The Democratic Theory and Practice Reading List
Annotated resources for student use:
PART1 - Beyond words on a page: The (mal)practice of democracy and freedom in America.
Week 1
Day 1
"Refugee in America." from Langston Hughes' Selected Works. This is a powerful poem about being an outsider in one's own country.
"The Iroquois Confederacy. Our Forgotten National Heritage." An interview of leading "influence theory" proponent, Dr. Donald Grinde, by Carol Hiltner.
Day 2
"What the hell is this?" from Bruce Johansen's, Debating Democracy. This is a reflection upon the reaction mainstream historians had to the work of historians who proposed that the Iroquois Confederacy had an impact upon the development of the US Constitution.
"Liberty, Anarchism and the Noble Savage." From Jack Weatherford's, Indian Givers. A historical overview of the social and political practice of the 1 st Nations of the present day American Northeast
Day 3
"The Treaty Trail" from Peter Nabakov's, Native American Testimony. Is a series of powerful accounts by Cherokee, Seminole, Nez Perce, Otoe and Crow leaders of American duplicity in relation to the signing of treaties.
Day 4
"The meaning of the 4 th of July to the American Negro." By Frederick Douglass is a reflection upon the tragic irony of being a slave on the occasion of American Independence.
"West India Emancipation." Also by Frederick Douglass is an important clarification to those who claim to be for abolition, but fear confrontation with those in favor of slavery, about how change happens.
Part II - Democracy According to "the Man"
Week 2
Day 1
"Part IX. Imperfect Societies." By Plato, is his scathing criticism of the weaknesses of democracy.
Day 2
"Book 1. Chapters 1-8." Jean-Jacques Rousseau's "Social Contract." This text defines the necessity of coming together as free individuals from a state of nature and organizing with others into a civil state with civil liberties that set parameters for collective existence.
Day 3
"Part 1, Chapter 2 & 3. Concerning Their Point of Departure and Its Importance for the Future of the Anglo-Americans; Social State of the Anglo Americans", from Alexander Tocqueville's seminal work, Democracy in America, highlights the advantages and promise of establishing democracy in the United States.
Day 4
"Part 2, Chapter 10. Some Considerations Concerning the Present State and probable Future of the Three Races That Inhabit the Territory of the United States," also from Democracy in America, foretells the destruction of the Indian tribes; here, he also clearly states his belief that slavery and democracy are completely untenable.
Week 3
Day 1
Declaration of Independence
Day 2
Articles of Confederation
Day 3
Selected Essays from The Federalist Papers. No. 1, 9,10, 14
Day 4
Selected Essays from The Federalist Papers. No. 23, 39, 45, 47, 48
Week 4
Day 1
Selected Essays from The Federalist Papers. No. 51, 62, 70, 78
Day 2-4
The Constitution
Part 3- "We (are) the People!"
Week5
Day 1-2
Selected "alternate" Declarations of Independence from Philip Foner's, We the Other People, a collection of historical documents representing the demands of disenfranchised people upon the government for full inclusion into American Society. Students will read the "Working Men's Declaration of Independence, December 1829", "Anti-Renters Declaration of Ind., July 4 1839", "Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions, July 4 1848", "Negro Declaration of Independence, February 1876", "Working Class Declaration of Independence July 4, 1902"
Day 3-4
"10 Point Program of the Black Panther Party", "20 Point Program of the American Indian Movement," "13 Point Progam of the I Wor Kuen", the "12 Point Program of the Young Lords Organization" and the Port Huron Statement of the Students for a Democratic Society."
Part 4 - Critical Framework: A tool for Liberation
Week 6
Day 1
"Simile of the Cave", in The Republic, by Plato, introduces the idea of being trapped in an oppressive state that one is not conscious of; the process of freeing oneself; the responsibility of those who are free, to those who are enslaved.
Day 2
"The Deep Democratic Tradition in America", by Cornel West from his text, Democracy Matters. Is a passionate account of the potential for the American people to make true the principles of democracy, freedom and justice, if we can collectively be critical of the past, so that we may have hope for a future.
Day 3 - 4
"By the People: Citizenship in 21 st Century America", by James Fishkin. Is a summary of his work around deepening citizen's understanding of political participation through his process of "Deliberative Polling".
Comments: