POL S 273 A: The Concept of Political Power

Political Science 273 - Concepts of Power

REVISED 7/15/2020

University of Washington

Summer 2020, A Term

Lecture: M-Th 2:20-4:50pm

-VIA ZOOM-

Office Hours: by Appointment

Canvass: https://canvas.uw.edu/courses/1382622

Contacting Your Instructor

Please contact me directly at jpha@uw.edu instead of using canvas email. To set up office hours, please contact me via email and we will arrange a time.

Course Description & Objectives

Though the existence of “power” is taken-for-granted, defining exactly what “it” is has preoccupied and perplexed philosophers for centuries. This presents an issue for us in the present: to participate successfully in society as citizens, we must have some idea of what power is and how it works. Otherwise, we may not recognize illegitimate uses of power or understand how we ourselves can exert power in ways we believe to be morally acceptable. Thus, this class considers various conceptualizations of power through a survey of the foremost thinkers on the topic, such as John Locke, Karl Marx, Hannah Arendt, and Michel Foucault.

            For some of these political thinkers, power is a limiting force in our lives, working to repress, constrain, and punish us. For others, power works to focus our energies and cultivate our talent, thereby forging society. And still for others, power is so all encompassing that it shapes our perception of reality itself. My goal as an instructor is to enhance your intellectual tools so you can make you own determinations. Thus, we embark together on the following objectives:

1. To understand how the concept of power is conceptualized and deployed across the canon of political theory.
2. To test whether these various conceptions of power clarify real-world issues.
3. To improve close reading and analytical skills.
4. To improve skills in analytical, interpretive, and critical writing.
5. To enhance our political vocabularies so that we may bring these to bear on contemporary

political issues and participate thoughtfully in public deliberation.

Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites. You do not have to be a political science major to take this class and you do not need to have any experience in political theory. This course is intended as an introduction to the field of political theory in which we examine the concept of “power” specifically.

Course Texts and Readings

Due to challenges presented by the global pandemic and because this course is being offered on-line, I am providing all readings in pdf format. They are available for download from the course canvas page and are listed by the date in which they are intended to be read. However, I am also providing links to buy certain texts. Therefore, you have the choice of either using the pdf’s that I provide or buying texts in paper format. The following texts are considered “core” or “anchor” readings for this course, meaning that the course is structured around these readings. These may be readings that you wish to buy since reading longer texts as pdf can be difficult. They are each relatively inexpensive.

• John Locke, Second Treatise on Government: https://www.amazon.com/Second-Treatise-Government-Hackett-Classics/dp/0915144867
• Nicolo Machiavelli, The Prince: https://www.amazon.com/Prince-Dover-Thrift-Editions/dp/0486272745
• Michel Foucault, Discipline and Punish: https://www.amazon.com/Discipline-Punish-Prison-Michel-Foucault/dp/0679752552
• Hannah Arendt, The Human Condition: https://www.amazon.com/Human-Condition-2nd-Hannah-Arendt/dp/0226025985
• Karl Marx, Selected Writings: https://www.amazon.com/Marx-Selected-Writings-Hackett-Classics/dp/0872202186

Important: Assigned readings need to be completed before lecture. So, for example, if a reading is assigned for Tuesday June 23^rd, you are expected to have completed the assigned pages before Tuesday June 23^rd. Readings will be further discussed during lecture, however the lecture alone cannot be considered a substitute for having done the readings.

Requirements & Assessment

Assessment will take the form of two essays (5-7 double-spaced pages each) that will be evaluated on reading comprehension, use of evidence, writing composition, and ability to construct a persuasive argument using the texts we will have read in class. I will circulate prompts with more detailed instructions and guidelines two weeks before the deadline. All papers will be graded on a rubric that will be provided ahead of time. This makes the expectations very clear.  

Additionally, we will conduct two in-class assignments that are due at the end of class on the day they are assigned. *Some students may have legitimate reasons for being unable to attend lecture on the day of in-class assignments. If you will be unable to attend class on the day that an in-class assignment is conducted, please contact me at jpha@uw.edu and we will discuss a reasonable accommodation.

The weighting of assignments is as follows:

• Homework: 25%
• Essay 1: 35%
• Essay 2: 40%

Participation

Thoughtful and sustained class participation is crucial to a successful engagement with this course. It simply isn’t enough to read the texts, they need to be discussed because they are open to various interpretations. However, due to challenges posed by the global pandemic I have decided to not include a participation component to your final grade.

Grading

Grades for this class will always be accompanied by detailed notes intended to clarify why you received the grade you did and what you can do to improve. My aim is to give every student a fair grade that reflects their understanding of, and engagement with, the course material and course participation. “A’s” are reserved for students that exhibit outstanding performance relative to their peers; “A’s” are not given for merely completing assignments and exams at expected levels of competence. Historically, the overall average in this class is in the “B” (3.0) range. “B’s” are appropriate for students have demonstrated expected levels of competence in an introductory class and who also have room to improve.

Paper Assessment Guide:

Written work in the A (3.5-4.0) range is characterized by a strikingly perceptive, persuasive, and creative analytical claim; comprehensive synthesis and analysis of the course material; straightforward yet sophisticated organization of thoughts and error-free prose. Written work in the B (2.5-3.4) range is characterized by sound, original, and reasonably thoughtful argument/thesis statement; competent analysis of various course material, logical organization; and clear and error-free prose. Written work in the C (1.5-2.4) range is characterized by a relatively underdeveloped, simplistic, or derivative argument/thesis statement; partial, inconsistent, or faulty analysis of course material; convoluted organization; and awkward, imprecise, or otherwise distracting prose. Written work in the D (0.7-2.3) range is characterized by incoherent or extremely confusing argument; superficial or fleeting engagement with the course material; chaotic or irrational organization; and error-riddled prose. Written work that lacks any argument or analysis and is sloppy, earns an F (0.6 and below). 

Late Policy:

Uncompleted or missing papers will receive a grade of 0.0. Late assignments will be docked 0.4 per day. That is: 3.5 paper, if turned in past the deadline, will become a 3.1, if turned in one full day late, will receive a 2.7, and so on. Exceptions will be made given prompt and (if necessary) documented consultation with the instructor. For full consideration, make sure to correspond with me via email prior to a late submission rather than afterwards. Exceptions to the late policy include: family emergencies, health and wellness issues, and logistical emergencies. 

Re-grading

If you feel that you have been graded unfairly or inaccurately on a paper or exam, I am happy to meet with you to discuss it. Please follow these steps when requesting a re-grade:

1. Carefully read my comments and your exam/paper.
2. After 24 hours, re-read my comments.
3. If you still feel as though your grade is inappropriate, write a 1-page memo that details why you believe I have made a grading error. The memo should be a clear and specific assessment of your work in comparison to the expected response.
4. Reach out to schedule a meeting to discuss your concern and memo with me. You must send the memo and initiate this meeting within one week of receiving your graded assignment.

Academic Integrity

Cheating and/or plagiarism will not be tolerated. It is your responsibility to be familiar with the University of Washington’s academic honesty policy and abide by it. You can find more information about the policy here: http://www.depts.washington.edu/pswrite/plag.html.

Accommodations

Washington state law requires that UW develop a policy for accommodation of student absences or significant hardship due to reasons of faith or conscience, or for organized religious activities. The UW’s policy, including more information about how to request an accommodation, is available at Religious Accommodations Policy (https://registrar.washington.edu/staffandfaculty/religious-accommodations-policy/). Accommodations must be requested within the first two weeks of this course using the Religious Accommodations Request form (https://registrar.washington.edu/students/religious-accommodations-request/).”

DRS accommodations will be fully observed in the course. Please contact me at jpha@uw.edu directly about your DRS accommodations so that we can plan accordingly.

Course Schedule

Week 1: Power in Realism

Monday 6/22:  Mosley - Political Realism

 Schmidt - Competing Realist Conceptions of Power

• What are the different ways that power is conceptualized and defined in the realist perspective?

Tuesday 6/23: Machiavelli – The Prince, pp. 61-82, 96-97

• How does Machiavelli conceptualize “power”? What do you think Machiavelli’s intentions and motivations were in writing this text?

Wednesday 6/24: Han Fei Tzu, Basic Writings: “The Way of the Ruler” and “Wielding Power” pp. 48-61

• According to Han Fei, how does a ruler maintain and exercise power? What does a ruler sacrifice in the process? What might this sacrifice tell us about power as conceptualized within the realist perspective?

Thursday 6/25: Lebow, The Ancient Greeks and Modern Realism

• What is “hegemony”? How might we compare the power to persuade and cooperate with the power to coerce and dominate?

Week 2: Power in Political Economy

Monday 6/29:  What is Political Economy pp. 1-16

• Look for ways power is defined and described. Within the framework of political economy, what is the relationship of “interests” and power?

Locke_Second Treatise Summary (read this before reading the 2^nd Treatise)

Locke, Second Treatise of Government, Ch. 1-6, 14-16

• What kinds of power does Locke identify and what makes them different? What makes power “legitimate”? How does Locke define “property”? For Locke, what is the relationship between property, government, and power?

Tuesday 6/30: Holmes, The Liberal Idea

• According to the author, what is “liberalism” and what are some ways the idea is commonly misunderstood? How is it that the idea of limited government could result in very powerful governments? What kind of power do liberal governments possess?

Wednesday 7/1: Ollman, What is Marxism? (Read this before reading the Communist Manifesto)

Marx, Selected Works, “Communist Manifesto” Parts 1 and 2 (at p. 44)

• What kind of power do the bourgeoisie possess? What is the source of this power? How is it that a tiny minority of persons can have so much power while workers have so little?

Thursday 7/2*: Marx, Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts 1844, “Estranged Labor” (at p. 28)

• According to Marx, how does capitalism shape the worldview of workers? Is this power economic or “ideological”? How could such a power be resisted? Why do workers accept being dominated?

*Homework Assigned, due next day by 9am.  

[Midterm paper Due TUESDAY 7/7 by 10pm]

Week 3: Power in Ideas and Society

Monday 7/6: Ture and Hamilton, Black Power, Ch. 1-2

• According to the authors, how does the lens of race and colonization expose how power works? What is “black power” and how does it differ from “white power”?

Tuesday 7/7: J.S. Mill, On Liberty, Ch. 1 and Ch. 4

• What power in society is Mill most concerned with? What negative consequences might this power inflict upon individuals? How can this power be resisted? According to Mill, what is the proper limit of society over the individual?

Wednesday 7/8: DuBois, The Souls of Black Folk, Ch. 1, 4

• What is “The Veil” and how does it relate to the “color-line”? What is “double-consciousness” and how does it relate to “The Veil”? How do these concepts relate a theory of the power in ideas? How do DuBois and Washington arguably differ when it comes to conceiving of power?

Thursday 7/9: Foucault, Summary Discipline and Punish

Foucault, Discipline and Punish: “Means of Correct Training” (p.170) and “Panopticism” (p.195)

• For Foucault, how does observation and examinations involve power and expose how it works? How does the “panopticon” control bodies without the use of force? For Foucault, what is “power” (hint, it’s not as simple as “power is knowledge”)?

Week 4: Power Together

Monday 7/13: Arendt, The Human Condition, Prologue and Ch. 1 1-17

• What is the “vita active”? What is the “vita contemplative”? What is the difference between labor, work, and action? Why might this distinction be arguably important, in terms of thinking about power? What is “natality”? What is “plurality”?

Tuesday 7/14: Arendt, The Human Condition, Ch. 5, “Action” 175-206

• How does Arendt justify her eventual distinction between power, violence, and strength? How does power “keep the public realm”? What is the connection between the public realm and natality?

Wednesday 7/15: Arendt, The Human Condition, Ch. 5, “Action” 207-243

• For Arendt, how are forgiveness and promising acts of “power”? How is this different than the way forgiving and promising may be typically perceived? Overall, what is “power” for Arendt? Does Arendt think power creates a predictable, controlled world (think about this question in relation to how power is conceived in realism and political economy)?

Thursday 7/16*: Allen, Solidarity After Identity Politics

• What are Allen’s critiques of how Arendt approached the topics of gender, sexuality, and race? According to Allen, how can Arendt’s conception of power clarify how to achieve solidarity in egalitarian social movements?

[Final paper due WEDNESDAY 7/22 by 10PM]

Week 5: Wrapping Up

Monday 7/20: Course review and writing workshop – NO READINGS

• What concepts and ideas from the course are you having difficulty with? How will you implement the feedback you received on your first paper in your final paper? What writing and analytical skills do you need to improve?

Tuesday 7/21: No Zoom meeting. I will be holding extra office hours during regular class time and provide assistance with writing your final paper.

Wednesday 7/22: No class – use this time to finish up your final paper. I will be available for office hours by appointment. Contact me at jpha@uw.edu to schedule.