No matter where in the world you live, American politics is probably a frequently discussed topic. You might also find it a bewildering topic, particularly in light of the tumultuous 2016 presidential election.
If Americans better understood how their political system works, they would have a keener sense of why things happen as they do in Washington, D.C. For those outside the United States, there are lessons that can be learned from the American experience that can broadly inform judgments about democratic politics.
- What are the foundations of the U.S. political system?
- How do leading institutions such as the presidency and Congress operate?
- Where do public opinion, political parties, groups, and the media fit in?
- What explains America’s economic, social, and foreign policies?
If exploring such questions is of interest, then I hope you will consider registering for my colleague Thomas Patterson’s online course, "American Government,” launching April 24. Created at Harvard University by HarvardX, the free, online course offers an introduction to how U.S. political system operates, and to what effect. Tom is the Bradlee Professor of Government & the Press in the Shorenstein Center at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.
This course is ideal for individuals in the U.S. and abroad who want to understand the workings of the U.S. political system; college and advanced placement high school students who seek an introduction to American government; U.S.-based political science and government teachers who want a way to augment their own courses; and global teachers and educators who are interested in explaining the American political system to their students. No previous study of American politics is required.
I hope you will join my colleague Tom Patterson on an exciting journey into the heart of the U.S. governing system. For more information and to register for the free course, please visit the course website.