POLS Y401 -Promise and Problems of Democracy

Spring 2010: Paper Topic

Due Date April 22: 7-9 pages

There are many contemporary political issues which raise important questions about the promise and problems of democracy in America. In this paper you will choose one such issue as a research topic.  

Paper title: ____________ and the promise and problems of democracy in contemporary America.

Possible topics may include, but are not limited, to civil rights, civil liberties, citizenship, political parties, political power, political culture, economic class, labor unions, corporations, race, religion, family, sexuality, etc.

The paper provides an opportunity for you to engage in a critical analysis of an important contemporary political issue based on the knowledge you have gained from the course readings and lectures. The guidelines below provide an outline for the paper. You may choose to follow this outline or develop your own. Regardless of the method you choose, you must address all the parts in the guideline. The guidelines require that you engage in a thoughtful analysis of each of the four parts of the course. By addressing each of these parts your paper should demonstrate your ability to integrate the course materials as you address a contemporary political problem. The paper is an important component for the completion of the General Education Area VI research requirement. Your paper must follow a research style of your choosing and include footnotes and a bibliography.

Due dates:

Email paper topic to Professor Bartky by February 16

Final Paper due April 22

Suggested Paper Outline

A. Paper Introduction:

B. Discussion of Course Texts and Issues

C. Analysis of Contemporary Political Issue

A.  Paper Introduction:

The introduction to your paper should include the following:

1. Identify the political issue

2. Discuss the position of at least three different contributors to contemporary discourse about the issue. The contributors may be politicians, journalists, or academicians.

3. Explain how your analysis of the issue is informed by what you have learned in this course.

B. Discussion of Course Texts and Issues

Part 1: Historical Lessons

Your analysis of the issue must include a thoughtful account of the ideas of two writers on the promise and problems of democracy. In addressing the thought of these two writers it will likely be necessary that you read more of the theorist’s work than was assigned in the course reading schedule. The two writers should be taken from among those we have studied: Plato, Aristotle, Cicero, Machiavelli, Locke and Rousseau. Be certain that your account of these authors includes appropriate textual citations.

Part 2: Founding the Republic

Your analysis of the issue must include a thoughtful account of how the argument of The Federalist might discuss the issue. Be certain that your account of The Federalist includes appropriate textual citations.

Part 3: Democracy and the Maintenance of the Republic

Your analysis of the issue must discuss how the issue is related to the historical problem of the maintenance of the democratic tradition.

C. Analysis of Contemporary Political Issue

Your analysis of the contemporary issue you have chosen should include the following:

A consideration of how the issue relates to the promise and problems of democracy discussed in Part 4 of the course reading schedule.

Provide a critical account and analysis of the issue for contemporary politics.

Provide policy recommendations based on your inquiry and analysis of the topic.

Your analysis in this section of the paper must include at least four secondary sources/references.