Intersecting Identities in Policy and Public Opinion
GOVT 247
Spring 2016 not offered
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In our increasingly diverse society, most Americans identify with more than one group. These multiple identities often align with conflicting policy choices, such as when a Democratic parent may support increased social services spending from a partisan perspective but may also worry about the increasing national debt as a parent. Democracies rely on citizens to freely express preferences (Dahl, 1989). Given the significance of identity, political elites often work to prime identities that will win over the most supporters. While political scientists have investigated the role of identity and identity strength in shaping political preferences, less is known about how these identities compete with one another.
This course will introduce social identity theory as well as in-depth discussions of the major identities that affect political and social behavior, including, but not limited to race and ethnicity, gender, income and class, sexual orientation, and partisanship. We will then turn to how these identities can overlap and conflict with each other and how the intersections of these and other identities can shape political discourse and rhetoric, media/information consumption, attitude formation, and political behavior. |
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
SBS GOVT |
| Course Format: Lecture / Discussion | Grading Mode: Graded |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: (GOVT)(GOVT-American) |
Major Readings:
Brader, Ted. 2006. CAMPAIGNING FOR HEARTS AND MINDS. University of Chicago.
Dahl, R. 1989. DEMOCRACY AND ITS CRITICS. Yale University Press New Haven.
Dawson, Michael C. 2001. BLACK VISIONS: THE ROOTS OF CONTEMPORARY AFRICAN-AMERICAN POLITICAL IDEOLOGIES. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Green, Donald, Bradley Palmquist, and Eric Schickler. 2004. PARTISAN HEARTS & MINDS. Yale University Press.
Tajfel, H. 1981. HUMAN GROUPS AND SOCIAL CATEGORIES. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
Zaller, John. 1992. THE NATURE AND ORIGINS OF MASS OPINION. Cambridge University Press.
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Examinations and Assignments:
There will be 2 major (individual) research papers (20% each, 40% total); 2 short (individual) response papers (10% each, 20% total); a small group research project and presentation (25%); class participation (10%) and one leadership session leading class discussion (5%). |
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