COURSE SYLLABUS - PS 343 (01) - Fall 2000
Political Leadership
Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays
2:00-2:50 PM
INSTRUCTOR: Prof.
Paul Petterson
OFFICE: 015
Diloreto Hall
OFFICE PHONE: 832-2969
E-MAIL: PETTERSONP@CCSU.EDU
OFFICE HOURS: Monday
9-10 AM
Wednesday 9-10 AM, 11 AM-12 PM
Friday 9-10 AM, 11 AM-12 PM
And by appointment
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course will examine and critically analyze the multifaceted phenomenon known as "political leadership". While sharing a number of traits with leadership in any aspect of life, exercising leadership in politics is an art and a skill all its own. The goal of the course is to provide a better understanding of those arts and skills, and to assess their proper role in a democratic political system. The tensions between democracy and leadership will be a central theme throughout the course, although world leaders from all types of political systems will be studied. We will also focus on the QUESTIONS that leaders must face across political systems, and the varied answers that have been proposed.
The semester will be roughly
divided as follows:
Part
1: Theories and Sources of Leadership
Part
2: Transactional Leadership
Part
3: Transformational Leadership
The course will emphasize discussion of the many conflicting theories of effective leadership, so class participation and diligent reading are essential. Learning about leadership, like leadership itself, is not a passive process; it must be approached critically and "without easy answers". Guest speakers are also being approached to visit the class.
TEXTS (Available at The Other Bookstore and Campus Bookstore)
James MacGregor Burns. Leadership
(Harper, 1978).
A classic
text on theories of leadership, emphasizing the various
origins and
types of leadership.
Howard Gardner. Leading Minds:
An Anatomy of Leadership (Basic, 1995).
A "human
development" approach to understanding leaders, with profiles
of leaders
in political and "nonpolitical" fields.
Bruce Miroff. Icons of Democracy:
American Leaders As Heroes, Aristocrats,
Dissenters,
and Democrats (Basic, 1993).
An examination
of American political leaders, using profiles to
explore the
question of reconciling democracy and leadership.
Eleanor Clift and Tom Brazaitis.
War
Without Bloodshed: The Art Of
Politics
(Touchstone, 1996).
A case study
of leadership in various facets of modern American
national
politics.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
In-Class Exam - October 20
30% of grade
Research Paper
30% of grade
-1st Outline Due November 1
-Paper Due December 1
Oral Presentation on Research
Paper 10% of grade
-November 13, 15, 17
Final Exam - December 20, 8
AM
20% of grade
Class Participation
10% of grade
The in-class and final exams will be essay style, supplemented by short identifications, and they will focus on lecture material and assigned readings.
Regular attendance and completion of readings is expected.
The research paper topic is open, but it must focus on leadership by a particular individual or multiple individuals, not simply factual biography. It should focus on a clear hypothesis, and mount an argument with evidence in support of that hypothesis. YOU WILL NEED TO HAVE YOUR TOPIC APPROVED BY THE INSTRUCTOR, and are encouraged to consult on outlines or other questions about the paper. Possible topics include:
-a "leadership style" profile of an individual
-a comparison of leadership techniques used by particular
leaders, and their implications
You will also be expected to give an 8-10 minute presentation on the major argument of your paper, and what it tells us about leadership. The presentation will be graded on organization, content, and clarity.
NOTE the following CAREFULLY:
1. ANY LATE WORK WILL BE PENALIZED
unless an UNAVOIDABLE emergency occurs, in the judgment of the instructor.
2. SPECIAL NEEDS: Students
who need course adaptations or accommodations because of documented disability,
or who have emergency medical needs, or who need special arrangements in
case the building must be evacuated should see me as soon as possible.
| OUTLINE OF LECTURES\ASSIGNED READINGS | |
| 9/6 | Introduction and Overview of Course |
| 9/8,11,13 | Defining
Leadership: Power - And Purpose
READINGS: Burns, Prologue + Chapters 1, 2 |
| 9/15,18,20 | Sources
of Leadership: Psychology
READINGS: Burns, Chapter 3 |
| 9/22,25,27 | Sources
of Leadership: The Human Development
Approach And Social Forces READINGS: Gardner, Chapters 1-3; Burns, Ch. 4-5 |
| 9/29; 10/2,4,6 | Authority
And "Political" Leadership:
Military,Business, Religion And Education READINGS: Gardner, Chapters 4-9 |
| 10/9,11,13,16,18 | Transactional
Leadership and Democracy:
Legislatures And The Public READINGS: Burns, Chapters 10-13; Clift |
| 10/20 | IN CLASS EXAM |
| 10/23,25,27,30; 11/1 | Democracy
And Transactional Leadership:
Executives As Aristocrats, Heroes, Democrats READINGS: Miroff, Chapters 1-3,5,7,8; Burns, Ch. 14 PAPER OUTLINE DUE 11/1 |
| 11/3,6,8,10 | Transformational
Leadership: Reform v. Revolution
READINGS: Burns, Chapters 7-8 |
| 11/13,15,17 | PRESENTATIONS ON RESEARCH PAPER TOPICS |
| 11/20,27,29;12/1 | Transformational
Leadership:
Women And Political Leadership READINGS: Miroff, Chapter 4; Gardner, Ch. 10, 12 Review Clift RESEARCH PAPER DUE 12/1 |
|
|
|
| 12/4,6,8,11 | Transformational
Leadership:
Social Justice And "Radical" Ideas READINGS: Miroff, Chapters 6, 9; Gardner,Ch. 11,14; Burns, Ch. 6, 9 |
| 12/13,15 | Conclusions:
The Future of Leadership
READINGS: Miroff, Chapter 10 Gardner, Chapter 15 Burns, Chapters 15-17 |
| 12/20, 8 AM | FINAL EXAM |
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