Property and Power in 20th Century U.S.

This seminar examines debates over meanings, value, and enforcement of property rights in the US over the twentieth century. The course begins with a focus on landed property and its management as real estate and natural resources, raising questions about ownership, tenancy, zoning, eminent domain, public trust doctrines, and contests in Indian Country. It then takes up corporate property and debates over shareholder and managers’ rights and responsibilities, changing structures of investment, and countervailing claims of workers to the property and value of labor and the means of production. With a brief examination of neo-classical economists’ theories and policies of transactional property rights, the course ends with the history of intellectual property rights.  Readings include classic theoretical/ideological texts (e.g. MacPherson, Ely, Berle and Means, Coase, Sax, Epstein); social histories, and major legal opinions. Students will write a 20 page research paper using primary sources on a topic of their own interest in this broad field of inquiry.