Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2019 - HIST 463W D100

Rebellion and Revolution: Topics in the Theory and Practice of Resistance (4)

Dismantling Capitalism

Class Number: 4925

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 3 – Dec 2, 2019: Mon, 9:30 a.m.–1:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Instructor:

    Mark Leier
    leier@sfu.ca
    1 778 782-5827
    Office: AQ 6010

  • Prerequisites:

    45 units including nine units of lower division history.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Explores ideas, people, and movements of social criticism and social justice, stressing history as a way to understand and engage the present. Content may vary from offering to offering; see course outline for further information. HIST 463W may be repeated for credit only when a different topic is taught. Students with credit for HIST 412 or HIST 412W cannot take HIST 463W for further credit when offered with the course topic "Marxism." Writing.

COURSE DETAILS:

Dismantling Capitalism:  A Critical, Lively Look at Capitalism, Marxism, and Anarchism

The writer Ursula Le Guin observed, “We live in capitalism. Its power seems inescapable. So did the divine right of kings.” In case you missed it, no one believes in the divine right of kings any more.

We’ll examine capitalism through the critical lenses of Marxism and anarchism to question the world we live in and think about alternatives.

In our eleven weeks of seminars, (there are two statutory holidays) we’ll read and discuss 7 books chosen for their length (short!), ability to engage and inspire (high!), and their lively treatment of ideas and histories.

We’ll devote two weeks to presentations, which we will discuss and develop in our seminars.

Grading

  • Grading will be based on the presentation, notes on reading and discussion collected in a portfolio, participation, and self-assessment. We’ll decide on the relative weight of each of these in the seminar.

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Yanis Varoufakis, Talking to My Daughter about the Economy, or, How Capitalism Works—and How It Fails

Helen Razer, Total Propaganda: Basic Marxist Brainwashing for the Angry and the Young

James C. Scott, Two Cheers for Anarchism

Francis Dupuis-Déri, Anarchy Explained to My Father

Wayne Price, The Value of Radical Theory

Cinzia Arruzza, Tithi Bhattacharya, Nancy Fraser, Feminism for the 99%

Rutger Bregman, Utopia for Realists

Registrar Notes:

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS