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Alexandra Paskhaver

Welcome to the funniest political science course on Udemy. This course is a wonderful and entertaining choice for both beginners and experts looking to expand their knowledge of politics.

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Welcome to the funniest political science course on Udemy. This course is a wonderful and entertaining choice for both beginners and experts looking to expand their knowledge of politics.

Political science is an ever-evolving field, and having a greater knowledge of governments is always beneficial. Not only are politics interesting, they're fundamental to the way our world operates.

This Introduction to Political Science course spends hours exploring

  • different political ideologies

  • their pros and cons

  • their histories

  • their implementations around the world

  • and more.

Why learn political science with this course?

If you're a voter or future voter, knowing how government works is key to making informed political decisions. Besides providing you with a summary of over 35 political ideologies, this course also offers numerous book, essay, and article recommendations for you to explore at your leisure. Building a foundation in history, law, economics, and philosophy doesn't have to be boring. No matter your skill level, this course will ensure you learn something, whether it be a completely new political philosophy, point of view, or joke.

If you've ever wanted to look smart at the dinner table

Or wanted to astound your coworkers with your political knowledge

Or wanted to have fun learning something new

Then this course is for you.

Thanks to SlidesCarnival for the slide designs.

Enroll now

What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Build a deeper understanding of political ideologies and their nuances
  • Broaden your historical knowledge
  • Draw parallels between the philosophies of the ancient and modern world
  • Possess a knowledge of basic economic theory
  • A bunch of jokes!

Syllabus

Introduction

After this section, you'll understand the specifics and objectives of this course.

Understand the origins of many modern political ideologies and the development of the idea of human rights
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Aristocracy
Liberalism
Egalitarianism
Majoritarianism
Federalism
Monarchy
Republicanism
Praetorianism
Theocracy
Capitalism
Questions to Consider
After this section, you'll understand the role power plays in politics; how leaders repress or oppress their citizens, and how authority is maintained
Fascism
Despotism
Nazism
Machiavellianism
Patrimonialism
Totalitarianism
Democracy
Understand the role collectivism plays in politics; how civilians repress or oppress other civilians, and how power struggles develop
Marxism
Communism
Socialism
Leninism
Maoism
Understand contemporary political philosophies; how governments structure their power, and how the people and the politicians keep each other in check
Centrism
Conservatism
Libertarianism
Neoconservatism
Neoliberalism
Realism
Understand the role the people play in politics; how citizens create political change, and how laws and ideas change
Environmentalism
Feminism
Globalism
Localism
Understand somewhat obsolete political philosophies; how people thought in the past, and how history and politics evolve
Anarchy
Ethnocracy
Gradualism
Objectivism
Social Darwinism
Understand what you've accomplished in taking this course
Conclusion
Let me know your thoughts!

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Provides a balanced view of different political ideologies and their historical contexts
Introduces a wide range of political philosophies, from ancient to contemporary
Includes a section on basic economic theory, which is relevant to understanding political systems
Covers both theoretical and practical aspects of political science, making it applicable to real-world situations
Provides numerous book, essay, and article recommendations for further exploration
Incorporates humor and engaging examples, making the learning process more enjoyable

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Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Introduction to Political Science with these activities:
Watch video tutorials on political science topics
Supplement your learning by watching video tutorials that provide clear and engaging explanations of political science concepts.
Browse courses on Political Science
Show steps
  • Find video tutorials on reputable websites or platforms.
  • Watch the tutorials, taking notes on key concepts and ideas.
  • Pause the videos and rewind as needed to ensure understanding.
  • Consider discussing the concepts with classmates or instructors for further clarification.
Complete practice questions on political science concepts
Reinforce your understanding of political science concepts through repetitive practice.
Browse courses on Political Science
Show steps
  • Find practice questions online or in textbooks.
  • Attempt to answer the questions on your own.
  • Check your answers against the provided answer key.
  • Review the questions you answered incorrectly and make an effort to understand the correct answers.
Read Thomas Hobbes' Leviathan
Gain a deeper understanding of the origins of modern political thought and the development of the social contract theory.
Show steps
  • Read the book in its entirety.
  • Take notes on the main arguments and ideas presented in the book.
  • Write a summary of the book, highlighting its key points.
Five other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all eight activities
Read Hannah Arendt's The Human Condition
Gain a deeper understanding of the philosophical underpinnings of political science and the human experience.
Show steps
  • Read the book in its entirety.
  • Take notes on the main arguments and ideas presented in the book.
  • Write a summary of the book, highlighting its key points.
  • Consider discussing the book with others to deepen your understanding.
Create a political ideology quiz
Test your understanding of different political ideologies and their key characteristics.
Show steps
  • Research different political ideologies and their key characteristics.
  • Create a list of questions that test a person's knowledge of these ideologies.
  • Design a user interface for the quiz.
  • Develop the quiz using a programming language or online tool.
  • Test the quiz and make any necessary revisions.
Design a political campaign strategy
Apply your understanding of political science principles to the practical realm of political campaigns.
Browse courses on Political Campaigns
Show steps
  • Choose a specific political campaign to focus on.
  • Research the candidate, their platform, and the target audience.
  • Develop a comprehensive campaign strategy, including messaging, outreach, and fundraising plans.
  • Implement the campaign strategy and track its progress.
  • Evaluate the effectiveness of the campaign and make adjustments as needed.
Write a research paper on a specific political issue
Deepen your understanding of a specific political issue by conducting research and presenting your findings.
Browse courses on Politics
Show steps
  • Choose a specific political issue that you are interested in.
  • Conduct research on the issue, using a variety of sources such as books, articles, and websites.
  • Organize your research into a logical structure, including an introduction, body, and conclusion.
  • Write the research paper, ensuring that it is well-written, well-researched, and well-argued.
  • Proofread the paper carefully before submitting it.
Contribute to a political science open-source project
Gain practical experience and contribute to the political science community by participating in open-source projects.
Browse courses on Political Science
Show steps
  • Find a political science open-source project that aligns with your interests.
  • Familiarize yourself with the project's goals, codebase, and contribution guidelines.
  • Identify an area where you can make a meaningful contribution.
  • Contribute your code or documentation to the project.
  • Collaborate with other contributors and maintainers to improve the project.

Career center

Learners who complete Introduction to Political Science will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

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