Introduction to Comparative Politics: A Marxist-Leninist Alternative
Workers of the world, Unite!
Monday, September 29
Lecture: Origins of a Revolutionary Agenda: Marx before Lenin
Read: The Communist Manifesto (read the introductory paragraphs aloud; then read sections 1, 2, and 4 at least three times and as closely as possible)
Wednesday, Oct. 1
Lecture: Overcoming Historical Backwardness, Making Revolution Now
Read: R. Tucker, "Marxism and Modernization" (CR)
Friday, October 3
Discussion Section: Meet to discuss The Communist Manifesto (with the enthusiasm of true revolutionaries!)
Listen to The Internationale
Monday, October 6
Lecture: A Political Weapon called Leninism --- Forging Marx into Soviet Glory
Read: V. I. Lenin, "What is to be done?" (CR)
Wednesday, Oct. 8
Lecture: Stalinism: The Horrors of Leninist Consolidation
Read: Rothman and Breslauer, "Stalin's Russia" (CR), and E. Ginzburg, Journey into the Whirlwind (CR)
Friday, October 10
Discussion section: Was Stalinist horror inevitable?
Monday, October 13
Lecture: Marxism-Leninism: A serious alternative to liberal-democracy?
Read: V. Havel, "Power of the Powerless," first half (pp. 36-62) (CR); and Havel's life
Wednesday, October 15
In-Class Film: "A Journey to Russia"
Friday, October 17
Discussion section: What kind of legitimacy did Leninism possess? What kind of stability?
Mid-Term Break, October 18 - 26
Over the semester, I have been recommending books for you to read. Since you will be looking for things to do over break, you may want to read the following. At least read them before you graduate from Notre Dame!
Aldous Huxley, Brave New World
D. H. Lawrence, Lady Chatterly's Lover
Fyodor Dostoevsky, The Devils and The Idiot
Ivan Turgenev, Fathers and Sons
Film: Sunshine
Monday, October 27
Lecture: Leninist problems, Leninist crisis. Why did Communism fall? Why did it fall when it did?
Read: Black, et al., Rebirth, pp. 276-291 (CR); and V. Havel, "Power of the Powerless," second half (pp. 62-122) (CR)
Scan: Tribute to Gorbachev
Wednesday, October 29
Lecture: Beyond Leninism, A new World Disorder? Did things turn out to be as dark as they once seemed?
Read: D. Remnick, "Can Russia Change" (CR)
Friday October 31
Discussion section: Meet to discuss Gorbachev's and Havel's dreams, and the sudden demise of Marxist-Leninist utopia.
Can't we all be friends?