POLS 241-01, American Parties and Interest Groups, Spring 2008

Abstract

In this course, we will explore the following questions: · What is a political party? What is an interest group? How are they organized? · Why did political parties and interest groups develop? · What do political parties and interest groups do for voters, for candidates and officeholders, and for democratic government? · How do parties and interest groups compete with and complement each other? · How has the role and importance of both political parties and interest groups in American politics changed over time? We will examine these questions both theoretically and empirically using a range of materials and media. As we explore these questions, we will do so with an eye to a prominent debate in political science over the relative strength of the parties and the related normative question of whether “strong” parties are a good thing for our democracy.