POL4737W: American Political Parties

This course focuses on U.S. political parties. We will cover the following themes this term: (1) what parties are and what they do; (2) party factions and coalitions; (3) social and issue cleavages; (4) how Democratic and Republicans view the world; (5) elite and mass polarization; and (6) the future of the Democratic and Republican parties. By the end of the semester you'll have a broad and deep understanding of the key role parties play in American politics, where they have been, and where they are going. Successful completion of the course will satisfy the Liberal Education Writing Intensive requirement. prereq: 1001 or equiv or instr consent