To the barricades! Workers of the world unite! Make it New! From its origins in 18th century France until today, ideologies have generated powerful, often conflicting, emotions. Napoleon despised the term. Nineteenth century reformers and conservatives sought to replace ideology with the less partisan ‘beliefs’ or, later, ‘’value systems.’ Today, the adjective ‘ideological’ most often is taken to imply narrow mindedness on the part of one’s adversaries.

Ideologies may be found in manifestos and speeches, pamphlets, and weighty tomes, political platforms and rallying cries. The impact of ideologies has ranged from thoughtful, learned discussion, to war and, at the extreme, atrocity directed at ‘the enemy.’

This course covers highlights and wide-ranging themes: the impact of the French Revolution, 19th Century socialism, communism and utopianism; revolutionary socialisms in Russia, China, and Cuba; ideology in art/culture and artistic movements; totalitarianism versus democracy in today’s world. The 90-minute format combines presentations, discussion, and interviews with area specialists.

Phil Deely grew up in Stockbridge Massachusetts, attended Hobart College for a BA in European History, and, then, continued westward to the University of Chicago for his MA. Phil did additional post degree coursework at Harvard University, the University of Maine, and Exeter College-Oxford University.

Phil began teaching at Simon’s Rock in Great Barrington, MA and lectured at New York University. Subsequently he served as Principal of the Emma Willard School in Troy, NY, Associate Head and Academic Dean at the Ethel Walker School in Simsbury, CT and History department chair at the Foxcroft School in Middleburg, VA. In 1980 he was selected as a Klingenstein Fellow. From 1989-1998, Phil served as an associate director for the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, MA.

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