The focus of this course is the role of public opinion in democracy. The influence of public opinion on public affairs and popular governments is a relatively new phenomenon in the history of governments (largely subsequent to the American and French revolutions). We can see from recent events the impact of public remain: In the early 1990s the American public quickly becomes interested in drought and starvation in Somalia, though starvation is not a problem just experienced in Somalia, and the American government intervened, if briefly and unsuccessfully. Some have claimed that American journalists successfully provoked the American public to go to war (the Spanish-American War, "Remember the Maine"), or to withdraw from war (another Viet Nam). We see political leaders make use of the "bully pulpit" to rally support for their agendas, efforts that sometimes succeed and other times fail. We shall explore public opinion in American politics. There are many interesting questions awaiting us this semester. Among these: How do events and crises influence public opinion? Which psychological, sociological, and political variables affect the public opinion? When and under what circumstances do pressure groups influence the formation of public opinion on current domestic and international issues? When do mass beliefs alter individual voter's choices? When and how do political leaders influence public opinion and when does public opinion influence political leaders? In addition, we will have direct access to the holdings of the Roper Center, using iPOLL, which enables direct exploration of the thousands of polls on American public opinion from 1937 to today. Format: lecture/discussion. Requirements: an 8- to 12-page research paper as well as a midterm and final examination. Enrollment limit: 35 (expected: 20). Open to all. American Politics Subfield