History Behind the Headlines: Contemporary U.S. Politics and Policy

Catalog description

History Behind the Headlines offers students the opportunity to explore the historical roots and development of current, pressing questions of U.S. politics and public policy. Drawing upon historical methodologies and scholarship as well recent work in political science and sociology, this reading seminar offers deep context for understanding some of the most important contemporary issues in American public life. Topics will likely include political polarization, the incarceration crisis, immigration, lobbying (that is, the role of money in democracy), and, perhaps, impeachment. In addition to a number of short response and op-ed style writing assignments, students will write and present a final project on a contemporary political or policy issue of their choosing. These final projects might take a variety of forms, including traditional historical research essays, policy white papers, long form investigative journalism, or projects using digital media.