, pp. 112-17.
Daniel W. Drezner, "The Outsourcing Bogeyman," Foreign Affairs, Vol. 83, No. 3, May/June 2004, pp. 22-34. (electronic reserves)
Websites (optional):
Networked Readiness Index 2007
Other articles (optional):
"'Extreme' Jobs on the Rise," Christian Science Monitor, December 4, 2006
April 8 - Political and Governmental Aspects of Globalization (study guide)
Steger, ch. 4
A. T. Kearny Report, "The Globalization Index," Foreign Policy, Vol. 163, November/December 2007, pp. 68-76.
Websites (optional):
"China's Sovereign Wealth Fund," CBS Sixty Minutes, April 6, 2007 (video)
Kofi Index of Globalization 2008
Corruption Perceptions Index 2006
UN Global Program Against Corruption
Reporters without Borders, Rankings on Press Freedom
April 10 - Culture in an Era of Globalization (study guide)
Submit Draft of Term Paper (Optional)
Steger, ch. 5
Brook Larmer, "The Center of the World," Foreign Policy, Vol. 150, September/October 2005, pp. 66-74 (electronic reserves)
Paul Starobin, "Going Dutch," National Journal, February 28, 2004, pp. 604-11. (electronic reserves)
Other articles (optional):
Dinesh D'Souza, "War on Terror's Other Front: Cleaning up US Pop Culture," Christian Science Monitor, January 25, 2007
April 15 - Comparing America and Europe (study guide)
John Micklethwait and Adrian Wooldridge, "America the Different," pp. 291-313 in The Right Nation: Conservative Power in America, Penguin, 2004. (handout from instructor)
Robert Kutter, "The Copenhagen Consensus: Reading Adam Smith in Denmark," Foreign Affairs, Vol. 87, No. 2, March/April 2008, pp. 78-94 (electronic reserves)
Other articles (optional):
"Egalitarian Finland, Most Competitive Too" Christian Science Monitor, October 26, 2005.
"Is Free-market Britain Fair Enough for All?" Christian Science Monitor, October 25, 2005.
"French Inch toward Social Reform," Christian Science Monitor, October 27, 2005
"Numbers Show a Second Rate US," Christian Science Monitor, August 28, 2006
Websites (optional):
"And the Happiest Place in the World Is.......," CBS Video
"US Health Care Gets a Boost from Charity," CBS Video
Economic Policy Institute, "International Comparisons: How Does the US Stack Up?"
UK Home Office World Prison Population List (fifth edition)
US Bureau of Justice---Capital Punishment Statistics
April 17 - Democracy and Economic Reforms in Contemporary Russia
Guest: Dr. Elena Nikitina, Russian Academy of Sciences
Read ahead as time permits
April 22 - Backlash Against Globalization (study guide)
Ideology and Misconceptions about Globalization (study guide)
Term Paper is Due at Class Time
Steger, ch. 6, 7
Willliam Easterly, "The Ideology of Development," Foreign Policy, Vol. 161, July/August 2007, pp. 31-35 (electronic reserves)
Robert B. Reich, "How Capitalism is Killing Democracy," Foreign Policy, No. 162, September/October 2007, pp. 38-42. (electronic reserves)
Other articles (optional):
Fortune Magazine, "The World's Richest People," March 2008
"US Income Gap is Widening Significantly, Data Shows," New York Times, March 29, 2007
"Richest 2 Pecent Own 'Half of the Wealth,'" BBC Worl d Service, December 5, 2006
"Lou Dobbs Refers to Economists as Jackasses," CNN video
"Latin American Voters Go Left, but Not that Far Left," Christian Science Monitor, December 5, 2006
"Backlash Grows Against Free Trade," Christian Science Monitor, February 16, 2007
Wikipedia, Anti-globalization movement
World Social Forum (Wikipedia entry)
Public Citizen Global Trade Watch (Ralph Nader)
April 24 - The Future of Globalization (study guide)
Steger, ch. 8
Rawi Abdelah and Adam Segal, "Has Globalization Passed Its Peak?" Foreign Affairs, Vol 86, No. 1, January/February 2007, pp. 103-14.
Martin Walker,"Globalization 3.0," Washington Quarterly, Autumn 2007, 16-24
Websites (optional):
Pew Research Center,"Trends in Political Values and Core Attitudes: 1987-2007,"
Final Examination
Tuesday, April 29, 1:00-4:00 PM