POL 330
Campaigns and Elections
Markus Prior
MW, 2:30-3:20 pm
Examines how election campaigns affect voters by presenting an overview of the different explanations of how people make voting decisions, from stable long-term factors (partisan identification and socioeconomic status) to short-term influences of campaigns, media and interpersonal communication. The primary focus will be on the nature of modern elections campaigns and their impact on people's political reasoning and voting behavior. The goal of this class is to provide a theoretical understanding of campaign conduct and effects. We will use that understanding to analyze recent presidential elections, with special emphasis on 2000 and 2008.