Politics & Current Events   

We will study and evaluate the democratic electoral institutions, identify weaknesses, and propose possible remedies including Electoral College, gerrymandering, voter fraud and suppression, effects of social media and AI, effects of parties and primaries, and effects of unlimited campaign expenditure. Emphasis placed on current events of this election season. An extensive resource guide will be provided. Repeat in-person course. Format includes lecture and discussion.

The 19th century was the foundation of the modern world. From industrialization to women’s liberation, to political ideas that shaped our thinking today, the arts, and the political revolutions, it all began more than two hundred years ago. Come along on a journey to the roots of the 21st century. Repeat in-person course. Format includes lecture.

Today, armed conflicts are ongoing around the world. At times, it may seem that there are no rules in war. Fortunately, there are rules in war, and they can make a difference. “Even War Has Rules” is a dynamic discussion of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and how it governs armed conflict. It will address topics such as the sources of law and rules that apply to armed conflicts; the fundamental principles of IHL that guide the devel opment of these rules; and how IHL protects people and places during armed conflicts. By the end of the class, participants will achieve a general understanding of IHL and will be better able to evaluate the actions of parties to armed conflicts. Repeat remote workshop. Format includes lecture and discussion.

In this age of increased world conflict, we want to high- light the work of cooperation and understanding among groups and individuals featuring the diverse religions. We will focus on the example of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict where existing groups of diverse religious adher ents work toward achieving peace between the warring parties. We will have presentations by members of these three monotheistic religions to emphasize the possibility of cooperation in the interest of peaceful outcomes. New remote course. Format includes lecture.

Mexicans celebrate a remarkable diversity of peoples, music, food, festivals, and historical traditions, expressed through fiestas that bring communities together across the calendar year. In this course, we will explore Mexico City as a cultural and historical crossroads shaped by centuries of continuity and change. We will trace the legacies of Indigenous civilizations, the transformations of Spanish colonial rule, the struggles for independence and revolution, and the emergence of modern democratic politics, culminating in the 2024 election of Mexico’s first woman president. We will see how culture, power, and celebration remain deeply intertwined in the life of this extraordinary city.

The American Experiment began with the Declaration of Independence and led to the creation of the federal judiciary, one of the country’s greatest experiments. In this course, we will trace the evolution of the courts from their English roots to their formal establishment in the Constitution. We will explore how the Supreme Court, lacking the power of the purse or military, derives its authority from its ability to connect with the people of the US and protect democracy. We will examine creation of the federal judiciary and the power of the Marshall Court, the Court’s evolution through the New Deal, the Vinson Court, the Warren Court’s “Rights Revolution,” and the role of today’s US Supreme Court.

We often only notice the global supply chain when it breaks. Yet, for millennia, the movement of goods has been the silent engine of civilization. In this course, we will track the evolution of trade from an executive’s perspective. From the sunken treasures of Bronze Age merchant ships to the high-tech intermodal systems of today, we will explore the vessels that carried the world’s wealth and the complex networks that keep our modern shelves stocked.

Harry S. Truman once described the presidency as “the most peculiar office in the world.” In this course, we will explore how the Founding Fathers left the office for future presidents to define, creating conditions for a dramatic expansion of executive power. We will examine how the presidency has come to dominate the three co-equal branches, with Congress and the Supreme Court at times ceding authority. We will consider how and why this shift occurred, how This peculiar office is won or lost, how they have exercised power, and how the rise of the administrative state has reshaped the balance envisioned by the framers.

In our short lifetime, the world has seen astonishing changes in all facets of our lives. Powered by technological and scientific advances, no part of the way we live and do things is unaffected. The class will be divided into sections tracing the latest innovations in transportation, communications, manufacturing, medicine, entertain ment and leisure, agriculture, education, housing, labor, and more. Like all of David’s classes, the visual format will include charts, graphs, photos, and videos to stimulate your class participation. The class promises to be a provocative, fun, and understandable way to learn about how things have changed in our lifetimes. New in-person course. Format includes lecture, discussion, and film.

We will be discussing how we can manage conflict in creative rather than destructive ways in our families, societies, and on our Earth. Building a culture of peace with justice requires the use of different toolsets. These involve different approaches to negotiation, methods of non-violent action, “strength-tools” (such as law, policing, and military action), and tools of a political, economic, and religious nature. Successful use of these tools can be aided by techniques of personal/spiritual transformation. New in-person course. Format includes lecture and discussion.

REQUIRED BOOK: Selected xeroxed material will be provided at a cost of $12 paid to the instructor.

We will examine the prominent effects of Supreme Court opinions on all aspects of American life including individual rights and standards for government procedure. Focus on judicial review, judicial principles of textualism, originalism, pragmatism, judicial activism vs. restraint, precedent, and procedures. Close examination of landmark cases. Emphasis on the current activities of the Supreme Court and consideration of efforts to reform the court. A substantial resource guide will be provided. Repeat in-person course. Format includes lecture and discussion.

We will explore ancient anti-Judaism, the Gospels, St. Paul and Christian fathers. We touch upon the middle ages (blood libels, the Black Death, and the pictorial record in Spain) and jump to the modern era beginning with the Dreyfus trial in France, the emergence of antisemitism the birth of Zionism, the depiction of Jews in literature (Oliver Twist, Gentlemen’s Agreement, and others), film, the stage (The Merchant of Venice), and music. Finally we will consider the normalization of antisemitism both in America and worldwide, the importance of the Hamas attack on Israel, and the new wave of antisemitic violence and failure of leadership to protect Jewish students on college campuses. Repeat in-person course. Format includes lecture, discussion, and film.

This workshop will discuss the history of the Second Amendment. In addition, we will discuss recent Supreme Court interpretations of the Second Amendment and the ongoing litigation to apply these interpretations to modern day gun regulations. The ability/inability of states to address gun violence based on recent judicial rulings will be a part of the workshop discussion.  Formats include lecture.

Why does a box of Kellogg’s corn flakes cost $5.00 when the farmer earns $0.05 per ear? Which is more eco-friendly: cow’s milk or almond milk? How do people view their role as “human capital?” This class explores the Triple Bottom Line: Profit, Planet, and People. Working via critical thinking, you’ll learn what commerce entails without politics, just insights that make you think, “Ah, I never thought of that.” You’ll gain tools to evaluate the environmental impact, worker conditions, and reasonable profits of products. Have questions? Send your suggestions at least a week before class to mld@engel.net. Repeat in-person course. Format includes lecture, discussion, film, and hands-on learning.