Department of Political Science Featured for Morning of Courses

Oct. 10, 2003 -- Two Department of Political Science discussions highlight the University of Wyoming Morning of Courses Friday, Oct. 17, with talks at 9 and 10:30 a.m. in Room 118 of the UW College of Arts and Sciences building.

At 9 a.m., Professor Jim King will present "Is This Any Way to Pick a President?" and at 10:30 a.m., Assistant Professor Jean Garrison will discuss "The Psychology of War in an Age of Smart Bombs and Suicide Bombers." Refreshments will be served between talks at 10 a.m. in the A&S building lobby. The presentations are free and open to the public.

King, who joined UW faculty in 1992, will examine why the small states of Iowa and New Hampshire have such disproportionate influence over who becomes president of the United States and why the national nominating conventions--once showcases of democracy--have become little more than "infomercials" for the political parties.

"Tradition and public expectations have combined to create a unique process that will be explored with an eye toward what works well and what does not work at all as Americans pick their next leader," says King.

Garrison, who joined UW in 2000, will reflect on the causes and consequences of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and the continuous "war on terrorism" from a political psychology perspective.

"Our big question is, what role do leaders' beliefs, personalities and perceptions of the enemy, the nature of a society, cultural dispositions and other psychological factors play in decisions to go to war and how a war is conducted?," she asks. "Recent American foreign policy decisions will be put into context with the 'American style' of foreign policy over the last 50 years."

For more information, call the A&S Development Office at (307) 766-2755 or the Department of Political Science at (307) 766-6484.

Posted on Friday, October 10, 2003