Prof. Steffen Schmidt "Dr Politics"
549 Ross Hall
294-3825 sws@iastate.edu
http://www.public.iastate.edu/~sws
Office hours: T.Th. 11-12 and 1-2 and by appointment

Overview

This course will focus on all aspects of the impact of information technology (IT), the Internets and computers on government and politics in the United States and worldwide. Our objective is to identify the most important factors in the growth and widespread use of massive computing and digital information systems and platforms on issues such as:

• The amount of control that geography and the traditional nation-state and government have on people.
• How technology can empower people and give them greater knowledge and access to leaders and government.
• The role IT can play in making it easier for people to participate in elections, vote, and be informed about candidates and issues.
• How technology can create and strengthen groups of people with similar interests and creates "virtual communities".
• Cyber terrorism, sabotage, and cyber warfare.
• Privacy and the rights of people as all technology becomes more widely used by government and by corporations, individuals, and the entertainment industry.
• How government should and should not regulate e-commerce.
• What role the bureaucracy in government should play and will play in managing the IT revolution and IT applications and systems.
• What role the private sector and NGO's (non-Governmental Organizations).

Attendance is required. Class will not meet every week - days we do not meet when you will engage in research or other assigned activities will be announced in class. The morning session is in a computer lab and you will work there on your project every Wednesday. Some Wednesdays we will be working jointly on activities in the lab.

Books

The required readings are the following books: (these will be available in the bookstores)

1. Democracy.com? Governance in a Networked World, Ed by Ciulla and Nye. 2002 edition

2. Building the Virtual State: Information Technology and Institutional Change, Jane Fountain. 2001

3. Information Technologies and Global Politics: The Changing Scope of Power and Governance, ed. by James Rosenau and J. P. Singh, SUNY Press, 2002.

You must also go to the New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/pages/technology/index.html - Wired http://www.wired.com and http://www.cpsr.org (Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility), "One Planet, One 'Net:" http://www.cpsr.org/onenet/ at least every Wednesday (I would recommend that you log in every day for a few minutes and copy out stories). Review and print relevant hot news stories that are appropriate to our interest in government, human rights, politics and technology. (i.e. to our class).

Evaluation of your performance in this class.

Tests (60% of the grade)

There will be three tests covering the material from each book and in-class discussion. These will be essay exams. Each essay will be worth 20 percent of the grade.

Research Project (30% of the grade)

Your will also do a research project of your choice. The project will be approximately 15 pages in length, normal margins, 12 point type (Ariel or Times New Roman). The research paper and your presentation of the results of your research will be worth 30% of the grade. The topic should be directly related to the impact of Information Technology and/or the Internet and World Wide Web on government policy (domestic or international) or on politics (elections, citizen access to government information, to their representatives, etc). I hope you will spend a lot of time the first week exploring potential topics. Choose a topic that fits into your personal future professional or current academic interests. I need to approve the topic so when you are ready write up a one or two paragraph summary of the topic and why you chose it.

Class attendance and Discussion (10% of the grade)

This class is not only an academic course on issues related to IT, the Internet, and policy/politics. It is also an opportunity for me to help you improve your leadership and personal effectiveness skills through class participation and presentations.

Week-by-week class assignment calendar will be posted here next week.

My weekly political call-in talk radio show (Dr. Politics) is on the air on Mondays, 10-11 a.m (and rebroadcast at 9 p.m.) on WOI a.m. radio, 640 Or on the web live streaming at http://www.WOI.org (some shows are archived at http://www.doctorpolitics.com). If you have time listen to the show or call in to participate!