For millennia, man remained what he was for Aristotle: a living animal with additional capacity for a political existence; modern man is an animal whose politics places his existence as a living being in question. [Foucault, 1978]
PoMo Political Reasoning Office: C & C Room 318
Email: machadod@drexel.edu Office Phone: 215-8950-2402
THE COURSE: The course introduces the student to the sociological analysis of the social basis of political institutions, political theory, and political action. But we will go beyond the traditional binary relationship between state and society. Postmodern social analysis has given new directions to the study of the political. Drawing on the work of the late Michel Foucault, we will look into the ³arts of government,² into ³Governmentality². From Foucault and Agamben, students will learn about the significant difference between ³zoe² and ³bios², and about the very real consequences of politics on the ³naked life² of human beings in modern societies.
REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS: 1. Political Sociology, by Keith Faulks [KF] in the readings; 2. Governmentality, by Michelle Dean [MD]; 3. Homo Sacer, by Giorgio Agamben [GA]
GRADES: The evaluation of your accomplishment in this course will be based on the results of 1. A Mid-Term Exam, 2. A term paper of no less than seven [7] and no more than ten [10] typed pages on a topic strictly related to the subject matter of the course, i.e., postmodern politics. 3. A Final Exam.
GRADING: The two Exams will be worth 30 percent, and the Term Paper 40 percent of the final course grade.
TENTATIVE EXAM DATE: The Mid-Term Exam will be given on Wednesday, October 25 and the Final during the week of final exams. The Term Paper is due on the last day of classes.
PLEASE NOTE: 1. I do not curve or inflate grades. 2. Make up exams will be given only in case of justifiable reason. 3. Students are encouraged to discuss any grievance, related to the course, in my office, by e-mail or on the telephone. 4. This is a difficult course. Do not get behind in the readings and do not miss classes.
LECTURES: Class sessions will be devoted to a combination of lecture and discussions. Students¹ questions, comments and observations are welcomed and expected.
BEFORE READING ASSIGNMENTS AND COURSE CALENDAR:
PART I MODERNIST POLITICAL REASONING
1. 9/25 General Information. This syllabus
Foundations of Political Sociology KF ch. 1, 2
2. 10/2 The Challenges to the State KF chs. 3, 5
3. 10/9 **NO CLASS ON MONDAY- UNIV. HOLIDAY
Challenges to Civil Society KF chs. 6, 7, 8
4. 10/16 Basic Concepts and Themes MD ch. 1
Genealogy and Governmentality MD ch. 2
5. 10/23 The Paradox of Sovereignty GA p. 15
*** MID-TERM EXAM WED. 10/25
ŒNomos Basileus¹ GA p. 30
Potentiality and Law GA p. 39
Form of Law GA p 49
Threshold GA p. 63
6. 10/30 Dependency and Empowerment MD ch. 3
Pastoral Power, Police, and Reason of State MD ch. 4
7. 11/6 Homo Sacer GA p. 71
The Ambivalence of the Sacred GA p. 75
Sacred Life GA p. 81
ŒVitae Necisque Potestas¹ GA p. 87
Sovereign Body and Sacred Body GA p. 91
8. 11/13 Bio-Politics and Sovereignty And Liberalism MD chs. 5, 6
9. 11/20 The Politicization of Life, GA p. 119
Biopolitics and the Rights of man GA p. 126
Life That Does Not Deserve to Live GA p. 136
Politics, or Giving Form to the Life of a People GA p. 144
10. 11/27 Authoritarian Governmentality, Neo-Liberalism
and Advanced Liberal Government MD chs. 7,.8
11. 12/4 The Camp as the ŒNomos¹ of the Modern GA p 166
Not BadŠ..but Dangerous MD p 198
NOTE: THE INSTRUCTOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO ALTER ANY ASPECT OF THIS SYLLABUS, IN WHICH CASE THE STUDENT SHALL BE INFORMED IN ADVANCE.