PSCI 337 The Politics of Contemporary Theory: Power and Political Imagination (Not offered 1998-99; to be offered 1999-2000)

This course is an examination of some current controversies over the "nature" of political thinking. Traditional forms of political theory have come under fierce attack from contemporary feminists, post-modernists, and critics of colonialism. We will explore these challenges and a variety of traditional responses, paying particular attention to the following themes: the relationship between knowledge and power; the connection between personal identity and ways of perceiving the world; the kinds of imagination that enable people to respond to the needs and experiences of others. Throughout the course, we will concentrate on the "politics of theory," on the interests, institutions, and forms of political life that have shaped the current debates. Examples are drawn from the Holocaust, nationalist struggles, imperial conquest, and contemporary feminism, as well as more conventional philosophical texts. Readings include works by Anderson, Arendt, Bloom, Foucault, Gilligan, Haraway, Kristeva, MacKinnon, Rawls, Rorty, Said, Zizek, and others. Requirements: weekly 1 1/2-page papers, regular class participation, and an 8- to 10-page final essay. Prerequisite: a course in theory or philosophy, or Women's and Gender Studies 101, or permission of instructor. Political Theory Subfield

REINHARDT