PSC 563SEM - Political Parties

Political parties in the United States have been a frequent target for reform movements throughout history. Nevertheless, these extra-constitutional institutions persist, exhibiting a remarkable ability to both influence the political climate and adapt to different sets of circumstances that fall outside of their control. In this course, we will confront such changes, examining how political parties-as organizations, in government, and in the electorate-have both been shaped by and in turn themselves shape politics in the United States. We will therefore read several canonical statements regarding the role that political parties play in American politics, coupled with more recent challenges and extensions to such works. This balance will help to showcase how research on political parties has evolved over time as theories have been updated or revised in response to empirical testing.

Credits: 3