Welcome to Crash Course Political Theory! Over the next 13 episodes, Ellie Anderson will introduce you to the perspectives of political thinkers past and present, and explore how political theories apply to the most burning questions of our time. We’ll compare arguments, trace the origins of contemporary theories, and develop the skills to discuss, disagree, and decide what we want society to be.
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.