POL 297 - Special Topics in Political Philosophy

FDR: SS2
Credits: 3 in fall and winter, 4 in spring

Prerequisites: First-year or sophomore standing or instructor consent. A seminar in political science for students at the introductory or intermediate level. Topic, hour, and instructor are announced prior to registration. May be repeated for degree credit if the topics are different.

Winter 2022, POL 297A-01: Special Topics in Political Philosophy: Populism and Fascism (3). At a time when many are worried about the rise of “illiberal” or “authoritarian” democracy, how should we think about both the increasing popularity of populist leaders and positions and growing fears around emerging forms of fascism? Are the two related? If so, in what ways? How should we define “populism” and “fascism”? In this course, we will survey recent debates surrounding the return of both populism and fascism within contemporary political discourse. In doing so, we will pay special attention to the respective intellectual traditions from which they hail, as well as the connections—conceptual, historical, and political—often drawn between them in an effort to both broaden and complicate our understandings of each. (SS2) Miller.