Phillip J. Ardoin - Visiting Professor Appalachian State University
About
Dr. Phillip J. Ardoin is a Professor of American Politics at Appalachian State University. He is previously, Co-Editor of PS: Political Science and Politics, which is the journal of record for the American Political Science Association. He has served as President of the North Carolina Political Science Association, Director of the Department of Government and Justice Studies' graduate program in Political Science, and Chair of the Department of Government and Justice Studies. His research interests address a broad array of issues within American Politics. He is currently working on several research projects that range from an analysis of factors that influence Partisan Polarization in the N.C. General Assembly to an examination of the influence of college student voting on local elections throughout the United States and attitudes of political elites regarding college student voting.
Dr. Ardoin earned his Ph.D. in Political Science at the Louisiana State University and has since taught a variety of undergraduate and graduate courses in Political Science with topics ranging from national and legislative politics to the presidency, presidential elections and the executive branch.
Courses
610013 PS Critical Area Studies: American Cultures: Fight Club Politics: How Partisanship is Poisoning Democracy in America
This course explores the growing political polarization of the American public and America’spolitical parties. Building on scholarly literature from a variety of disciplines including sociology, media, and political science, Fight Club Politics will investigate political polarization from a variety of perspectives and explore a number of questions unique to polarization in US-American politics. Ultimately, the course will provide students with an understanding of political polarization in America including its existence, its measurement, its causes, and its consequences.
402200 VU Political Science - Specialisation 1
This course explores the political institutions of American Democracy and the significant challenges to effective governance in America due to changes in modern media, growing economic inequality, identity politics, and extreme partisan polarization.
Events
From Nixon to Trump: Changes in US Media Coverage of the Presidency - A Two-Part Event
As part Dr. Ardoin's visiting professorship at the University of Innsbruck, the Department of American Studies is hosting a two-part event that explores the connection between US-American media and the government of the United States with a special focus on the US-American presidency. Dr. Ardoin will give a guest lecture titled "A Democracy in Crisis: Truth, Trust, and the Media in the US" on April 19, 2023 and will join a discussion at the Leokino after the screening of The Post on May 10, 2023.