Today, I will be starting my election08 adventure. From August 18 to November 7, I will travel to the US to investigate my MA thesis case study: this year’s election. I started writing my MA thesis in May. The topic is “American Youth, Political Parties, & the 2008 U.S. Presidential Election.” Up until now, I have done the theoretical work focusing on the concepts of political participation as well as democratic and generational theory. From now on, I will be on the road… So check back for reports.

As the taz reports, approximately 60% of German university students come from what they call “Akademikerfamilien,” i.e. families in which at least one parent has an academic degree. They compare that number to 2004’s 57% and 1993’s 49%.

Since the gas price has risen above $4 a gallon in the US earlier this year, oil specifically and energy more generally has been on top of the campaign agenda. The actual substance or rather non-substance of the energy policy debate can make you wonder though. Republican Representative Michael Burgess, for example, even referred to the Paris Hilton Energy Plan on the floor of the House of Representatives saying: “Let’s have the vote. Even Paris Hilton has a plan.

Since the eruption of fighting and violence in South Ossetia, the conflict between Russia and Georgia has been discussed widely, not just in terms of its consequences for the Caucasus region, but also in terms of its impact on the US presidential election. Republican John McCain is widely believed to have an edge over Democrat Barack Obama, when it comes to foreign policy and national security. After all, he is a Vietnam veteran and “war hero,” right?

Der US Wahlkampf ist rauer geworden. Der Republikaner John McCain hat den Demokraten Barack Obama nach dessen Rückkehr aus Europa hart angegriffen. Mit einer Reihe so genannter “attack ads” (negative Werbespots) griff McCain die Popularität seines Gegners an, indem er sie als negative Eigenschaft definierte. So versucht er der Obama Kampagne den Enthusiasmus zu nehmen und seinen Gegner als elitären Popstar zu charakterisieren.

You may have noticed it. Or you might have read about it being noticed: Barack Obama’s hair seems to be getting grayer each week. And in general – don’t you underestimate the importance of hair in politics…

Concerning the hair of presidential candidate Barack Obama, people started speculating about whether

The American Studies Course Catalog for the Winter Term 2008/09 is now available on this website. Please keep on checking the course listings for any news or updates. And don’t forget to download the Introduction to the Winter 08/09 Course Catalog – it provides you with important information concerning Institute staff, deadlines, advising, and much more.

The upcoming November presidential election is already casting big shadows.  Even in Leipzig there will be a debate between Democrats Abroad Germany and Republicans Abroad Germany. 

The event will take place on Monday, September 1st 2008 from 7:00 to 9:00 PM, in the Kuppelsaal of the Leipziger Volkszeitung on the top floor of the Verlagshaus. Petersteinweg 19, 04107 . It will be hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce.

Politics goes Second Life? Well, my first reaction was pure and pragmatic skepticism. After all, I was wondering who has the time to have a second life? But my research interest in online campaigning triggered my curiousity.  So I checked it out:

In his article “The Politics of Second Life,” the Harvard Crimson editorial editor Clay A. Dumas described Second Life as: