Presented by Dr. Philip Plotch
Fulbright U.S. Scholar

Thursday, November 4, at 7:30 PM KST via Zoom

Abstract

As Americans in South Korea, we find ourselves having to explain U.S. politics to students, friends, and acquaintances – but it is not so easy.  The 2020 presidential election, the storming of Congress on January 6th, and the death of more than 700,000 Americans from COVID-19 has revealed a deep divide in American politics.
The U.S. Congress set up the Fulbright Program to build mutual understanding between nations. This goal is especially challenging right now since Americans do not seem to even understand each other.
Philip Plotch, a U.S. Fulbright Scholar and visiting professor at Sogang University’s political science department, is teaching an American Politics course in Seoul this year. Dr. Plotch will talk about how he approaches the subject with his students. He finds they are both fascinated and surprised by much of what they learn about American governmental institutions, history, culture, and the media.
Dr. Plotch will ask participants to share their own experiences they have had talking about American Politics in Korea.

Presenter

Before coming to Korea, Dr. Plotch was an associate professor and director of a Master of Public Administration program in New Jersey. He is the award-winning author of three books: “Last Subway”, “Politics Across the Hudson”, and “Mobilizing the Metropolis”. Before transitioning to academia, Dr. Plotch was the director of World Trade Center redevelopment and special projects at the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, and the manager of planning and policy at the headquarters of New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

Hosted by Fulbright Korea, the Fulbright Forums series highlight the research and activities of Fulbright Korea grantees and alumni, offering a glimpse at current issues in Korean Studies and Korea-U.S. relations.