Culture Wars in Contemporary Democracies

elective courses

According to J. D. Hunter (1991), the striking polarization of American society in the late 20th century took a form of „culture wars” between the cultural right (conservatives, traditionalists) and the cultural left (liberals, secular progressives). Today, it is evident that similar tendencies affect also other democratic societies.

The course will introduce students into the concept of culture wars, its origins and exemplifications. J. D. Hunter’s original conception will be thoroughly discussed, together with a number of key divisive issues, polarizing contemporary democratic societies (status of moral values, the church-state relations, abortion, gay rights, gun control, evolution vs. creationism, climate change, etc.). Main ideologues and “culture warriors” in the US and selected European countries will be identified and characterized. Three main theoretical interpretations of this phenomenon as well as critical approaches to the culture war model will be also discussed.

The concept of culture wars has been used in Europe, in a variety of meanings, since late 19th century, even though some instances of the phenomenon can be traced back to ancient times.

Its more recent use is associated with James Davison Hunter’s (1991) interpretation of the striking axiological and ideological polarization of the American society. According to Hunter, in contemporary American society the fundamental ideological and axiological divisions have become more important than those based on strictly religious or political affiliation, social class, economic status or ethnicity. This polarization led to formation of two major ideological “camps”, struggling with each other and seeking dominance: the cultural right (conservatives, traditionalists) and the cultural left (liberals, secular progressives). The fundamental ideological and axiological divisions have become more significant than those based on strictly religious or political affiliation, social class, economic status or ethnicity.

In the last thirty years, Hunter’s model of the culture wars attracted considerable attention, especially among activists and journalists (usually on the right side), and, to some extent, also sociologists and political scientists. Theoretical adequacy and explanatory advantages of this model remain a highly contested matter (A. Wolfe, 2006, I. T. Thomson, 2010), but the phenomenon of culture wars keeps manifesting itself in various forms, on daily basis, in American social life, politics and media.

At present, both research findings and countless empirical observations prove that similar tendencies and animosities take place in other societies as well. It may be argued that this phenomenon have become one of the peculiar (and troublesome) features of the current liberal democracy as such, though democratic societies vary in terms of intensity of these conflicts.

Therefore, starting with the American example, we will expand our explorations to include a few of European democracies, identifying both the core characteristics and local/specific aspects of axiological conflicts in those countries. We will also discuss the question why some democratic societies (such as Hungary or Poland) are more susceptible to such animosities and controversies, while in others (for instance Germany or Scandinavian countries) political culture remains more consensual.

Regarding more general and theoretical questions, we will examine three major explications of culture wars: 1) Hunter’s, referring to the evolution of religious conflicts, 2) resulting from tensions within liberal and democratic values/ideas, 3) psychological and cognitivist. Critical approaches to Hunter’s model will be also taken into account.

Finally, we will discuss the question if culture wars should be considered an inherent feature or a potential threat to contemporary democracies.

The course is open to students of political and social sciences. It requires no specific prerequisites, apart from 1) reasonable command of spoken and written English, 2) decent knowledge of fundamental political concepts and notions.

Online course rules and requirements:

1. Steady attendance. Two absences are allowed without consequences. In case of greater number of absences, an extra assignment paper will be required.

2. Having cameras (continuously) on during classes is not required. However, each participant has to be ready to use her/his camera in cases explained below (points 3, 4 and 5).

3. Participation in online class discussions, based first of all on assigned reading, is strongly recommended. It is required if a student intends to complete this course with “5” (=”A”) grade.

4. Preparing for classes (reading assigned texts) is expected. During classes, the lecturer may ask specific questions to specific participants.

5. Participating in a class discussion and/or answering lecturer's questions will require turning on a camera, not just a microphone.

6. Every participant will need to:

- write a short home essay - 6 normalized pages = 10,800 characters with spaces,

OR

- have online class presentation (circa 15 minutes).

Please note that:

- the number of class presentations will be limited,

- it is either a class presentation, or a home essay, not both.

7. The course will end with an oral online examination during summer examination session in the second half of June. Questions will refer to the reading materials, content of lectures and student online presentations. All exams will be recorded.

Google Meet link:

meet.google.com/nfz-dpve-ktx

Reading (selected chapters):

J. D. Hunter, Culture Wars. The Struggle do Define America. Making sense of the battles over the family, art, education, law, and politics, Basic Books, New York 1991.

J.D. Hunter, A. Wolfe, Is There a Culture War? A Dialogue on Values and American Public Life, Brookings Institutions Press, Washington D.C. 2006.

M.P. Fiorina, S.J. Abrams, J. C. Pope, Culture War? The Myth of a Polarized America, Pearson Education, New York 2006.

B. O’Reilly, Culture Warrior, Broadway Books, Ney York 2006.

Ph. E. Devine, Human Diversity and the Culture Wars: A Philosophical Perspective on Contemporary Cultural Conflict, Praeger Publishers, 1996.

J. Rabkin, A Supreme Court in the Culture Wars, Public Interest, No. 125, Fall 1996.

J. Nuechterlein, Culture War No More? First Things, A Monthly Journal of Religion and Public Life, October 1999.

D. Rieff, Therapy or Democracy? The Culture Wars Twenty Years On, World Policy Journal, Vol. 15, 1998.

R. H. Williams, Is America in a Culture War? Yes - No - Sort Of, The Christian Century, Vol. 114, November 12, 1997.

S. Fields, Culture Wars and Terrorism, The Washington Times, November 12, 2001.

D. S. Browning, B. J. Miller-McLemore, P. D. Couture, K. B. Lyon, R. M. Franklin, From Culture Wars to Common Ground: Religion and the American Family Debate, Westminster John Knox Press, 1997, p.p. 50-72.

D. L. Eck, What is Pluralism? (2006), From Diversity to Pluralism, in: On Common Ground: World Religions in America, 1997 (Revised 2006) - The Pluralism Project, Harvard University

The reading list may be supplemented shortly before the beginning of the course, to include current relevant publications.

All texts will be e-mailed to students in electronic form.

1. Knowledge

Upon completing this course a student:

a) has in-depth knowledge of the significance and exemplifications of axiological conflicts in contemporary democratic society,

b) understands historical origins and the religious background of these conflicts,

c) defines key concepts and notions related to the culture wars conception.

2. Skills:

Upon completing this course a student:

a) is able to identify and characterize the main divisive issues in culture wars in the US and Europe,

b) recognizes and understands the importance of culture wars in the wider context of a liberal democracy and electoral politics,

c) identifies and recognizes main representatives/activists in culture wars in selected countries,

d) is able to asses the applicability of culture wars model in various societies.

3. Competences:

Upon completing this course a student:

a) understands the importance of axiological divisions in a contemporary liberal democracy,

b) is able to formulate his/her own opinion on the main divisive issues in the culture conflict in the USA and Europe,

c) helps others in interpreting axiological conflicts and in finding constructive resolutions.

Assessment:

1. Attendance – required (two absences allowed).

2. Participation in online class discussions, based first of all on assigned reading – recommended. Required - if a student intends to complete this course with “5” (=”A”) grade.

3. Preparing for classes (reading assigned texts) – expected, may be selectively verified.

4. Individual assignment – required – ONE of the following:

- home essay - 6 normalized pages = 10,800 characters with spaces,

- online class presentation (circa 15 minutes).

5. Final online examination (oral) – required.

N/A