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 series of reflections (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.
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.
- NotebookLM Page (Google Log-in Required)
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?
Debate Assignment 1: Research & Claim (5 pts)
Due: Feb 20
Task: Select a debatable topic and write a one-sentence claim statement. Provide an annotated bibliography of 5 sources (3 supporting, 2 opposing).
(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)
Unit 4: Is Globalization Good for Humanity?
(Example: "Tradwife" content, patriotic edits, or memes about immigration/borders.)
Assignment 3: 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 2: Opposition Brief (5 pts)
Due: Mar 27
Task: Argue AGAINST your original claim. Identify 3 strong opposing arguments with evidence. Write a reflection on what you learned.
Unit 5: Is Nationalism Bad for Humanity?
(Example: Footage of civil unrest, memes mocking authority figures, or "cancel culture" discourse.)
Assignment 4: 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.
Debate Assignment 3: Argument Construction (7 pts)
Due: Apr 10
Task: Build your affirmative case. develop 2 main arguments with Warrants/Evidence. Address counterarguments and include 2 questions for the opposition.
(Example: Videos about cobalt mining, photos of server farms, or tracking a package's global journey.)
Debate Assignment 4: Outline & Note Cards (5 pts)
Due: Apr 24
Task: Create a formal outline of your debate performance and clear, legible note cards (max 6) for use during the debate.
Final Week
Final Assignment: Portfolio Assembly & Reflection
Due: Friday, May 8
Task: Curate your weekly reflections and write a final synthesis.
Theme: Assembly & Reflection
Debate Assignment 5: Debate Performance (8 pts)
Due: May 8
Format: 4-person groups, note cards ONLY (NO electronics).
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