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Home , Political sociology

290:01 Political Sociology Fall Semester 2014 (revised 9/9/14)

Instructor: Steven R. Brechin, Ph.D. [email protected] Office: 133 Davison Hall – Douglass College Office phone: 848-932-7687 (hit and miss) Cell: 315-409-9827 (better bet/ text is fine) Office Hours: After Class Tuesdays and Fridays Wednesdays by Appt. Other times possible

Tu. Fr.: 9:50 to 11:10 p.m.; 3 credits 920 290:01 Location: MI (Milledoler Hall) 100 (CAC) We will use Sakai as a means of contact and communications Main Sakai portal https://sakai.rutgers.edu/portal

Descriptions and Definitions: Sociology is the systematic study of interactions within and among social groups and related human behavior that define social life. Political Sociology is a rich subfield of sociology with its own proud traditions and literature. While a broad area of investigation and thought, it focuses on political processes and power – in particular, which groups have ability to implement their political, social and economic agendas and which ones do not and why? And more importantly how do certain groups, in various political systems from various types of to single party rule to dictatorships, actually achieve the outcomes they promote? So political sociology explores the means by which certain groups affect political outcomes that shape and social-political reality. We will focus mostly on western democracies, especially the U.S., but other countries and systems will be included in discussions. Globalization as an on-going social, political, and economic phenomena will be discussed throughout the semester.

Political Sociology has historically examined the , , the , political parties and processes, the media, and social movements and related organizations – events, and thought that have informed the of and of our time. The three major social or arenas that shape social and political life of the modern era are the marketplace (business community/ economic activities/ the market and related organizations and market ideologies), the state (government/ agencies/, policies, ideologies and state theory), and (social movements and non-profit / civic or citizen- based organizations; note - political parties are often placed here; others place them in a fourth or with the state, depending on the system they are found, e.g. China’s Communist Party is clearly integrated with the state). A key question continually asked today – are the three major modern institutions of society reasonably autonomous from one another or are they more integrated and controlled by those with more narrow interests? The theories and events we discuss will typically point to one answer or another. Of course, socio-political life is fluid and these interactions and spheres of domination ebb and flow over time. A key question remains however – do social-political outcomes really change that much as the powerful tend to dominate most events? If they do change -when and how do they change?

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Key constructs of political sociology are “power”, “domination”, “”, “the state”, “elites and their networks”, “social class and inequality”, and “protest, and social movements.” Early classical sociologists such as , , and Emile Durkheim each provided important contributions to the study of political sociology:

Karl Marx focused on , the capitalist class and how its dominates of all aspects of life – the economic, social, and political - leading naturally over time to growing economic and and eventually to political revolution from the proletariat masses below ending in the rise of a classless and stateless society. The pattern of growing inequality and revolution is one found throughout the history of mankind. Capitalism is only the more recent iteration of this history.

Max Weber argued for the importance of the modern state and the power of the administrative of the state and its offices of experts as dominant players in society. He was deeply troubled by the fact that top bureaucrats who are often faceless are typically outside of the democratic process yet controlled tremendous resources of the state. Weber was also well known for outlining “politics as vocation” or politics rooted in the art of compromise instead of conviction as well as other key observations on interest groups and domination. He is the intellectual father of western study /government, complex-formal organizations, elites, comparative religions, among other areas of study and methodologies.

Emile Durkheim [along with ] outlined a view suggesting the importance of shared values and practices in society. He placed value in organized citizen groups “outside” the state and the marketplace and how they provided the substance for democratic principles, action and the “glue for society.” Civil society is typically seen as “social space for citizens” to engage for solving collective action problems, for political debate, in social protest and other collective efforts in challenging the market and the state without interference. While Marx and Weber were what we call conflict sociologists – interested in what drives us apart or causes conflicts within society, Durkheim has been labeled as a consensus sociologist – interested in what keeps society together.

More recent contributors to political sociology include such thinkers such as , Karl Polanyi, C. Wright Mills, , , Charles Tilly, Robert Putnam and many more. These scholars among others typically continue to build upon or adjust/critique the arguments of these classical theorists.

We focus simultaneously on the political sociology of the United States and the growth of political/ economic power internationally, i.e. globalization. The questions surrounding globalization include – is there a global elite that exists outside of particular nation-states? If so what are the consequences of such a reality? Are the powers of nation-states diminishing in the face of growing globalization? And finally, is the U.S. on its last legs as a superpower, especially given the recent and rapid economic/ political rise of China, India, Brazil, etc. and the international community? Is global power shifting certainly and if so what does that mean to the U.S. wealth and power?

The Course’s Core Questions: The central questions I raise are as follows: Is there a “” in America? If so, how is that possible in a ? These central questions then lead to others: Similarly, if true, what does that mean about the state of our democracy? How did we get to be in this state of affairs? And if this problematic, what should be/can be done about this, if anything?

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Political Sociology, typically like sociology more generally, is a “confrontational” subdiscipline, attempting to expose often hidden . With power at the center of its investigation, it questions and exposes historic and current power arrangements and patterns of interactions. With this realization, political sociology theory tends to runs ideologically from center right to radical left - that is from the view of interest group balanced politics to and even revolution. Still, its main goal is to understand the nature of power and politics.

Central to this course will be your understanding of four major theories of Political Sociology. Each will be discussed in greater detail during the semester but you should pay attention to both the theories and evidence from readings, news sources, and discussions that point to/ support one or another, etc. The four theories are:

Pluralism Theory – interest group based politics and political processes – democratic equilibrium / compromise is achieved and no one group dominates politically. Hence political order and civic wellbeing is maintained through shared or distributive power. This is viewed as the democratic ideal.

State Autonomy Theory/ Historical Institutionalism – focuses on the role of an independent/ professional state () in of society’s affairs. The state and its administrators at times can rise above the interest group politics/powerful interests and do what is required for the larger common good/national interest viewed from the perspectives of these bureaucratic agencies.

Class Domination Theory – The Corporate Class (Capitalists) rule society and government / the state through their wealth and power. The corporate ruling class uses its wealth and power to influence the political process to their advantage. Democratic processes are not absent but overwhelmed/ dominated.

Elite Theory/ The Power Elite – the affairs of society are really in the hands of a relatively small network of extraordinary individuals without a particular political ideology or necessarily class allegiance. These individuals move back and forth from positions of authority in economic, political and civic spheres. Democracy is a more myth than reality as these individuals “run” the nation but may have “good for the nation streak” to them. A plutocracy however is a type of power elite of wealthy individuals who serve mostly themselves.

LEARNING GOALS/OUTCOMES: By the end of the semester I expect you will have a good understanding of the concepts, basic theories, arguments and literature related to Political Sociology. You should be able to answer questions soundly – What is political sociology? What basic theories shape this subdiscipline? I will expect you to be able to articulate, support, and challenge each of four theories noted above. We will ground our discussions in the assigned readings, lectures, films, and current events.

Expectations: Current events will play a key role in our discussions for the semester. I expect everyone to attend lecture and to discuss the material; I reward those who do; penalize those who do not. I expect everyone to contribute to class with questions and comments, thoughts and disagreements/debates. Some will contribute some more than others – that is OK. I reward effort and substance, not just frequency. In short, your goal is to add energy to the class and its discussions. You cannot add energy if you do not attend.

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I tend to give integrative lectures – where I present and discuss with you the material at hand, readings, and current events. You will need to be prepared by having read the assigned material when it has been assigned. On a few occasions we may break down into smaller groups and then report out to the full class.

To spur participation in the class, I will expect everyone to become engaged in current events. I urge each of you to read the Wall Street Journal and New York Times –frequently as possible [online is fine] – as well as watch all three major cable networks - MSNBC, CNN, and FOX . Major airing networks such as CBS, NBC, and ABC are also good. Ideally it would be terrific to follow the same events/ stories across the major networks as well as in different media form – print, TV, and radio such as National Public Radio. Other online publications of interest include: The Daily Beast, Slate, The Weekly Standard, The American Prospect, Huffington Post, The Economist and so on. ProPublica is a very interesting site as it is a non-profit organization that focuses on investigative journalism in the public interest; political investigative reporting is unfortunately a dying industry. http://online.wsj.com/home-page http://www.nytimes.com/ http://www.npr.org/ http://www.msnbc.msn.com/ http://www.cnn.com/ http://www.foxnews.com/ http://www.propublica.org/ http://www.economist.com/ http://www.epi.org/ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ http://www.prospect.org/ http://www.propublica.org/ http://www.weeklystandard.com/ http://www.thedailybeast.com/ http://www.slate.com/

I also urge you – although it is likely you are already doing so - to watch The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and the Colbert Report with Stephen Colbert until he is gone in 2015 (sigh). John Oliver’s show, Last Week Tonight is a great addition to the line-up. These shows have become the modern version of the “political cartoon” – brilliant and biting – exposing hidden political truths through humor and satire. http://www.thedailyshow.com/ http://www.colbertnation.com/home http://www.hbo.com/last-week- tonight-with-john-oliver#/

Current Academic Integrity Policy: General Academic Integrity Link: http://academicintegrity.rutgers.edu/files/documents/AI_Policy_ http://academicintegrity.rutgers.edu/ 9_01_2011.pdf Violations include: cheating, fabrication, plagiarism, denying Resources for instructors (and students) can be others access to information or material, and facilitating found at: violations of academic integrity. http://academicintegrity.rutgers.edu/resources

WE ALSO RECOMMEND THAT INSTRUCTORS INCLUDE Optional: Instructors may include a Honor Pledge: AT LEAST ONE OF THE FOLLOWING PLAGIARISM TUTORIALS IN THEIR COURSE DESIGN: "On my honor, I pledge that I have neither given nor received any unauthorized aid on this Take a 20 minute interactive-tutorial on Plagiarism (exam, test, paper)." and Academic Integrity, http://www.scc.rutgers.edu/douglass/sal/plagiaris Or use the sakai honor pledge check box: m/intro.html

Honor Pledge: I have neither given nor received aid on Consult Don't Plagiarize: Document Your this assignment. Research! For tips about how to take notes so (You must respond to submit your assignment.) that you don't plagiarize by accident. http://www.libraries.rutgers.edu/avoid_plagiarism

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Required Readings:

Required Books: are available at the book store and can be found on reserve at the Alexander Library Reserve Desk. Other assigned readings outside of books will be available online. The following are our required books (They may be cheaper online) [Texts 1 and 2]:

Text 1: G. William Domhoff. 20013. Who Rules America? The Triumph of the Corporate Rich7th Ed. McGraw Hill. Domhoff Website: www.whorulesamerica.net

Text 2: Christopher Hayes 2012. Twilight of the Elites: America After Meritocracy. Crown.

See Additional / Optional Readings and Resources at the end of the syllabus

Requirements: In-class discussion/activities will comprise a key aspect of this course. Attendance and weekly preparation are essential and will be evaluated accordingly. We will have two in class written exams (exam 1 and exam 2) and one research paper/ project on a topic of your choice. The first two exams will be focused to specific material from lectures and texts - exam 1: William Domhoff’s Who Rules America? You will be given a study guide from which several questions will be selected to answer. Exam 2 will contain fewer but likely larger questions selected from a study guide. This exam will focus on the material mostly over the second half of the semester. Missed exams without appropriate excuses will be made up outside of class at a time and place to be determined. Ten percent of the total exam points will be subtracted from the total. The research paper/ project will provide you an opportunity to research a topic/ author of interest to you grounded in the theories/ themes discussed in this course. I will need to approve your topic selection. It will be due at the end of the semester. I will ask for an outline several weeks before it is due. The length of the paper project will be 10-12 pages including references.

The % of grade for each requirement is as follows:

Exam 1: 25% [in class; October 17th] Exam 2: 25% [in class: December 9th] Paper: 25% [more info on the paper project will be provided later – Due December 15th] Participation: 25% [attendance and discussion; more than 2 unexcused absences hurts]

Grades will be as follows:

90+ A 87-89.9 B+ 80-86.9 B Etc.

Classroom etiquette: The success of this class depends in part on our collective efforts to create a safe environment for expressing diverse opinions. Please be mindful of other’s perspectives during class discussions. While honest disagreement is to be expected, everyone should be respectful when contributing ideas to the class discussion and responding to the comments of others. I will appreciate your attention during class as well as to your classmates. While I will not band your devices from the classroom – in fact we may need to use them from time to time – courtesy to me and your classmates are expected at all times.

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Course Outline:

Week 1 Tu. Sept 02: Presentation: Introduction to Political Sociology as a field of study; Definitions & Central Questions; Course Introduction Readings: Trust in our Institutions including Political http://www.gallup.com/poll/1597/confidence-institutions.aspx#2

Take the Political Ideological Quiz – to see where you stand http://www.politicalcompass.org/

Fr. Sept. 05: Presentation & Discussion Conceptual Overview of Political Sociology; Introductions – Review of Key Terms and Concepts Our Current Ideological Wars – What Do Conservatives and Liberals Want? The Culture Wars? http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2014/04/can-liberals-and- conservatives-come-together-to-support-/359972/

Week 2 Tu. Sept 09: Film: The America Ruling Class In class movie http://vimeo.com/46181665

Fr. Sept 12: Discussion – Discussion of Film and Readings Read Text 1: (Domhoff): Preface, Introduction, Chpt. 1

Week 3 Tu. Sept 16: Presentation: Classical Theories – Karl Marx and Friends – Capitalism and the State – Power and class relations and culture (hegemonic beliefs) Read: Text 1: (Domhoff): Chapters 2 and 3

The Power of / Ideas – Example of Neoliberalism or the importance of a free markets – free market ideology – David Harvey on “Neoliberalism” and the political project. Note: It starts off slowly but picks up tremendously in the last several. David Harvey: 5 part YouTube video on this important topic. It takes about 45 minutes. [Note: Harvey is likely the most famous Marxist scholar alive today]

Homework Assignment: Watch this presentation at the U of Chicago – We will discuss in class today Sept. 16th

Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkWWMOzNNrQ Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwboT2DhJC8 Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZg4esZFhOU Part 4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhzkBRyhjlc Part 5: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pN3Iz7XzUWM

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Fr. Sept 19: Exploring the Causes and Consequences of Inequality in the U.S. and globally The Ideological Wars Continued Data and Discussion on Growing Inequality in the US and Globally

Read: Timothy Noah - Slate Article: 1. http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/the_great_divergence/featur es/2010/the_united_states_of_inequality/introducing_the_great_divergence.h tml 2. http://www.cbsnews.com/news/how-the-last-decade-created-a-brutal- wealth-divide/

Week 4 Tu. Sept 23: Presentation: Classical Theories – Max Weber and Friends – State and Society; The State and Political Authority; Politics as Vocation Read Text 1: Chapters 4 and 5

Fr. Sept 26: C. Wright Mills and David Rothkopf’s Superclass Presentation, Video, and Discussion http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5ngPp5FC2k&feature=related [presentation at the Carnegie Endowment]

Week 5 Tu. Sept 30: Presentation: Classical Theories – Emile Durkheim and Friends – Civil Society and Democracy Presentation and Discussion Readings: Text 1 (Domhoff): Chapters 6 and 7

Fr. Oct. 03: Presentation: More modern theories – Karl Polanyi and Friends – The Great Transformation; The Rise of Market Society; Market Fundamentalism; and Double Movements Readings: Michael Sandel: Atlantic: 1. http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2012/04/what-isnt-for- sale/308902/

Discussion of Market Society with Michael Sandel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvDpYHyBlgc Distribution of Examination 1 Study Guide

Week 6 Tu. Oct 7: Presentation: Mass Media and William Domhoff’s Who Rules America? Findings on Politics and Public Opinion in the US and Globally Read Text 1 (Domhoff): Chapters: 8 and 9

Read Article on the political Preferences of Wealthy American: Readings: Paige, Barttels and Seawright 2013. Policy Preferences of Wealth Americans: 1. http://faculty.wcas.northwestern.edu/~jnd260/cab/CAB2012%20- %20Page1.pdf

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Fr. Oct 10: Presentation: Political Parties and Elections Money in Politics – Discussion of Gilens and Paige 2014 Findings Read: 1. http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2014/4/16/oligarchy-politicsus.html 2. http://thedailyshow.cc.com/videos/kj9zai/martin-gilens---benjamin-page 3. Watch on own before class: Documentary: Priceless http://www.acrreform.org/feature/watch-the-documentary-priceless/

Explore Website: Common Cause http://www.commoncause.org/issues/money-in-politics/ Explore Website: Open Secrets https://www.opensecrets.org/

Joan Mandle- Executive Director of Democracy Matters http://aerbook.com/books/Change_Elections_to_Change_America-8861.html

Discussion of Exam 1 and Paper Assignment

Week 7 Tu. Oct. 14: Overview of Domhoff Who Rules America? Presentation: Power and Authority in America Read Text 1: Chapters 8 & 9: The Big Picture and Other Social Scientists Re-read Text 1: Chapters 1-9 Review Overview and Preparation for Examination 1

Fr. Oct. 17: Examination 1 – In Class

Week 8 Tu. Oct. 21: Film: Everything’s Cool This is a film on the politics of climate change but shows policy planning and opinion shaping networks at work Return of Exam 1

Fr. Oct. 24: The Politics of Global Climate Change -- Discussion and Case Study 1: Policy Planning and Opinion Shaping Networks in Action Readings: McCright and Dunlap: http://tcs.sagepub.com/content/27/2- 3/100.full.pdf+html Readings: 1. Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-countrys- sinking-climate-debate/2014/08/24/d4d4aeca-29ff-11e4-86ca- 6f03cbd15c1a_story.html?wpisrc=nl_most 2. Bob Brulle: http://drexel.edu/now/news-media/releases/archive/2013/December/Climate- Change/ 3. Guardian – Richard Muller – Climate Change Skeptic http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2012/jul/29/climate-change-sceptics- change-mind 4. NY Times: Robert Jay Lifton http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/24/opinion/sunday/the-climate-

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swerve.html?emc=edit_th_20140824&nl=todaysheadlines&nlid=42926961& _r=0’

Interview with Bob Brulle: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/environment/climate-of-doubt/robert- brulle-inside-the-climate-change-countermovement/

John Oliver: Last Week Tonight: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjuGCJJUGsg

Reflexivity Discussed http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiYn2G-rbEQ

Optional Readings for those who are really interested: Those really into climate change and its politics need to watch Years of Living Dangerously…. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brvhCnYvxQQ Optional CR: Freudenburg – “Seeding Science, Courting Conclusions” Optional CR: Jacques et al – “The Organization of Denial” Optional: Read CR: Freudenburg et al., “SCAMS: Science & The Politics of Doubt” Optional Read CR: Boykoff & Boykoff, “Balance as Bias”

Government Regulation: http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/176175/july-14- 2008/the-word---priceless

Week 9 Tu. Oct. 28: Presentation: The Age of Asymmetry – Terrorism Readings: Begin Reading Text 2: Hayes – Twilight of the Elites

Fr. Oct. 31: Presentation: Introduction to Protests and Social Movements – The Public’s Demand for Change Reading: http://freakonomics.com/2009/08/20/do-protests-matter-a- freakonomics-quorum/ On own take a look at video: NextGen: http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/regeneration/

Week 10 Tu. Nov. 03: Film: This is What Democracy Looks Like! Or on Occupy Wall Street Readings Text 3 (Hayes): Chapters 1 and 2

Fr. Nov. 07: Discussion of Film Readings: Text 3: Chapters 3 and 4 Exam 2 Study Guide Distributed

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Week 11 Tu. Nov. 11: Exploring the Tea Party Movement What is the Tea Party All About? Discussion of Theda Skocpol and Vanessa Williamson’s Tea Party Watch YouTube Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sdOM5P0H5Y

Fr. Nov. 14: Exploring Occupy Wall Street Movement What was Occupy Wall Street Movement About? Was it a successful movement or not? Was it really a or something else? Readings: Video: Mic Check Trailer: http://www.mediaed.org/cgi- bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=157

Another video option: American Autumn http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x12pwdb_american-autumn-an-occudoc- american-autumn-an-occudoc_shortfilms

Week 12: Tu. Nov. 18: Exploring the Arab Spring Social Movements and Their Consequence Presentation by: Dr. Charles Benjamin, President of the Near East Foundation

Fr. Nov. 21: Presentation, Discussion: Transnational Social Movements and Globalization Reading: Continue to Read Text 2 Hayes: Twilight of the Elite

Week 13: Tu. Nov. 25: Optional individual meetings on paper; work on paper project

Fr. Nov. 28: Thanksgiving Recess – Yea!

Week 14

Tu. Dec. 02: Presentation and Discussion of Current Thoughts on Elites – their fracturing and the corruption of American Meritocracy Thoughts on Text 2: Christopher Hays (Twilight) and Mark Mizruuchi’ “The Fracturing of the American Corporate Elite” Readings: Text 2: Finishing reading Hayes – Twilight of the Elites

Fr. Dec. 05: Final Thoughts/ Conclusions/ Exam 2 Review

Week 15

Tu. Dec. 09 Examination 2: In Class

Final paper Due: Monday December 15th by 3 p.m.

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Possible paper topics – simply ideas to help you think about your paper project either as a traditional topic research paper or as a deep analysis of a particular author or particular book.

Role of Think Tanks and Interest Groups in American Politics Do think tanks add or subtract from the public debate process in American Politics? What are their advantages and risks? Do they need to be better regulated?

Topics – Health Care The politics of heath care debate in the US – cause and consequences What is “ObamaCare about?” Will it succeed? Will it be dismantled and why/how? Comparative studies of health care in US and countries of Europe/ Canada

Topics – Environment/ Climate Change Why does the US public lag in its support for global climate change policy change? Can the US achieve independence from fossil fuels industry?

Conservative/ Liberal Politics How have conservatives managed to take over American politics? Is the Obama Administration a beginning of a new era of progressive politics or simply a short-term blimp? What is the role of conservative / liberal media on American Politics? Is the Tea Party and its actions long standing or very short-termed? What are its implications on American politics?

Globalization – sources and consequences; theoretical explanations Is the US declining as a superpower? Will globalization of economies increase wealth and wellbeing of the many or just a few?

Social Movements and Protests The role of the Civil Rights movement on American Politics The role of the environmental movement on American Politics World Trade Organization Protests/ WTO – Protests –Seattle [and elsewhere]

Civil Society and American Politics - How has or how should civil society shaped/ shape American politics? - Is civil society in America diminishing or thriving?; impacts on democracy? - Is civil society being challenged by Corporate sponsorship and power?

Inequities – sources and consequences; theoretical explanations

Global inequity – differences between rich and poor countries National Inequity – Differences between rich and poor within a given country, e.g. US or Brazil State and Regional Inequities – Differences between rich and poor within a state or region

Another option – write on a book or author that captures your interest – here the options are near limitless. You can do something relatively recent such as Arthur C. Brooks, The Battle: How the fight between Free Enterprise and Big Government will shape America’s future (2010): Basic; Thomas Frank’s The Wrecking Crew: How Conservatives Rule (2008): Metropolitan Books or John Micklethwait and Adrian Wooldridge’s The Right Nation – Conservative Power in America. If you are more interested in the role of government’s independence review David Wessel’s In Fed We Trust. Or you can write a on a classic such as C. Wright Mills’ The Power Elite. Interested in the class divide and the working class squeeze, consider Barbara Ehrenreich’s Nickel and Dimed or Larry Bartels’ Unequal Democracy (2008: Princeton). If you are into more conspiracy thinking take a look at Daniel Estulin. 2009. The True Story of the Bilderberg Group 2nd Edition or if you are into really radical views try Naomi Wolf’s The End of America: Letter of Warming to a Young Patriot. There is a brilliant book on the health care crisis, Maggie Mahar’s Money-Driven Health Care. If understanding social movements and protests fits your interest I recommend David S. Meyer’s The Politics of Protests and/ or Dana Fisher’s Activism, Inc. Your paper would have to be more than just a

11 book report. Rather you will need to integrate the theories, information and insights garnered from the course into the themes of the book or works of other authors. Like above, I will need to approve of your project.

Additional / Optional Readings and Resources

Interesting Websites to explore elite connections and money transfers/ lobbying in society: www.theyrule.net; www.Opensecrets.org

Recently Released:

Michelle Alexander. 2010/2012. The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness. The New Press.

Donald Barlett and James Steele. 2012.The Betrayal of the American Dream. Public Affairs.

Fred Block and Margaret R. Somers. 2014. The Power of Market Fundamentalism: Karl Polanyi’s Critique. Harvard University Press.

Uri Dadush et al. 2012. Inequality in America: Facts, Trends, and International Perspectives. Brookings Institution

E. J. Dionne, Jr. 2012. Our Divided Political Heart: The Battle for the American Idea in an Age of Discontent. NY: Bloombury

Thomas L. Friedman and Michael Mandelbaum. 2011. That Used To Be Us: How America Fell Behind in the World It Invented and How we can get it back. NY: FSG

Martin Gilens. 2012. Affluence & Influence: and Political Power in America. Princeton.

Hedrick Smiths. 2012. Who Stole the American Dream? Random House.

Thomas Mann and Norman Ornstein. 2012. It’s Even Worse Than It Looks: How the American Constitutional System Collided with the New Politics of Extremism. Basic

Mark S. Mizruchi. 2013. The Fracturing of the American Corporate Elite. Harvard

Timothy Noah. 2012. The Great Divergence: America’s Growing Inequality Crisis and What We Can Do About It NY: Bloombury

David Rothkopf. 2012. Power, Inc. The Epic Rivalry Between Big Business and Government – and the Reckoning that Lies Ahead. NY: FSG.

Theda Skocpol and Vanessa Williamson. 2013. The Tea Party and the Remaking of Republican Conservatism Oxford

Paul Starr. 2011. Remedy and Reaction: The Peculiar American Struggle Over Health Care Reform. Yale

David Stiglitz. 2012. The Prince of Inequality: How Today’s Divided Society Endangers Our Future. Norton.

David Wessel, 2012. Red Ink: Inside the High Stakes Politics of the Federal Budget. Crown.

****** OLDER BOOKS -

Larry M. Bartels. 2008. Unequal Democracy: The of the New Gilded Age. Princeton.

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Ha-Joon Chang. 2011. 23 Things They Did Not Tell You About Capitalism. Bloomsburg Press.

Ha-Joon Chang. 2008. Bad Samaritans: The Myth of Free Trade and the Secret History of Capitalism. Bloomburg Press.

Dan Clawson et al. 1998. Dollars and Votes. Temple University Press.

William D. Cohan. 2011. Money and Power: How Goldman Sachs Came to Rule the World. Double Day

Robert Dahl. 2005. Who Governs? Democracy and Power in an American City 2nd Edition. Yale.

Michael Edwards 2009. Civil Society 2nd Edition. Polity.

Barbara Ehrenreich. 2008. Nickel and Dimed: On (not) Getting By in America. Holt.

Daniel Estulin. 2009. The True Story of the Bilderberg Group 2nd Edition. Trine Day.

Dana Fisher. 2006. Activism, Inc.: How the Outsourcing of Grassroots Campaigns is Strangling Progressive Politics in America. Stanford.

Thomas Frank. 2008. The Wrecking Crew: How Conservatives Rule. Metropolitan Books.

Thomas Friedman. 2008. Hot, Flat and Crowded. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

Christopher Hedges. 2009. The Empire of Illusion: The End of Literacy and the Rise of Spectacle. Nation Books

Jerome Himmelstein. 1990. To the Right: The Transformation of American Conservatism. University of California Press.

Albert O. Hirschman. 1991. The Rhetoric of Reaction: Perversity, Futility, Jeopardy. Harvard University Press.

Naomi Klein. 2008. The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism. Picador.

David C. Korten. 2001. When Corporations Rule the World 2nd Ed. Kumarian Press.

Jeff Madrick. 2011. Age of Greed: the Triumph of Finance and the Decline of America 1970 to the Present. Knopf.

Issac W. Martin. 2008. The Permanent Tax Revolt. Stanford University Press.

Paul Mason. 2010. Meltdown: The End of the Age of Greed. Verso.

Seymour Martin Lipset 1981 (1960). Political Man: The Social Basis of Politics. Johns Hopkins University Press

Maggie Mahar. 2006. Money Driven Health Care: The Real Reason Health Care Costs so Much. Harper Business.

Doug McAdam 1988. Freedom Summer. Oxford.

John Micklethwait and Adrian Wooldridge. 2005. Right Nation: Conservative Power in America. Penguin.

C. Wright Mills. 1956 (2000). The Power Elite. Oxford

David S. Meyers, 2006. The Politics of Protests: Social Movement in America. Oxford.

Jan Nedereen-Piererse. 2008. Is Their Hope for Uncle Sam? Zed Books.

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Christopher Newfield. 2008. Unmaking the Public University. Harvard University Press.

Ron Paul. 2009. The Revolution: A Manifesto. Grand Central Publishing.

Don Peck 2011. Pinched: How the Great Recession Narrowed Our Futures and What We Can Do About It. Crown.

John Perkins. 2005. Confessions of an Economic Hit Man. Plume.

Kim Phllips-Fein. 2009. Invisible Hands: The Making of the Conservative Movement from the New Deal to Reagan. Norton.

Kevin Phillips 2008: Bad Money: Reckless Finance, Failed Politics, and the Global Crisis of American Capitalism. Viking.

Kevin Phillips. 2003. Wealth and Democracy: A of the American Rich. Broadway.

Kevin Phillips. 2006. American Theocracy: The Perils and Politics of Radical Religion, Oil, and Borrowed Money. Viking.

Robert Putnam. 2001. Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community. Simon and Schuster.

Robert Reich. 2010. After Shock: Next Economy and America’s Future Knopf.

Andrew Rich. 2004. Think Tanks, , and the Politics of Expertise. Cambridge

Andrew R. Sorkin. 2011. Too Big To Fail: The Inside Story of How Wall Street and Washington Fought to Save the Financial System and Themselves. Penguin.

Theda Stocpol [with others]. 1985. Bringing the State Back In. Cambridge.

Theda Stocpol. 2003. Diminishing Democracy: From Membership to Management in American Civic Life. Oklahoma.

Sidney Tarrow. 1998. Power in Movement: Social Movements and Contentious Politics. Cambridge.

Richard Thaler and Cass R. Sunstein 2009. Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness. Penguin.

David Wessel. 2009. In Fed We Trust: Ben Bernanke’s War on the Great Panic: How the Federal Reserve Became the Fourth Branch of Government. Crown.

Naomi Wolf. 2008. Give Me Liberty: A Handbook for American Revolutionaries. Simon & Schuster.

Naomi Wolf. 2009. The End of America: Letter of Warming to a Young Patriot. Chelsea Green.

Sheldon S. Wolin. 2009. Democracy Inc.: Managed Democracy and the Specter of Inverted Totalitarianism. Princeton.

Fareed Zakaria 2009. The Post American World. Norton.

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Movies

American Autumn http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x12pwdb_american-autumn-an-occudoc-american-autumn- an-occudoc_shortfilms

American Ruling Class http://vimeo.com/46181665

Other Sources: Mic Check; Just do it; American Autumn; The Next American Revolution; ReGeneration; The Billionaires’ Tea Party; How to Start a Revolution

Regarding Media: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/21/business/media/koch-brothers-making-play- for-tribunes-newspapers.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20130421&_r=0 http://faculty.wcas.northwestern.edu/~jnd260/cab/CAB2012%20-%20Page1.pdf [1% policy views] link to Documentary… ReGeneration – perhaps during social movement section http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/regeneration/

Years of Living Dangerously…. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brvhCnYvxQQ more on inequality: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/how-the-last-decade-created-a-brutal-wealth-divide/ http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2014/4/16/oligarchy-politicsus.html

Citizen Koch – Trailer http://www.citizenkoch.com/page/content/trailer

Jane Mayer New Yorker Article on the Koch Brothers http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2010/08/30/covert-operations

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