Prof. Robert Adcock PSc 3192W, Fall 2013
Email: Tue 11:10-1:00, Phillips 510
Office: 416 Monroe Hall of Government Office Hours: Tues 2:30-4:30
Proseminar: Liberalism, Democracy, and Empire
Course Overview
This writing-intensive seminar examines English and French liberal political thought in its early to mid-nineteenth century heyday through a careful study of multiple texts by the leading liberal thinkers of these nations in this, and perhaps any period: Alexis de Tocqueville and John Stuart Mill. The goal is to introduce students to how scholars of the history of political thought use the close reading and comparison of texts—both among works by one figure and between figures—to advance their comprehension of, and nuanced writing about, political theorists and traditions.
On a thematic level, our focus is on views of democracy at home and of imperial rule overseas. We explore questions such as: What did liberals expect, hope for, and fear, under democratic social and political conditions? Which particular political institutions and practices did liberals support or criticize, under what conditions? Was imperial rule overseas inimical to liberalism, or could it be an extension of it? Just what kinds of imperial institutions and practices did liberals support or criticize, under what conditions?
Required Texts for Purchase
Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America, trans. H. Mansfield and D. Winthrop (Chicago University Press, 2000)
Alexis de Tocqueville, Writings on Empire and Slavery, trans. J. Pitts (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2001)
It is strongly recommended that you purchase the specific editions of the Tocqueville texts listed above. Since the best scholarly edition of John Stuart Mill's works is available free online, the readings from Mill do not need to be purchased. All readings from Mill, and other readings not included in the above listed Tocqueville texts will be made available electronically via the course Blackboard page under the electronic reserves tab.
Learning Outcomes
As a result of completing this course, students will be able to:
Recognize and explain key concepts, arguments, and premises of liberal political thought
Find and employ textual evidence to support even-handed characterizations of views with which they may personally disagree
Analytically compare and contrast the views of different theorists on the same topic, or arguments advanced in different works by a single thinker
Course Requirements and Grading
Reading: Up to 80 pages of reading are assigned for most weeks of the seminar. You must finish the readings before the class meeting for which they are assigned. The readings are demanding and you must devote to them sufficient time to read carefully, to ponder what you have read, and to do preparation exercises connected to the readings when these are assigned.
Seminar meetings: Bring copies of the assigned readings with you to class so you can look at particular passages in the texts as they are referred to in our seminar meetings. Attendance and productive participation in these meetings will count for 10% of your grade.
Writing
Exercises: You will be assigned multiple exercises, including assignments to do when preparing for class and peer review of fellow students’ work. These exercises will be collected and graded check plus, check, check minus, or fail. Together these will count for 15% of your grade.
Short paper: You will be assigned a short paper of 7-8 pages responding to one of a set of stated questions about Tocqueville’s Democracy in America. This will count for 25% of your grade.
Long paper: You will be assigned a long paper of 13-15 pages in which you frame and execute your own comparative analysis of thinkers and/or texts. This will count for 50% of your grade.
Paper policies: Your papers should be double-spaced, with 1-inch margins, and 12-point font. By the date and time given on the schedule, you should both: 1) turn in your paper electronically via the SafeAssign function on Blackboard, and 2) drop off a hard copy in my box in the political science department office (440 Monroe Hall). Late papers will be docked a third of a grade (e.g. from a B+ to a B) for each weekday late.
Academic Integrity
All members of the university community are expected to exhibit honesty and competence in their academic work. Students have a special responsibility to acquaint themselves with, and make use of, all proper procedures for doing research, writing papers, and taking exams. Members of the community will be presumed to be familiar with the proper academic procedures and will be held responsible for applying them. Failure to act in accordance with such procedures will be considered academic dishonesty. Academic dishonesty is defined as “cheating of any kind, including misrepresenting one’s own work, taking credit for the work of others without crediting them and without appropriate authorization, and the fabrication of information.” Acts of academic dishonesty are a legal, moral, and intellectual offense against the community and will be prosecuted through the proper university channels. The University Code of Academic Integrity can be found at http://www.gwu.edu/~ntegrity/code.html. If you have questions about the use and citation of sources, come see me in office hours before you turn in your work.
Support for Students Outside the Classroom
DISABILITY SUPPORT SERVICES (DSS)
GW’s Disability Support Services (DSS) provides and coordinates accommodations and other services for students with a wide variety of disabilities, as well as those temporarily disabled by injury or illness. Accommodations are available through DSS to facilitate academic access for students with disabilities. Additional information is available at www.gwu.edu/~dss.
UNIVERSITY COUNSELING CENTER (UCC) 202-994-5300
The University Counseling Center (UCC) offers 24/7 assistance and referral to address students’ personal, social, career, and study skills problems. Services for students include:
- crisis and emergency mental health consultations
- confidential assessment, counseling services (individual and small group), and referrals
http://gwired.gwu.edu/counsel/CounselingServices/AcademicSupportServices
Security
If we experience an emergency during class time, we will try to stay at this location until we hear that we can move about safely. If we have to leave the classroom, we will meet at the clock in Kogan Plaza in order to account for everyone and to make certain that everyone is safe. Please refer to Campus Advisories for the latest information on the University’s operating status: http://www.campusadvisories.gwu.edu/.
Class Schedule
Aug. 27. Course Introduction
Constant, “The Liberty of the Ancients compared with that of the Moderns”
Part I. Alexis de Tocqueville
Sept. 3. Constant, Principles of Politics, Bk X
Tocqueville, Democracy in America, Vol. 1: Intro; Part 1, ch. 2-4
Sept. 10. Tocqueville, “Some Ideas about What Prevents the French from having Good Colonies,” Writings on Empire and Slavery, p. 1-4
Tocqueville, Democracy in America, Vol. 1: Part 1, ch. 5 (pp. 56-70, 75-79, 82-93)
Vol. 1: Part 2, ch. 1-4, ch. 5 (only pp. 187-92), ch. 6, ch. 10 (only pp. 391-96)
Tocqueville, Democracy in America, Vol. 2: Part 2, ch. 2, ch. 4-8
Sept 17. Tocqueville, Democracy in America, Vol. 1: Part 1, ch. 8 (only pp. 143-46)
Vol. 1: Part 2, ch. 7-8, ch. 9 (pp. 264-295)
Tocqueville, Democracy in America, Vol. 2: Notice; Part 1, ch. 1-2, 5; Part 2, ch. 9
Sept. 24. Tocqueville, Democracy in America, Vol. 1: Part 2, ch. 9 (pp. 296-302)
Tocqueville, Democracy in America, Vol. 2: Part 2, ch. 1, ch. 3, ch. 10-11, ch. 14, ch. 18-20
Vol. 2: Part 3, ch. 5, ch. 21; Part 4, all chapters
Oct. 1. Tocqueville, Democracy in America, Vol. 1: Part 1, ch. 1; Part 2, ch. 10 (pp. 302-25)
Tocqueville, “First Letter on Algeria,” Writings on Empire and Slavery, pp. 5-23
Tocqueville, “Second Letter on Algeria,” Writings on Empire and Slavery, pp. 14-26
Oct. 8. Tocqueville, “Essay on Algeria,” Writings on Empire and Slavery, pp. 59-73 (bottom)
Tocqueville, “Intervention in the Debate,” Writings on Empire and Slavery, pp. 117-128
Tocqueville, “First Report on Algeria,” Writings on Empire and Slavery, pp. 129-168 (italics)
Oct. 10. (Thursday) Short paper due by 4 pm
Oct. 15. Tocqueville, Democracy in America, Vol. 1: Part 2, ch. 10 (pp. 326-48, 357-61)
Tocqueville, “The Emancipation of Slaves,” Writings on Empire and Slavery, pp. 199-226
Part II. John Stuart Mill
Oct. 22. Mill, “Appendix to Dissertations and Discussions,” in Collected Works, Vol. 19
Mill, “De Tocqueville on Democracy in America [II],” in Collected Works, Vol. 18. Read
pp. 155-59, 163-70 (to break near top), 190 (from “If we here to close”)-200 (asterisks) Mill, Considerations on Representative Government, ch. XVII, in Collected Works, Vol. 19
Mill, “The Contest in America,” in Collected Works, Vol. 21
Oct. 29. Mill, Considerations on Representative Government, ch. I-III, XVI in Collected Works, Vol. 19
Nov. 5. Tocqueville, Letters on British Rule in India, photocopy posted to Blackboard
Mill, Considerations on Representative Government, ch. IV, XVIII in Collected Works, Vol. 19
Mill, “Minute on the Black Act,” “The East India Company’s Charter” (selections), “The Petition of the East India Company,” “A Constitutional View of the India Question,” in Collected Works, Vol. 30
Nov. 12. Mill, “Reform of the Civil Service,” in Collected Works, Vol. 18
Mill, Considerations on Representative Government, ch. V-VI, XIV-XV, in Collected Works, Vol. 19
Nov. 19. Mill, Considerations on Representative Government, ch. VII-VIII, X, in Collected Works, Vol. 19
Nov. 26. Peer review & course evaluations
Dec 4. (Wednesday) Long paper due by 4 pm