The Authoritarian Challenge to Our Democracy. Spring 2023

 The Authoritarian Challenge to Our Democracy: What is to be done?

Duane Campbell. Course Outline 

Intro to the Renaissance seminar. 2023

 Topic: Authoritarian Challenge to our Democracy , note. Their will be changes to this outline based upon seminar developments. 

The current crisis. 

            Defining the issues.  

            Jan 6. Insurrection. The House Committee Hearings.

            Extremism . 

            Crisis on the Right

Models of authoritarian take over

                        

            Psychology of authoritarians

            History of authoritarian efforts in U.S. 

            Replacement theory 

            Tipping points.

            “American Reckoning”. PBS. Interview. 

 

Can democracy survive ?

            Merge Left: Ian Haney Lopez.

            Limiting the right to vote. -video

            Groups working to protect democracy.

            The dangers of a coup / Fascism 

 

How we got here. 

            How economies work. 

            Heather McGee. The sum of us.

            Economics of neoliberal capitalism.

            Current economic situations

            Inflation.

            Economic concentration

            Inequality; the end of the American Dream ?

            

Alternative views of the economic situation

What happens when 40% of the society does not believe progress is possible? 

Crisis of democracy ? 

            Homelessness

            Citizens United.

            Climate crisis.   

Politics of our era.

            Ian Haney Lopez, Merge Left.             

            A Progressive Agenda

                        Inflation Adjustment Act.

                        Prior budget proposals.

                        Sanders et al

                        Tax enforcement

 

            The Right.  Trump and his allies.

                        Replacement theory 

                          Tipping point

                        Who funds the Right? See Billionaires. 

                        Conspiracies , how they grow

                        Voter suppression- video;  Jane Mayer,  Georgia.

                        The organization of Right Wing politics.

                        Will there be a second coup attempt.?

                        The armed Right 

                        White Power Movement. 

                     Christian nationalism

The media.

                        Influencing Attitudes and Behaviors

                     Social media

                     Weapons of mass deception 

 

State and local budgets.

            Poverty 

            Homeless        

 

Organizations and campaigns

            Poor People’s Campaign 

            The Third Wave

            Reports from seminar members. What are you doing? 

            How to talk with your conservative neighbors 

 

The climate crisis

 

Race.  Critical Race theory

 

Immigration.  The “Great Replacement “ conspiracy.

Deep State 

 

Voting;

What more can we do?  Jan. 6.2021.  practice for a coup.

Mark Engler 

            

 

 Topic: Authoritarian Challenge to our Democracy