Instructor Manual
Chapter 1: Introducing the Ancient Debate: The Ideal Versus the Real
We are witness to the struggle between idealism (what we would like to do) and realism
(what we are able to do) every day, it is a common theme in film and fiction. We can easily
relate our own internal struggle between idealism and realism with the iconic characters of
Luke Skywalker (idealist) and Han Solo (realist); between Eliot Ness (idealist) and Al
Capone (realist); between the purity of the classic DC Comics (idealist) and the recreated DC
Comics (realist). Nowhere is the clash of idealism and realism more salient than in the realm
of politics.
Organizing the complexities of politics within the context of our personal experiences,
preferences, and expectations allows us to simplify our understanding of the political realm
and political behavior on our own terms. Our differing conceptual frameworks offer
differing ways for thinking about politics, which can make it very difficult for the systematic
study of politics and political behavior. We often fail to remain open to new concepts,
different approaches, and alternative perspectives. Fiction is a tool which can help us to set
aside our preconceptions and allow us to share experiences and visit places that would
ordinarily elude us. Fiction writers, political actors, political theorists, and ideologues
commonly invoke images of utopia as a tool to communicate their views about politics. This
can be an effective device because, by pushing an idealized vision to its conceptual extreme,
a utopia can clearly project specific details of a better world—and it may, in fact, expose the
dangers of that world.
Political theories and political ideologies have contributed to our collective understanding
of politics. While often considered the basis of political thought, political theory and political
ideology differ in distinct ways. The purpose of political theory is the development of
knowledge, while the political ideology is aimed at organizing and directing goal-oriented
action. Political theories raise and provide answers for persistent questions. Political
ideologies shape our conceptual framework, creating belief systems shaped through
culture, religion, family, language, or conscious choice.
While political scientists will agree that politics is a fascinating subject, the study of politics
is complicated by the inherent difficulty in defining the term politics, the dynamic nature of
politics, and disagreements within the discipline over the proper way to conduct research.
,The clash of the real and ideal is a common theme in film and fiction.
Star Wars the idealist (Luke Skywalker) brings out the best in the realist (Han Solo)
The Untouchables
The Game of Thrones
Idealism, a way of looking at the world where the focus is on what we would like to do, what
we would like the world to be, competes with the concept of realism, a way of looking at the
world where the focus is on what we are able to do, what is possible for the world to be.
The clash between idealism and realism is most salient in the realm of politics.
Political leaders must balance the dream of what they would like to accomplish
against real-world limitations.
The reality is that no one political actor is an island and the ideas political leaders
have for laws and policy must often be altered in the name of compromise.
Classical Theory, Modern Reality, and Stuff
The conflict between the idealist and the realist can be traced back to the work of
ancient Greek Philosopher Plato. Plato’s Republic is considered a masterful work of
political theory.
o The characters Thrasymachus and Socrates represent two sides of an
engaging discussion about the purpose of politics.
o Socrates posits that the purpose of the state and politics should be to ensure
the happiness of the citizenry.
o Thrasymachus, positing a realist viewpoint, finds that for the leader the
purpose of caring for the citizenry and the state is to keep them both healthy
so they can continue to provide benefits the leader seeks.
o Thrasymachus (the realist) and Socrates (the idealist) both have valid
points. We need both realists and idealists, those who take a pragmatic
approach and those who dare to take risks to make society advance.
o Politics in essence is a balancing of the pragmatist with the dreamer, the
realist with the idealist.
o Idealism versus realism provides the theme for the textbook and a
comparison point for expounding on politics and political concepts.
You’re Just a Mime Trapped in an Invisible Box
, The inherent difficulty in learning (teaching) about politics is in the knowledge,
experiences, preferences, and biases individuals bring into a course on politics and
government. In terms of politics, no one is a tabula rasa.
o Our conceptual framework helps us to make sense of the complexities of the
world. By using our personal experiences, preferences, and expectations, we
organize and simplify our understanding of politics.
o Consider that a Democrat and a Republican watching the same presidential
debate will notice different details about the questions asked and how the
candidates responded.
o As we rely on our conceptual framework to navigate the complexities of the
political world, our preconceptions can limit our ability to accept new concepts,
different approaches, and alternative perspectives.
Fiction as a Tool for Exploring Politics
Fiction in any form, films, novels, cartoons, is a powerful tool for the exploration of
politics and political concepts.
o Fiction allows us to transcend our preconceptions, personal preferences,
ideologies, and experiences, while we experience events through the eyes of
fictional characters.
o Fiction allows us to experience political situations that we as individuals may
never be able to experience in the real world (or may not want to experience).
o Fiction is not subject to practical limitations. Authors and directors often
exaggerate aspects of human interactions that might remain hidden in real life.
These exaggerated examples often serve as examples of ideas, influences,
techniques, and principles underlying politics.
o Fiction as a window into politics helps to develop an intuitive sense of how
people act. As you learn political terms and concepts and then see them in
action in a work of fiction, you develop an intuitive feel for the concept.
Utopias in Fiction and Politics
Utopia, an ideal world. Imagining an ideal world has been common throughout
history and across societies, as is the desire to attain such a world. Aspects of
utopian thought are found in religion, myths, philosophies, dogmas, and folklore.
Utopias are part of the reality of politics as those who are politically active are often
those who are attempting to shape the realities of the world into their image of a
perfect world.
Utopia Ain’t What You’re Thinking
, Utopias are not the ideal they are purported to be. Inherently subjective, one
person’s image of the perfect world may be another’s nightmare.
Le Guin’s The Lathe of Heaven is an effective look at how one’s utopia can become
another’s dystopia.
Utopias are often used, effectively, as commentary on society. By pushing an ideal,
ideology, or political demand to its logical extreme, a fictional utopia can serve as a
warning to society.
Utopias as Social Statements
The simplest and most obvious use of utopias occurs when an author of fiction
makes a social statement by pushing an ideal, ideology, or political demand to its
logical extreme in order to make it serve as a warning to society.
o George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four is a great example of social
commentary on the anti-communist movement of the post-World War II era.
o Political theorists utilize utopian thought in developing theories; Karl Marx
applied utopian thought in his critique on capitalism, The Communist
Manifesto.
Utopians in Practical Use
The idealist period, the two decades between WWI and WWII, where President
Woodrow Wilson proposed a utopian vision of global peace through world
democracy.
Efforts were made to envision and attain a perfectly peaceful world.
The League of Nations was built in pursuit of this ideal.
The League of Nations, a noble attempt at global democracy, failed in the wake of
the realities of the political attitude of the United States Congress and the rejection
of the League by the United States ultimately weakened the institution.
Chapter 1: Introducing the Ancient Debate: The Ideal Versus the Real
We are witness to the struggle between idealism (what we would like to do) and realism
(what we are able to do) every day, it is a common theme in film and fiction. We can easily
relate our own internal struggle between idealism and realism with the iconic characters of
Luke Skywalker (idealist) and Han Solo (realist); between Eliot Ness (idealist) and Al
Capone (realist); between the purity of the classic DC Comics (idealist) and the recreated DC
Comics (realist). Nowhere is the clash of idealism and realism more salient than in the realm
of politics.
Organizing the complexities of politics within the context of our personal experiences,
preferences, and expectations allows us to simplify our understanding of the political realm
and political behavior on our own terms. Our differing conceptual frameworks offer
differing ways for thinking about politics, which can make it very difficult for the systematic
study of politics and political behavior. We often fail to remain open to new concepts,
different approaches, and alternative perspectives. Fiction is a tool which can help us to set
aside our preconceptions and allow us to share experiences and visit places that would
ordinarily elude us. Fiction writers, political actors, political theorists, and ideologues
commonly invoke images of utopia as a tool to communicate their views about politics. This
can be an effective device because, by pushing an idealized vision to its conceptual extreme,
a utopia can clearly project specific details of a better world—and it may, in fact, expose the
dangers of that world.
Political theories and political ideologies have contributed to our collective understanding
of politics. While often considered the basis of political thought, political theory and political
ideology differ in distinct ways. The purpose of political theory is the development of
knowledge, while the political ideology is aimed at organizing and directing goal-oriented
action. Political theories raise and provide answers for persistent questions. Political
ideologies shape our conceptual framework, creating belief systems shaped through
culture, religion, family, language, or conscious choice.
While political scientists will agree that politics is a fascinating subject, the study of politics
is complicated by the inherent difficulty in defining the term politics, the dynamic nature of
politics, and disagreements within the discipline over the proper way to conduct research.
,The clash of the real and ideal is a common theme in film and fiction.
Star Wars the idealist (Luke Skywalker) brings out the best in the realist (Han Solo)
The Untouchables
The Game of Thrones
Idealism, a way of looking at the world where the focus is on what we would like to do, what
we would like the world to be, competes with the concept of realism, a way of looking at the
world where the focus is on what we are able to do, what is possible for the world to be.
The clash between idealism and realism is most salient in the realm of politics.
Political leaders must balance the dream of what they would like to accomplish
against real-world limitations.
The reality is that no one political actor is an island and the ideas political leaders
have for laws and policy must often be altered in the name of compromise.
Classical Theory, Modern Reality, and Stuff
The conflict between the idealist and the realist can be traced back to the work of
ancient Greek Philosopher Plato. Plato’s Republic is considered a masterful work of
political theory.
o The characters Thrasymachus and Socrates represent two sides of an
engaging discussion about the purpose of politics.
o Socrates posits that the purpose of the state and politics should be to ensure
the happiness of the citizenry.
o Thrasymachus, positing a realist viewpoint, finds that for the leader the
purpose of caring for the citizenry and the state is to keep them both healthy
so they can continue to provide benefits the leader seeks.
o Thrasymachus (the realist) and Socrates (the idealist) both have valid
points. We need both realists and idealists, those who take a pragmatic
approach and those who dare to take risks to make society advance.
o Politics in essence is a balancing of the pragmatist with the dreamer, the
realist with the idealist.
o Idealism versus realism provides the theme for the textbook and a
comparison point for expounding on politics and political concepts.
You’re Just a Mime Trapped in an Invisible Box
, The inherent difficulty in learning (teaching) about politics is in the knowledge,
experiences, preferences, and biases individuals bring into a course on politics and
government. In terms of politics, no one is a tabula rasa.
o Our conceptual framework helps us to make sense of the complexities of the
world. By using our personal experiences, preferences, and expectations, we
organize and simplify our understanding of politics.
o Consider that a Democrat and a Republican watching the same presidential
debate will notice different details about the questions asked and how the
candidates responded.
o As we rely on our conceptual framework to navigate the complexities of the
political world, our preconceptions can limit our ability to accept new concepts,
different approaches, and alternative perspectives.
Fiction as a Tool for Exploring Politics
Fiction in any form, films, novels, cartoons, is a powerful tool for the exploration of
politics and political concepts.
o Fiction allows us to transcend our preconceptions, personal preferences,
ideologies, and experiences, while we experience events through the eyes of
fictional characters.
o Fiction allows us to experience political situations that we as individuals may
never be able to experience in the real world (or may not want to experience).
o Fiction is not subject to practical limitations. Authors and directors often
exaggerate aspects of human interactions that might remain hidden in real life.
These exaggerated examples often serve as examples of ideas, influences,
techniques, and principles underlying politics.
o Fiction as a window into politics helps to develop an intuitive sense of how
people act. As you learn political terms and concepts and then see them in
action in a work of fiction, you develop an intuitive feel for the concept.
Utopias in Fiction and Politics
Utopia, an ideal world. Imagining an ideal world has been common throughout
history and across societies, as is the desire to attain such a world. Aspects of
utopian thought are found in religion, myths, philosophies, dogmas, and folklore.
Utopias are part of the reality of politics as those who are politically active are often
those who are attempting to shape the realities of the world into their image of a
perfect world.
Utopia Ain’t What You’re Thinking
, Utopias are not the ideal they are purported to be. Inherently subjective, one
person’s image of the perfect world may be another’s nightmare.
Le Guin’s The Lathe of Heaven is an effective look at how one’s utopia can become
another’s dystopia.
Utopias are often used, effectively, as commentary on society. By pushing an ideal,
ideology, or political demand to its logical extreme, a fictional utopia can serve as a
warning to society.
Utopias as Social Statements
The simplest and most obvious use of utopias occurs when an author of fiction
makes a social statement by pushing an ideal, ideology, or political demand to its
logical extreme in order to make it serve as a warning to society.
o George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four is a great example of social
commentary on the anti-communist movement of the post-World War II era.
o Political theorists utilize utopian thought in developing theories; Karl Marx
applied utopian thought in his critique on capitalism, The Communist
Manifesto.
Utopians in Practical Use
The idealist period, the two decades between WWI and WWII, where President
Woodrow Wilson proposed a utopian vision of global peace through world
democracy.
Efforts were made to envision and attain a perfectly peaceful world.
The League of Nations was built in pursuit of this ideal.
The League of Nations, a noble attempt at global democracy, failed in the wake of
the realities of the political attitude of the United States Congress and the rejection
of the League by the United States ultimately weakened the institution.
