It offers an intensive, multifaceted experience designed to give participants a greater understanding of the workings of government and the processes by which public policy is developed. The first of three course segments examines the institutions, interests, and ideologies operating in the policy arena. The second segment considers alternative approaches to evaluating policies. The third focuses on a number of major issues in contemporary American politics, including crime and punishment, the economy, and foreign trade. The course structure combines lectures, discussions, group activities, and guest speakers.
Students examine the emergence of the United States as a world power in the twentieth century.
Important themes include the American response to a revolutionary world since 1912, the role of American racial views in the making of foreign policy, and the increasingly dominant role of the president in the making of U.S. foreign policy. A new generation of leaders is emerging in America's political, economic, and cultural institutions. This course explores the changes in the nature of American life that may result. We will explore these topics through a series of conversations with representative leaders from these three domains. Students' analyses, based on the conversations and readings associated with each guest speaker, will reflect their responses to some of these questions and concerns.