Ladies and (White) Gentlemen, Introducing Political Theory: Activist Learning and Teaching the Political Theory Canon

Abstract

This paper seeks to enumerate the unique problems associated with teaching introductory political theory courses and offers a new framework for more inclusive teaching. It notes three problems associated with teaching introductory political theory: the importance of the “canon” of political thought, the lack of representation in the canon, and the canon’s emphasis on abstract and universal theory. I consider arguments that hope to challenge the canon such as attempts to deparochialize, creolize, and reanimate. The paper draws on these arguments to offer the framework of activist learning that can mitigate the challenges of the canon as they relate to the classroom. Activist learning borrows strategies from active learning pedagogy but addresses the specific problems of political theory. It takes the study of politics as itself a moment of political praxis and the student as an already aware agent in politics. What this means is that the canon and the material of introductory courses in political theory are subjects and sites of political contestation. Students are invited not only to collaborate in their own education but also to actively shape the field of political theory through their engagement.