Global Politics (POLS 200)
Instructor information
Dr. José Marichal (he/him/his)
Professor of Political Science
Office Hours: SWEN 228: MWF 2:00 to 3:00 or by appointment
Contact: marichal@callutheran.edu
Time and Place: (HUM) 110
About the Instructor
José Marichal is a professor of political science at California Lutheran University. His research specializes in the role that algorithms and AI play in restructuring social and political institutions. He is the author of You Must Become an Algorithmic Problem (2023) and Facebook Democracy. His upcoming book, Machine Liberalism: Reconceptualizing Rights in the Age of AI, is slated for 2027.
Course Goals
The course aims to build a "global affairs toolkit" to help students understand the complex and uncertain international landscape. It covers fundamental lenses of global politics, political and economic systems, globalization vs. nationalism, and the impact of AI and technology.
Class Environment & Rules
- Respectful Discourse: The class is a "safe place" where rude interruptions, insults, or personal attacks will not be tolerated.
- Late Policy: No make-ups or re-writes are offered for quizzes or exams. Late take-home assignments are generally not graded without emergency documentation.
- AI Usage Policy: AI is not banned but must be used responsibly. Students must disclose when and how AI was used. Improper usage (e.g., submitting AI-generated work without revision) may result in the work being marked incomplete.
Course Resources
AI-Assisted Reading Tool: NotebookLM
To help you grasp the complex concepts in our readings, I encourage the responsible use of Google NotebookLM. This tool allows you to upload our course PDFs and ask questions, generate summaries, and even create audio overviews to check your understanding.
How to use it responsibly:
- Official Guide: How to use NotebookLM
- Video Tutorial: Using NotebookLM for Study (Tiago Forte)
- FSU Guide: Ethical and Effective Use
Remember: Use this to deepen your understanding, not to replace reading. You will still need to cite specific page numbers and quotes in your assignments that AI summaries might miss.
Attendance Policy
Regular attendance participation in class sessions is vital to course learning experiences. You are expected to attend all scheduled class sessions. If illness or emergency results in absence, then email me as soon as possible; on Canvas, review each session’s lecture slides (key course content covered that day). I will take a roll call during class sessions. A few absences are anticipated during a semester, and you are responsible for material covered during any class you miss. However, if you miss more than five classes for unexcused reasons, you cannot pass the course.
Course Assignments
Reflective Artifact Portfolio (30 points): A weekly reflection (300-400 words) where you connect a digital artifact (song, video, meme) to the week's political "right," analyzing it through the lens of class discussions.
Exams (40 points): Two exams (20 points each) consisting of key concept identifications and an analytical essay based on a case study.
Debate Project (30 points): A step-by-step project focusing on "empathetic argumentation" and "steel-manning" opposing views, culminating in an in-class debate focused on understanding rather than just "winning."
University Policies
(Refer to standard university policies for Title IX, Disability Support Services, Academic Honesty, and Veteran Resources.)
Schedule
Introduction
Unit 1: Theories of Global Politics
- Walt - One World, Many Theories
- Class Slides
- Notebook LM Page (Google Log-in Required)
Unit 2: Is (US) Liberal Democracy the Best form of Government?
- What Democracy is...and is Not
- Slides
- NotebookLM resources (Login to your Google account to access)
🗣️ Small Group Discussion Prompts
- Based on the "What Democracy Is... and Is Not" reading, what is a common misconception about democracy that you found surprising or challenging?
- How does the distinction between "liberalism" and "democracy" help us understand current political tensions in the US or globally?
- If democracy is not just "majority rule," what are the essential components that make a system truly democratic according to Schmitter and Lynn?
🗣️ Small Group Discussion Prompts
- Levitsky & Ziblatt argue that democracies often die at the ballot box rather than through coups. What are the "warning signs" or key indicators they believe we should watch for?
- How do "norms" (unwritten rules) protect democracy, and can you identify a recent example where a political norm was tested or broken?
- Is the concern about democratic backsliding in the US overstated, or do you see evidence of the pattern Levitsky & Ziblatt describe in your own political observations?
Dr. Charles Hall (Pepperdine) examines the intersection of religious identity and political ideology. Event Details
Dr. Marichal discusses his new book on the unspoken agreement with tech companies and its consequences for liberal democracy.
- Eric X. Li: A tale of two political systems (Video)
- Life in authoritarian states is mostly boring and tolerable - Vox
- Class Slides
Debate Assignment 1: Research & Claim (5 pts)
Due: Feb 13
Task: Select a debatable topic and write a one-sentence claim statement. Provide an annotated bibliography of 5 sources (3 supporting, 2 opposing).
Unit 3: Is there an alternative to capitalism?
(Example: A TikTok about "old money aesthetic", a news clip about billionaires, or a meme about inflation.)
With Dr. John Garcia. Focus on self-reliance, empowerment, and preparedness for students handling their own finances.
Assignment 1: Right to Resources & Inequality
Due: Friday, February 20
Task: Locate a piece of specific digital content that illustrates unequal access to resources.
Prompt: How does this artifact visualize or normalize inequality?
(Example: Videos about "grindset", GoFundMe campaigns for medical bills, or tweets about rent prices.)
Film screening of street artist JR's work turning communities inside out into social art installations.
Assignment 2: Right to Economic Security
Due: Friday, February 27
Task: Find an artifact that speaks to the fragility of economic security.
Prompt: What does this tell us about who is protected and who is your specific claim? (Source: Portfolio Guide)
Debate Assignment 2: Opposition Brief (5 pts)
Due: Feb 27
Task: Argue AGAINST your original claim. Identify 3 strong opposing arguments with evidence. Write a reflection on what you learned.
Unit 4: Is Globalization Good for Humanity?
(Example: Viral clips of activists interrupting speeches, social media bans of certain figures, or "who is in the room" at summits.)
Assignment 3: Right to Participation & Voice
Due: Friday, March 6
Task: Find digital content that highlights inclusion or exclusion from political power.
Prompt: Whose voice is amplified and whose is silenced in this artifact?
(Example: "Tradwife" content, patriotic edits, or memes about immigration/borders.)
Assignment 4: Right to Belonging
Due: Friday, March 13
Task: Select an artifact that draws a line between who belongs and who doesn't.
Prompt: How does this artifact construct a sense of 'community' or 'otherness'?
Debate Assignment 3: Argument Construction (7 pts)
Due: Mar 13
Task: Build your affirmative case. develop 2 main arguments with Warrants/Evidence. Address counterarguments and include 2 questions for the opposition.
Unit 5: Is Nationalism Bad for Humanity?
(Example: Jokes about "my FBI agent", footage of Ring doorbells, or debates about encryption/privacy.)
Assignment 5: Right to Security vs. Freedom
Due: Friday, March 27
Task: Find an artifact that engages with the tension between being safe and being free.
Prompt: Does this artifact present security as protection or control?
Debate Assignment 4: Outline & Note Cards (5 pts)
Due: Mar 27
Task: Create a formal outline of your debate performance and clear, legible note cards (max 6) for use during the debate.
(Example: Footage of civil unrest, memes mocking authority figures, or "cancel culture" discourse.)
Assignment 6: Right to Dissent
Due: Friday, April 3
Task: Choose an artifact that depicts or enacts political dissent.
Prompt: How is the act of resistance framed—heroic, dangerous, or futile?
Unit 6: IS AI a Threat to the International Order?
Dr. Alex Madva discusses how to connect personal choices to structural change regarding climate change, racism, and poverty.
(Example: Deepfakes of politicians, "AI slop" in search results, or debates about ChatGPT bans.)
Documentary on systemic failures within the Alabama prison system and the Free Alabama Movement.
Debate Assignment 5: Debate Performance (8 pts)
Performances: Apr 15 - Apr 17
Format: 4-person groups, note cards ONLY (NO electronics).
Assignment 7: Right to Knowledge
Due: Friday, April 17
Task: Find an artifact that questions the validity or source of knowledge/information.
Prompt: How does this artifact challenge our understanding of what is 'true' or 'knowable'?
(Example: Videos about cobalt mining, photos of server farms, or tracking a package's global journey.)
Assignment 8: Right to Infrastructure
Due: Friday, April 24
Task: Find an artifact that exposes the invisible systems making modern life possible.
Prompt: What hidden dependency does this artifact reveal?
(Example: "Fast fashion" hauls vs. critiques, e-waste dumps, or climate protest footage.)
Assignment 9: Right to a Sustainable Planet
Due: Friday, May 1
Task: Select an artifact connecting human/technological activity to the natural world.
Prompt: How does this artifact represent the ecological cost of our lifestyle?
Final Week
Final Assignment: Portfolio Assembly & Reflection
Due: Friday, May 8
Task: Curate your weekly reflections and write a final synthesis.
Theme: Assembly & Reflection
Grades
Your final grade for semester will be based on total accumulated points as follows:
Assignments Summary
- Global Toolkit Portfolio = 30 points
- Braver Angels Debate = 30 points
- Exams (2 x 20 points) = 40 points
- Total = 100 points