PSCI 23
The Practice of Politics Winter 2025

This is not the current course catalog

Just as planning and execution in sports or combat is most fruitfully analyzed without regard to one’s sympathies in the contest, the successful practice of politics in campaigns and constituent assemblies may best be understood apart from party and ideology, as essentially the same game for both sides. This course will examine the political struggle in concrete and practical terms. Our exploration of strategy and tactics will begin by looking at the rules and realities of politics in the students’ own hometowns, move through examples from American electoral history, and touch on the depiction of campaigns in movies and literature. The impact of ideology and personality on electoral outcomes, the value and cost of different methods of voter persuasion, and the role of candidates, field staff, managers, consultants, pollsters, and media experts will all be weighed. Students will also learn about the realities of legislative life, including relations with leadership, staff, lobbyists, reporters, and constituents, and the challenge of maintaining clarity in chaotic situations. Students will prepare a written campaign plan based on political conditions in their home legislative district and make an oral presentation to the class on that plan. They will also write a press release, a fundraising letter, and other brief campaign materials.