Slouching in Congress: Origins of American Stereotypes<br />World Affairs Council: Washington DC - World Affairs Council of Washington DC<br />From the early 19th century onwards, American politicians and the American people have frequently been seen as culturally and intellectually inferior by outsiders. Should these claims be seen as anti-American stereotypes and prejudices or is there reasonable evidence to support such conclusions?Brendon O'Connor, Associate Professor in American Politics at the University of Sydney, explores the historical origins of a set of powerful tropes and stereotypes that emerged describing the American people, their culture and their politics as insular, backward, uncouth, populist and anti-intellectual.He also discusses his research on American's knowledge of global affairs, foreign languages and geography and how this knowledge compares with that of other nations.
