Brooklyn College: Core 3: People, Power & Politics

Professor Shortell
Department of Sociology

3501 James Hall
professor AT shortell.org

In this section of Core 3, we will learn about how social scientists investigate and interpret the social world. Our focus will be on the concept of power and how it affects the processes and institutions in contemporary American society. To this end, we will look at the major social dimensions that give structure to our thoughts, experiences and actions as a result of our participation in society, including class, race, and gender.

Schedule of Topics

Class meeting numbers are indicated in bold. Announcements on the home page will indicate the topic of the day. Page numbers refer to the textbook. Students are responsible for the material linked on the schedule page.

Section I. Introduction to Social Science

1. About This Course.
2. The Logic of Hypothesis Testing. • • • Quiz 1.

Section II. Power and Politics

3. What Is Power? Read: Introduction, pp 1-16. • • • Quiz 2.
4. Where Is Power? Read: pp 17-26. • • • Quiz 3.
5. & 6. Theories of the State. Read: pp 27-64, Tocqueville, Democracy in America ("Political Associations in The United States," "Of the Uses which the Americans Make of Public Associations," and "Of the Relation of Public Associations and the Newspapers."), Madison, The Federalist (Numbers 10 and 51)• • • Quiz 4, • • • Quiz 5, • • • Quiz 6.
7. Electoral Politics. Read: pp 65-92, 104-114, • • • Quiz 7.
8. Money in Politics. Read: pp 93-103, Campaign Finance Reform Issues, • • • Quiz 8.

9. Community Profile. Draft due Monday, April 4.

Section IV. The Contemporary World

16. Mass Media and Ideology. Read: pp 151-180. • • • Quiz 15 • • • Quiz 16
17. & 18. Globalization. Read: pp 181-221. Group discussion • • • Quiz 17 • • • Quiz 18
19. Nationalism. Read: pp 222-238. • • • Quiz 19
20 & 21. Politics and Violence. Read: pp 239-272. Second Group Project: The first essay is due by the beginning of class on Monday, May 9. The response essay is due by the beginning of class on Monday, May 16. • • • Quiz 20 • • • Quiz 21
22. Fear and Terror. Read: pp 273-287. • • • Quiz 22
23. Labor. Read: pp 381-400. • • • Quiz 23
Special Topic. Class in America: NY Times Coverage • • • Quiz 24
* * * End of Semester * * *

24. Feminism and Environmentalism. Read: pp 347-357, 372-380.
25. Social Movements. Read: pp 333-347.
26. Revolution. Read: pp 287-332.
27. Right-wing Populism. Read: pp 358-371.

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