Season 1 Episodes
1. Where Did Democracy Come From, and Does It Still Work?
A government by the people, for the people sounds like a good idea. But is democracy really all it’s cracked up to be? In this episode of Crash Course Political Theory, we’ll learn democracy has had its fair share of critics, past and present. And even those in favor of the idea don’t necessarily agree on what democracy should be.
2. What Does Liberalism Mean?
Liberty and the rights of individuals form the backbone of American politics. But what is “liberty” anyway? In this episode of Crash Course Political Theory, we learn the fundamentals of Classical Liberalism and how 17th-century philosophers impact politics today.
3. Identity politics: equal rights for all?
Should our government ignore our identities or focus on them? In this episode of Crash Course Political Theory, we’ll explore the role identity plays in politics and government, from affirmative action to white backlash, and ask, “What is fair?”
4. What Are the Rules of War? Just War Theory
Is war ever justified, and how could we tell if it were? In this episode of Crash Course Political Theory, we tackle Just War Theory through the lens of one of the most contentious conflicts in the past few decades: the Iraq War.
5. What does Machiavellian mean?
What if a person is a good leader… and a bad person? In this episode of Crash Course Political Theory, we unpack that idea through the lens of Machiavelli’s famous treatise, “The Prince,” and find more questions than answers.
6. Who Was Karl Marx? And Why Is Everyone Still Talking About Him?
To some, Marxism is the solution to all capitalism’s problems. To others, it’s a major threat to democracy. But what did Karl Marx really say about capitalism and communism, and how can that help shape our discussions today?
7. A World Without Governments? Anarchism Explained
The word anarchy is synonymous with chaos, but what does it mean to political theorists? In this episode of Crash Course Political Theory, we explore the theories and practices of anarchism.
8. What Does Feminism Stand For?
What does it mean to be a feminist in the 21st century? How have the movements that brought us here shaped the ways we understand feminist political theory? And, perhaps most importantly, what comes next?
9. Political Cosmopolitanism
What do we owe other people? Are we just as obligated to help someone on the other side of the world as someone who lives across the street? In this episode of Crash Course Political Theory, we’ll explore the pros and cons of going global versus keeping it local in today’s world of politics.
10. Episode 10
Movie and TV Reviews
