Am | conservative? Does that conservative hate me? Why do conservatives say things like that? What does conservatism really mean anymore? Conservativism in America: Spring 2020 2019 was quite the year for conservatives. Indi, Japan, and the United Kingdom alloined the United States, Brazil, and George Etvhard! Poland in electing Right-wing governments. Worldwide, the Anne Belk 351J median voter is ow a populist conservative 262-6720 ehrhardigc@appslate.edu What docs this mean? What do these conservatives beli How do they behave politically? ‘These are difficult questions; Class time too often we hear shallow, one-dimensional answers. Answers | MWF: 10-11 from chose on the Right demand loyalty to their own particular Anne Belk 223, brand of conservatism to the exclusion ofall others. Answers from those on the Left sound like 19th Century colonial, Office Hours: ethnographers, titillating their metropolitan readers with ‘Mon: 11:00-12:00 curiosities from Darkest Affiea Flyover Country. Instead of Wed: 11:00-12:00 giving you answers head-on, though, I want to sneak up on Thur: 2:00-4:00 them from behind, so they don’t run away and hide in the noise and fury of today’s politics. You have grown up in an American educational system where what might be called a ‘liberal worldview’ is normativein other words, that worldview is taken as Right and Good and Just. You may have had teachers who disagreed, ancl your parents may have objected, but fanclamentally, liberal ideas about what it means to be human and how we live together form the foundation on which acceptable ideas about politics and society are built. This is true in contemporary 2, higher education, and social media, Peering out from behind the walls around that worldview, Conservativism offen seems illogical, unthinking, even hurtful, And if that worldview is all one really understands then conservatives can seem like, well..stupid racists. “This means that instead of standing on the walls and pointing fingers at Conservatism from a distance like a cour guide on a bus, we need to leave the safety of our walls and get our hands dirty. We need to ask questions that will help us see an alternative understanding of the world first-hand, like learning about a foreign country with a homestay We're not going to spend the semester reading scholarly articles where 3° party authors pronounce judgement. We're going to ask fundamental questions about what it means to be human, go to primary sources to see how actual conservatives answer them, and discuss as a class what to make of thoseCourse Educational Goals: ‘This is not a course about history or policy. Nor is it about the American Conservative Movement asit formerly existed, though we will spend a week on that to provide some context. This isa political philosophy course: it asks for conservative answers to fundamental questions, What does it mean to be human? How should we relate to ourselves and to others? What is Justice? What does it mean to be ‘Male and Female? What does it mean to live in a community? What is our relationship to the "Transcendent? When the course finishes: + Students of all partisan stripes should be able (o describe conservative answers to those questions ‘and analyze them hoth critically and sympathetically. + Students should also be able to identify the political implications of those answers, Useful Readings In this course we will read primary sources, to better understand how conservatives themselves understand conservatism. Ifwe want to correctly understand conservative rhetoric in today’s politics ‘we need to understand what they mean by the words they use, and going to the primary sourees is the only way to do that. I will make these readings available on ASUlearn, the school's classroom sofiware platiorm, ‘The syllabus lis three types of readings: Required: Unless otherwise marked, I expect you to have these read by the date they are listed on the syllabus. Ifit is necessary to have exams, their content will appear. [will not quiz. you on small details, but you should understand the author’s arguments and how they support it Recommended: If you're interested in going a litle deeper into the topics under discussion, these ‘are good places to start, Their contents won't be required to know, but if you would like to do aan in-class presentation on them you may (see the grading section for how that would count) In my experience itis very dificult for the non-religious—even someone who went to Sunday school every week as a child—to accurately understand the nature of faith and how it affects an adult Deliever’s view of the world, For those interested in trying, though, T recommend (but not require) the following book and have suggested chapters to read during the semester, Howard, Thomas. 1969, Chance or the Dance: A Critigue of Modera Secularism (Ignatius Press) “The author is Christian, but his argument is not based in Christ Buddhism and Paganism, at least, it applies equally wel. I suspect devout Muslims, Jews, Hindus, and those of other faiths will find themselves nodding their heads as they read it ian theology. From what I know of Supplementary: These readings are related, but either too long or not quite relevant enough to make it into the first wo categories. I've demoted some conservative classics to this list because there are usually shorter and easier to read modlern summaties. Some required readings are listed as entire books. Never fear, you don’t need to buy or read the whole book. I will copy selections and make them available on ASUlearn,‘Things I have to say because there are too many lawyers in America “There are super-cuper important policies that the university says you need to know. Go read them! hup://academicaflairs.appstate.edu/syllabi For your sake as well as that of your classmates, I strongly discourage the use of computers in class. If you feel like you need to use one and you've discussed it with the office that handles special accommodations, please come see me and we can talk about it. Otherwise, leave them in your backpack. On the other hand, sometimes we google stuff, so I don’t mind cell phones just be respectfil about it No battle plan survives contact with the enemy, and none of my syllabi survive contact with students either, Acsome point mid-semester, I'll almost certainly, possibly arbitrarily, but probably not ‘maliciously, change the schedule or the grading system, Course Schedule I. Before setting out: the view from behind the ramparts Ideas are more powerful than guns. We would not let our enemies have guns, vity should we let them have icloas? Joseph Stalin 1.13 Course Introduction and Syllabus Explanation 1,15 The Standardized Academic Article on Conservatives 97% of political scientists agree, conservatives have no ideas, On the other hand, they have the market comered on mental deficiencies and negative emotions. ark, and Alixandra B. Yanus. 2018, “Why Did Women Vote for Donald Tramp?” PS: Political Since & Polite 51 (3). Pp. 523-27. Recommended Douglas Hofstacier, “The Paranoid Seyle in American Politis,” Harper's Magazine, November 1964, huip://harpers.ong/archive/ 1964/1 the-paranoidestylesin-american-polities/ James C Stalker, 2007. “Do Right-Wing Authoritarian Beliefs Originate ftom Paycholo in Pyrhaanadytie Pycholagy. Vel. 24 no. | pp. 25-44. Hajnal, Zoltan and Marisa Abrajano, 2016, “Trump's All Too Familiar Strategy and les Fuca the GOP” The Forum. Vol. 14 No. 3. pp- 295-309, Supplementary Adorno, ‘Theodor. 1950. The Authoritarian Pesonaty. Harper & Brothers Press. Altemeyer, Robert. 1981. Righting Authoritarian, Winnipeg: University of Manitoba Robert, 2006, The Autoritarians. Smith, Robert C, 2010, Consecatom and Racion, and Why in America They Are the Sone, New York City, NY: SUNY Press Diewich, D., (2014) Rebellious Conservatives: Social Movements in Defense of Privilege, New York City, Palgrave Macmillan, Hochschild, A., (2016). Strangers im thetr Oxon Land: Anger and Mourning on the American Right. Berkeley, New PressInglelart, Ronald; Norris, Pippa. (2017). Trump and the Populist Authoritarian Parties: The Silat Recoltin in Reverse.” Pespectces on Polis: Vol. 15, Iss. 2, un 2017): 443-454 Robin, Coney, 2017. The Reactonayy Mind: Conseroation fiom Filmand Burke to Donald Tramp. ‘Oxford University Press, 1.17 Where did this stereotype come from? Origins of the Standard Academic Article Required Oakeshot, Michael 199 ection, pp. 407-4 Recommended Kenneth Minogue (2008). “The Elusive Oakeshott” in The American Consonatoe October 1, 208. hhups:/ /www:theamericanconservative.com/articles/the-lusive-oakeshott/ Supplementary Rossiter, Clinton. 1955. Consercatiom in America. New York, NY: Knopf. Hartz, Louis. 1995, The Liberal Tradition in America, Mariner Books. Lyons, Paul, 2011, American Consereatiom: Thinking, Teaching It Vanclesbilt University Press Hawley, George, 2016. Right-Wing rites of Amonican Couerzation. Lawrence, KS: University of Kansas Pres. “On Being Conservative." Rationalivm in Politics and Otter Essays, 2nd indianapolis, IN: Liberty Func II. The Rise and Fall of the Conservative Movement And on the pedestal these words appear: “My name is Ozymandias, king of kings: Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!” Nothing beside remains. Round the decay Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare The lone and level sands stretch far away. Percy Shelley, "Ozymandias* 1.22 RIP: The American Conservative Movement, 1964-2016: Day 1 Required Nash, George. 2009, “The Uneasy Future of the Conservative Movement” in Reappraising the Right “The Past and Future of American Consercasion, Wilmington, DE; ISI Press, pp. 317-336. Supplementary: General Histories of the Conservative Movement George Nash isthe leading historian of the Conservative Movement, Read him fist, then turn 1 other authors for analysis of specie topics. Hu sm as an Ideology” The American Political Science Review, Vol Nash, Gearge.1976. The Consecutive Futelectual Movement in America since 1943, Wilmington, DE; ISI Press Bjerre-Poulen, Niels. 2002, Right Face: Onganzing the Conseretive Movement. UK: Museun Tasculanim Press. Gregory Schneider, 2003, Conseeaton in America sinct 1930: Reader, (NYU Press) Mieklethwait, John and Adrien Wooldridge, 2004, The Right Nation: Conservative Prac in America, Nev York, NY, Penguin Press. Schulman and Zelizer: 2008. Rightourd Bound: Making America Conseoate in the 1970s. Cambridge, MA; Harvard University Pres, Supplementary: Libertarianism, Refer to the readings for AprilSupplementary Reading: Traditional Conservatism Ecimmundl Burke Reflections on the Relation in France Weaver, Richard. 1948, Ideas have Conseguenecs. Chicago, IL. University of Chicago Press Kirk, Russell. The Consercative Mind: Fem Bucket Santayana, Washington, DC: Regenety Press. Russell Kisk, The Polis of Prudence Richard Weaver Idews have Consequences Nisbet, Robert, 1944, “DeBonald and the Concept ofthe Social Group” Journal ofthe History of Ideas, Vol. 5, No. 3 Jun, 1941), pp. 315-331 -. 1948, “The Politics of Social Pluralism: Some Reflections on Lamennais” TRe Jounal of Plt, Vol. 10, No. 4(Nov., 1948), pp. 764-786. 1968, Tradition and Revolt. New York, Random House 11975. The Twilight of Authority. Oxlord University Press, 2014 (1953). The Quest for Community a study in the ethics of order and fem New York: Oxford University Press. Stone, B., (2000), Robert Visbt: Commanitarian Tiaditinalst, Delaware: IST Books, Supplementary: Fusionism Barry Goldwater. Conscience of a Conseratice ‘Smant, Kevin. 2002, Priniples and Heresies: Frank Moyer and the Shaping ofthe American Consercative Movement. Wilmington, DE: ISI Books. Hart, Jeffery. 2006. The Mating ofthe American Consersatice Mind: the National Rese and its Ties ‘Delaware: IST Books, 1,24 RIP: The American Conservative Movement, 1964-2016: Day 2 Ifyou are planning on doing the “Know Thysel” Assignment you need to uploael your initial answers today Supplementary Reading: Neoconservatism John F Kennedy "Lam a Beriner" [Speech] Irving Kristol. 1995. Neveonseration: the Autobingrapy of an Idea. Free Press Daniel Patrick Moynihan, "How the Great Society Destroyed the American Fs Nathan Glazer *The Reagan Administration's Social Policy" Daniel Patrick Moynihan Maximum Feasible Mésundertanding: Conoauity Acton inthe Wr on Poverty Francis Fukuy The End of History and the Last Man" Supplementary Read Gottiied, Paul. 1992. The Conservative Movement. Twayne Publishers, Buchanan, Paick, 2006, Stal of Emerges: The Tod Wer Incason and Conquest of America. Macmillan. Paleoconservatism Supplementary Readin; P. Sehially. "A Choice, not an Barbara Dafoe Whitchead, "Dan Qualye was Right.” (Atlantic Monthly, 4/93) Ralph Reed, Politically Inoriet Stephen Carter, Cua of Disbelief Richard John Neuhaus. The Naked Pubic Square Supplementary Reading: Crunchy Conservatism ‘Wendell Berry, “The Agrarian Standard!” ( Dreher, Rod. 2006. Cunuly Cons: How Bikentoced Burkeans, Gua-Locing Organic Gardeners, Exanelcal Fre Range Formers, Hip Homeschooling Mamas, Right-Wing Natue Lovers and Their Divere Tribe of Counercaltral Consereatices Plan to Save America (Or at Least the Republican Party). New York: Forum,1.27 Fiddling while Rome burns: the Final Days of the Conservative Moment Required Publius Decius Mus, “The Fight 93 Election” in Claremont Recizo of Boks (9/2016) Recommended Anton, Michael. 2016, “The Bankruptcy of Conservative Intellectuals” Amaizan Greatness. 7 Nove Deneen, Patrick. 2017. “Ghosts of Conservatism Past” in Modem Age hups:/ /homesisiorg/ghost-conservatism-past Supplementary Frum, David, 2008, “Unpatriotic Conservatives" in The National Review. Fe anenhaus, Sam. 2009. "Conservatism is Dead" The New Republic 18 Febnuaty 2009, “The Conservative Movement in Chapter 11.” Speech given to The Phil Society National Meeting, March 29, Dionne F. J. Jt- 2016. Why the Right Went Wrong: Conseratiom-From Goldvaterto the Tea Party and Beyond Now York Simon and Shuster 2016 rary 19 1.29 Back to the Future? Tory Radicalism and the new Conservatism Required Goodthart, David, 2017, The Road to Someavhere: the Populist Revolt andthe Future of Palties. Hurst. Recommended ‘MeGowan, John, 1989, “The New Tory Radicals” Soundings. Vol 72, no. 2/3, pp 477-500, Supplementary Driver, F. 1991. “Tory Radicalism? Ideology, Strategy, and Locality in Popular Poltis inthe Eightoon-Thinties, Narthem History, Vol 27, Na. 1 pp. 120-138. III. Contemporary Conservatism 131 Yay freedom! But...lreedom from what? Required Obama for President. 2012, “The Life of Julia” Video published at barackohama.com. Recommended Schaefer, Jack. 1949, Shene, Houghton Miffin is 158. Quest for Cammy Isaiah Berlin, “Two Concepts of Liberty,” Four Essays on Liberty, (Oxford, Englanc Oxford University Press, 1969), p. 118172. Patrick. 2016, “Community and Freedom OR Individualism and Statism” or “Choosing the Road to Sexfom” in Consring America De 2.3 Why do conservatives think that family is so important? NOW this is the law of the jungle, as old and as true as the sky, And the wolf that shall keep it may prosper, but the wolf that shall break it must die As the creeper that girdles the tree trunk, the law runneth forward and back; For the strength of the pack is the wolf, and the strength of the wolf isthe pack. Rudyard Kipling, “The Law for the Wolves” Required Nikbet, R. 1953. Ques fr Community. Ch.3 pp. 91-59 ‘RecommendedSupplementary Burke, Edmund. 1790, Relctins onthe Reolution in France. Penguin Books, Burke's Famous reference to “Loving the litle platoons to which we belong” can be found in Paragraph 75. Is the Loyal Order of the Moose Lodge really plotting to take over the country? Required Nisbet, R. 1953, Quest for Community. Ch.8 pp. 3 ‘Recommended “Tocqueville, Alexis, 1985 (21 Fel). Democracy in Ameri Putnam Robert. 1995, “Bowling Mlone: Ameri (1) 165-78. Supplementary Peter Berger and Fr. Richard John Neuhaus, 1975. To Empower People Structures in Public Policy" Washington DC. Putnam, Robert, 2001, Baling Alone: The Collapse and Reval of Anesican Conomanity, (Touchstone Books, New York Gity, NY) 47 and 59-65, Ch. 473-76. cis, Cambridge MA) ‘s Declining Social Capital.” Jounal of Democrary Vol. 6 2.7: Overllow/Weather/Medical Make-up Day IV. How do we relate to the Transcendent? The term ‘democracy’..does nat contain enough positive content to stand alone against the forces that you dislke—it can easly be transformed by them. Ifyou will not have God (and He isa jealous God) you should pay your respects to Hitler or Stalin.” TS. Eliot 2.10 How does beliefin the transcendent transform what it means to be human? Required Howard, Chance othe Dance. Ch, 1 “Lhe Old Myth andl the New" Recommended Knot, Lindsey. 2017. “Germs or Faivies: on speaking un-naturalistically.” Circe Institute, Oct, 20. uips:/ /wwwcitecinstitute.org/blog/germs-or-haries Supplementary Reading Schall, Fr James. 2014. On the Unseriousness of Human Affi. ISI Press 2.12 What is Justice? Required Kink, Ruse, 1954, “Social Justice and Mass Culture,” The Revi of Polis 16: 498-451 Ips: /w youtube.com /watch2v=FII gx JHU Recommended Howard, Chance or the Dene. Ch. 6 “Sublimity, Soup Cans, tc.” Supplementary Scalia, Antonin, 2006, Raia of Stom D. Sniti's Law's Quandary, 58 Catholie Universiy Law ‘Review 687. ‘Amade, Chris, 2019, “Back Row America.” Fist Things. June wscomn/antile/2019/067 tps: / /wwwfirst -roweamerica 2.14 St. Valentine’s Day Speci Required ‘Alan Bloom, 1987. Claingof the American Mind. : why are religious people so hung up about sex?217 2.24 2,24 ‘Recommended Howard, Chance or the Dance. Ch. Supplementary Kass, Leon, 1992. “Regarding Daughters and Sisters” Conumentary Magazine, Apri! Barbara Dafoe Whitehead, 1993, "Dan Qualye was Right," The Aiantic Monthdy, April 4 Christopher DeGroot. “Oblivious Eros” Jacohie, October $0, 2018, Sex" Are males and females different? “Are Women Human?” Cinpopular Opinions: Twensy-One Esays, New York Harcourt, Brace and Company. 129-41 Recommended Schlafly, P. (1972), "What's Wrong with Equal Rights for Women?" in Phyllis Schfly Report vol, 5 no. 7 February Cluistina Hoff Summers, 1995, Who Siole Feminism: How Women have Bebayed Wonen (particularly: "The Gender Wardens") Supplementary Nickerson, Michelle, 2012. Motirs ofthe Right: Women a the Postar Right. Princeton University Press Camile Paglia, 2016, Provocation: Calcted Escays on Art, Reinism, Pots, Se, and Eduation Is Masculinity Toxic? Required Something from Jordan Peterson. Recommended ‘Watch and compare these two commercials Gileite Razors: hups://www youtube.com/watch?v=koPmuEyP3a0) Eggare Watches: htps:/ ww-y ibe-com/wateh2aim hiips://swww.circeinstitate.org/2013/01 /lessons-in-manhood-frometh Supplementary Do religious people hate Gays and Trans-people? With the Hopes that our World is built on they were utterly out of touch, They denied that the Moon was Stilton; they denied she wes even Dutch; They denied that Wishes were Horses; they denied that a Pig had Wings; So we worshipped the Gods of the Market who promised these beautiful things Ruclyard Kipling, the Gods of the Copybook Headings Required Esolen, Anthony. “Hatred of Nature: Hatred of Sex” Crisis Magazine. July 10, 2013 Recommended George, Robert. 2009. “Mai Itps:/ /wwwbirst yge: What it Is and What it Isn't.” First Things, August 2000. es.com/article/ 2009 /08/what-marriage isand-whatitisnt Joyce, Andrew. 2017, “The Al-Right and the Homosexual Question.” Aluight.com Supplementary Havel, Vaclav, 1991, Wilson, Paul trans (ed). "The Pacer of the Pauses" (in) Open Latin: Selected Writings 19651990, Esolen, Anthony. 2015. “The Contemporary Denial of Realty” Criss. 15 December. 1 huaps:/ /ww.commentarymagazine.com/articles/regarding-daughters-and-ssters/2.26. Is there a Natural Order? By “the Permanent Things” T'S. Eliot meant those elements in the human condition that give us our nature, without which we are as the beasts that perish. They work upon us all n the sense that both they and we are bound up in that continuity of belief and institution called the great mysterious incorporation of the human race. Russell Kirk Required Lewis, C.S.. 1944, The Abolition of Man, Pp. 17-19 and Ch. $ “The Abolition of Man.” Recommended Howard, Chance othe Dance. Ch, 7. “Autoerats, Autonomy, and Acorns” Supplementary Readings Fr. James Schall. 2007. The Oner of Things. Ignatius Press. 2.28 What happens when we refuse our place in the Natural Orde Required ‘Whittaker Chambers, 1952, Hess, In particular, the “Foreword in the Form ofa Letter to Children.” 3.2 But we are not Gods, Human brains and the Law of Unintended Consequences Required Daniel P. Moynihan, 1965. The Nigro Family: The Case for National Acton, Washington, D.C., Office of Policy Planaing and Rewarch, US. Department of Labor. Recommended Bastiat, Fredric. 1850. “What is Seen ane Unseen” Abridged version for the Foundation for Economic Eclucation, Supplementary Robert K. Merton Source: American Merton, Robert. 1986, “The Unanticipatee Consequet Purposive Social Action” Saclagica! Resiv, Vol. 1, No. 6 (Dee, 1936), pp. 894-904 of 3.4 Why do conservatives value tradition so much? In the matier of reforming things, as distinct from deforming them, there is one plain and simple principle; a principle which will probably be called a paradox. Thore exists in such a case a certain institution or law; let us say, for the sake of simplicity, a fence or gate erected across a road. The more modem type of reformer goes geily up to it and says, "I don't see the use of this; let us clear it away.” To which the more intelligent type of reformer will do well to answer: “If you don't see the use of it, I certainly won't let you clear it away. Go any and think. Then, when you can come back and tell me that you do see the use of it, J may allow you to destroy it. GK. Chesterton, The Thing 1929 Required Pollan, Michiel. 2011. The Onnicore's Dilemma: A Notwal History of Four Moats, Penguin Books. Recommended Howard, Ohance or the Deace. Ch, 3 “Launch ane! Death” Dreher, Rod, “The Struggle of Memory against Forgetting” American Conservative, October 13 hups:/ /wwww.theamericanconservative.com/dreher/benedictoptionsmemory-forgecting/ SupplementaryBurke, Edmund. 1790, Ryfctions onthe Resolution in France, Penguin Books, Parti 153. Eberstace, Mary. 2014. How the West Rally Last Gad: A New Theory af Seulaization, Templeton Press Dreher, Rod. "Ss ” American Conservative. October 17, Kirk, Russell 195 American Traditions?" Gengia Revie. raphs 126= 3.6 Overllow/Weather/Medical Make-up Day 3.9 — 3.13 Spring Brea 3.16 The Importance of Place: what docs it mean to be “local?” “[ should like to save the Shire, if| could - though there have been times when I thought the inhabitants too stupid anc dull for words, and have felt that an earthquake or an invasion of dragons might be good for them. But | don’t fee! like that now. | feel that as long as the Shire lies behind, safe and comfortable, | shall find wandering more bearable: | shall know that somewhere there isa frm foothold, even if my feet cannot stand there again.” ARR, Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring Required Berry, Wendell “Itall Turns on Affection” 2012 Jefferson Avward Lecture, Recommended Howard, Ghance or the Dance. Ch, 8. “Bravo the Humdrum” Supplementary Schumacher, E.F.,1973. Sina is Beetle A Study of Bronomits as if Pople Mattered, Blond & Briggs Wendell Berry. The Av of the Cammanplace Wendell Berry. "The Agrarian Standard” (2002) Allan Carlson, “Compassionate Conservatism: Ten Lessons from the New Agrarians” 3.18 Why is it important to be Somewhere instead of Anywhere? Required Nolan, Jim. 2014. 1hy We Garden Calticating Sou of Place, Henry Hol wrodkction: The Local Garden.” “December: The Political Garden.” Recommended Goodhart, David, 2017, The Road to Someutere: the Populist Reolt andthe Futre of Pobitis, Hurst, Supplementary Yi-Fu Tuan, 1975. “Place: An Experiential Perspective” Giegeaphical Review, Vol. 65, No. 2 (Apr, 1975), 165, pp. 15 3,20 What is diversity? Required Biagetti, Samuel, 2017. “The IKEA Humans: the Social Base of Contemporary Liberalism” Jacobite Sept. 13. Recommended Supplementary Readings Bsolen, Anthony. 2017, “Diversity isnot a Cult, but What is 12" Crisis Magezine, April 7 03.25 Why do we build walls around our place Hungary has explicitly defined itself as “Christian mimigrants of other races and religions are only welcome on those terms. Is this “xenophobia?” Is it “hate?” Is it “antiedemocratic?” Required Recommended Supplementary Dencen, Patrick. “Patiotic Visions: At Home in a World Made Strange” in Conseeing America (2016) Donald Davidson. 1957. till Reels, Still Yanks. Louisiana State University Press 3.27 Why are some American conservatives racist? ‘America [is not] an “idea,” a “proposition,” or a “creed.” It is instead a concrete and particular culture, rooted in a particular historical experience, a set of particular institutions as well as particular beliefs and values, and a particular ethnic-racial identity, and, cut off from those roots, it cannot ‘Samuel Francis, The Paleo Persuasion Required Hood, Gregory. 2017. “The Nation without a Country” Altight.com| Recommended Spencer, Richard, 2017. “The Metapolities of Amerie ‘Minkowitz, Donna, 2017. “The Racist Right looks Lefi Newell, Jamara, 2017, Altright.com The Nation. 8 December. id Yourself of the White Man” Minallewe. 17 January Supplementary Buckley, William. 1957. “Why the South Must Prevail” National Resiao, August 24 Francis, Sam, 1995, Baul Lasers Essays onthe Failure of American Consercatism. Columbia, MO: University ‘of Missouri Press. 1998) Mr. Clinton's Third Revolution, Clronids June 1998. (20006) Race and the American Prospect. ‘The Occidental Press 3.30 Is the new Conservatism the same as the old Conservatism? Required Kirk, Russel, 1998. “10 Principles of Conservatism” Adapted fiom The Pots of Prudence. ISI Books. hups:/ /kirkeenter.org/conservatism /ten-conservative-principles/ Supplementary Kirk, Russell. Zhe Gnsovatie Ma: Fiom Burt Santyona, Washington, DC: Regenery Press. 4.1 Overllow/Medi al/Makeup DayV. On the other hand, the Classic Liberal Tradition The point is, ladies and gentleman, that greed ~ for lack of a better word ~ is good. Greed is right. Greed works. Greed clarifies, cuts through, and captures the essence of the evolutionary spirit Greed, in all ofits forms — greed for life, for money, for love, knowledge — has marked the upward surge of mankind, Michael Douglas, Wall Street 4.3 Do Libertarians hate government? Required Salatin, Joel. “Everything I want to do is Mleyal” in Acres: @ Voie for Keo Agriculture Vol. 33, No.9 (2003), Recommended Koch, Charles. “This isthe one issue on which Bemie Sanders is right” Washingion Past February 18, 2016. Supplementary Milton Friedman, Capitation and Freedom Albert Jay Nock. Manors of a Superftous Man Freclrich Hayek, The Road to Serio Capitolus Manilus. 2016, “German Beer's G ups /jacksongazette.org/2016/06/' -atness Agenda” American Greats. April 22/german-beers-greatness-agencla/ 4.6 Monsters from the Conservative Imagination: Property and the Profit Motive Required ‘Auarian, John. 1996, “Economics of the Permanent Thi ‘April 1. hups:/ fee.0 Recommended Freclrich Hayek. "Uses of Information in Society" American Eionamic Review. XXXV, No. 4, pp. 519-30, Supplementary Reading Leeson, Peter. The Invisible Hook jon for Economic Education, /articles/russell-kirks-economies-ofthe-permanent-things/ 4.13 What does Required Havel, Vaclav, 1993, Simmer Meditations. Vimiage Press. Recommended Capitalism” mean? Supplementary Reading Ayn Rand, "The Morality of Capitalism" 4.15 Are Conserva Required Williamson, Kevin, “Chaos in the Famil in the Natimat Review. March 2 m and Libertarianism compatible? e: The White Working Class’ Dysfunction” Recommended Nisbet, Robery, 1953. Quest fir Communiy, Ch, 10 pp. 218-222, Supplementary Reading Meyer, Frank. 1955, “Collectivism Rebaptizee!” The Freeman, July, pp. 559-562. Hayek, F.A. 1960, “Why Tam not a Conservative” in The Constation of Liberty. Chicago, IL: University ‘of Chicago Pres,VI. Green Sprouts among the Ashes 4.17 What happens to conservatives with nothing left to conse! Required Watch the following video (15 minutes) “Tucker's Monologue” ips://ww.ealclearpolites.com /video/2019/01/03/tucker_carlson_ cenaries who, feel_no_ ong. Recommended Browse the titer foed for Sweet Metcor of Death, patcularly back around the 2016 election. wittr-com/smod4eal Supplementary Macintyre, Alasdair. 1984. tr Vite: Study in Moral Ths. Notre Dane University Pres Christopher. 1994, The Rv of the Blt ad the Betrayal of Demecracy. WW. Norton Press Lilla, Mark. 2016. The Shipwrecked Mind: On Reastonary Politi, New Vork Review Books. Michiel Anton, 2016, “The Bankruptcy of Conservative lutellecusls” American Grates erm_obligation_to_the_people_they_rule hel November. 4.20 Response #1: Donald Trump and the Populist Right They tell me you are wicked and | believe them, for I have seen your painted women under the gas lamps luring the farm boys. And they tell me you are crooked and I answer: Yes, itis true I have seen the gunman kill and go free to kill again And they tell me you are brutal and my reply is: On the faces of women and children | have seen the marks of wanton hunger. And having answered so I tun once more to those who sneer at this my city, and I give them back the sneer and say to them: Come and show me another city with lifted head singing so proud to be alive and coarse and strong and cunning, Gar Sandburg Required Codevilla, Angelo. 2010, “America’s Ruling Class and the Perils of Revolution” American Spectator, July 16. Recommended Supplementary Nisbet, Robert, 1978, “The Dilemma of Conservat pp. 91-106, Hanson, Victor. 1995. The Other Grecs: The Family Farm and the Aeyarian Roots of Wester Civilization. Free Press, Sowell, Thomas. 1995, Fisians ofthe Anointe: Self Congratulation as a Basis fr Soil Pai. Basic Books. Medina, Lorie, 2011 Community Organizing for Consereaizes, Regernery Pres, Wood, Gorelon. 2011. The Radicalism of the American Revalution, Vintage Books a Populist Society” Policy Review. Spring 197% 4.22 More on Conservative Populism Required Kauffinan, Bill, 2006, Loot Homeward, America: In Search of Reactionary Radicals and Front-Porch Anarchists4.24 Response #2 The Alt-Right Required Minnis, Gavin, Recommended Jeffery, Philip, 2017. “A report from Morningside Fit Thing, June &, 2017 ally, Nathan, *The Asymmetric Meme Warfare of lis ok to be White.” Jecbite Supplementary Mencius Moldbug. 2009, “A Gente Ineoduction to Unqualified Reservations.” Bokhati,Allum and Milo Viannopoulus, “The Establishment Conservative’s Guide wo the AI-Right™ Breas, March 26, 2016 Yang, Wesley. 2017 “Ts it OK to be White? Meme Wat: the insular, circular, and viralastie history of ide” Tablet Magazine. 27 Noveruber. n/ /ww:tabletmag.com /jewish-news-and- 1250053 fie t-olet0-be-hi “Yiannopoulos, Milo, (2017). Daigrous. Dangerous Hooks. Berry, Mathew, 2019, “The Alt Righ« and the Religiows Impulse: A‘Tocquevillian Analysis” erica Plical Thought. Vol 8, pp. 1 nd Bless the Right-Wing Social Justice Warriors” Taki’s Mag. March, 2017 4.27 Response #3 The Religious Right Required Dreher, Rod, 2016, The Benedict Option: A Snap fr Cristian na Past-Chisin Nation, New York, NY; Sentinel Pres. Recommended George, Robert. 2014 Supplementary Richard Jolin Neubaws. 1084, The Naked Peblic Square: Religion and Democracy ia America, Wiliam B Eerdmans Publishers Capa, Charles, 2016, Sager ina Stege Land: icing the Catholic Faith in a Pos-Chrstin World. New York Gity, NV; Hemy Hoke solen, Anthony. 2015, “The Contemporary Denil of Reality” Cis. 15 December O17, Ou ofthe Ade: Rebuilding American Calne. Washington, DC: Regenery Pres. — 2018, Nelgia: Going Home in a Honeless World, Washington, DC: Gateway Pres. Dencen, Patick, 2017. “Moral Minority” Fr Things. Apri chat the lay 13. ‘National Catholic Prayer Breakfast” VI. There and back again 4.29 How do conse: Required n, Patrick, 2016, “Afier Liberalism” in Consrzing America: Essays ow Prscat Discontents. St. Augustine Press aatives move forward?Course Requirements Engaging in class discussion ‘This isa seminar, and class discussion is an important part. But how to participate? Anyone ean spout off opinions whether they've read the material or not. There’s a place for that, anel when done right it can make class fim, but ultimately that’s not what helps everyone learn ‘My plan for class discussion is simple, I will present the material acting as someone who believes itis true (NOTE: I don't believe everything I say, but I'll act like I do). Ifyou sit there like bumps on a log, ‘we're all going to get bored. To prevent that, you'll need to ask questions. Ifyou disagree with my presentation then ask critical questions. For example: “in another class I read author A that disagrees-how would you answer that?” “What about situation B?” “Doesn't the position you're suggesting have bad consequence C2” Ifyou agree with the readings, you can ask questions about where these ideas came from, or follow tangents, or ask how someone with this view would/should respond in a given, situation, Ifyou're confused then you have the easiest job of alljust say “What? Why? Explain that again, Ifyou really have something about the content, pro- or con-, that you need to get off your chest, that’s co0l too. As long as you don’t monopolize our class time, I'm happy to hear it and let your classmates have fun responding Contract Grading “The grading for this course follows a non-standard philosophy called contract grading. Appropriately, it embodies the seeming contradiction in conservative thought between empowering individuals to ‘make their own choices and! imposing consequences for their choices. Listed below is a number of possible ways to engage the course material, You may do as many or as few of them as you like, Each one will earn a s \Cof points, and your final grade will depend on the number of points you accumulate over the course of the semester, In other words, Iwill not decide your gracle—you will earn it asa consequence of your choices! Minimum Requirements to get a C or better. 1. Miss no more than eight classes. Glasses Ihave to cancel or which are weather-cancelled do not ‘count towards that number. Excused and unexcused absences count equally towards that total if you know you're going to miss classes for an interview or a conference or something, don’t skip cass. Ifyou have a serious condition which you think may make this difficult talk to me atthe beginning of the semester about possible alternatives, I will not consider this option retroactively 2. Turn in onetime one writing assignment every other week So you want to do better than a G? Here’s how. ‘You may choose as many or as few of the following activities as you wish, Each activity has a certain point value attacheel. Jou do an activity propery, you will accumulate the fill point value. IF subjectively judge that you did a hall-assed job, Iwill return it co you to redo or abandon for zero credit. This gives ‘you the greatest possible freedom to express yourself with no worries about whether I agree with you. You will cam a percentage of your final course grade by the number of points you accumulate during, the semester si7e0_[ >i600 | si00 | siga0 | siz00 | si000 | 000 A a 8 & c| DorkSome of these activities involve several steps. You must complete the multi-step process to receive credit for the activity. Thinking | Recommended about the | Reading speech | Field | Know reading | Speech | Evaluation _| Work | Thyself 300 100 2 200 | 100 Thope we will not have to have exams, but.. Exams promote accountability, a version of “do the readings or else.” ‘There isa lot of reading listed for this class but I don’t really expect everyone to do all oft. As long as a critical mass of people have done iceach week, that’s fine and we won't have exams. On the other hand, if] ask questions about the reading and am habitually met with the blank stares of people who haven't done the readings, Twill unilaterally impose a midterm and/or final to separate the wheat from the chalf, Ifwe have to have exams I will announce how the grading totals will change at that time: If we do have exams, I will not be interested in reading your opinion or whether you agree with any of the readings. Nor will [be interested in hearing about class discussion. I will give you a question, and, ‘you should answer by explaining what the relevant authors we've read say on the topic. Good answers will discuss how they relate to each other. Excellent answers will put the authors into a larger context and a logical order. Remember, this iin your hands: If each of you ats virtuously and des the readings, the comanon good will benefit. Ifyou slack ff and don’t do your part forthe community, all wil safer Handing in Assignments on Time 1. Responsibility is a wwo-way street, and I can't expect you to be timely if Lam not. Accordingly, if do not post the readings and a “Thinking about the Reading” assignment at least once per week by class time, one week before itis due, all stuclents will receive the 100 points for having done the assignment that week. IFT post it late you may still complete the assignment for an additional 100 points. 2:The “Thinking about the Reading” assignments must be tumed in the day we discuss the topic. Students who have had me before know that I typically accept late work. It seems to me, however, that thinking about conservative ideas on individual responsibility and consequences will be easier if you experience them, Asa result, Lill not accept fate work for this course. 3. Printer Exception. The fairies that inhabit printers are not the cute kind, with sparkly wings and. names like Peasblossom and Ariel, Beholden to the Queen of Air and Darkness, they delight in wickery and trouble. Should you become the butt of their jokes, email your assignment to me before «lass and you can bring a hard copy the following class with no penalty. Ido need that hard copy to give you credit for it, though 4, Based on past experience, students tend co put their writing off until the end. To prevent that, you may only earn 900 points afier the midterm. That means you must complete 600 points before midverm to get an A for the semester: Format Preferences: he first page of anything you turn in (be it paper, peer feedback, or reflection) should include your name, the assignment due date and a statement of what the document is, Otherwise, I don't get compulsive about format, but I prefer 1.5 spacing and 1" margins for your written work, All multi-page documents should number each page. 61, Writing about the Reading 100 points Trl psa ist of questions fora topic in a Word document on ASUIeam, Answer them before you do the reading, Put down what you believe right now, dat esearch the topic. Please type these ino the downloaded file andl print tout. Then do the reading. Go through the questions aguin, using a clean version ofthe Word document, and explsin in detail how the anthor(e) would answer the questions Write a short essay relleeting on how the author challenges your belief. You should do more than list, differences: lay out the author's arguments (and evidence) against your beliefs, and reflect on what changes in be warranted. By the way, i's okay if you want to react negatively. Whatever you say, it probably won't he any worse than what I've read before. © ‘your own beliefs m “This essay should run at least two pages. ‘The simple way todo this would be to break it up by belief; Tying the different beliefs into a single essay with a coherent structure isa good challenge for your writing skills, Logistics: When you're finished, you should lave th the date, ane the author who is challenging your belief. Staple them ancl hane me a copy during the class we discuss that author, files, Puc the final essay on top, and mark it with your 2, Recommended Reading Speech Version 100 points Read one of the recommended readings on the syllabus. Give a 5-10 minute speech in which you do several things: 1) identily the author's thesis and his/her strongest arguments, 2) explain how this connects to the required reading and other texts we've covered, and 3) prepare three discussion« provoking questions for the cass and lead a short discussion, Logistics. Please inform me 3 days in advance so I can try and prepare a video recorder: Afterwards, watch the video and write a 1-2 page essay critiquing your own performanee and anticulating what you can do differently to become a better speaker, 3. Speech Evaluation 25 points Provide public feedback immediately fier the speech, with your first impressions about what the speaker did well, what did the speaker did poorly, ‘The next day, watch the video on ASUleam write a 2 page critique. Upload itto ASUteam, You must have read the day's required assignment to eriique a speech, but you don’t have to read the recommended one. 4. Field Work 200 points “The best place to learn about the world is LN the workd, You may do one of two things: conduct an interview and write a brief esay about what you find, or attend a meeting of a local conservative jon and write a brief essay about what you find organi “The interview should be with individuals who are (or were) politically active conservatives, but not ‘members of your family or other students. Before doing your interview, you should think ofa theme= central topie’s) that you want to learn about, and a provisional list of questions. You should also read the guide (o interviewing I will put onfine, You must senel me your theme and who you are interviewing ahead of time. When you are cone, turn in: 1) an essay deseribing your theme, what you‘wanted to learn, how the interview went, and what you learned, and 2) your interview notes (in their raw form). You may also observe a local conservative organization. ‘The two obvious candidates are the Republican Party and any campaign meetings, though I am open to other suggestions (if your home is nearby, you are welcome to do your home county's organization), but it must be off-campus, and not a student group. You must get the group's permission. You should also read the guide to ethnography 1 will put online. Before starting, you should develop a set of topics you would like to pursue as you observe. This set may evolve as you watch and learn new things. You must send me your proposed group and topies ahead of time. When you are done, turn in: I) an essay describing what you wanted to lear, what you observed about those topics, and what topics you might like to pursue in further research, and 2) your observation notes (in their raw form) 5. Know Thyself 100 points By 17 January, upload your personal answers o the following questions at the appropriate link on ASUleara, 1. What does it mean to be human? 2. How should we relate to ourselves and to others? 3. What is Justice? 44, What does it mean to be Male and Female? 5. What does it mean to ive in a community? 6. What is our relationship to the Transcendent? “Then on the final exam date, revisit those questions for yoursel and as you would now imagine a conservative answver them. Write a brief essay on what, if any differences you see between the wo and how you feel about those differences. 6"The Educational Process is often an uncomfortable one." my alma mater's Student Handbook, 1987. Ifyou follow the news from Higher Education you know that “safe spaces” are a big thing now. Many of your age-peers claim to feel threatened! or scared if they hear ideas different than their own. As we'll talk about in class, this is natural, and if i’s a bad thing, i isn’t really their fault. Afterall, you've been taught that your beliefs really are wholly Right and Good and Jus, then why should you be forced to listen to anything else? Dissing safe spaces is like insisting that Satanists and pomographers should be siven equal time Sunday morning in a Baptist church. But if you believe that your views are wholly Right and Good and Just, then why are you here? Ifyou believe that words are violence then why the heck are you in a place that pledges to allow a variety of perspectives? Staying in college makes as much sense as a Satanist pornographer taking holy vows asa ‘monk. Seriously, i this describes you (the discomfort with other people’s words part, not the Satanist pomographer part) then you should drop out of college, find the cheapest website will sell you a piece ofpaper with a B.A. stamped on it and get on with your life! Go now, run and don't look back! ‘On the other hand, if'you think that education is about more than just confirming your own views, and you think you're psychologically resilient enough to hear views that challenge your sense of yourself and your world, then I think you'll enjoy this course and learn from it. This class will be a “safe space,” in the sense that every member should feel sale to speak and to ask questions without censoring themselves for fear of how others might take it. This means that all students should prepare to hear things that may make them uncomfortable, may offend them, and may even scare them, Remember, though: you don’t have to be here! Ifyou are not willing to accept these conditions for being in class, [will help you find a seat in an alternative course and wish you the best for your time in college. Just so we're clear, IF MY PACE POLICY MAKES YOU UNCOMFORTABL WILL WILLINGLY AND NON-JUDGEMENTALLY HELP YOU FIND A MORE SUITABLE, ALTERNATIVE CLASS. Ok? “The current enthusiasm for burning heretics in academia would make a Dominican friar proud, though, and that forces me to require anyone wanting to stay in this class to read ane! sign the following: 1 (printed name) 4) understand that in this section of PS 3543 J will read and hear class material that will offend me. It may be unpleasant, it may make me angry, it may just plain make me feel bad, and ) understand that I will be expected to participate in the elass during that material and will not receive exemptions from the class work and attendance requirements because I find material objectionable, and ©) understand that if, for whatever reason, I do not want to or cannot remain in class under these conditions, the instructor will do his best to help me find a place in another suitable class up until the last day the schoo! will allow class transfers (in Spring 2020, Jan 17% isthe last day to add a new clas. (ignature) ____ (date) 9