Week02 (Ib): Politics and Power
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Hi everyone and welcome to Week02. I apologize for posting this so late (and then posting the wrong version at first), but things have settled down a bit and with luck this is the last glitch for my use of Canvas.

What's the point of this week? (The goals)

The point of this week is to understand the core concepts underlying political science, especially the ways in which structure shapes our lives and our degree of agency. One definition of politics is agency at a broader group or community level. In order to fully understand agency, we need to understand power in its various forms. I will also want you to understand just a little bit about the broader study of politics known as political science.

Why learn this?

As constrained agents within a world of structure, the only tool we've got to make our world a better place is organized effort. Another world for that is politics. Understanding the underlying principles of politics will help us to do it better.

**What should you do before class? (The reading)**

There is a packet of three very short readings that I would like you to have read for tomorrow. Here's the packet: Enyedi, Gaddis and Govwrites-Excerpts on Politics and Political Science.pdf

Here's what's in the packet:

A 4 page excerpt from my own new textbook manuscript on politics and power (never before read by anybody--which is exciting but a bit scary)
A 2 page excerpt from John Lewis Gaddis' book called The Landscape of History about why history is a science. When Gaddis writes "history" read into it "political science"
A 3 page discussion of the field of political science and its subfields from Govwrites, a program of the Harvard University political science program.

The packet also contains some additional reading that you may find interesting given what you've read before.

**What do you need to hand in by the end of the week? (The assignment)**

There are no written assignments for the week, but finishing the reading and coming to class will prepare you for next Wednesday's small test. I will also prepare a short study guide that I will post on Monday of next week.

If you have any questions, let me know right away at kdk@wayne.edu or text to 313-744-3535.

Always Ask!

Thanks so much. I really look forward to learning a lot with you this semester!

(Remember, always ask!)