This lecture series over 4 weeks (1/5, 1/12, 1/19, and 1/26) considers a set of moments for theorists of democracy to address: what do we make of timings when the government stops its function, in part or in full? We'll look at a variety of cases of shutdowns and strikes, including United States government shutdowns (there have been ten). We'll also examine cases of cessation of services, from police strikes and transit strikes to the most fascinating cases of all: garbage strikes. We'll conclude with a discussion of what we might think about these moments given the larger narratives of democracy and the social contract that underlies our system.
Andrew Lotz, PhD, serves as an Assistant Dean in Arts and Sciences, as well as a lecturer and advisor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Pittsburgh.