Planning "Real Utopias" through Federal Spending

Abstract

The late sociologist Erik Olin Wright’s work on "real utopias" highlights actualized examples of social transformation. In this class activity, the concept of real utopias offers students a way to creatively envision how emancipatory alternatives might abound. This in-class activity introduces the concept of real utopias through a hands-one activity that...

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Details

Subject Area(s):

Social Welfare/Social Work

Resource Type(s):

Class Activity

Class Level(s):

Any Level

Class Size(s):

Any

Usage Notes

The activity was developed for a Social Welfare course, which has 30-40 students. It could also be used in Political Sociology, Social Class & Inequality, Social Movements, and Sociology of Education. Instructors could adapt this activity for larger classes. Allow 1.5-2 hours for this activity. Students read about real utopias (Wright 2011) and/or...

Learning Goals and Assessments

Learning Goal(s):

1. Create a federal spending plan and guiding vision that explains allocation.
2. Reach group consensus to develop a federal spending plan. Communicate their plan and process to the class.
3. Compare "real utopia" plans to actual federal spending.

Goal Assessment(s):

1. All students submit their individual work.
2. All groups share visions and develop consensus to craft a collective vision and spending plan.Most groups effectively communicate their plan, vision, and decision-making process.
3. Many students identify differences between the actual spending and the groups’ plans, noting consequences.