DeVane Lectures on Power and Politics

Introduction

• Welcome to the DeVane Lectures
• Focus: Power and politics from 1989 to today
• Structure: Regular Yale course + public lectures

Historical Context

Changes Since 1989

• 1989 marked a tumultuous period of change globally.
• Pre-1989 (40 years post-WWII): Period of stability and prosperity, particularly in advanced capitalist democracies.
• Cold War: Political stability with occasional proxy wars.

Transition in Eastern Europe

• 1989: The fall of the Berlin Wall symbolizes the end of division between East and West.
• Political changes across Eastern Europe - massive resistance movements leading to loss of totalitarian control by the Soviet Union.
• Exception: Tiananmen Square in China (different outcome).
• Initial belief in widespread democracy post-1989: Fukuyama's "end of history" thesis.

Democratic Aspirations and Disappointments

Rise of Democratic Movements

• Democratization in former Soviet states and other regions like South Africa.
• Early 1990s: High optimism for change and international cooperation.

Contrasting Present-Day Realities

• Far-right parties emerging in Europe, e.g., Alternative for Deutschland (AfD).
• Shift from established parties to extremist movements, reflecting global political shifts (e.g., Brexit, Trump's election in the U.S.).
• Similar patterns observed in multiple European nations (Austria, Belgium, Italy).

Key Questions for the Course

1. How did we get from past stability to current instability?
2. What are the challenges today?
3. What can be done to improve political conditions?

Approach to the Course

Methodology

• Combination of political science, political theory, normative questions, and historical analysis.
• Use of the last 30 years' data to evaluate political theories (e.g., modernization theory, democracy compatibility).
• Examination of the effects of communism's collapse on political dynamics.

Course Structure

1. Collapse of Communism: Focused on Eastern Europe, Russia, China, and Vietnam.
2. Unipolar World Dynamics: Changes in global politics post-Cold War.
3. Neoliberalism: Transition to free-market capitalism and economic implications.
4. New Global Order: Examination of democracy's status and new international institutions (e.g., International Criminal Court).
5. The Politics of Insecurity: Responses to financial crises and implications for the electorate.

Logistical Matters

• Office hours for students taking the course for credit and the community.
• Availability of readings through Yale Canvas and public library.
• No laptops or phones during class to minimize distractions.
• Interactive lectures with opportunities for Q&A.

Conclusion

• Next class: Discussion on the collapse of the Soviet Union and its aftermath.
• Overview of upcoming lectures and topics.