Political Theory @ Southern Miss

You might be concerned that something is missing: that education isn't solely about the desires of employers or achieving a certain dollar income. You're not wrong: The Usefulness of Useless Knowledge, by Abraham Flexner provides a different idea of why we might value education, and the kind of education we might value.

Academic Freedom Statement

This course engages with ideas and concepts across the political spectrum, many of which will challenge your ideas about basic political values. You should anticipate being offended by at least some, perhaps many, of the assigned readings. To be clear, the purpose is to help you develop your own ideas as an independent thinker about politics. You are not being asked to adopt or endorse the views of any of the authors or texts assigned (and certainly not mine). The course should be considered a space for inquiry and learning, but not for unstructured expression. You will be required to defend arguments, based on evidence and logic, not merely state opinions. Similarly, you should expect me to evaluate you based on the stated criteria for the course, not based on your personal convictions. For a more formal statement of University policy, please see below:

All University faculty, instructors and teaching staff have the academic freedom to explore, discuss, and provide instruction on a wide range of topics in an academic setting. This class may present difficult, objectionable, or controversial topics for consideration, but will do so through an objective, scholarly lens designed to encourage critical thinking.  Though students may be asked to share their personal views in the academic setting, no student will ever be required to assent or agree with any concept considered “divisive” under Mississippi law, nor penalized for refusing to support or endorse such a concept. All students are strongly encouraged to think independently and analytically about all material presented in class and may express their views in a time, place, and manner, consistent with class organization and structure, and in accordance with the University’s commitment to free and open thought, inquiry, and expression.

What is Political Theory?

What is 'freedom'? What does it mean to live a 'free' life? What kind of political institutions would we need to establish a 'free' society?

You may think you already know the answer to these questions: that you have a basic idea of what we mean by 'freedom.' But consider the following:

• not being subject to the absolute, arbitrary power of another person

• not being restricted in what you can choose to do

• living under a legal system you consent to

• having a private sphere protected from external interference

• living only under laws you have given to yourself

• governing your life according to reason rather than emotion

• developing your own inner capacities and character to the greatest degree possible

Each of these has been advanced as a definition of 'freedom.' Do any of them match what you mean by freedom? How would you defend your definition against these other alternatives? How would you choose among them?

This is the central task of political theory (not just about 'freedom' or 'liberty,' but also equality, justice, security, virtue, solidarity, and so on). You will gain clarity about what you (want to) mean by freedom by examining and evaluating a range of possible alternatives. You may think that there can be no correct answer here, that each definition is as good as the others, or that it is simply a matter of personal preference. Maybe. But how you define freedom, and whether you value it highly or not, will affect the kinds of political institutions or policies you want to defend or oppose. So getting it right matters and has consequences for your overall picture of politics.

Political theorists approach this task by reading and analyzing texts. In the form of treatises, essays, stories, poems, and so on, we can identify how the author is understanding freedom and how that shapes their picture of politics. The goal, however, is always to develop your own judgment and understanding. You become a more complex thinker about freedom by analyzing these alternatives. You become a better analyst and reader of sometimes difficult texts.

Liberté, Egalité, Solidarité

The French Revolution gave us a slogan (slightly modified here) for a political community that successfully combines and balances three political values: freedom, equality, solidarity (but note: they actually said 'fraternité. How might that matter?). Arguably, this set the task for the next two centuries, and for our current political moment, namely to discover institutions capable of making the slogan a lived reality. The three core political theory classes at USM are organized around this theme, with each class centrally focused on one of the three.

PS 420: Ancient and Medieval Political Theory (Virtue and Desire)

This class examines the concept of solidarity through the lens of the 'virtuous community.' Many ancient and medieval writers posited an ideal political community in which all members shared an idea of virtue and organized their common way of life around putting that idea into practice. Solidarity would be achieved by educating people into this shared understanding of a virtuous life. But what kind of virtue should this community pursue? And could the virtuous community really be achieved? Are most human beings capable of living a life of virtue, or of dedicating themselves to a community devoted to virtue? If not, was there a second best alternative? Are political communities perhaps sustained by legal constraints more than by the virtue of their members? The course explores politics as the art of making community, of building and sustaining a shared way of life.

PS 421: Modern Political Theory (Constraint and Freedom)

This class examines the variety of accounts of freedom that emerged in early modern Europe and the different kinds of political community these accounts of freedom suggested. 'Modern' Europeans often started from the idea that all individuals were in some sense free and equal and then asked what kind of political community was consistent with this freedom. What kind of political authority could legitimately rule over 'free' people, and how could they retain their freedom and submit to this authority? Of course, modern Europeans also denied freedom (however defined) to a wide range of people, either excluding them from community, or including them only as subordinate and unfree people. The course explores the art of being free, and of building and sustaining political community as a shared way of life for free persons.

PS 426: Contemporary Political Theory (Capitalism and Democracy)

This class examines efforts to balance equality against the claims of freedom and solidarity in the wake of the French Revolution. In the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, modern nation states with industrial economies emerge, and pressure to involve (or at least reflect) 'the will of the people' in political decision making grows. Democratically organized polities seek to find an appropriate balance between freedom, equality, and solidarity. But what kind of equality should we be trying to realize? Does political equality require economic equality, and if so, of what kind? What losses are involved in placing a higher value on equality, or solidarity, than on freedom? This course explores the art of achieving equality, and of building and sustaining a community as a shared way of life for free persons of equal standing.

Getting in Touch 

1. For quick questions about the class, please use the email address above. You should us a valid usm.edu email account whenever possible.

2. For discussions about the material office hours are better than email.  Simply stop by my office (see above) during the listed hours, or email for an appointment.

Reading

Don't approach these texts like easy-going, casual acquaintances; approach them like cranky, difficult people who you need to get to know to appreciate. You are going to have to read these texts slowly, possibly more than once. You may still not understand them fully. 

General principles:

• Read through the text once, carefully, trying to figure out what it is saying and how.

• Take notes, underline the words or phrases that caught your attention.

• Then go back to passages that were difficult, thought provoking, or annoying to see why they seemed so.

• Be patient, and budget your time appropriately.

• "Carefully" does not mean you read it over quickly a few minutes before class.

Structure

This class will meet twice a week. There will be a mix of lecture and discussion.

• For this to work, you must have read the assigned text with some care before coming to the class session.

• You should be prepared with your own thoughts and reactions (however provisional).

• You will be best prepared if you write them down and bring them to class.

• We will read and analyze some passages in class--be prepared to discuss the texts with your peers.

Academic Integrity

Academic misconduct involves deception to improve a grade, earn course credit, complete a degree, or create an unfair academic advantage for oneself or disadvantage to another in the academic community. All students at the University of Southern Mississippi should familiarize themselves with the Student Academic Integrity Policy to become familiar with what actions constitute academic misconduct, a violation of that policy. Southern Miss values “an approach to academics, research, and personal conduct based on integrity and civility” and the Student Academic Integrity Policy supports that University value. Forms of academic misconduct may include, but are not limited to:

·       Cheating - Cheating is a broad category of academic misconduct characterized by an attempt to gain academic advantage through inappropriate means or impede the academic achievement of others.

·       Plagiarism - The use of another person's or source’s words, creative works, or ideas without appropriate quotation or attribution; claiming or submitting for academic credit the work of another.

·       Lying - The misrepresentation of one’s academic work, lying to an instructor to increase a grade, or lying to an instructor regarding an academic integrity violation.

·       Acquiring or Distributing Information Inappropriately - The act of distributing or obtaining course assignments or examination questions or answers from sources not approved by the instructor or proctor (includes, but is not limited to, unauthorized use of the Internet, test banks associated with course text and previous student work).

·       Fabrication or Falsification of Data - Any statement of untruth in any matters related to the academic experience, including but not limited to forgery; false claims of authorship; falsification of information, data, or results derived from or related to research or to laboratory experiments.

·       Stealing or Defacing - The act of intentionally taking, transferring, defacing, or destroying, without right or permission, any property related to the academic mission of the University, including an attempt to impede others.

·       Multiple Submissions - The submission, more than once, without authorization by any instructors involved, of substantial portions of the same work, including oral reports or work submitted for retaken courses.

·       Conspiracy - The act of agreeing or planning with any person to commit any violation of the Student Academic Integrity Policy.

·   Unauthorized use of artificial intelligence- See the artificial intelligence policy in this syllabus for allowable or non-allowable use of artificial intelligence.

If you commit an act of academic misconduct, sanctions ranging from resubmission of work to course failure may occur to the possibility of receiving a grade of “XF” for the course, which will be on the student’s transcript with the notation “Failure due to academic misconduct.”  Should you be accused of academic misconduct, please visit the Academic Integrity Website or email integrity@usm.edu for any questions you may have about your rights and about the academic integrity process. Southern Miss provides many campus resources that are detailed in this syllabus and will be discussed by your professors; please utilize those to help you learn. At Southern Miss, we care about your personal work and learning journey.

Artificial Intelligence Syllabus Statement

Each instructor will determine the permitted use of artificial intelligence in each course to ensure that students receive the opportunity to provide work that demonstrates academic rigor, creativity, original research, and other aspects that are appropriate for their discipline.  It is the responsibility of the student to review what, if any, artificial intelligence tools are permitted for use in each course.  

This section of the syllabus outlines the acceptable use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools in this course. Generative AI tools include types of artificial intelligence technology that are “capable of generating text, images, code or other types of content, often in response to a prompt entered by a user” (Hughes, 2023, TechRepublic). 

Option 3: Human-Generated Work Only

The intention of this course is to develop your capacity for critical reasoning through the use of gained knowledge, experience, and perspective, and as such, the use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) is not permitted for classwork. Any use of AI tools for creation of content in this course may be considered a violation of the University of Southern Mississippi's Academic Integrity policy. Your instructor of this course should provide guidance regarding non-generative technologies, including translation and access software, spelling and grammar checkers, and may reserve the right to send any submitted work through AI detection software. The use of unauthorized AI tools will result in consequences deemed appropriate by the instructor and will be subject to the Academic Integrity Policy and the University of Southern Mississippi.

When you read this, please email me a YouTube link to your 'song of the summer' (any genre, but do remember you are sending this to a professor).

Important University Policies:

Course Workload Statement

Students are expected to invest considerable time outside of class in learning the material for this course. The expectation of the University of Southern Mississippi is that each week students should spend approximately 2-3 hours outside of class for every hour in class working on reading, assignments, studying, and other work for the course. For online classes, the average amount spent on a three-credit-course is roughly ten hours per week, including all assignments and interactions.

We realize that most students work and have family or other obligations. Time management is thus critical for student success. All students should assess their personal circumstances and talk with their advisors about the appropriate number of credit hours to take each term, keeping in mind that 30 credit hours each year are needed to graduate in four years. Resources for academic support can be found at on our Advisement Center’s Resources page or at the virtual Student Success Library in our Center for Student 

Grading Policies and Calculation

A list of possible grades at the University can be found in the Bulletin (http://catalog.usm.edu). Note that students will receive an “interim grade” at the seven-week point to give them an indication of their performance at that point in the semester.

Students may drop a course with no penalty in the first week of the semester. If students wish to leave a course with a grade of “W” (for “withdrawal”), they may request to do so before the 50th day (specific dates can be found here: https://www.usm.edu/registrar/calendars).  Important note: Students who receive a grade of W do not receive any money back and that grade is permanently included on their transcripts.

Students should be aware that “Incompletes” can only be assigned in cases of “extraordinary circumstances” beyond the student’s control.

ONLINE ACCESS STATEMENT

To access the online components of this course, you must first go to https://usm.instructure.com/login/canvas, then follow the log-in instructions. You will need to have your EMPLID and password (the same information you use to access SOAR and register for classes). If you have any questions or run into difficulty accessing the Canvas material for this course, please call the iTech Help Desk at 601-266-4357 or helpdesk@usm.edu. You can also get specific instructions on how to use components of Canvas by visiting www.usm.edu/lec.

Nondiscrimination Statement

The University of Southern Mississippi offers to all persons equal access to educational, programmatic and employment opportunities without regard to age, sex, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, gender identity, genetic information, religion, race, color, national origin, and/or veteran status pursuant to applicable state and federal law.

Confidentiality and Mandatory Reporting

As an instructor, one of my responsibilities is to help create and maintain a safe learning environment on our campus. I also have a mandatory reporting responsibility related to my role as a faculty member. I am required to share information regarding sexual misconduct or information about a crime that may have occurred on USM’s campus with certain University officials responsible for the investigation and remediation of sexual misconduct. The information will remain private and will only be shared with those officials necessary to resolve the matter. If you would like to speak in confidence, resources available to students include Confidential Advisors with the Shafer Center for Crisis Intervention, the Counseling Center, Student Health Services, and Clergy. More information on these resources and University Policies is available at https://www.usm.edu/sexual-misconduct.

Student Support Resources

Need help?

Our goal is to ensure students have the resources that they need to be successful. Students needing support for academics, financial assistance, technical assistance, or mental, emotional, recovery, or other needs can use usm.edu/help to guide them to the resources available on campus as well as self-help options.

Student Rights and Consultation

The Dean of Students Office can help you if you need information about your rights and responsibilities as a student, guidance in navigating university policies and procedures, need consultation on, or to report, a concern, referrals to campus resources, assistance with an academic notification to instructors about an extended absence, or to initiate a late withdrawal from a course or the university.

Academic Notification The Dean of Students Office will support students experiencing a crisis and/or medical emergency that causes the student to miss more than three consecutive days of classes and can provide documentation to a faculty member regarding the validity the absence. However, the documentation provided by this office does not "excuse", nor does it guarantee, that the student will be permitted to make up tests or other missed assignments; it simply documents that the student's circumstance(s) indicates that the student is/was unable to participate in class for the designated period of time. At their discretion, the instructor will make the final decision about the opportunity to complete missed course work. Students are encouraged to reach out to their instructors as soon as possible before or after any absence.

Academic Support Resources

Please see our Student Success Website: http://www.usm.edu/success for information on where you can find tutoring and other academic assistance, as well as the location of key resources on campus.

Student Accessibility Services

Student Accessibility Services (SAS) is Southern Miss’s designated office to assist the University in its commitment to protect the civil rights of students with disabilities. SAS protects students from discrimination and offers reasonable accommodations to give them equitable access to university courses and resources. Disabilities covered under the ADA may include but are not limited to ADHD, learning disabilities, psychiatric disabilities, physical disabilities, chronic health disorders, temporary injuries, and pregnancies. If a student feels that they need classroom or housing accommodations based on a disability they should contact SAS by phone at 601-266-5024, by email at sas@usm.edu, in person by visiting the SAS office located in McLemore Hall, Room 112, or online at usm.edu/sas. 

Speaking and Writing Centers

The Writing Center and the Speaking Center are friendly spaces that provide individualized feedback and support to help Southern Miss students succeed with writing and speaking assignments for any class. The Centers offer one-to-one consultations for any stage of the process, including brainstorming, creating an outline, revising, learning editing strategies, and developing presentation skills. In-person and online appointments are available. To make an appointment, visit usm.mywconline.com and create an account. Instructions for making an appointment can be found at usm.edu/writing-center or usm.edu/speaking-center. Contact the Writing Center (Cook Library 112) by email at writingcenter@usm.edu or by phone at (601) 266-4821. The Speaking Center (Cook Library 117) can be reached at speakingcenter@usm.edu or (601) 266-4965.

Career Services

Career Services staff strive to assist students in finding meaningful career paths, developing job-seeking skills and connecting with employment opportunities. Students will find assistance through personal meetings, on-line resources and attending events such as the Career and Internship Expos. Students are encouraged to attend the Career and Internship Expo each semester to explore potential career paths, identify internships, discover job opportunities, and build professional connections with employer contacts.  80 to 100 employers and graduate school representatives attend each semester. Dates and additional information on our website at www.usm.edu/cs or check out the events section in your Handshake account.

University Libraries

Southern Miss Libraries provide students with individualized assistance using library resources for coursework and scholarly research. Questions may be asked in person or by live chat, telephone, or email. Students may request a research consultation with a librarian to get help at any stage of the research process. Research consultations, available in-person and online, provide personalized assistance that is tailored to a class assignment or project. Librarians can help students search for, find, and obtain sources for their research projects.

The University Libraries’ website (www.lib.usm.edu) provides information about conducting academic research, as well as links to the Libraries’ search tool (Seymour Info), databases, and other resources. Library research guides are available through Canvas, as well as the library website. University Libraries also have a robust interlibrary loan (ILL) service which provides access to resources not available in our current collections or subscriptions. The Libraries at Southern Miss provide access to both print and electronic resources, including books, journal articles, newspapers, digital media, and more. University Libraries also include Special Collections which offer a variety of historical resources, such as rare books and historical artifacts, in addition to University Archives which offer documents and memorabilia from our University’s rich history. Visit your campus library or the University Libraries’ website to get started!

MENTAL WELL-BEING

USM recognizes that students sometimes experience challenges that make learning difficult. If you find that life stressors such as anxiety, depression, relationship problems, difficulty concentrating, alcohol/drug problems, or other stressful experiences are interfering with your academic or personal success, consider contacting Student Counseling Services (SCS) on campus at 601-266-4829. More information is also available at https://www.usm.edu/student-counseling-services , or usm.edu/help.  Student Counseling Services offers currently enrolled students free, confidential counseling services and can provide referrals to campus and community resources. Currently enrolled students living outside Mississippi can receive a one-time consultation to assure they are informed about available resources in their community. Students on the Gulf Park campus also can contact our Mental Wellness Counselor at Alvin.Baker@usm.edu.

In the event of emergency, please call 911 or if there is a mental health crisis after business hours, call or text the National Suicide Hotline at 988 (988lifeline.org).

Food Insecurity and Student Homelessness Statement

The University of Southern Mississippi recognizes that students and staff members may experience challenges beyond their control that impact their ability to take care of their essential needs, such as having food or a safe place to sleep. If you find yourself in need of food or shelter, please consider contacting the Eagle’s Nest Food Pantry on the Hattiesburg campus at 601-266-4025 or eaglesnest@usm.edu. All students, faculty, and staff are welcome to come to the Eagle’s Nest Food Pantry and utilize the available resources free of charge.

Financial Management Resources

The University of Southern Mississippi recognizes that students, faculty, and staff members may experience financial challenges beyond their control that impact their ability to finance their education or establish a work-life balance that fosters academic success. If you find yourself in need of financial education, resources, or professional services, please visit the Office of Undergraduate Scholarships' Financial Management Resource Center site at https://www.usm.edu/undergraduate-scholarships/financialcenter.php or use your USM credentials to receive customized help through iGrad at https://southernmiss.igrad.com/.