FS 004 PZ -Conspiracy Theories & Populism

Institution: Pitzer

Description: Why are conspiracy theories in which elites are working together, in secret, to thwart the will of the people so popular today? What can we learn about contemporary politics by exploring the nature of such theories? What do philosophy and comparative politics have to say about such theories and their current popularity? Populism is a political view according to which the common people are exploited by a privileged elite and holds that this is a situation that requires correction. Further, American political history often revolves around a notion of the country’s uniqueness, sometimes called “American exceptionalism.” Several purportedly unique features of American life and politics-America’s religiosity, U.S. incarceration rates, attitudes towards race & gender-have been related to American populist thought. In this seminar, we will explore the phenomena of conspiracy theories and populist politics through the lenses of comparative politics and philosophy.

Prerequisite(s): First-Year Seminars are required for all incoming freshman and do not have prerequisites.

Note(s): * This course includes an additional required hour of “global-local” programming each week.

First-Year seminars are not listed on the course schedule. Incoming students will be assigned to a first-year seminar and registered automatically.