Power and Politics Since 1989

Aug 28, 2024

Devane Lectures: Power and Politics in Today's World

Overview of the Course

  • Focus: Power and politics in the world since 1989.
  • Historical Context: The last 30 years have been tumultuous, contrasting with the previous 40 years of relative stability in advanced capitalist democracies post-World War II.

Historical Background

  • Post-World War II Era:
    • Stability and prosperity in most countries, bolstered by Marshall Plan aid.
    • Cold War led to proxy wars, not direct conflicts in Western democracies.
  • Significance of 1989:
    • The fall of the Berlin Wall marked the beginning of a major political shift.
    • Symbolic tearing down of the Berlin Wall celebrated by Germans, representing the decline of Soviet control in Eastern Europe.
    • Resistance movements emerged across Eastern Europe.
    • Contrast with China's Tiananmen Square protests.

Political Changes Post-1989

  • Democratization Trends:
    • Former Soviet bloc countries transitioned to democracy.
    • Significant global changes:
      • South Africa moved to multiracial democracy.
      • Northern Ireland peace established through the Good Friday Accords.
      • Early 90s optimism regarding Israel-Palestine settlement efforts.
  • Fukuyama's End of History:
    • Idea that liberal democracy was becoming dominant worldwide.
    • Turn of the 21st century saw most countries regarded as democracies.

Shift in Political Climate

  • Emergence of Extremist Politics:
    • Discussion of the rise of the Alternative for Deutschland (AfD) in Germany as a far-right party gaining ground against traditional parties.
    • Comparison with historical rise of the Nazi party in 1932.
  • Global Political Landscape:
    • Similar trends in other countries:
      • Brexit in the UK.
      • Trump’s election in the US.
      • Growth of far-right parties across Europe (e.g., Austria, Belgium, Italy).

Course Structure

  • Key Questions:
    1. How did we get from there to here?
    2. What are the challenges and prospects going forward?
    3. How can we achieve better outcomes in the future?
  • Methodology:
    • Combine political science and political theory to analyze historical developments.
    • Use 1989 as a natural experiment for political theories.

Course Topics

  1. Collapse of Communism:
    • Focus on Eastern Europe, Russia, China, and Vietnam.
  2. Unipolar World Dynamics:
    • Transition from a bipolar to a unipolar world after 1989.
  3. Neoliberalism:
    • Discuss Washington Consensus and its impact on global politics.
  4. End of the End of History:
    • Analyze impacts of 9/11 and the global war on terror.
  5. New Politics of Insecurity:
    • Examine consequences of the 2008 financial crisis on political landscapes.
  6. Future Directions:
    • Consider potential paths not taken in political and economic reforms.

Logistical Information

  • Teaching Assistants:
    • Christina Seyfried, head teaching fellow.
    • Office hours for students and community members available.
  • Reading Access:
    • Readings available through Yale ID and New Haven Public Library.
  • Examinations:
    • Final exam scheduled for December 11 and December 13.
    • No laptops or phones allowed during exams.

Conclusion

  • Course will focus on historical events since 1989, using diverse methodologies to analyze political changes and their implications moving forward.
  • Next lecture: Collapse of Soviet communism to Russian gangster capitalism.