Selected Topics in American Government:Federalism and Territory in American Politics

American federalism allocates authority and organizes representation along territorial lines. Although these institutional arrangements likely have major consequences for American politics, in recent years they have received limited attention from political scientists. This seminar will draw on institutional theory, comparative analysis, and research on American political development  to explore some of the most important political consequences of federal institutions and territorially grounded representation in the United States. We will then explore the subject through focused inquiry on three areas of recent and current politics: the evolution of the American political economy, the dynamics of racial conflict, and the development and institutionalization of partisan polarization.