Instructor:
This course considers the ethical implications of five significant problems in the implementation of democracy in the United States. As a class, we will consider what the ethical problems the practice of democracy has engendered in the U.S. says about our democracy and democracy more broadly. In each unit, we will examine these problems historically and contemporarily. The problems we will examine in the class are: voting; representation; money in politics; federalism and state preemption; and the delivery of citizenship rights and privileges.
Each student will pick a case study that explores how an organization or community has attempted to solve one of the problems that we discuss. In the week we discuss their problem, they will help lead the conversation at their table and share what they’ve learned so far with their classmates. Each student studying the same larger problem will form a small group to compare and contrast the successes and shortcomings of their case studies. Each group will do a final presentation summarizing their work and providing thoughts on what people or organizations interested in solving these problems should consider if they want to be effective, and what ethical ramifications these options might entail.