Politics, Leadership, and the Policies they Create

Summer 2012 quarter

Faculty

Amy Gould political science, public policy

Description

Harold Lasswell stated, "politics is about who gets what, when, where, and how." Therefore, we need leaders who can access the underpinnings of politics and the consequences of political ideologies. Students will be actively engaged in politics by first understanding where politics come from and the myriad of ideologies in practice. Further, students will focus on how they can hone their own leadership style. We will explore how engagement in politics can test our character regularly. To this end, Bill George stated, "successful leadership takes conscious development and requires being true to your life story." As members of a learning community and society, we will endeavor to excavate the nature of leadership and the relational space of politics via classic and contemporary readings, guest speakers, seminar, debate, lecture, and workshops. We will seek to understand the dynamics of politics by applying leadership techniques for decision-making through field journals, policy analysis, and legislative testimony. We will also pursue an understanding of philosophical foundations of Western political thought, the history of the U.S. Constitution and constitutions of regional Tribal Nations, and concepts of political "otherness" that come about in designing public policies. In this pursuit we will define multiple political ideologies and assess the nexus of leadership and politics. In sum, we will dig in to what many talk about but few really understand: politics, leadership, and the policies they create. Students will have the opportunity to develop leadership skills of active listening, analytical thinking, scholarly dialog, effective communication, and writing for public administrators.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the philosophical foundations of Western political thought, the history of the U.S. Constitution and Tribal Nations, and "otherness" in policy design.
• Define multiple political ideologies, assess the nexus of leadership and politics, and recognize political power dynamics.
• Develop the skills of active listening, analytical thinking, scholarly dialog, effective communication, and professional writing.

Required Texts:

• Ball, T. & Dagger, R. (2010). Political Ideologies and the Democratic Ideal. 8th Edition. Longman Publishing. ISBN: 978-0205779963.
• Tannenbaum, D. & Schultz, D. (2003). Inventors of Ideas: An Introduction to Western Political Philosophy. 2nd Edition. Wadsworth Publishing. ISBN: 978-0534612634.
• Vile, J. (2010). A Companion to the United States Constitution and Its Amendments. 5th Edition. Praeger Publishing. ISBN: 978-0-313-38008-2.
• Lyons, O. et al. (1998). Exiled In The Land of The Free: Democracy, Indian Nations, and the U.S. Constitution. Clear Light Publishers. ISBN: 978-0940666504.

Advertised Schedule

6-10p Wed. (Aug 1 & 15), 9a-5p Sat/Sun (Aug 4-5 & 18-19)

Location

Olympia

Online Learning

Hybrid Online Learning < 25% Delivered Online

Books

Greener Store

Offered During

Evening and Weekend