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Editor's Note: The public is invited to attend Dr. Glen Browder's eight-part lecture series outlined below. The course in its entirety may also be taken for credit or
audited in accordance with University policy.DRAFT SYLLABUS"THE FUTURE OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY"Political Science 575M (graduate credit) This course may be taken for alphabetically graded or pass-fail credit; consult with instructor or Political Science Department for proper registration. (Three Credit Hours) Eminent Scholar in American Democracy Political Science Department Jacksonville State University Jacksonville, AL 36265 256/782-5650 Alabama Secretary of State, l987-89. Member, Alabama State Legislature, l982-l986. The course will combine three different educational elements: (l) Dr. Browder will share, in a series of eight public lectures, his analysis of the current state and future prospects of American democracy; (2) he and enrolled students will engage in seminars on American democracy; and (3) he will direct individualized student research projects on American democracy. The general public is invited to attend the eight lectures, which will be presented during the first hour (6:l5-7:l5 p.m.) of each class and will address the scheduled topic for that date. After a short break, Dr. Browder and enrolled students will reconvene for their seminar. Enrolled students will be expected to bring to this course requisite background and commitment commensurate with their academic expectations -- either alphabetical or pass-fail credit -- with each student's final grade based on participation and enrollment status as follows. For successful alphabetical credit ("A", "B", "C", or "D"), the student must attend three-fourths of the class meetings, read outside material, engage in the seminars, and complete an individualized research project. For pass credit, the student must attend three-fourths of the class meetings, read outside material, engage in the seminars, and contribute in some meaningful manner to the research projects. Of course, anyone in the JSU community is encouraged to audit the course or to attend selected lectures and class meetings in accord with university policy. The class normally will meet on Wednesdays from 6:l5-9:l5 p.m. at a site to be announced later. Some scheduling adjustments may have to be made during the course of the semester. Introduction: Browder's Thesis of American History. (One-page handout) Wednesday, September 8, 1999 - Lecture # 1 I. The Contemporary Disarray of American Democracy. (A rhetorical proposition.) A. America is developing a fundamental civil illness. B. It is time for a Tocquevillian checkup of American democracy. Wednesday, September 15, 1999 - No formal lecture or seminar (Assigned reading for enrolled students at JSU) II. The Passionate Perspective of a Veteran Politician, Political Scientist, and "American Dreamer". (How dare I ask such an outrageous question about America?) Wednesday, September 22, 1999 - Lecture #2 III. A Systems Theory of Dysfunctional America. (What do I mean by "America", "American Democracy", and "Dying"?) A. "America": A national experiment in democratic ideals. B. "American Democracy": The magical mix of people, politics, and government through which we pursue democratic ideals. C. "Dying": American democracy no longer works the way it used to, and we seem to be tiring of the Great Experiment itself. D. A systemic model of dysfunctional America. Wednesday, September 29, 1999 - Lecture # 3 IV. Political Observations of Dysfunctioning America. (Why and how is American democracy dying?) Political Observation Number One: "The favorable national environment of American democracy has disappeared." l. Our original, open natural environment closed long ago. 2. The popular expansion of public authority has reached its limits. 3. America's historic democratic boom has busted. Wednesday, October 6, 1999 - Lecture # 4 Political Observation Number Two: "We have entrapped American democracy within a philosophical civil war." l. We are experiencing a national struggle to define America's cultural values. 2. Ultimate democratization is threatening our traditional system of limited, representative governance. 3. This is a very different and ominous challenge to American democracy. Wednesday, October 13, 1999 - Lecture # 5 C. Political Observation Number Three: "American democracy no longer works the way it has in the past." l. The American people are losing their civic spirit. 2. The political organs of American democracy are malfunctioning. 3. American government is heading toward stroke, paralysis, or something worse. Wednesday, October 20, 1999 - Lecture # 6 D. Political Observation Number Four: "America seems to be tiring of the Great Experiment." l. Increasingly and incrementally, we are challenging our national democratic experiment. 2. Demographic, technological, and international trends are exacerbating our civic ailments. 3. The magical mix is losing its magic, and America may be dying! Wednesday, October 27, 1999 - Lecture # 7 V. The Contemporary Realities of our Great Experiment. (Is America really going to die?--And some alternative scenarios for our uncertain future.) A. America's Great Experiment may simply have run its course. B. Alternative Scenario No. l: Dissolution ("Death of America"). C. Alternative Scenario No. 2: Transformation ("Amerika" or "USSA"). D. Alternative Scenario No. 3: Restoration ("New America"). Wednesday, November 3, 1999 - Lecture # 8 VI. "New America" in the New Millennium? (How can we restore America?) A. We must accept America for what it is (an experiment) and is not (perfection). B. We next figure out how to make the Great Experiment work in a changing world. C. Then we take five steps toward restoring America: l. Rebuilding the national environment. 2. Resolving the philosophical civil war. 3. Reviving our civic culture. 4. Repairing our political machinery. 5. Re-inventing our government. D. "New America" VII. Additional Seminars and Research (class activity for enrolled students to be scheduled by Dr. Browder) |
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