Donya Rouzbehi
Sports Editor
Jason Neidleman, professor of political science, discussed “Desiccated Democracy” Tuesday in the Quay Davis Executive Board Room.
Before an audience of about a dozen community members, the lecture focused on Jean-Jaques Rousseau’s political theory about cultural politics, stemming from civic virtue and patriotism.
In his presentation, “Desiccated Democracy: Jean-Jacques Rousseau on the Cultural Conditions of Democratic Vitality,” Neidleman also discussed how Rousseau theorized formal politics grounded in popular sovereignty.
Neidleman tied themes from Aristotle’s philosophy and Rousseau’s concept of democracy and political culture. And he connected his research to the political moment.
“Aristotle presumed a diverse society where people have deep differences,” Neidleman said. “Differences that really can’t be bridged, so that might be more relevant for us.”
Rousseau believed that sovereign power originates with the people, Neidleman said, adding that it must be actively practiced by the people.
Rousseau’s notion of civic virtue means that people learn to not prioritize their own interests but instead to think about what benefits everyone.
“The sphere of politics might be kind of thin in a society like ours, where maybe we don’t have that much in common,” Neidleman said. “And that’s okay, because you can’t have politics that penetrate into areas where you have these deep differences.”
Without this mindset, popular sovereignty would ultimately collapse into inequality. His research shows that the real foundation of Rousseau’s politics isn’t just institutional, but cultural, shaping how a society behaves and thinks.
Neidleman said the themes of democracy and cultural politics are more relevant now than ever before.
“Do our democratic institutions depend on thinking about civic virtue?” Neidleman asked the audience.
Kenneth Marcus, professor of history, said he thought the lecture was very timely.
“Since we do live in a time of crisis in our democracy, you want to look for some reasons why there is a crisis and how can one improve it?” Marcus said.
Several of Neidleman’s students who attended the lecture said they appreciated seeing the scholar-side of their instructor.
“We’ve never been able to see him in his element,” said Samantha Santillano, junior political science major. “To see a professor talk about what he’s passionate about was a different perspective.”
Junior political science major Anthony Rojas agreed.
“It seems like a life-long scholar expedition,” Rojas said. “So just being able to see him follow that path lets you see him differently.”
Neidleman’s talk Tuesday was part of the La Verne Academy Lecture Series.
Donya Rouzbehi can be reached at donya.rouzbehi@laverne.edu.
Donya Rouzbehi is a senior journalism major with a concentration in print/online journalism, and staff photographer for the Campus Times and La Verne Magazine. She has previously served as sports editor and a staff writer for the Campus Times, and is co-editor-in-chief of La Verne Magazine. Her other writing can be found at trillmag.com/author/donya-rouzbehi
Jesse Juarez is a senior photography major and a staff photographer for the Campus Times and La Verne Magazine. A camera has been a very powerful tool and a vessel of expression for him. While originally focused on portraits and fashion photography, his work is continuously evolving. His other work can be found at jessejxo199x.edublogs.org.
