LIBERALISM, ITS CRITICS, AND CONTEMPORARY CHALLENGES

An exploration of the most significant arguments for and against liberal democracy, followed by an examination of challenges facing liberal orders today. Beginning with a comparison between ancient and modern republicanism, the course scrutinizes the intellectual architecture of the modern state, proceeds to examine the foundational arguments for liberalism of John Locke, Immanuel Kant, and John Stuart Mill, and then turns to the critical writings of Edmund Burke, Karl Marx, and Friedrich Nietzsche (and their modern heirs). Finally, the course canvasses contemporary challenges to liberal democracy: the replacement of politics by bureaucracy (or administration), tensions between nationalism and multiculturalism, the dangers of populism, and the rise of social media disinformation and surveillance capitalism. While situating thinkers within their contexts, students will be encouraged to view liberal democracy through the competing theoretical lenses of the course.

N/A

Skills to be assessed include: • Knowledge of the positions of canonical thinkers in the history of liberalism and of their critics • Understanding of the historical contexts of these thinkers • Ability to read texts with care, precision, and insight, and apply their arguments to contemporary issues. • Ability to analyze critically (and draw conclusions about) opposing positions & arguments • Ability to communicate, verbally & in writing, reasoned views on theoretical/political positions about liberal democracy and its challenges today.

The course will be broken into three parts: 1). "The Foundations of Liberalism"; 2). "Critics of Liberalism"; and 3). "Contemporary Challenges." A provisional thematic list of topics can be found below.

Readings TBA.

Classes will be principally lectured based -- laptops, tablets, and cell phones must be stowed and out of sight in bags or coats. We will occasionally split into smaller groups for debates, activities, and focused discussions about particular topics. The instructor will also solicit student feedback and encourage class discussion at moments throughout his formal lectures.

Assessment TBA

For those of you interested, please reach me at sjaffe@luiss.it.