Political Science
read more about Duke's Sunshine Hillygus Among Recipients of $14M NSF Grant to Study 2024 Election »
Set deep within the Blue Ridge mountains, far from Duke’s campus, a group of almost 40 campers huddled around the campfire ready to discuss the day’s activities. Archery, board games and hiking had kept them busy. But now it was evening, and they were tired and ready to eat s’mores and share typical campfire stories — like dealing with academic stress and deciding on a career path. Well, maybe not so typical, as these weren’t just any campers, but Duke sophomores on a meditative retreat. Soon, they would go back to their… read more about Students Explore Life’s Most Important Questions Through New Program for Sophomores »
Our department chair, Kerry Haynie, welcomed everyone to our department commencement and highlighted the resilience of our graduating class. We could not be more proud. Governor JB Pritzker, Class of 1987, received our Distinguished Alumni Award and offered valuable lessons for graduating students. "Don't be afraid to take risks," Pritzker said, "and the corollary: take advantage of lucky breaks, especially when unusual opportunities come along to learn from… read more about JB Pritzker is our 2022 Distinguished Alumni »
Each year our department awards excellence in scholarshipCongratulations to our award winners. In the 2021-22 academic year, our graduate students continued to produce important scholarship in preparation for publication and the job market. OUTSTANDING DISSERTATION Diego Romero. "Connections and Privileged Access: Essays on The Political Economy of Corruption" OUTSTANDING MA THESIS Qi Liu. “Moral Hazard in Hierarchical International Agreements: Bilateral Swap Agreements, Reserve… read more about Congratulations to our department award winners »
Six members of Duke’s Class of 2023 have been named to the second class of Nakayama Scholars. The Nakayama Public Service Scholarship is part of the university’s efforts to encourage students to use their Duke experience to engage with the large challenges facing communities around the world. The students represent multiple disciplines across Duke’s academic departments as well as a variety of future careers. Juniors Alexandra Bennion, Bentley Choi, Garrett Goodman, Shreyas Hallur, Andrew Liu and Nellie Sun were chosen… read more about Duke Names Second Class of Nakayama Scholars »
Maria Morrison toured the USS Hopper in Pearl Harbor on her 2022 spring break trip. She is a senior, majoring in political scienceGoing to Pearl Harbor has been a dream of mine for years. Both as a Political Science student studying Security, Peace, and Conflict and as an American with great respect and reverence for the brave young men who fought there, the historic place is something I have wanted to visit for quite a while. The fact that Pearl Harbor happens to be on a beautiful tropical… read more about Going to Pearl Harbor has been a dream of mine: a political science student reflects on her spring break trip »
A new program for Duke sophomores – which launched earlier this year – will include a Political Science course this fall: “Liberalism and Its Critics” (POLSCI 247S). The course is part of the new “Transformative Ideas” program that is designed to promote open and civil cross-disciplinary dialogue on questions and big ideas that change lives, link cultures and shape societies around the world. “Liberalism and Its Critics” – taught by Alfredo Watkins of Political Science and Bruce Caldwell of Economics – focuses on the… read more about Political Science Course Among Fall “Transformative Ideas” Offerings »
DURHAM, N.C. -- Though he teased a military assault for weeks, Russian President Vladimir Putin still surprised many with his decision to invade Ukraine Thursday. And his behavior in the days leading up to the invasion suggested an erratic, unpredictable leader whose next moves won’t be entirely clear, two Duke scholars said Thursday. Speaking to media in a virtual media briefing, two scholars with vast expertise on Russia and the former Soviet Union discussed the nascent war, the role of sanctions, what the U.S. will do… read more about Putin’s Invasion Of Ukraine Reveals Leader ‘Disconnected In Many Senses From Reality,’ Expert Says »
Leann MclarenWould Black Americans support a peaceful Black Lives Matter protest? What if the protesters began looting stores? What if they set fire to an empty building? These are some of the questions that Leann McLaren is exploring in one of her research projects. McLaren, a third-year Ph.D. candidate in political science, is researching behavior and identity, with a specific focus on race in American politics. “Much of my work concentrates on the connection between racial identity and… read more about McLaren’s Research Explores Black Opinions on Black Lives Matter »
