Lecture 27Lecture 27

Alternative Futures & Alternative Futures & Big Lessons of the CourseBig Lessons of the Course

December 13, 2012December 13, 2012

Final ExamWednesday, December 19, 5:05 PM – 7:05PM

SOC SCI 6210

The Chess Game

I. History is Filled with Surprises!I. History is Filled with Surprises!1905-1920: World War I and the Russian Revolution1905-1920: World War I and the Russian Revolution

1920-1935: From the roaring 20s economic boom with an unshakable large 1920-1935: From the roaring 20s economic boom with an unshakable large Republican majority to the Stock Market crash, the Great Depression, Republican majority to the Stock Market crash, the Great Depression, the New Deal the New Deal

1935-1950: World War II and the atomic bomb to the cold war.1935-1950: World War II and the atomic bomb to the cold war.

1950-1965: the civil rights movement, the end of segregation in the South, the 1950-1965: the civil rights movement, the end of segregation in the South, the beginnings of the student movement and hippies of the 1960s, the beginnings of the student movement and hippies of the 1960s, the

assassination of Kennedy assassination of Kennedy

1965-1980: The first defeat of the US in a war, the mass anti-War movement, the 1965-1980: The first defeat of the US in a war, the mass anti-War movement, the impeachment of Nixon, the sharp move of National politics to the Right impeachment of Nixon, the sharp move of National politics to the Right

in the US and UKin the US and UK

1980-1995: the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of communism and the 1980-1995: the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of communism and the cold war cold war

1995-2010: 9/11; the triumph of the most extreme ideologically right-wing political 1995-2010: 9/11; the triumph of the most extreme ideologically right-wing political coalition in modern US history controlling both the congress and the coalition in modern US history controlling both the congress and the executive branch; the election of Obama; the longest war in US history executive branch; the election of Obama; the longest war in US history

2010-2025: ??????2010-2025: ??????

II. Possible Futures: II. Possible Futures: 1. 1. ExtendingExtending Democracy Democracy

•Redrawing the public/private boundary between democratic regulation Redrawing the public/private boundary between democratic regulation and private rights in the marketand private rights in the market

•Massive public investment in transportation infrastructureMassive public investment in transportation infrastructure

•Public control over energy developmentPublic control over energy development

•Creating a genuine, universal public health-care systemCreating a genuine, universal public health-care system

•Extending labor market and workplace regulationExtending labor market and workplace regulation

•Expanding public sector employmentExpanding public sector employment

•Taxation & redistribution to counter inegalitarian effects of marketsTaxation & redistribution to counter inegalitarian effects of markets

II. Possible Futures: II. Possible Futures: 2. 2. DeepeningDeepening Democracy Democracy

•Striving for true political equality of citizens: this requires reducing Striving for true political equality of citizens: this requires reducing economic inequality economic inequality

•Reducing the role of private money in politics: necessity for serious Reducing the role of private money in politics: necessity for serious public financing of democratic processes, especially elections, but also public financing of democratic processes, especially elections, but also public subsidies to support a democratic media system.public subsidies to support a democratic media system.

•Institutional reforms of the rules of the electoral game (for example Institutional reforms of the rules of the electoral game (for example proportional representation, instant runoffs, etc.)proportional representation, instant runoffs, etc.)

•Democratic innovation to create meaningful political participation: Democratic innovation to create meaningful political participation: innovative forms of empowered participatory governanceinnovative forms of empowered participatory governance

III. TWELVE BIG IDEAS TO REMEMBERIII. TWELVE BIG IDEAS TO REMEMBER

1.1. The US is a Hyper-capitalist SocietyThe US is a Hyper-capitalist Society: : The U.S. is extreme on most The U.S. is extreme on most dimensions of capitalismdimensions of capitalism

2. 2. The marketThe market:: Markets are not automatically efficient; they have Markets are not automatically efficient; they have inherent irrationalitiesinherent irrationalities

3. 3. The Market and FreedomThe Market and Freedom:: markets both enhance and restrict freedom markets both enhance and restrict freedom

4. 4. The Prisoners Dilemma and free ridersThe Prisoners Dilemma and free riders: : these are pervasive issuesthese are pervasive issues in in contemporary societycontemporary society

5. 5. The Market & Prisoner's dilemmasThe Market & Prisoner's dilemmas: : unregulated markets intensify unregulated markets intensify prisoners dilemmasprisoners dilemmas

6. 6. Inequality, oppression, povertyInequality, oppression, poverty: : poverty in the midst of plenty is a poverty in the midst of plenty is a modern tragedy because it constitutes avoidable suffering and modern tragedy because it constitutes avoidable suffering and perpetuate social cleavages and conflictperpetuate social cleavages and conflict

III. TWELVE BIG IDEAS TO REMEMBERIII. TWELVE BIG IDEAS TO REMEMBER

7. 7. The incomplete revolutions of Race and GenderThe incomplete revolutions of Race and Gender: Massive transformations : Massive transformations towards equality are combined with continuing forms of discriminationtowards equality are combined with continuing forms of discrimination

8.8. DemocracyDemocracy: American Democracy is real, but crippled by demand and : American Democracy is real, but crippled by demand and resource constraints and rules-of-the-game which erode “rule by the people.” resource constraints and rules-of-the-game which erode “rule by the people.” The attack on the affirmative state has further eroded American democracy.The attack on the affirmative state has further eroded American democracy.

9.9. MilitarismMilitarism: Militarism is an institution not just a “policy”. The United States : Militarism is an institution not just a “policy”. The United States systematically uses military force to pursue its foreign policy objectives and systematically uses military force to pursue its foreign policy objectives and does so more frequently than any other country in the world.does so more frequently than any other country in the world.

10.10. TaxationTaxation: : “Taxes” are the way of dividing up the total social production “Taxes” are the way of dividing up the total social production between public purposes and private uses.between public purposes and private uses.

11. 11. Social Institutions Can be OtherwiseSocial Institutions Can be Otherwise: We must reject TINA: We must reject TINA

12. 12. Alternative futuresAlternative futures:: There are many possible futures. Human flourishing There are many possible futures. Human flourishing will be enhanced by extending and deepening democracy in egalitarian ways. will be enhanced by extending and deepening democracy in egalitarian ways.

Final MessageFinal Message

America today has serious deficits on all of the five core America today has serious deficits on all of the five core values which animate this course: Freedom, Prosperity, values which animate this course: Freedom, Prosperity, Efficiency, Fairness, DemocracyEfficiency, Fairness, Democracy

BUTBUT

Our current realities are not destinies.Our current realities are not destinies.

Our future may hold as many deep surprises as our past, Our future may hold as many deep surprises as our past, and this could include a more humane and just world and this could include a more humane and just world which promotes human flourishing. This will depend not which promotes human flourishing. This will depend not on what history as given us, but on the extent to which we on what history as given us, but on the extent to which we accept that history or act to change it.accept that history or act to change it.