Faculty First Year Seminars 191POL24 - What is Ideology?

"Ideology" is one of the most frequently mentioned concepts in political science and yet has been defined and understood in wildly different ways by distinct scholarly communities and in everyday use. We will examine and discuss several different conceptualizations of ideology originating in multiple disciplines (e.g., political theory, comparative and U.S. politics, psychology, sociology). In addition to what ideology IS, we ask what ideology DOES: to what extent do ideologies, ideological differences, and ideological conflicts play a role in political behavior and institutions? In addition to exploring this topic, we will use a portion of each meeting to check in about students' transition to college life, learn about essential resources at the university, and focus on developing skills for academic success.

First year (Fr or Soph)