In this seminar, we will explore how democratic ways of living can help us sustain democracy in dark times. Our country has been characterized as a “faltering” democracy for more than a decade by international monitoring groups. Commentators have focused on the rise of authoritarian populism around the world and a widespread dehumanization of daily life and degradation of civility. In our class discussions, we will downshift from these global trends to examine the democratic arts of listening, reasoning, and imagining together as a way to sustain hope and resist demagoguery. We will explore how such equitable ways of thinking and living can help us stand against factionalism, injustice, and post-factual politics. We will take note of national deliberations on the economy, immigration, and environmental and social change, but our central focus will be on how thinking globally and engaging locally can help us step up to resist tyranny, support those in need, and expand our collective understanding of the issues and opportunities we face.
Required Reading
No textbook is required. All readings will be distributed to students electronically.
Meet Your Instructor
THOMAS P. MILLER is a Professor Emeritus of English at the University of Arizona. His research focuses on rhetoric, higher education, and leadership, particularly the coalitional leadership of early-career faculty and new-majority students. His history of college English received a national book award from the Modern Language Association, and he has received awards for his teaching, mentoring, leadership, and advocacy for shared governance as Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs at the UA.
Location
POETRY CENTER
Dorothy Rubel Room
1508 E Helen
Tucson, AZ 85721
United States
Located on the SE corner of Helen Street and Vine Avenue, one block north of Speedway and three blocks west of Campbell Ave.
