Politics, Violence, and Liberation

The 20th century saw the decline of European colonialism, as well as the rise and fall of fascism and communism.  Amidst these dramatic and turbulent changes, the notion of revolution rose to an almost fetishistic prominence.  While the word itself comes from an older cyclical notion of history and meant the return to and restoration of a previous order, in the 20th century notion was tied to popular movements, civic action, and insurrection for liberation and independence  – of a people, a country, class, gender, or religion.

This seminar will be a seminar in political philosophy examining the 20th century understanding of revolution as civic action.  We begin with a background look at key concepts in social contract theory and classical revolutions (US, France) as well as new understandings of history (nationalist and Marxian).  We then look at four key examples of “revolutionary” change in the 20th century: the Irish rebellion in 1916, Ghandi’s and Martin Luther King’s non-violent civil disobedience, post-World War II anti-colonialism, and the “velvet revolutions” of 1989. Our focus will be the political implications of violence and non-violence. The seminar is supplemented by Dr. Colleen Hynes seminar in post-colonial literature. Students are encouraged to sample the readings for that seminar.

Requirements:

There will be substantial reading. Students are expected to beyond the required minimum.
Students will be asked to research and write two papers and prepare a separate digital presentation for the class.

Readings:

Most of the readings will be in a packet to be purchased at the bookstore after the Christmas Break. We begin with Hannah Arendt's essay "On Violence" and her book "On Revolution."

Reading assignments.

Week 1.  Violence vs. Power, Classical and Modern “Revolution”

Tues. 11/30 (C): Introduction to Arendt.
Weds. 12/1 (D): Arendt, “On Violence, II” (pdf 35-46).
Thurs. 12/2 (E): Arendt, “On Violence, II” (pdf 47-56).
Fri. 12/3 (F): Arendt, On Revolution (Chapter I, 13-28).

Week 2. Political vs. Social Revolution

Mon. 12/6 (G): Arendt, On Revolution (Chapter I, 28-40).
Tues. 12/7 (A):Arendt, On Revolution (Chapter I, 40-52).
Weds. 12/8 (B):Arendt, On Revolution (Chapter II, 53-61).
Thurs. 12/9 (C):Arendt, On Revolution (Chapter II, 61-76).
Fri. 12/10 (D):Arendt, On Revolution (Chapter II, 105-110).

Week 3. The Modern Revolutionary Tradition

Mon. 12/13 (E):Arendt, On Revolution (Chapter VI, 242-251).
Tues. 12/14 (F): Arendt, On Revolution (Chapter VI, 252-259).
Weds. 12/15 (G):Arendt, On Revolution (Chapter II, 259-285).
Thurs. 12/16 (A): Marx, Communist Manifesto (Preface & Part I)
Fri. 12/17 (B): Marx, Communist Manifesto (Part II and conclusion)

Christmas Break

Week 4. Marx and History (with a capital ‘H’)

Weds. 1/5 (C): Marx on history.
Thurs. 1/6 (D): no class
Fri. 1/7 (E): Marx/Friedman on globalization.

Week 5. Liberation Dialectics

Mon. 1/10 (F): Marxian revolutionary praxis.
Tues. 1/11 (G): Kojève: Master/Servant (1-6).
Weds. 1/12 (A): Kojève: Master/Servant (1-6).
Thurs. 1/13 (B): Kojève: Master/Servant (1-6)
Fri. 1/14 (C): First essay due.

Week 6. Revolutionary Violence.

Mon.1/17: MLK Day (oops!)
Tues. 1/18 (D): no class
Weds. 1/19 (E): Sartre on Fanon (1-4).
Thurs. 1/20 (F): Fanon (5-12).
Fri. 1/21 (G): Violence reviewed.

Week 7. Battle of Algiers

Mon. 1/24 (A): Battle of Algiers
Tues. 1/25 (B): Battle of Algiers.
Weds. 1/26 (C): Battle of Algiers
Thurs. 1/27 (D): no class
Fri. 1/28 (E): Non-violence reviewed.

Free Weekend

Week 8. Gandhi and Non-Violent Revolution

Tues. 2/1 (F): Gandhi (“Force” 71-111).
Weds. 2/2 (G): Gandhi & Arendt (Schell 216-231).
Thurs. 2/3 (A): MLK “Letter from Birmingham Jail” (1-12).
Fri. 2/4 (B): Non-violence reviewed.

Week 9. “Velvet Revolutions”

Mon. 2/7 (C): Havel “Power of the Powerless” (abridged).
Tues. 2/8 (D): no class
Weds. 2/9 (E): “Lost World of Communism”
Thurs. 2/10 (F): “Lost World of Communism”
Fri. 2/11 (G): Ash “Magic Lantern” (78-130).

Week 10. “Velvet Revolutions”

Mon. 2/14 (A): Second essay due.
Tues. 2/15 (B):
Weds. 2/16 (C):
Thurs. 2/17 (D): no class
Fri. 2/18 (E):

Week 11. A New Revolution: Women

Mon. 2/21 (F): Kristoff & WuDunn “The Women’s Crusade.”
Tues. 2/22 (G): UN report on Global Gender Gap.
Weds. 2/23 (A): “Promoting Women’s Participation in Conflict and Post-Conflict Societies.”
Thurs. 2/24 (B):
Fri. 2/25 (C):

Week 12.  Revolutionary Hysteria: Marat/Sade

Mon. 2/28 (D): no class
Tues. 3/1 (E): Marat/Sade
Weds. 3/2 (F): Marat/Sade
Thurs. 3/3 (G): Marat/Sade, Final project due.

Reading Questions.
Arendt
Marx manifesto and questions.
Kojeve