Power and Politics in Today's World - Lecture 1 Notes

Introduction to the DeVane Lectures

• Open to Yale students and the public

Focus of These Lectures

• Power and politics since 1989
• Contrast with relative stability in the 40 years post-WWII
• 1989: Fall of Berlin Wall, end of Soviet Union's control in Eastern Europe
• Rise of democracy globally in the 1990s

Berlin Wall and Reunification of Germany (1989)

• Berlin Wall symbolically torn down
• East and West Germany began to unify
• Enthusiasm and hope for democratic changes, end of totalitarian regimes

Changes After 1989

• Spread of democracy in former Soviet Bloc, South Africa, Israel-Palestine, and Northern Ireland
• Increased hope and optimism globally

Rise of Populism and Far-Right Movements (Post-2016)

• Far-right parties gaining ground in Europe (e.g., Alternative for Deutschland in Germany)
• SPD and CDU in Germany form grand coalitions to resist far-right growth
• Erosion of support for traditional parties across Europe

Key Political Events and Global Changes (2016-Present)

• Brexit and Donald Trump's election in 2016
• Resurgence of far-right parties in Europe (Austria, Italy, Belgium, etc.)
• Decline of establishment parties and rise of fringe parties

Central Questions of the Course

1. How did we get from the optimism of 1989 to the current political climate?
2. What are the challenges and prospects going forward?
3. How can we achieve a better political future?

Approach to This Course

• Use history with political science and political theory tools
• Explore normative questions and real-world applicability
• Look at plausible alternative paths that could have been taken

Structure of the Course

Part 1: Collapse of Communism and its aftermath

• Events of 1989 in Eastern Europe, China, Vietnam
• Rise of a unipolar world
• Emergence of neoliberal policies and the Washington Consensus

Part 2: New Global Order

• Spread of democracy globally
• Development of international institutions (e.g., International Criminal Court, Responsibility to Protect doctrine)

Part 3: End of the End of History

• Impact of 9/11 and Global War on Terror
• Resurgence of state capitalism (e.g., Russia, China)
• Role of businesses in global politics

Part 4: Politics of Insecurity

• Government responses to the 2008 financial crisis
• Growing insecurity among workforces in advanced democracies

Part 5: What is to be Done?

• Misdiagnosis of voter sentiment and inadequate policy responses
• Proposals for future political and economic policies

Logistical Information

• Lectures are videotaped and recorded
• Office hours for students and community
• No laptops or phones allowed during lectures

Readings and Additional Resources

• Available on Canvas for Yale students
• Books available in New Haven Public Library for the community

Questions & Interaction

• Interactive style with questions from the floor
• Teaching fellows available for support and office hours