230580 Heart of Whiteness: An Exploration of Conservative Cultures in the USA (S) (WiSe 2009/2010)

For all the USA’s cultural and ethnic diversity, the part of American society most consistently baffling to European observers has been American conservatism. Opinion polls in Europe consistently show that European nations almost unanimously favour the Democratic candidate in most presidential elections, and the 2008 campaign between Obama and McCain was no different. American conservatism, variously caricatured as a coalition of gun-loving rednecks, robber baron capitalists, religious fundamentalists, and military imperialists remains something of an enigma for European observers. Who are American conservatives, what do they believe in, and why do they believe it?
In this course, we will survey a broad range of texts from different disciplines, including cultural theory, international relations, philosophy, political science, literature, sociology, film, history, and religion, in order to gain a better understanding of the roots of conservatism, its appeal to a broad range of Americans, its consequences for American life, and its potential in the 21st Century. The seminar will focus on in-class discussion of key concepts within American culture with the goal of understanding how conservative and liberal beliefs diverge on important philosophical, national, moral, and aesthetic issues and the practical consequences of these differences.