DeVane Lectures: Power and Politics in Today's World

Jul 2, 2024

DeVane Lectures: Power and Politics in Today's World

Overview

  • Lecturers are part of a Yale course open to public.
  • Focus on power and politics over the last 30 years since 1989.
  • Contrast between the last 30 years and the prior 40 years of relative stability post-WWII.

Lecture Highlights

Context of 1989

  • Berlin Wall falls, marking end of Cold War's division.
  • Soviet Union losing control over Eastern Europe.
  • Rise of democracy in former Soviet bloc countries.
  • Other significant political changes:
    • End of apartheid in South Africa.
    • Good Friday Accords in Northern Ireland (1997).
    • Oslo Accords in Israel-Palestine (early 1990s).

Post-1989 Changes

  • Enthusiasm for democracy and market economy reforms.
  • Fukuyama's "end of history" reflecting confidence in democratic capitalism's dominance.

Political Shifts (2016-2017 and Onwards)

  • Rise of populist and far-right movements globally.
  • Significant political events including Brexit and Trump's presidency (2016).
  • Far-right parties gain traction in Europe (Germany, Austria, Italy).
  • Alternative for Deutschland (AFD) rise in Germany’s elections.

Key Questions for the Course

  1. How did political landscape shift from 1989 to present?
  2. What are current challenges and prospects?
  3. How can countries navigate towards better outcomes?

Approach and Methodology

  • Use historical events (from 1989 onwards) to examine political theories and test conventional wisdoms.
  • Analysis with political science and theory tools, while also reflecting normative questions.
  • Revisiting historical events:
    • NATO expansion.
    • Global War on Terror post-9/11.
    • Response to 2008-2009 financial crisis.

Course Structure

Section 1: Collapse of Communism and Aftermath

  • Focus on Eastern Europe, Russia, China, Vietnam.
  • Emergence of a unipolar world dominated by the US.
  • Rise of neoliberalism and Washington Consensus.

Section 2: New Global Order

  • Examining whether global democratization continued.
  • International institutions and doctrines (e.g., International Criminal Court, UN responsibility to protect).

Section 3: End of the "End of History"

  • Global War on Terror's impact.
  • Resurgence of state capitalism (China, Russia).
  • Business roles in conflicts.

Section 4: New Politics of Insecurity

  • Financial crisis and governmental responses.
  • Effects on workforce stability and the rise of populism.

Section 5: Future Prospects and Paths Forward

  • Diagnosing and understanding voter sentiment.
  • Political and economic policy recommendations.

Logistical Information

  • Lectures and interactions (Q&A) will be recorded and posted on course website.
  • Office hours for students and the public; discussion sessions to be recorded.
  • No laptops/screen devices allowed during lectures.
  • Course readings available on Canvas and New Haven Public Library for non-Yale students.