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Revolutionary Ideas: Borders, Elections, Constitutions, Prisons

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Course Summary

This course explores revolutionary ideas around borders, elections, constitutions, and prisons. Students will learn about the historical and philosophical foundations of these institutions and how they shape our world today.

Key Learning Points

Gain a deeper understanding of the historical and philosophical foundations of institutions such as borders, elections, constitutions, and prisons.
Explore the ways in which these institutions shape our world today and the potential for reform or revolution.
Learn from expert instructors and engage in thought-provoking discussions with fellow students.

Learning Outcomes

Understand the historical and philosophical foundations of key institutions such as borders, elections, constitutions, and prisons.
Critically analyze the ways in which these institutions shape our world today and the potential for reform or revolution.
Engage in thought-provoking discussions with fellow students and experts in the field.

Prerequisites or good to have knowledge before taking this course

Interest in political philosophy and social justice issues.
Ability to engage in thoughtful discussion with fellow students.

Course Difficulty Level

Intermediate

Course Format

Online
Self-paced
Interactive

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Social Justice and Human Rights
Globalization and International Law
Political Philosophy: An Introduction

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Description

What is the purpose of government? Why should we have a State? What kind of State should we have?

Even within a political community, there may be sharp disagreements about the role and purpose of government. Some want an active, involved government, seeing legal and political institutions as the means to solve our most pressing problems, and to help bring about peace, equality, justice, happiness, and to protect individual liberty. Others want a more minimal government, motivated, perhaps, by some of the disastrous political experiments of the 20th Century, and the thought that political power is often just a step away from tyranny. In many cases, these disagreements arise out of deep philosophical disagreements. All political and legal institutions are built on foundational ideas. In this course, we will explore those ideas, taking the political institutions and political systems around us not as fixed and unquestionable, but as things to evaluate and, if necessary, to change. We will consider the ideas and arguments of some of the world’s most celebrated philosophers, including historical thinkers such as Plato, Hugo Grotius, David Hume, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison, and more contemporary theorists such as Michelle Alexander, Kwame Anthony Appiah, Bryan Caplan, Angela Davis, Ronald Dworkin, Jon Elster, John Hart Ely, H.L.A. Hart, Michael Huemer, Andrew Rehfeld, and Jeremy Waldron. The aim of the course is not to convince you of the correctness of any particular view or political position, but to provide you with a deeper and more philosophically-informed basis for your own views, and, perhaps, to help you better understand the views of those with whom you disagree.

Outline

Introduction to Part II of the Course
Introduction to Part II
Syllabus
Networks
Grading
Argumentative Reflections

Political Community and Borders
Lecture 6.0: Political Community: An Introduction
Lecture 6.1: Voluntarism & Political Community
Lecture 6.2: Alternatives to Voluntarism: Rehfeld's Random Constituencies
Lecture 6.3: Political Community, Cosmopolitanism & World Government
Lecture 6.4.0: Immigration & Exclusion
Lecture 6.4.1: Immigration, Exclusion & Open Borders
Relevant Readings
Relevant Readings
Relevant Readings
Relevant Readings
Relevant Readings
Political Community and Borders

Representatives, Elections, and Lotteries
Lecture 7.0: Representatives, Elections & Lotteries: An Introduction
Lecture 7.1: The Case for Representatives
Lecture 7.2: The Case for Elected Representatives
Lecture 7.3.0: The Perils of Elected Representation: Part I
Lecture 7.3.1: The Perils of Elected Representation: Part II
Lecture 7.4.0: The Lottocracy
Lecture 7.4.1: The Promise of Lottocracy
Lecture 7.4.2: Concerns About Lottocracy
Relevant Readings
Relevant Readings
Relevant Readings
Relevant Readings
Relevant Readings
Representatives, Elections, and Lotteries

Constitutions
Lecture 8.0: Constitutions: An Introduction
Lecture 8.1: Constitutions as Limits
Lecture 8.2: The Mechanisms of Constitutional Limitations
Lecture 8.3.0: Pre-Commitment & Constitutional Authority
Lecture 8.3.1: Pre-Commitment Revisited
Lecture 8.4: Constitutions & Process Theory
Lecture 8.5.0: Constitutions, Judicial Review, & Constitutional Interpretation
Lecture 8.5.1: Constitutional Interpretation
Relevant Readings
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Constitutions

Prisons and Punishment & Conclusions
Lecture 9.0: Crime & Punishment: An Introduction
Lecture 9.1.0: What is Crime? What Should be Criminalized?
Lecture 9.1.1: What Can be Criminalized? The Hart-Devlin Debate
Lecture 9.2: Theories of Punishment
Lecture 9.3.0: Theories of Punishment: Retributivism
Lecture 9.3.1: Retributivism Reconsidered
Lecture 9.4: Alternatives to Incarcerations: Restorative Justice
Reflections on Revolutionary Ideas: A Question & Answer Session with Prof. Guerrero
Relevant Readings
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Relevant Readings
Prisons and Punishment & Conclusions

Summary of User Reviews

Revolutionary Ideas: Borders, Elections, Constitutions, Prisons is a highly rated course on Coursera that explores key concepts in political science. Users praise the engaging lectures and thought-provoking discussions in this course.

Key Aspect Users Liked About This Course

engaging lectures

Pros from User Reviews

Thought-provoking discussions
Engaging lectures
Excellent course material
Highly informative content

Cons from User Reviews

Not enough practical exercises
Limited opportunities for interaction with other learners
Some lectures can be too long and dense

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Revolutionary Ideas: Borders, Elections, Constitutions, Prisons

What is the purpose of government? Why should we have a State? What kind of State should we have? In many cases, these disagreements arise out of deep philosophical disagreements....

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