History/Social Sciences   

This course will walk through one of the most famous studies of fascism across time, Robert Paxton's Anatomy of Fascism. Each week, will cover the main ideas from a chapter of the book, as well as advances in the field since its publication in 2004. Learners are invited but not obligated to read each chapter at home before each class. Note: this class meets twice a week on Wednesdays and Fridays.

Recommended reading: The Anatomy of Fascism, by Robert Paxton, Vintage, any edition. 

 

10-6: Sherrie Gette: More Everything Forever by Adam Becker. 

10-13: Maureen Smith: All the President’s Money: How the Men Who Governed America Governed Their Money, by Megan Gorman.

10-20: Merrily Mazza: The Think Tank Racket by Glenn Diesen.

10-27: Deborah Dillon/Steve Ballinger: Peak Higher Education: How to Survive the Looming Crisis by Bryan Alexander.

11-3: Phil Fishman: Suffrage by Ellen Dubois

11-10: Dan Hunt: King Leopold’s Ghost by Adam Hochschild

11-17: Ann Knapp: The Swerve by Stephen Greenblatt

 

Economics plays a central role in  every aspect of society. This course addresses a set of prominent policy issues where economics is at their core. We will explore their origins as policy matters, the underlying data and evidence, and what policy levers are available to deal with them. Lectures will be standalone, taught by a subject matter expert – all of whom have a Ph.D. in Economics. Potential topics include Climate Change, Social Security, Economic Inequality, and many more. The topics will be determined by what is most topical at the time of the course.  No reading is required. Course guide correction: The first meeting of this course is on Thursday, October 8th. 

In the late 1930’s, a time of significant crisis, John Dewey proposed that democracy is not a static form of government, but rather an approach to living and learning in community that must be reimagined and enacted anew each generation. In this 5-session workshop, we will explore techniques that can be used in classroom and community settings to work collectively to reinvent democracy in response to the challenges of our times.    

Jackson was a military leader and the President of the United States. This course will discuss all aspects of Jackson's life, including but not limited to: his early life, plus his marriage and family, his status as a slave owner, involvement in pistol duels, his experiences in the War of 1812 (including the major battle at New Orleans and treatment of troops), involvement in Native-American removal westward, his presidency, controversies, an assassination attempt, and the Slave Revolt by Nat Turner with Jackson's response.

Friday, 10/23: Todd Lefko, U.S. Tariffs and the Future of the World Economy

U.S. trade and tariff policies have shaken global economic norms. What’s the rationale behind this shift in economic policy, and what are the implications for multilateral trade and geopolitics?

Todd Lefko is President of the International Business Development Company, an import-export firm dealing with water purification equipment, kilns, linen, art, and new technologies.

10/30 - No class.

Friday, 11/6: Christi Silver, The Future of Human Rights and International Law

As democracy and human rights retreat globally—and the U.S. pulls back—how can civil society and legal norms remain effective in a divided world? What is the role and force of international law in this era of impunity?

Christi Siver is a Professor of Political Science at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University. 

Friday, 11/13, No class.

Friday, 11/20: Anne Linnee, U.S. Foreign Policy: America and the World

The federal administration has broken from 80 years of U.S. foreign policy leadership, embracing an “America First” approach. This session explores the impact of isolation and diminished influence in relation to current U.S. foreign policy. 

Anne Linnee retired from the State Department in 2023 following a more than 20-year career as a U.S. Foreign Service Officer.