e-FOCUS Online Seminars - So You Want To Do Politics: Construct Your Political Ideologies

How did Martin Luther King Jr. move the people with a single sentence, “I have a dream!” What was so special about his promise? How did it give a sense of purpose to the American nation? In what ways are politicians still practicing this? Politics may seem like an intimidating topic of discussion in or out of the classroom, but it does not have to be that way. Politics is about big ideas that speak to our minds and emotions. Political speeches and action bring hope to communities and allow people to express their ideals to achieve a better world. This class will introduce you to key concepts, arguments, and figures that have shaped politics over time such as liberalism, conservatism, communism, anarchism, and feminism. The class, therefore, will make you a more informed individual who can speak knowledgeably about fundamental political ideas. It will invite you to engage with the material in a way that you can ask what values and principles construct your political actions and where you stand on foundational matters such as wealth redistribution, gender equality, national pride, and free speech.