Obedience and resistance power point.pptx

Why do we obey and is democracy a good idea?

In this lecture we will interrogate the key questions of obedience and democracy. We will discuss key concepts of obedience and resistance, power relations, and agency and responsibility, with a focus on our relationship to the state. We will be reflecting upon notions of obedience to laws, norms, orders, etc. and how they are connected to ideas about authority, power, sovereignty, legitimacy, and citizenship.

Teachers: Philip Wade

Questions to Reflect on

What are the basic premises and assumptions upon which the ideal political order of the modern liberal state rest?

How are notions of obedience to laws, norms, orders, etc. connected to ideas about authority, power, sovereignty, legitimacy, and citizenship?

If, for instance, we view power as productive of our seemingly free choices and indeed of ourselves as (law abiding?) citizens, is liberal democracy a good idea? If not, what forms of political order might be better, and according to what parameters of judgement?

Is obedience to the state (being a law-abiding citizen) always the right thing to do, or are there occasions when people are justified in resisting? Thinking about some of the examples in the literature and lecture, and what we have spoken about regarding agency and responsibility- evaluate the defence: 'I was only following orders,' or 'I was just doing my job.' How do you feel about this? What sort of situations do you feel it might be justified and when is it not?

Obligatory Reading:

Edkins, Jenny. 2019. ‘Why do we Obey?’ (Chapter 7), in Global Politics : A New Introduction, edited by Jenny Edkins and Maja Zehfus. pp: 124-143.

Taylor, Lucy. 2019. ‘Is democaracy a good idea?’ (Chapter 14), in Global Politics : A New Introduction, edited by Jenny Edkins and Maja Zehfus. pp: 275-297.

Suggested sources:

Note: See sources under seminar module: Quantifying (non-)democratic governance!

and at our own Blogal Studies! (https://www.blogalstudies.com/2-populism)

On perpetrators of mass atrocities:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/6rUK0vJW60ktpaddm3AytY

Books/articles:

Arendt, Hannah. 1970. On Violence. Harcourt Brace Javanovich

Arendt, Hannah. 1977. Eichmann in Jerusalem. New York: Viking Penguin.

Césaire, Aimé. 2000. Discourse on Colonialism. New York. NYU Press,

Dahl, Robert. 1991. Democracy and its Critics. New Haven: Yale University Press.

Milgram, S. (1963). Behavioral Study of obedience. The Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 67(4), 371–378. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0040525

Mouffe, Chatalle. 2000. The Democratic Paradox. New York: Verso

Hatzfield, Jean. 2006. Machete Season. Picador.

Newspaper articles (try and read at least one)

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/oct/14/just-stop-oil-activists-throw-soup-at-van-goghs-sunflowers

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2012/jan/19/are-obedient-children-a-good-thing

https://amazingdiscoveries.org/15.12.22-china-has-made-obedience-to-the-state-a-game

https://www.businessinsider.com/sweden-coronavirus-strategy-explained-culture-of-trust-and-obedience-2020-4

Film/Documentary/video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LjAESuTW-U

Hannah Arendt, 'Eichman in Jerusalem.' This is a video summary of the book in the suggested reading section. Reflect on contrary ideas of Eichman as a 'monster' and Eichman as a 'law abiding citizen.'

https://youtu.be/fLJBzhcSWTk?si=21hqEwtE3DNXQpg-

Why Socrates hated democracy. Do you think Socrates was justified in his skepticism? Can you think of any problems with how Socrates thought the vote should be used?

https://edition.cnn.com/videos/style/2021/01/20/amanda-gorman-youth-poet-laureate-full-poem-biden-capitol-inauguration-vpx.cnn

https://www.svtplay.se/video/32823051/stormningen-av-kapitolium

Conspiracy. 2001. Written by Loring Mandel; Directed by Frank Pierson. BBC/HBO.

Hotel Rwanda. 2004. Written by George and Kier Pearson. Directed by Terri George. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-26875506

Music

https://youtu.be/HrxX9TBj2zYLinks to an external site.

Pink Floyd's 'The Wall part 2' song. Reflect on what you think the songwriter means by 'the wall' (feel free to read the lyrics) and what does some of the imagery in the video represent? The cartoon of the schoolteacher feeding the children into a meat grinder for example.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L397TWLwrUULinks to an external site.

Judas Priest 'Breaking the Law' song. In the lyrics, how would you summarize the songwriters' reasons for 'breaking the law?' Do you think they are justified?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJ_CJlMFLQ8&ab_channel=SLICETravel Short documentary video, “Chile: Mapuche Indigenous people singing loud and proud.” Reflect on how Mapuche music and expression is contrasted with images of state violence against the Mapuche