A Tale of 2 Democracies: India and the US

(This course is targeted at children entering Grades 8, 9, 10 in 2020-21)

What challenges do India and the United States face?  How do their governments respond- or not respond- to modern challenges?  This course will explore challenges facing these two powers in the 21st Century.  The course will begin by comparing, critiquing, and evaluating the democratic structures in the US and India using principles from comparative politics.  Then, the students will identify and explore social, economic, and political problems facing these two countries.  Some of the problems are common ones- ensuring that elected leaders respond to the needs of the people, building economies that reflect sustainable principles, or creating positive global reputations in an uncertain world.  Others are specific to each country.  How should the US deal with gerrymandering?  Or, how should India interact with its neighbors? 

Using India and the US as case studies, students will hone their research, writing, and speaking skills through discussion and debate.  The end product for this course is a policy briefing; students will have identified some potential solutions and barriers to achieving their goals.  

Sarah describes the course further in this video.