Watch video of Marc Hetherington, professor of political science, speaking at the Osher Lifelong Learning class, “Politics in a Polarized Polity.”

The Feb. 8 class, “Polarization and Congress,” focuses on the branch of government where polarization first took hold, tracing the evolution of the regional bases for the parties and how it has lead to a sharpening of the parties’ ideologies.

The class is part of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Vanderbilt. The non-credit classes are intended for older adults who want to pursue lifelong learning with the stimulus of lectures and discussions in an informal and relaxed environment.