Lecture 1: Introduction to Power and Politics in Today’s World

The lectures will focus on power and politics in the world since 1989, a period of significant change compared to the previous decades. The speaker aims to bridge the generational gap by reminding those who lived through it and informing those who didn't about what that time was like.

The Berlin Wall, once a symbol of division between East and West Germany, was being torn down in 1989. The joyous hordes of Berliners were streaming through the wall as East German border guards tore down portions to make it easier for people to come into West Berlin. This marked the end of an artificial division and signaled democratization across Eastern Europe.

Bundestag session with foreign language speech and audience cheering.

The far-right, anti-immigrant party celebrated crossing the 5% threshold in Germany's parliament. This marked their entry into German electoral politics and came after dissatisfaction with the grand coalition led by Angela Merkel.

Chancellor Angela Merkel, after 13 years of leading Germany, has offered to step down as her party's leader and will not seek re-election in 2021. This decision follows a disappointing performance by her party in the state of Hesse and the far-right Alternative for Germany party gaining seats.

Rise of Extremist Parties in Europe Establishment parties like the Christian Democratic Union and the SPD are losing support to fringe parties, leading to a weakening of traditional political powers. This trend is reminiscent of the 1920s and 30s when extremist parties gained strength, as seen in Germany's elections. Similar patterns have emerged across European countries with far-right and populist movements gaining ground.

Challenges and Prospects for Change The rise of anti-establishment parties has dramatically altered global politics since 2016, challenging civil social democratic stability even in traditionally stable countries like Sweden. Despite this dramatic shift, there is hope for change as we explore how these challenges can be addressed going forward.

Approach to Studying History The approach involves studying history with the tools of political science and theory, using the events of 1989 as a natural experiment. This provides new data for testing long-established theories in social science and challenges conventional wisdom about democracy, economy, citizen beliefs, electoral systems, and power relations.

Impact on Political Science Theories The dramatic break of 1989 has supplied new data that challenges existing theories in political science. It restructures relationships between business government and labor due to communism being taken off the table as an economic system. Additionally, it prompts a reassessment of how electoral systems affect inequality provision environmental legislation and public goods.

Political Theory and Normative Questions The speaker, a political theorist, emphasizes the focus on normative questions about how the world should be organized rather than empirical work. He critiques theories that do not consider real-world implementation and discusses examples like Thomas Piketty's 4% global wealth tax proposal. The approach will explore paths not taken in history such as NATO expansion after the collapse of the Soviet Union and alternative responses to events like 9/11 and the financial crisis of 2008.

Effective Political Way for Good Public Policy The course aims to marry politics with considerations of good public policy by discussing effective ways to achieve or block policies. It highlights a lack of discussion on effective political strategies in existing public policy discourse and promises innovations focused on this aspect in later parts of the course.

The course will focus on the collapse of communism and the rise of a unipolar world after 1989. It will also explore the politics of economics, including neoliberalism at home and the Washington Consensus abroad.

Examining the impact of unregulated capitalism and the potential for democratization in different waves. The emergence of international institutions like the International Criminal Court and the doctrine of responsibility to protect, challenging traditional notions of national sovereignty.

The new international order is impacting relations among countries and within them. The end of history concept was challenged by the emergence of the global war on terror, leading to invasions and conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, and Syria. State capitalism's resurgence will be explored along with China's activities in Africa and Russia's return as a global power.

The new role of business in political conflicts is explored, revealing both benign and harmful intentions. The aftermath of the financial crisis led to growing insecurity in advanced democracies' workforces, as governments failed to address the issue effectively.

Examining the response to the financial crisis in various countries, particularly in the US. Discussing how voter sentiment was misdiagnosed by political elites and parties, leading to a failure to address growing economic insecurity for millions of workers.

The video discusses the logistical aspects, including recording for evidence. It introduces Christina Seyfreid as the head teaching fellow who will oversee student grading and run office hours with the speaker. The schedule for office hours is outlined, prioritizing Yale students on Wednesdays and Fridays from 10:00 to 12:00 in Rosenkranz room 201.

Students can access videos of office hours on the course website. Yale ID holders have access to most readings on Canvas, with a few exceptions available in the library. Community members can find books at New Haven Public Library or use sets provided by the course. The official exam will be held on two alternate dates to accommodate different schedules.

Exam Policy The policy prohibits the use of laptops, screens, and phones during lectures. Slides will be available on Canvas and the course web page for reference. The reason behind not allowing video playback directly from slides is due to copyright rules.

Course Structure The course does not have sections; it consists of an hour and a quarter lecture with interactive sessions. Graduate students have the same requirements as undergraduates: two papers and a final exam. There are no limits on student enrollment in this uncapped course.