Civic Apathy and the Future of American Democracy

Throughout United States history, the tendency to take citizenship for granted has led to significant and often dangerous shifts in the democratic landscape. This course examines the documented consequences of civic disengagement, tracing a line from the Civil Rights movement to the present day. We analyze how a collective withdrawal from civic life allows external forces to shape the rights and responsibilities of the individual, often with unexpected and disappointing results. Through visual case studies and historical analysis, we explore the tangible effects of apathy on the modern American experience, including: the impact of changing state voter ID requirements and their influence on election outcomes, how rapidly evolving immigration enforcement affects national and local economies, and the roots of growing skepticism toward government and the decline of foundational civics education in favor of STEM-only curricula. This course uses the Hybrid format which allows students to participate remotely and/or in the classroom. This course will be recorded. Students will have access to videos for the duration of the course.