POLS 421 Contemporary Political Theory
Benjamin Schrader
Email: [email protected]
2-2:50 MWF
Location: Gifford 149
Office: 205 Eddy
Office Hours: Tue/Thur 2-3:20 PM or by appointment
Course Description
Often times political theory can seem abstract to our everyday lives. This course will work
to bridge that abstraction as we will apply theory to the ways in which it can be seen in our
lives, in our community, and in our society. We will look at these intersections and find the
personal and political ramifications. Some of these insights can shift the ways in which we
see contemporary society, especially during a time of great political turmoil and during a
presidential election.
Course Standards
Every student at CSU has the ability to succeed in my course. The difference between
success and failure in my class is a matter of attitude, effort, and initiative. There is a
difference between passively listening to lectures and critically engaging with complex
texts. There is a difference between regurgitating facts and actively applying new concepts,
just as there is a difference between taking multiple-choice tests and writing sophisticated
papers. In this sense, successful students will be those who embrace growth and hard
work. They will overcome self-defeating behavior (i.e. skipping class, not reading, writing
half-baked papers), make use of available resources, and turn freely to others for help.
The course will demand that its members read critically, participate actively, and write
effectively. Most of all, it will ask students work with their fellow members to create an
environment where ideas and arguments matter. On a more mundane note:
 Students should expect to be involved in each class. I will work hard to ensure that
everyone has an opportunity to earn their performance points. In this regard, more
than just showing up, you will need to offer meaningful contributions.
 Papers must be submitted via Canvas in a Word document before the start of class
on the specified dates. Work submitted after that time will be penalized 10% per
day.
 Students are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner (i.e., respect
your classmates, turn off cell phones, no outside work or reading, no sleeping during
movies, etc.). Those who fail to adhere to these basic guidelines will be removed
from class.
Reading Materials
All texts will be available on Canvas. You will need to have a well-marked hard or electronic
copy in front of you to succeed in class.
Grading Criteria
Course grades will be comprised of a number of different elements.
100 Points Attendance
100 Points Daily Contributions
100 Points Theory & Event Group Presentation
100 Points Theory & Event Group Write-up Paper
100 Points Peer Group Grade
50 Points Group Paper Peer Review #1
50 Points Group Paper Peer Review #2
100 Points Individual Paper Peer Review
100 Points Final Paper Presentation
200 Points Final Paper
.
1000 Total Points for the Class
In-Class Performance: Only a portion of what you will gain from this course will be drawn
from the instructor as the course has been designed to use a number of different mediums
of learning into play. I expect that your classmates—via class discussions and group
work—will play an instrumental role in your learning experience. To encourage this
collaborative approach to learning, your participation grade is comprised of two
categories: group discussants and daily contributions.
o Attendance: I am giving you 3 free absences throughout the semester.
o Use your “free absences,” wisely. If for some reason there are extraneous
circumstances where you may have to miss more than the 4 classes, you need
to talk with me to find ways to make up the work you have missed. THE
ONLY absences that DO NOT count against you are University sanctioned
events with a note from the appropriate authorities. (Being sick, with a
doctors note, still counts towards your attendance).
o Attendance/Daily Contribution points are more than just showing up, it also
means contributing to the class either by asking questions, answering
questions, contributing to discussions. If you do not contribute you can lose
your daily points, so work to be an active member of the course.
o Furthermore, if you are disruptive during the class, did not do the reading
(trust me, I can tell), or fall asleep during a movie, you will lose your daily
points.
o
Theory & Event groups: In week 2 you will sign up for one of the 3 weeks Theory & Event
Group presentation groups. Depending upon class size you will be groups of 3-5 and you
will present some aspect of that sections readings and show how it intersects with current
life. This can be anywhere from the micro-level to the macro-level. Your group will give a
presentation and do a group write up. I know folks often do not like working in groups
cause not everyone pulls their weight, which is why you will write reviews of your peers as
to their performance, which will effect their grades.
Peer Review Week: During week 13 you will be conducting peer reviews upon each
other’s final papers. So you will need well-formulated drafts of your final paper by this
point. You will also need to be in attendance, as we will be doing group workshops on our
papers, which you will be graded upon. More information will follow once we get closer to
this project.
Final Paper: Each student will submit a formal research paper (~15-18 pages, well-formed
research question, professional writing style, footnotes, etc.) that examines any issue to
which they can define and show how it can apply to political theory. Some possible themes
include: acts of legislation, laws or constitutional amendments, political events, cultural
phenomena, ideological shifts, etc. (this is a very narrow list of possibilities, however a
student can almost write on anything, as long as they in some way relate it to the course).
Detailed guidelines will be handed out later in the semester.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY AND STUDENT CONDUCT
The course will adhere to the Academic Integrity Policy of the Colorado State University
General Catalog and the Student Conduct Code, found here
http://www.conflictresolution.colostate.edu/conduct-code. Students are required to be
respectful of their classmates and refrain from disruptive behavior in the classroom and on
campus. If you engage in cheating or plagiarism, you will receive an F (0.0) grade for
the course and I will be forced to report you for academic dishonesty.
Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to, submitting, to satisfy an academic requirement,
any document that has been copied in whole or in part from another individual’s work
without identifying that individual; neglecting to identify as a quotation a documented idea
that has not been assimilated into the student’s language and style; paraphrasing a passage
so closely that the reader is misled as to the source; submitting the same written or oral
material in more than one course without obtaining authorization from the instructors
involved. If you can find it online, so can I. If you have questions regarding what does and
does not constitute plagiarism, please ask me.
With that said, many people who plagiarize often do so out of desperation. Please come talk
with me if you are feeling stressed or having problems with the assignments and we can
work together in order to get you the resources in order to be successful.
COURSE CONTENT NOTE: CSU’s Discrimination, Harassment, Sexual Harassment, Sexual
Misconduct, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Stalking, and Retaliation policy designates
faculty and employees of the University as “Responsible Employees.” This designation is
consistent with federal law and guidance, and requires faculty to report information
regarding students who may have experienced any form of sexual harassment, sexual
misconduct, relationship violence, stalking or retaliation. This includes information shared
with faculty in person, electronic communications or in class assignments. As “Responsible
Employees,” faculty may refer students to campus resources (see below), together with
informing the Office of Support and Safety Assessment to help ensure student safety and
welfare. Information regarding sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, relationship
violence, stalking and retaliation is treated with the greatest degree of confidentiality
possible while also ensuring student and campus safety.
 Any student who may be the victim of sexual harassment, sexual misconduct,
relationship violence, stalking or retaliation is encouraged to report to CSU through
one or more of the following resources: Emergency Response 911
 Deputy Title IX Coordinator/Director of Support and Safety Assessment (970) 4911350
 Colorado State University Police Department (non-emergency) (970) 491-6425
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that
provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities, including
reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you have a disability requiring an
accommodation, please let me know and contact the Resources for Disabled Students (RDS)
Program in 100 General Services Building, visit their website http://rds.colostate.edu/, or
call them at (970) 491-6385 (V/TDD).
Course Breakdown
READINGS CAN CHANGE/APPROPRIATE NOTICE WILL BE GIVEN IF THEY DO
CHANGE! Again, all readings can be found on RamCT unless otherwise stated!
Week 1: Introduction/Critical Thinking
Mon Aug 22: Course Introduction
Wed Aug 24: Foucault/Kant Was ist Auferlang & What is Critique
Fri Aug 26: Foucault What is Enlightenment (Begin figuring out what T&E groups
you are a part of)
Week 2: Power & Control
Mon Aug 29: Galtung: Violence & Peace (Complete T&E Groups)
Wed Aug 31: Agamben/In Time
Fri Sept 2: In Time
Week 3: Race
Mon Sept 5: No Class (Labor Day)
Wed Sept 7: Charles Mills Racial Contract Chapter 1
Fri Sept 9: Charles Mills Racial Contract Chapter 2
Week 4: Gender
Mon Sept 12: Carole Pateman The Sexual Contract: Chapter 1 & 2
Wed Sept 14: Carole Patemen The Sexual Contract: Chapter 5
Fri Sept 16: Theory & Event Groups #1
Week 5: Class
Mon Sept 19: William Connolly: Capitalism & Christianity
Wed Sept 21: Inequality For All
Fri Sept 23: Inequality For All Discussion
Week 6: War
Mon Sept 26: Michel Foucault: Society Must Be Defended (pt 1)
Wed Sept 28: Michel Foucault: Society Must Be Defended (pt 2)
Fri Sept 30: Lobo Guerro & Dillon: Biopolitics of Security in 21st Century
Week 7: War
Mon Oct 3: Michael Shapiro: Politics & Time (Chapter 1)
Wed Oct 5: Michael Shapiro: Politics & Time (Chapter 5)
Fri Oct 7: Judith Butler: Frames of War (Intro & Chapter 1)
Week 8: Affect
Mon Oct 10: Protevi: Political Affect (Part 1)
Wed Oct 12: Protevi: Political Affect (Part 3)
Fri Oct 14: Theory & Event Groups #2
Week 9: Thing Power
Mon Oct 17: Jane Bennett Vibrant Matter (Part 1)
(LAST DAY TO REGISTER TO VOTE)
Wed Oct 19: Jane Bennett Vibrant Matter (Part 2)
Fri Oct 21: Writing Workshop
Week 10: Technology
Mon Oct 24: Walter Benjamin: Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction
Wed Oct 26: Walter Benjamin: Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction continued
Fri Oct 28: Benedict Anderson: Imagined Communities
Week 11: Technology
Mon Oct 31: Jean Baudrillard: The Gulf War will Not take Place (Intro and actual article)
Wed Nov 2: Eugene Thacker: The Exploit (Prolegomenon)
Fri Nov 4: Theory & Event Groups #3
Week 12:
Mon Nov 7: Talking Elections (There will be a reading assigned closer to this course date)
Wed Nov 9: Election Reflection (There will be a reading assigned closer to this course date)
Fri Nov 11: Writing Day
Week 13 Final Paper Peer Reviews
Mon Nov 14: Group Swap 1
Wed Nov 16: Individual Swap
Fri Nov 18: Group Swap 2
Week 14 NO CLASS FALL RECESS
Week 15: Paper Presentations
Mon Nov 28: 1-8
Wed Nov 30: 9-16
Fri Dec 2: 17-24
Week 16: Paper Presentations
Mon Dec 5: 25-32
Wed Dec 7: 33-40
Fri Dec 9: Class Conclusion
Week 17 FINALS WEEK
Final paper due by Tuesday, December 13th by midnight.