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California State University, Dominguez Hills
University of Wisconsin, Parkside
Soka University Japan - Transcend Art and Peace
Created: July 27, 2003
Latest Update: February 19, 2009
jeannecurran@habermas.org
takata@uwp.edu

CRMJ/SOCA 352 Law and Social Change

You will be held accountable for the readings and discussion questions listed here. There will be no "testing." That means that you will not have to live in anxious anticipation of what we will ask and how much you will have to know. Instead, we will provide weekly discussion questions, lectures, essays, and concepts we feel that you should know as a result of having taken this course. You will assure us of that learning and receive your grade for the questions and concepts about which you choose to write and talk with us. In addition you will find detailed explanations and examples on our grading policies in the first week's reading.

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Week 6: Week of February 22, 2009

Midterm meetings begin on February 25th. If you do not have your meeting scheduled, see me ASAP.

Midterm Visual Projects (plus self-assessments) are due beginning of class on Monday, March 9th.

Topic: Peacemaking Criminology/American Indians

Preparatory Readings

• Arrigo. Social Justice/Criminal Justice. Chapter 3 .
• Mann, Zatz & Rodriguez. Images of Color, Images of Crime. Chapters 11 &16 .
• W.I. Thomas "Definition of the Situation
  
  
• Documentary: "Incident at Oglala (was shown in class, last week)
  
• Curran and Takata. Sociology of Law Handbook
  -- Introduction
  -- Chapter 1, part 1
  -- Chapter 1, part 2
  -- Chapter 2

Lecture related links:



• Peacemaking
  
  
• Metaphor and Theory links to "The Blind Men and the Elephant" which applies to several concepts discussed in both classes. Eric K. mentioned this metaphor during one of our class discussions in "Law and Society."
• "My Role in Social Change" Poem by LaTricia White (Spring 2004)
  
• "They Ain't Us: Identity as an Anti-Norm"
  
• "Who's Habermas? Why Habermas?"
• Those Infamous Grades and Letters of Recommendation
• "The Case Against Gold Stars" by Alfie Kohn.
  
  

Concepts to be covered:



• the reservation Indian v. the urban Indian
• Wounded Knee
• Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
• American Indian Movement (AIM)
• Leonard Peltier
• peacemaking criminology
• paradigms of justice
• Hal Pepinsky



Discussion Questions:

Note: In order to answer these discussion questions, you will need to view "Incident at Oglala" was shown in class, last week.

1. Is Leonard Peltier guilty or not guilty? Why.

2. Compare and contrast how a critical race theorist and a peacemaking criminologist would explain/interpret "The Incident at Oglala." Which theorist do you agree with the most? Why.

3. In what respects may peacemaking be said to be both a more pessimistic and optimistic approach to social control than warmaking? (Arrigo, p. 69, Q.6).

4. What makes American Indians different from other racial groups in America? (MZR, p. 139, Q.1)

5. What is meant by a dual justice system? Provide a detailed definition of both paradigms. Then compare and contrast the competing paradigms. Finally, discuss the implications of htis dual justice system. (MZR, p. 196, Q.5).




Self-Assessment Questions for Visual Projects:




1. List the names of the individuals in your group. What did you do exactly for this visual project? (If in a group, explain the division of labor and your individual contribution to this visual project). What small item did you create to "give away" to those visiting your visual project?
2. Explain in depth, how your visual project specifically relates to the course (i.e., the readings, the documentaries, class discussions, major concepts). Demonstrate how your visual project relates to "theory, policy, practice". What did you learn?
3. Assess how the 6Cs apply to your visual project, with special attention on competence and creativity. What is your visual project self-assessment (provide a letter grade) ___ ? Explain why this particular grade.

Suggested Visual Projects:

Note: Start thinking about ideas for your creative measures. Must relate to "law and social change." Must be approved before starting your creative measure. Cannot be something that you are doing or have done for another course. Research cannot be 100% online (i.e., google, askjeeves). Must conduct library research using scholarly works, (not the popular press -- Time Magazine, Newsweek, Sports Illustrated). You will need to submit a bibliography with each project. No term papers! Allow time to dialogue and present your creative measure in class. Email me your ideas ASAP!



• new In the Pepinsky chapter, he notes, "thinking globally, acting locally." What local projects focus on peacemakung approaches? What national and international projects adhere to peacemaking strategies?
• new Beyond examples discussed in class, historically trace a social movement or event where peace was at its centerpiece.
• Read one of the recommended books listed below on the American Indian. Do a visual book review.
• Examine how stereotypes and the stereotyping of the American Indian has changed from the past to present day.
• Compare and contrast the life experiences of the reservation Indian and the urban Indian.
• Trace either prime time television or movie images of the American Indian from past to present.
• Examine the legal case of Leonard Peltier, Dennis Banks or other American Indian leaders.
• Examine the controversy behind American Indian mascots and logos.
• Research the development and proliferation of Indian gaming casinos. Has that helped or hurt today's American Indians.
• Explore the Indian gaming and fishing rights and treaties in the State of Wisconsin.
• Trace the creation and development of AIM.

Recommended Readings:

• Leonard Peltier. Prison Writings.
• Dee Brown. Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee.
• Mary Crow Dog. Lakota Woman.
• Nancy Lurie. Mountain Wolf Woman.
• Paula Gunn Allen. The Sacred Hoop: Recovering the Feminine in American Indian Culture.
• Gregory Michno. Lakota Noon: The Indian Narrative of Custer's Defeat.
• M. Scott Momaday. House Made of Dawn.
  

  --- Jurgen Habermas. Between Facts and Norms.
  --- Martha Minow. Making All the Difference: Exclusion, Inclusion and American Law. Check out this link Martha Minow on the Dear Habermas site.

  
  
  

Course Syllabus for CRMJ/SOCA 352 "Law and Social Change"

takata@uwp.edu