Cooper Talks Usa

A look at the Paris Peace conferences, focusing on Versailles and considering the context of the meetings, the attitudes of the Big 3, their aims, compromises and satisfaction with the Treaty, German reactions and the other treaties. Useful for anyone studying GCSE or just a general interest.

A contextual look at the historical development of the three core ideologies of Liberalism, Conservatism and Socialism.

With the confirmation of Kavanaugh yesterday, I thought it was time to look at the Hellerstedt case and how it built on the previous cases looked at in an earlier episode on abortion rights in the USA. Here I take a look at what was at issue in the case and how the ruling wasn't the liberal ruling many calm, but was significant nonetheless and how it relates to the political impact of the confirmations of Gorsuch and Kavanaugh.

In this episode, I took a look at the core ideology of liberalism and the first of the key thinkers, John Locke, looking at his theories, the context in which he was writing and how his ideas have gone on to influence the liberal movement as a whole.

The preamble to the US constitution says 'to form a more perfect union...and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity'. What does this mean and how does the US constitution achieve this? The constitution is America, but it also has flaws and contradictions. In this episode I hope to raise some issues for discussion and explain some of the questions people ask about the constitution.

This UK centered episode focuses on the idea of democracy and whether or not representative democracy is in trouble, how it is supposed to work and the issues arising due to populism, demonstrated in the Brexit and Trump results of 2016. It focuses on democratic theory, but also considers different types of democracy and the nature of democratic processes and their problems.

The Wright reforms were a series of proposals to redress the balance between the government and Parliament, suggesting proposals to give ordinary MPs more control over the the legislative process and greater ability to scrutinize the government. Some have been introduced, while some have been ignored, but these reforms are crucial for understanding parliamentary reforms and the nature of the relationship between the government and parliament in the UK, as well as reflecting key constitutional reforms.

Made in 2015, this episode considers the nature of democracy and elections in the UK. More recent examples are available, but the principles and arguments are valid and important. Particularly, there is a focus on why participation matters and why attitudes to politics have changed as society changes. This contextualization is essential in A Level essays.

A look at pressure group activity in the USA, with particular focus on lobbying. Does it undermine democracy, or does it aid the national interest? Useful for A level students and for those learning about why the NRA is able to prevent tighter gun regulations from happening.

A look at what caucuses are, the criticisms and positives of them and the general problems they have in the wider primary process, with relevant examples.

In this episode I look at the key ways in which voting rights are being restricted, from gerrymandering, registration drives and voter ID laws, to cuts in early voting and restrictions on felon voting. These probably contributed to the greatest challenge to American democracy since the end of Jim Crow.

Following the unexpected news that Antonin Scalia died on the 13th February 2016. I look at the implications for the Supreme Court and the elections, as the game of political football begins and partisan bickering overshadows the death of a Justice.

In this episode we bring the partisan divide up to the present, looking at how and why the divide has increased in American Politics since Obama became President and the consequences for American democracy.

Following on from the last episode, this time we look at how the partisan divide developed in the 1970's and became established in the 1980's under Ronald Reagan and his legacy. Particularly, we consider the impact Reagan has had on his successors and the extension of the partisan divide to Congress bringing us up to 2008.

In this, the first of three podcasts looking at the partisan division in America, I look at the origins of the growing divide, from the period of bi-partisan cooperation in the 1930s-60s, the growth of social movements, white backlash, the Goldwater revolution, the establishment of primaries and the reasons why the Democrats and then the Republicans began to leave the common center ground before Watergate.

As the candidates start gearing up for big push in the new year, I take a look at why Presidential elections cost so much, covering the costs of simply getting on the ballot, the fact that more can lead to less in TV advertising and the other associated costs.

How does direct democracy work in the USA? What exactly is an initiative? Why are ballot measures growing in popularity? In this episode I look at the different types of direct democracy in the USA, some recent examples of measures that have been successful and the arguments for an against them. As legislative democracy stumbles along, will direct democracy become the solution to America's problems?

The Supreme Court has had a long history of dealing with race relations in the USA, but has the Roberts' Court seen a change in attitude since Alito's appointment? In this episode I look at three recent cases on the Court and look for clues to the future. With Fisher v. University of Texas, Austin back at the Supreme Court, could this be the end of affirmative action programs?

Is the Supreme Court the final protector of women's rights, or is it establishing laws it has no right to? In this episode I look at the issue of abortion at the Supreme Court, the justification of it, the evolving decisions, the impact of those decisions and the potential impact of the Texas HB2 case. This is a presentation on the specific rulings to demonstrate how the Supreme Court has operated and how parties and interest groups use the Supreme Court to advance their causes.