Overview:<\/strong> \u201cCivic studies\u201d is a nascent discipline that looks at social problems from the perspective of a citizen and asks tough questions about what we should do, taking into account values (ethics), facts (empirical evidence), and strategies. It originated with a joint statement<\/a> written by a distinguished group of scholars in 2008. Since then, it has produced a special issue of a journal, an annual conference, a book, and–most importantly–the annual Summer Institute of Civic Studies at Tufts. The Summer Institute has drawn about 100 graduate students, leaders, and professors from Bhutan, Singapore, China, Mexico, South Africa, and numerous other countries and backgrounds. This course will be the first-ever undergraduate version of the Summer Institute. We will contribute to building \u201ccivic studies.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Thursday, 1\/16 Oriqentation and Inspirations<\/p>\n Introductions, overview of the syllabus and purpose of the course.<\/p>\n Read aloud and discuss Seamus Heaney\u2019s \u201cIn the Republic of Conscience<\/a>\u201d<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Special homework: do an initial \u201cmap\u201d of your own moral worldview (See “assignments” for instructions). Results due via email before class on 1\/21.<\/p>\n Tuesday 1\/21 Theorist #1: J\u00fcrgen Habermas (citizen as deliberator)<\/p>\n Readings<\/p>\n Thursday 1\/23 application: experiencing a practical deliberation<\/p>\n Special homework: In addition to the reading, watch the very short video<\/a> from the National Issues Forums.<\/p>\n Reading:<\/p>\n The National Issues Forum issue book, \u201cShaping Our Future: How Should Higher Education Help Us Create the Society We Want<\/a>?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n In-class deliberation using this issue guide<\/p>\n Tuesday, 1\/28 application: do Americans deliberate?<\/p>\n Reading:<\/p>\n Nina Eliasoph, Avoiding Politics<\/a>, pp. 1-22<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Discussion of the students\u2019 moral maps.<\/p>\n Thursday, 1\/30 Application: designing practical deliberations<\/p>\n Reading:<\/p>\n Archon Fung, “Recipes for Public Spheres: Eight Institutional Design Choices and Their Consequences<\/a>” in Journal of Political Philosophy, vol. 11, No. 3. (September 2003), pp. 338-67.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Tuesday, 2\/4 Theorist #2: Elinor Ostrom (the citizen as a manager of public goods)<\/p>\n Readings: Elinor Ostrom, Governing the Commons<\/a>, pp. 1-102<\/p>\n Play a \u201cTragedy of the Commons\u201d game in class. Discuss it.<\/p>\n Thursday, 2\/6 Theorist #2: Elinor Ostrom (continued)<\/p>\n Reading:<\/p>\n Elinor Ostrom\u2019s Nobel Prize Lecture (text<\/a> or video<\/a>–your choice).<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Tuesday, 2\/11 application: designing and managing large-scale commons<\/p>\n Readings:<\/p>\n Thursday, 2\/13 Theorist #3: Robert Putnam (the citizen as a group member)<\/p>\n Reading:<\/p>\n Robert D. Putnam, “Community-Based Social Capital and Educational Performance<\/a>,” in Ravitch and Viteritti, eds., Making Good Citizens, pp. 58-95;<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n (In class, also discuss Sean Safford\u2019s argument, not assigned.)<\/p>\n Tuesday, 2\/18 Theorist #3: Robert Putnam (continued)<\/p>\n Reading:<\/p>\n Jean L. Cohen, “American Civil Society Talk<\/a>,” in Robert K. Fullinwider, ed., Civil Society, Democracy, and Civic Renewal, pp. 55-85<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Special homework: do a revised \u201cmap\u201d of your own moral worldview. Results due by 2\/25<\/p>\n Thursday, 2\/20 – No class, Monday schedule<\/p>\n Tuesday, 2\/25 Theorist # 4: Saul Alinksy (the citizen as an organizer)<\/p>\n Reading:<\/p>\n Saul Alinsky, Reveille for Radicals<\/a>, 1946 (1969 edition), pp. 76-81; 85-88; 92-100, 132-5, 155-158.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n In class: do one-on-ones<\/p>\n Second mapping exercise is due.<\/p>\n Thursday, 2\/27 Application: modern community organizing<\/p>\n Reading:<\/p>\n Mark Warren, Dry Bones Rattling<\/a> (pp. 1-70)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Tuesday, 3\/4 Theorist #5: Harry Boyte (the citizen as a public worker)<\/p>\n Reading:<\/p>\n Harry C. Boyte, “Constructive Politics as Public Work: Organizing the Literature<\/a>,” Political Theory, 2011<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Thursday, 3\/6 application: democratic professionalism<\/p>\n Reading:<\/p>\n Albert Dzur, Democratic Professionalism<\/a>, pp. 35-51, 105-134, 173-206<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Tuesday, 3\/11 Theorist #6: John Dewey (the citizen as co-learner?)<\/p>\n Reading:<\/p>\n Thursday, 3\/13: midterm in class<\/p>\n Tuesday, 3\/18 and Thursday, 3\/20 – No class, spring break<\/p>\n Tuesday, 3\/25 application: civic education<\/p>\n Readings:<\/p>\n Thursday, 3\/27 application: civic media<\/p>\n Reading:<\/p>\n Knight Foundation, \u201cInforming Communities: Sustaining Democracy in the Digital Age\u201d<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Tuesday, 4\/1,Theorist #6: Mohandas K. Gandhi (the citizen as a bearer of soul-force)<\/p>\n Readings:<\/p>\n Thursday, 4\/3 – application: nonviolent social movements<\/p>\n Readings:<\/p>\n Tuesday, 4\/8 – Session on Power<\/p>\n Readings:<\/p>\n In class, look at the Power Cube<\/a><\/p>\n Thursday, 4\/10 Theorist #7: James Madison (the citizen as designer or preserver of a republic)<\/p>\n Readings:<\/p>\n Tuesday, 4\/15 application: revising the American republic<\/p>\n Reading:<\/p>\n Stephen Elkin, Reconstructing the Commercial Republic<\/a>, pp. 51-72<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n During class, in small groups, design constitutional reforms that would serve Madison\u2019s purposes in the modern republic<\/p>\n Homework: paper due<\/p>\n Thursday, 4\/17 Theorist #8: Roberto Mangabeira Unger (the citizen as radical experimentalist)<\/p>\n Reading:<\/p>\n Roberto Unger, False Necessity<\/a>, Chapter 1 (pp. 1-40)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Special homework: revise the moral network map again. Results due by 4\/22.<\/p>\n Tuesday, 4\/22 application: radical democratic experiments (and some cautionary notes)<\/p>\n Readings:<\/p>\n Final mapping exercise is due.<\/p>\n Thursday, 4\/24 summing up and thinking ahead<\/p>\n Reading:<\/p>\n\n
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