POL 214 Political Parties, Interest Groups, and Social Movements

3 hours 

This course will analyze the institutions citizens use to influence politics and policy, assessing the formation and organization of political parties, interest groups, and social movements. In addition, the course addresses the ways that parties, interest groups, and social movements affect political decision making, and the obstacles to that influence. We also closely examine how recent developments and contemporary events challenge each of these three institutions.