POS 221 - Political Parties and Polarization

American politics cannot be understood without reference to political parties and their dynamics over time. Modern democracies use political parties to solve problems and organize power. This course will explore how parties impact formal and informal political institutions, such as pubic opinion, voting behavior, electorate mobilization, political campaigns, interest group politics, and campaign finance. This course will also cover the history of political parties in the United States and how the American party system is different from other countries. Finally, the course will pay special attention to political polarization and its causes and consequences for the American party system, political elites, and the public.

Credits: 3

Class Level Sophomore Undergraduate
Program Undergraduate