This article, which presents an interdisciplinary research agenda grounded in a constructivist institutional approach, begins by unpacking relevant terms. It explains the new institutional approach in political science that simultaneously narrows the focus and broadens the scope of political research by encouraging a return to the…

Introduction to American Government is a foundational general education course meant to promote understanding of democracy and students' ability to participate in it. But, there is substantial variation in how the course is structured: it can enroll anywhere from a dozen students to hundreds; it can be delivered online, face-to-face, or in hybrid…

This article argues for using what I call the "three-C approach" to reestablish pedagogical normalcy while being fully cognizant of the impact of disruptions and the challenges of adapting to new learning environments. The " three-C approach" encourages faculty members to maintain compassion, communication, and consistency by…

Despite often being characterized as the "model minority," Asian Pacific Americans (APAs) have several challenges when it comes to their roles in the discipline of political science. Even the categorization of APAs as a single entity runs into problems when we consider the many countries that constitute Asia and the distinct experiences…

Conversations about controversial political issues within the public-school classroom are necessary for the whole development of students as they prepare to participate fully in democracy, part of their role as conscious social reproducers of the American political regime. Effective educators train students to critically understand and analyze…

This paper focuses on an analysis of an application of active learning in the international relations (IR) classroom. We present an experience of the so-called Challenge Game that allows the professor to explore analytical categories and basic assumptions of realist theory of IR. In addition, describing the operation of the game in its basic…

The authors outline a new approach to introductory political science courses limited exclusively to political science majors that focuses on democratic development and its intersection with conceptions of "res publica." The course is innovative in that it is for political science majors only, is team-taught, eschews traditional…

Much has been written in recent years about how historical scholarship can be used to shape practice in the classroom. As an historian of the medieval period now working as an history teacher, Dhwani Patel offers a fresh perspective on these debates. During her PGCE year, Patel found herself reflecting on how the lenses and methodologies that…

This article explores the hidden educational potential in the board game "Diplomacy." While commonly recognized as a good low-cost negotiation simulation and a useful teaching platform, the original game version over-emphasizes the conflictual nature of international relations and presents an image of international relations that is not…

This paper addresses two crucial gaps in the scholarship on the design and execution Simulation-Based Education (SBE) -- the importance of scaffolding in constructing successful simulations for entry-level students and the associated value of social media tools. We examine these issues within three successive iterations of a role-play simulation…

While the model of deliberative democracy gives a crucial role to dialog, empirical evidence has not yet established if discussion helps to reach a better understanding of political issues and, above all, if individuals are prepared to change their views. It is still unclear when the deliberative model, and more specifically discussion, could be…

Universities play an indispensable role within modern democracies. But this role is often overlooked or too narrowly conceived, even by universities themselves. In "What Universities Owe Democracy," Ronald J. Daniels, the president of Johns Hopkins University, argues that--at a moment when liberal democracy is endangered and more…

Based on a three-year qualitative case study of political education projects within Educators for Social Justice Teaching (ESJT), a teacher-led grassroots activist organization, this article explores the formation of grassroots political education and how it mediated the development of teachers as community organizers. Through a documentary and…

Urban universities with a predominantly commuting student population face distinct challenges in fostering social connections. Commuting students spend less time on campus and have fewer opportunities for organized and spontaneous social interactions with other students. The campus experience for commuter students tends to center around the…

Student participation in undergraduate intercollegiate moot court tournaments is steadily increasing. The research on this activity, however, remains limited. This study examines the perspectives of a small sample of faculty to determine how they structure their moot court teams, the courses related to the competition, and the challenges they…