This course examines what some scholars now call the community organizing tradition and its importance in U.S. political culture. Focusing on the last two decades, it looks at programs, strategies, and visions for social justice, asking the question: does this work nurture a certain critical orientation toward political, economic, and social institutions? The course familiarizes students with the main concepts and principles emerging from the community organizing tradition: relational model, women's centered-approach, faith-based organizing, consensus approach, civic organizing, single-issue organizing, group-centered leadership, confrontation, and service-advocacy. Texts for the course will consist of works by key personalities, such as Alinsky, Boyte, Baker, Kahn, Trap, Mortimer, Ganz, Horton, and primary documents from such organizations as Algebra Project, National Welfare Rights Union/Kensington Welfare Rights Union, ACORN, Midwest Academy, Citizen Action, Industrial Areas Foundation, Community Organizing and Family Issues, Center for Third World Organizing, and Gamaliel Foundation. Format: discussion/lecture. Requirements: several short critical response papers, and one 12-15 page final paper. No prerequisites. Open to first-year students with Advanced Placement credit in American politics. Enrollment limit: 25 (expected: 15). American Politics and Political Theory Subfields

Hour: FRANKLIN