CORE 102

Democracy and Revolution

M, W, F 8.30-9.25	Dr. Jeffrey Lee Meriwether
NC 103	CAS 124
Office Hrs: M, W 10.45-11.45; T, Th 2.00-3.00	Tel:401.254.3780
	E-mail:  jmeriwether@rwu.edu

Within this course, students shall come to understand why democracy was important in the development of the modern community of nations.To be sure, many nations continue to struggle with the adoption of, or the search for, democracy.It has shaped us as citizens of the United States of America, and it continues to affect America’s outlook on foreign policy.In this course, students shall learn to appreciate democracy’s impact on the modern world.

Required Texts:

Burke, Edmund, Reflections on the Revolution in France (Indianapolis, 1999).

Golding, William, Lord of the Flies (New York, 1954).

Marx, Karl and Frederick Engels, The Communist Manifesto (New York, 1989).

Mill, John Stuart, On Liberty (Upper Saddle River, 1997).

Swanson, Michael R.H., et al. (eds.), The Democratic Idea (Dubuque, 2001).

Assignments:

• Readings: Students are responsible for a selection of readings, from both the required texts, and items passed out during the term. Readings are listed in the weekly schedule below. Please have the assigned items read for appropriate discussions, as we shall analyze them in discussion sections during the week.
• Individual Essay: Each student shall submit a 2-3-page essay analyzing a newspaper article that discusses democracy. As we explore democracy in history, it is important to remember that it is a dynamic concept, continuously evolving as we begin the 21^st century. Please speak to me regarding your choice of article, for we want to ensure that the information is current. Essays are due in class on Friday, 28 September. (10 points)
• Group Project: Students shall form groups and design a class presentation (7 minutes) and paper (8-10 pages) for submission. Projects are to analyze an aspect of democracy either discussed in the class, or introduced by the group. Please take advantage of the myriad of sources available on this topic. I require five, two of which may be electronic. The rest have to come from printed matter, and within these please do not include an encyclopedia. Please use audio and/or visual material for the presentations. Group presentations and papers shall be submitted during the week of 3-7 December. (20 Points)

Quizzes:

At the end of each week, students shall write a quiz covering the week’s events. (3 Points Each)

Exams:

Students shall sit three exams during the term.Each is a ‘midterm’ exam, and, therefore, is not cumulative.The dates for the first two exams are listed in the weekly schedule.The last midterm shall occur on Wednesday, 19 December, at 10 am. (25 Points Each)

Weekly Schedule:

Week of

3 Sep.	What is Democracy?The Greek example. Read: Democratic Idea (DI) Chs. 3, 4
10 Sep.	Feudalism and the development of the state. Read:DI Ch. 7
17 Sep.	Machiavelli and keeping power. Read: Machiavelli handout
24 Sep.	Newspaper essays due Friday, 28 Sep. Modern Thought: Dynamic Duo, Locke, Rousseau Read: DI Chs. 9, 11
1 Oct.	The English example of Parliament and Crown Read: DI Ch. 7 Exam 1
8 Oct.	No class Monday, 8 Oct., please meet at same time on Tuesday, 9 Oct. France, the Ancien Régime, and Revolution Read: DI Chs. 13, 17; Burke Reflections
15 Oct.	Metternich’s Reaction: The Concert of Europe Read: Cont. with Reflections; Smail handout; Plumb handout
22 Oct.	Class warfare: Defeating Capitalism, discovering Utopia Read: Marx/Engels Manifesto; Pollard handout; Friedrichs handout
29 Oct.	America, the War Between the States, and a new beginning. Read: DI Chs. 23, 25; Reconstruction handout; Populism/Progressivism handout Exam 2
5 Nov.	Form groups for presentation/paper Democracy vs. ‘The Best’: The Birth of Soviet Communism Read: DI Ch. 36; review Manifesto; Cold War handout
12 Nov.	Nationalism, the State, and Fascism Read: Germany handout; Golding Flies
19 Nov.	Post-War America: Arsenal of Democracy Read: DI Ch. 35; 50s handout
26 Nov.	Democracy and the Media-Please provide examples
3 Dec.	Group Presentations
10 Dec.	Friday, 14 Dec. last day of class Summing up Democracy and Revolution Read: Democracy handout
17 Dec.	Exam 3 Thursday, 20 Dec. 10 am-12 pm.

Attendance Policy:

Students are responsible for any and all material presented in this course.It is an excellent idea to attend class, for there is strong evidence of a high correlation between missing class and low and/or failing grades.

University’s Policy on Plagiarism and Cheating:

Don’t do it, as plagiarism or cheating shall result in failure of the class.For the rest, please see the accompanying handout.

Grade Percentages:

97-100%146-150	77-80%116-121	57-60%86-91
93-96%140-145	73-76%110-115	53-56%80-85
91-92%137-139	71-72%107-109	51-52%77-79
87-90%131-136	67-70%101-106
83-86%125-130	63-66%95-100
81-82%122-124	61-62%92-94

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