The rise of populism and the many political, social, and economic disruptions in recent years have presented a range of challenges to and opportunities for the teaching of political science in universities and colleges around the world. On one level, political science and politics curricula must cover new forms of political activity, the rise of new parties and movements, and new templates of leadership behavior. On another level, scholars must adapt to political contexts in which expertise and established standards of evidence are devalued, while we simultaneously seek to maintain the standards of developing key skills, such as critical thinking about fundamental ideas of justice and equality, and to convey well-researched knowledge about political systems, processes, and power structures.
The General Session on Political Science Teaching aims to provide a forum in which political science educators from different countries and institutions can come together to explore these challenges, share experiences, and present evidence-based teaching practices. We encourage contributions that investigate pedagogical issues and practices in various national, international, or comparative contexts. We also welcome different pedagogical approaches to understanding populism, economic, political, and social changes, and political disruptions as well as the challenges that these present to political science educators. Proposals should highlight areas such as innovative pedagogical practices, active-learning pedagogies, evidence-based outcomes, and civic engagement education.
