In an Age of Speed, Can Political Science Teach Us to Slow Down?

PoliSci is More than Campaigns and Elections

Many people assume political science is strictly about campaigns, voters, and public policy. While those are certainly part of the field, the discipline also tackles much deeper questions.

"Political science asks what justice is and how political power is acquired, and it considers both of these questions subject to rational argument and evidence, empirical and normative."

This focus often catches students off guard. "In American society today, we assume that 'justice' is a matter of personal values, often strongly held," Dr. Stoner observed. "It surprises students to learn both that justice is complex and that one can develop and refine one's opinions by study."

Rather than simply documenting what people believe, political science examines how societies define fairness, how institutions should function, and how power can be exercised responsibly.

Dr. Stoner believes the discipline also helps students understand something many Americans rarely stop to consider: the design of our political system itself.

Why Is Constructive Disagreement So Difficult?

Constructive disagreement can feel exceedingly hard to achieve these days. Dr. Stoner, who recently co-edited Free Speech and Intellectual Diversity in Higher Education, attributes this shift to a growing appetite for intellectual shortcuts.

"I think constructive disagreement has become more difficult because people demand and have become satisfied with quick and easy answers, the sort of things supplied by partisan slogans and ideologies," Dr. Stoner said.

Digital platforms tend to highlight certainty and outrage. Careful analysis, however, requires patience and a willingness to engage with unfamiliar ideas.

"Learning to read serious arguments and to recognize the value of argument—that it entails careful reasoning, not just talking angrily, as students sometimes think 'argument' is defined—is the crucial first step towards constructive disagreement."

He believes meaningful disagreement starts with encountering viewpoints that challenge our assumptions.

"If you have never encountered competing viewpoints and puzzled over which is true, you are not apt to respect another's viewpoint that differs from your own."

To combat this, the practice of building and engaging in constructive arguments is built into the coursework of the LSU political science degree.

Overcoming Information Overload

Modern students face a unique challenge: they have unlimited access to information alongside constant exposure to misinformation. The antidote is not necessarily consuming more content, but building better reading habits.

"Developing the habits [to read and reflect]—something which high schools seem increasingly not to have done—takes practice and patience," Dr. Stoner said. "First, put down the phone and take a break from social media. I know that sounds like what everyone is saying these days, but that doesn't make it untrue."

However, that practical advice doesn’t have to mean abandoning technology entirely. "Social media can be a tool to learn about things worth reading and discussions worth having."

The Power of Reading Well

In the classroom, Dr. Stoner emphasizes direct engagement with major historical and modern texts rather than relying on quick internet summaries. He believes this approach is effective regardless of a student's professional, cultural, or political background.

To students who may feel intimidated by classic texts or complex political ideas, he offered this adage: "Texts don't discriminate [in providing knowledge], if readers take the time to learn how to read carefully."

In courses such as American Constitutional Law, those texts are often directly linked to issues students encounter every day. "The connection of many issues of constitutional law to contemporary questions is usually immediate and obvious," Dr. Stoner noted. "The challenge is to get [students] to step back for a moment from their pre-conceived opinions to see how these issues have been treated in the past."

That process helps students understand both the long-term implications of political decisions and the variety of viewpoints that have existed throughout American history.

Why Political Science Still Matters

One misconception Dr. Stoner encounters frequently is the belief that because everyone has political opinions, there is little need to formally study politics.

"In America, everyone has political opinions," he said. "Even scholars in other fields often forget that there is a discipline that studies politics and might have something valuable to teach them about it."

Political science helps people understand political institutions, different forms of government, the realities of politics, and the often-unexpected consequences of public decisions. In a political environment dominated by quick reactions and short attention spans, such perspectives will continue to be valuable.

Study Political Science with Award-Winning LSU Faculty

If you’re interested in understanding the government, public policy, and the ideas that shape modern society, the online BA in Political Science from LSU provides a flexible path forward.

In addition to learning from award-winning instructors like Dr. Stoner, students will develop research, writing, and critical-thinking skills while studying topics such as American constitution and international politics. The program also offers a concentration in Law and Legal Systems, making it an excellent fit for future law school applicants, or anyone interested in public service and civic leadership.

Finally, from Dr. Stoner considering his current and prospective students: "I hope they never lose a sense of the joy of learning, and that they remember to appreciate the thought that went into the design and the development of America's constitutional order, even when they act within it or to improve it."

Learn more about the online Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from LSU, and apply today.