Lessons from history…or not.

Mark Twain wrote: “History doesn’t repeat itself, but it often rhymes.” As a nation we are in trench warfare; no longer do we view our political opposites as simply wrong or misguided, but as enemies. A few years ago historian Richard North Patterson wrote, “In this environment, partisan loathing is political crack cocaine for politicians who traffic in demagoguery and division. Today’s America is 1968 on steroids.”

The primary questions that will be addressed include: During what periods in our history have we experienced severe political and cultural divisions? In each case, what were the compelling issues and how did we restore some unity?

What are the roots of the toxic divide today, and in what ways are the divisions today similar and different from those in the past? How is ‘affective’ polarization different from issue polarization? And most critically, are there lessons from the past that might be instructive as we view our future as a nation or is today’s polarization so unique as not to rhyme with our past? And what are the implications for the future?

The class will combine presentations by the instructor with discussion. Each participant is expected to be engaged in seeking thoughtful answers to these questions. The goal is to bring the past and present together to better understand how we have arrived at this condition today described by some as “tribal warfare” and how we might move forward. All views are, of course, welcome, but the class is not for political rantings. Weekly readings will be posted online.