Political Participation in US

Catalog description

Why do people participate in American politics and civic life? Why don't they? Why should they? This course emphasizes the political science literature on political participation and civic engagement. We will begin by examining the factors that make participation more or less likely including socialization, partisanship, networks, and geography. Demographic and social identities can shape how easily and how often we wish to involve ourselves in democratic processes. From there, we will focus on forms of political participation. Who votes? Who donates money? Who protests? Throughout we will acknowledge the constraints that make forms of participation easier from some than others. Finally, we will address the consequences for political life if individuals opt out of politics. What does isolation and decline in civic life mean for the rise of political and economic inequality, efficacy, and social connectedness?