The Theory and Politics of Capitalism
Course Description
It is impossible to graduate from college without repeatedly encountering the term "capitalism." But what is it, actually? Where did it come from? What has changes since its inception? Is it primarily a political or an economic system? What is the difference and why does it matter? This course will equip students with the basic conceptual tools to think about these questions. We will try to understand the history and theory of capitalism by reading selections important theorists of modern economic life: Adam Smith, Karl Marx, and David Harvey.
Academic Interest
Economics, Law and Politics, Social Sciences (e.g., history, sociology, business)
Application Materials
A complete application includes a transcript, two short essays, a letter of recommendation, writing sample, application fee, and a submitted parent confirmation. If you are seeking need-based financial aid, you must indicate that in your application before it is submitted. Please refer to the Application Instructions for complete details.
Instructor(s)
Pamela Nogales
Cost
$8,900
Other Courses to Consider
These courses might also be of interest. Note: Students can apply for up to 4 courses and will be admitted to one.
The Age of Capital: Freedom and CrisisWhat is capitalism? Has the development of capitalism marked an advance or crisis for humankind and the earth? When did capitalism emerge and is it still a relevant concept? The objective of this course is to introduce you to the idea and critique of capitalism. The course examines the historical rise, concepts, categories, and crisis of what is referred to as the age of capital or capitalism. It starts with Adam Smith and the case he details for a modern form of political economy based on commerce, international trade, and manufactures. The course will then move to consider the work of Karl Marx and the crisis wrought by the Industrial Revolution, which, he believed, transformed the significance of the categories of political economy, such as labor, the commodity, and value. Different theories on the origins of capitalism, advanced by Max Weber and Karl Polayni, will be introduced, and the course will conclude by paying attention to the transformations of capitalism in the twentieth century and the social and political consequences of those changes, as understood by Friedrich Hayek, Milton Friedman, and David Harvey. A supplemental feature of this course is that includes a series of workshops to introduce you to the norms and expectations of college-level writing.
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How Societies Work (or Don't)How do societies work? Why do they so often seem to break down and fail? Should we even expect societies to “work” as cohesive entities, or should we assume that they are always rife with conflict, inequality and power struggles? In in this class, we will address these and other questions by taking a deep dive into different schools of social thought: materialism, which sees the production of goods and services as the force that shapes social organization; structural functionalism, which argues that society’s various parts work together to strengthen social cohesion; social action theory, which argues values, worldviews and social institutions (e.g. religion and family) shape individual activities; symbolic interactionism, which focuses on micro-relationships; and, finally, post-modernism, which avoids any over-arching theory of society. Through these explorations, we will also address topics such as race, class, gender, technology, capitalism and modernity. Our readings will include works by Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim, Max Weber, George Herbert Meade Michel Foucault, Pierre Bourdieu, Judith Butler and others.
Residential