Crash Course Political Theory

A government by the people, for the people sounds like a good idea. But is democracy really all it’s cracked up to be? In this episode of Crash Course Political Theory, we’ll learn democracy has had its fair share of critics, past and present. And even those in favor of the idea don’t necessarily agree on what democracy should be.

Liberty and the rights of individuals form the backbone of American politics. But what is “liberty” anyway? In this episode of Crash Course Political Theory, we learn the fundamentals of Classical Liberalism and how 17th-century philosophers impact politics today.

Should our government ignore our identities or focus on them? In this episode of Crash Course Political Theory, we’ll explore the role identity plays in politics and government, from affirmative action to white backlash, and ask, “What is fair?”

Is war ever justified, and how could we tell if it were? In this episode of Crash Course Political Theory, we tackle Just War Theory through the lens of one of the most contentious conflicts in the past few decades: the Iraq War.

What if a person is a good leader… and a bad person? In this episode of Crash Course Political Theory, we unpack that idea through the lens of Machiavelli’s famous treatise, “The Prince,” and find more questions than answers.

To some, Marxism is the solution to all capitalism’s problems. To others, it’s a major threat to democracy. But what did Karl Marx really say about capitalism and communism, and how can that help shape our discussions today?

The word anarchy is synonymous with chaos, but what does it mean to political theorists? In this episode of Crash Course Political Theory, we explore the theories and practices of anarchism.

What does it mean to be a feminist in the 21st century? How have the movements that brought us here shaped the ways we understand feminist political theory? And, perhaps most importantly, what comes next?

What do we owe other people? Are we just as obligated to help someone on the other side of the world as someone who lives across the street? In this episode of Crash Course Political Theory, we’ll explore the pros and cons of going global versus keeping it local in today’s world of politics.

The United States incarcerates more people than any other nation in the world, and people across the political spectrum are calling for a change. In this episode of Crash Course Political Theory, we unpack the arguments of the prison abolition movement and the history of how we got here.

Is utopia just too utopian? In this episode of Crash Course Political Theory, we’ll explore visions of utopia from Plato to bell hooks. And we’ll investigate whether “the good place” is a good-for-nothing, impractical daydream—or a path to charting political futures.

Art and politics may seem like mortal enemies, but they’re more like best frenemies forever. In this episode of Crash Course Political Theory, we take a trip back in time to see how artists have shaped political perceptions and how politicians have tried and failed to stop them.

Is recognition really enough? In our final episode of Crash Course Political Theory, we’ll explore this concept, from its 19th-century philosophical origins to modern-day Native land acknowledgements.