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 During the past three decades, democratic politics in America have changed markedly, becoming less dominated by networks of personal contacts, often referred to as "the old boys' club." Now, political activity is increasingly dependent upon technical knowledge. Internet communications, polling, computer-assisted research, media advertising, and communications all constitute a teachable curriculum of politics, whereas personal contacts do not. As a result, consultants have replaced ward bosses while back-slapping lobbyists have been superceded by professional managers. Both electoral politics and governing have become increasingly specialized and professionalized.
The Graduate School of Political Management is both a response and a challenge to this trend. It has now become possible to organize a curriculum that prepares students for careers in politics.
The creation of the GSPM, the Nation's premier professional school for politics, constitutes a sustained effort to define and acknowledge the ethical boundaries and professional constraints that must guide the application of political technology. Having the privilege of conferring a professional degree in politics means that our responsibilities must extend beyond efforts to refine and intensify each course that we teach. We must also address the less obvious but equally important obligation to develop a way of thinking about the field of political management itself. If our graduates were to be noted only for their ability to win political victories, regardless of any ethical, moral, or social considerations, we would not have accomplished our purpose.
As thoughtful people, we must be concerned about the low esteem in which citizens hold our political system. For too many of our citizens, contemporary politics carries wholly negative connotations: influence-peddling lobbyists, corrupt public officials, venal special interests. The word "political" has become synonymous with lack of merit. The political professional, on the other hand, thinks and speaks in terms of rating points, pull operations, tracking polls, attack ads, bundled contributions, soft money, targeted mail, and so on. It can be a language unintelligible to the lay person and intimidating to citizens who would become active in politics. However, somewhere between the jargon of the professional and the popular negative view of politics lies the reality of our political process – a sometimes messy, yet decidedly effective system. Despite its frustrations and terrible inequities, the issue of who gets what is decided with less violence, more stability, and greater personal freedom than perhaps anywhere in the world.
As faculty, students, and administration, we are challenged by the range and the richness of the political management field and by a continuing need to develop new materials and new methods to teach it. With the development of this new online delivery of the Master's degree in Political Management, we embrace technology for the field and its up-and-coming professionals, now broadening the availability of this new brand of political training from Washington to across the U.S. and around the world.
Sincerely,
Christopher Arterton, Ph.D.
Dean, The Graduate School of Political Management
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"I knew if I was going to get a master's degree, it should be in something that really interests me. I wanted to work in politics, but I didn't want a law degree. The Political Management Master's degree was a perfect fit. My coursework at the GSPM helped me build the right kind of foundation for working in the political arena."
George Cecala, Press Secretary for Congressman Steve Chabot
Political Management Graduate, 2003
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