Author Archives: Peter Levine
Seeing Green
“Seeing Green,” a Justice in Schools case by Allison M. Stevens “explores the challenges of teaching about climate change in a community where a large portion of the residents work in the petroleum industry. Should science teachers accommodate local concerns … Continue reading
Posted in activitiesciviceducation, cases
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The American Enterprise Institute’s Near-Death Experience
“The American Enterprise Institute’s Near-Death Experience,” an SNF Agora Case Study by Steven Teles and Jessica A. Gover, focuses on issues of strategy and management in a conservative think tank. From the abstract: When poor management leaves a high-profile conservative … Continue reading
Posted in activitiesinstitution, cases
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Boundaries
Examples of boundaries that are relevant to civic life include national borders, electoral districts, the membership lists of organizations and associations, and the limits of watersheds and forests. All of these mark distinctions between inside and outside. Boundaries that exclude … Continue reading
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Grade Inflation and Teaching: The Private School Marketplace
“Grade Inflation and Teaching: What Should Teachers do in a World of Entitlement?” by Meira Levinson and Ilana Finefter from Justice in Schools is a case that poses classic questions about a problem of collective action and values. From the … Continue reading
Danielle Allen’s speech norms
It is common–and a good idea–to develop norms for speech within a group, such as a classroom or a community association. In Talking to Strangers (2004), political philosopher Danielle Allen develops a theory of speech that is helpful in a … Continue reading
Posted in activitiesdeliberation, activitiestrust
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Naming and framing issues
In order to convene people to discuss an issue, someone must “name” it. The meeting or discussion must be about something that can be named in its title or in the subject line of an invitation. Naming an issue can … Continue reading
Posted in activitiesdeliberation, Uncategorized
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Propaganda
It is possible to deploy money, talent, expertise, fame, and/or ownership of communications media (such as a television network) to influence public opinion. All such examples of well-resourced persuasive communication could be defined as propaganda, regardless of quality or purpose. … Continue reading
Posted in conceptsdeliberation
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Ideology
The “word” ideology is used at least three different ways in different intellectual communities or traditions: It can mean the politically relevant opinions that any person holds. In that sense, we all have ideologies, even if we happen to hold … Continue reading
Posted in conceptsdeliberation, Uncategorized
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The “Christmas Tree Crisis” at Sea-Tac Airport
The management of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac) decided to remove plastic holiday trees “after a rabbi asked to have an 8-foot-tall menorah displayed next to the largest tree in the international arrival hall.” The removal of the trees became a … Continue reading
Posted in activitiesdeliberation, cases, Uncategorized
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Sacrifice
Participating in politics or in a social movement can involve sacrifice. Some sacrifices are very modest, such as taking time out to vote or contributing a small amount of money to a cause or organization. But some people devote their … Continue reading
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