Dr.
J. F. Harrison
During the 2005-2006 academic year, the subject area of this course will be “non-Statist (sometimes called anarchist) political argument since the Enlightenment.” The minimal pre-requisite for those who enroll in the course is two courses in Political Science, of which one must be a course in Political Philosophy/Theory. Preliminary readings will be sent by e-mail prior to the first class. Considering alternative arguments to the advocacy and justification of the liberal-capitalist State, the course will study the writings of those thinkers who have presented both individualist and. collectivist critiques of modern forms of authority, and consider their prescriptive alternatives Some general themes: a) precursors: Anabaptists and Diggers; b) William Godwin’s individualism; c) Max Stirner’s individualism; d) Pierre-Joseph Proudhon’s mutualism; e) Mikhail Bakunin’s federalism; e) Syndicalism and workers’ control; f) the radical rejection of the Russian Revolution; g) Murray Bookchin’s ecological anarchism; h) contemporary anti-authoritarian concerns. Each student will provide a weekly written report on selected readings, and also write a term paper for presentation. There will be a final examination.