In many British Universities there is a course of study that is commonly referred to as ‘American Studies’. In this course students are expected to learn about American history, politics and literature and spend time discussing and debating their views on the topics. Why then, can’t we ask; is their a similar equivalent in America?

‘English Studies’ or ‘British Studies’ could encompass the exact same principles, but students could be more enriched by the greater literature, greater history and greater politics of our (seemingly greater?) land.
The contrary argument does of course fall on the notion that America is the great imperialising power of our time.

However, can we not assume that it’s power is only short lived in a time of increasing globalisation and growing world economies? Can it really match the period of global dominance that the British Empire encompassed in it’s colonisation of 1/3 of the world?

Indeed it would be nice to see American college students learning about Thatcherism, Philip Larkin and Guy Fawkes. Also in connecting culturally with our society maybe the demonisation of America as an interior minded culture would begin to cease a little.

Perhaps these are just some of the aspects that we could expect to see on their syllabus:
- The death of David Kelly, the sexed up dossier and why we followed America to war
- The literature of J.K. Rowling and how Harry conquered the world
- The English football team’s perpetual failure to deliver glory to an ever expectant nation and the repurcussions it draws on a psychologically imbalanced society
- Why the English pub will never be an American bar
- Why we gave America up in the War for Independence

Perhaps a little more of this guy and a little less of Whitman?