Economic Inequality and Power in the United States

Catalog description

In recent decades, economic inequality in the United States has soared to levels not seen for nearly a century: Workers' wages have stagnated, while the proportion of wealth concentrated among the most well-off Americans has increased. These trends may have negative consequences for democracy in the United States, contributing to a political system that often responds to the preferences of the wealthiest Americans while frequently ignoring the views of most ordinary citizens. This course, in diverse ways, explores the political causes and consequences of rising inequality, especially with regards to who has political power. We will begin by examining the contours of inequality in the U.S. while also exploring the various ways that power manifests itself in politics. We'll then explore the relationship between wealth and public policy outcomes in the United States, along with the ways that the very wealthiest Americans -- both individually and collectively -- work to advance their policy views. We'll then explore how political and economic inequality are interrelated with race and social class. Finally, we will assess potential remedies to political and economic inequality. Counts as a Disciplinary Communication course. Counts as a Moral & Ethical Reasoning course.