Political Science
Six members of the Class of 2022 have been named to the inaugural class of Nakayama Scholars. Juniors Sydney Albert, Carlee Goldberg, Erica Langan, Yi Xian “Lyndon” Lee, Ahn-Huy Nguyen, and Micalyn Struble were chosen for their stellar academics, leadership and demonstrated commitment to a career in public service. 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… read more about Six Students Named Inaugural Nakayama Public Service Scholars »
DURHAM, N.C. -- Duke University junior Carlee Goldberg is among 62 students selected nationally as 2021 Truman Scholars. The scholarship is a memorial to President Harry S. Truman. Students from every state are selected based on their leadership potential, high academic achievement and a commitment to careers in public service and advocacy. The Truman Scholarship Foundation received 845 nominations from 328 colleges and universities. Each new Truman Scholar receives funding for graduate studies, leadership training… read more about Duke University Junior Named a Truman Scholar »
Editor's Note: A previous version of this article mentioned Grace Musila as another hire resulting from this search, selected to join the English Department. Due to a series of unanticipated circumstances and ongoing responsibilities she has in her current role with the Department of African Literature at the University of Witwatersrand, Musila will not be joining Duke this fall. A respected scholar of the political economy, Eric Mvukiyehe, will join the Trinity College of Arts & Sciences… read more about Expert on Africa to Join Trinity Faculty »
Before Donald Trump’s surprise election in 2016, students in Ian MacMullen’s politics classes listened with a collective shrug when he talked about forms of government other than democracy. No longer. Faculty who teach about politics and public policy say four years of a chaotic, unorthodox presidency has exposed democracy’s fragility. Free speech, the Constitution, trust in government leaders, etc. all took a sucker punch under Trump. But in classrooms that challenge undergraduates to think critically about democracy,… read more about Teaching Democracy in a Moment of Political Crisis »
Before Donald Trump’s surprise election in 2016, students in Ian MacMullen’s politics classes listened with a collective shrug when he talked about forms of government other than democracy. No longer. Faculty who teach about politics and public policy say four years of a chaotic, unorthodox presidency has exposed democracy’s fragility. Free speech, the Constitution, trust in government leaders, etc. all took a sucker punch under Trump. But in classrooms that challenge undergraduates to think critically about democracy,… read more about Understanding Democracy's Frailties »
The Duke Graduate School has an annual tradition of celebrating the contributions of graduate students. Each spring, the Graduate School organizes activities to help students socialize, expand personal growth, and get access to tools for professional development. This year, the Graduate School encouraged departments and schools to create thank you videos to highlight this extraordinary period of life and the students who challenge themselves to become experts in their fields of study. We made this… read more about Graduate Student Appreciation Week »
A group of Duke researchers wrote an article for the Washington Post discussing their work on what happens when people are deported from the United States. The authors include David Dow, a postdoc in Political Science; Mateo Villamizar Chaparro, a graduate student in Political Science; and Erik Wibbels, the Robert O. Keohane Professor of Political Science. read more about Biden Wants to Halt Deportations. Here’s What Happens When Migrants Are Sent Back. »
This month, we present a collection of 12 Duke-authored books documenting women's contributions to history, culture and society. These books, along with many others, are available at Duke University Libraries, the Gothic Bookshop or the Regulator Bookshop. Women and the War Story by Miriam Cooke In “Women and the War Story,” Professor Emerita miriam cooke charts the emerging tradition of women’s contributions to what she calls the “War Story,” a genre formerly… read more about 12 Duke-Authored Books on Women's History »
The seventh annual Duke Graduate Conference in Political Theory, which will take place over Zoom on February 26 from 9:30 am to 5:15 pm EST. The conference schedule and papers are available here. All panels are open to the public. To receive a zoom link, please register for the conference here. Melissa Lane, the Class of 1943 Professor of Politics at Princeton University and director of the University Center for Human Values, will serve as the keynote speaker for the conference. Her keynote… read more about Seventh Annual Graduate Conference in Political Theory »
More than 1,000 Duke students from across the globe logged on to Zoom over the first two weeks of January to participate in an academic gateway for students of any major to explore new topics in a short form and without the pressure of grades Open to all Duke students- undergraduates, graduates, and professionals, Winter Breakaway offered 13 different programs focusing on topics including computational thinking, mindfulness, policies in the technology sector, intercultural competencies and navigating difficult… read more about Students Find Interdisciplinary Exploration and Connection in Winter Breakaway Courses »
Paul D. McClain, James B. Duke Distinguished Professor of Political Science, joined PBS NewsHour to discuss the challenges Joe Biden will face as president. “Our democracy is not only fragile, but it can be destroyed in a flash,” she said. “How do you get people to believe in this idea of democracy again?” read more about Biden Inherits a Deeply Divided Nation, but Most Voters Think He Will Bring Unity »
After last week’s invasion of the U.S. Capitol by a gang of rioters egged on by President Trump, longtime observers of government and politics are trying to determine just how much damage the nation has suffered and how it can begin to recover. At Duke, three experts in history, law and political science discussed the challenges the nation now faces. In a wide-ranging virtual media briefing, the scholars looked at the historical precursors to the insurrection, the infiltration of police and military by white nationalists,… read more about US Capitol Riots: Where Do We Go From Here? »
Americans were shocked Wednesday by the image of rioters storming through the U.S. Capitol, ransacking galleries, hallways and offices. For law professor Darrell Miller, the attack also prompted questions about white supremacy and how Americans respond to race. “The police response to the insurrection at the Capitol shows two things,” said Miller, Melvin G. Shimm Professor of Law at Duke. “First, how incredibly dangerous it is if we as a country allow armed political protest to become the norm… read more about DC Riot Underscores Dangers of White Supremacy, Experts Say »
DURHAM, N.C. -- The jaw-dropping insurrection at the U.S. Capitol Wednesday, egged on by President Trump, has shone yet again a harsh spotlight on domestic terror groups, disinformation and the role the military plays in domestic security issues. Four Duke experts spoke Thursday on these and other topics during a virtual briefing for members of the media. (Watch the briefing on YouTube.) Here are excerpts: ON THE CAPITOL INVASION David Schanzer, director, Triangle Center on Terrorism and Homeland… read more about Lessons From the U.S. Capitol Riot »
If he could bottle the sound, he would. In his backyard music studio in Durham, Matthew Busch lifts his saxophone to his lips, takes a breath, and plays four languid notes. He ascends from an E to an A, then plays up an octave, holding each note for four beats. He switches to another mouthpiece, plays again. Repeats with a third. Busch describes the sound coaxed from each thumb-sized mouthpiece like he’s describing a favorite wine. One, a Selmer tenor sax mouthpiece from the 1950s, is expressive, balanced, bright. Another,… read more about Conjuring Coltrane »
December Jeremy Spater. 2020. "Exposure and Preferences: Evidence from Indian Slums." American Journal of Political Science. Amelia Steinbach, T’21 student, who wrote an op-ed in The Washington Post last year, has been awarded the George J. Mitchell Scholarship for a year of graduate study in Ireland, reports Duke Today November Daniel Kselman, Emerson Niou, and Austin Wang. 2020. “Measuring ‘closeness’ in 3-candidate elections: Methodology and an application to… read more about Scholarship & Milestones, in 2020 »
December Peter Feaver coauthors a critique of Trump’s delay on the presidential transition in an op-ed, for Foreign Policy Peter Feaver offers analysis of the limits of Congressional power during wartime, for NNY360 Peter Feaver coauthors examination of poll findings that the public is ambivalent about the war in Afghanistan, for The Wall Street Journal Kerry Haynie’s recent service as Chair of the Academic Council is covered by Duke Today Kerry Haynie coauthors… read more about Political Science in the News, 2020 »
Timur Kuran, professor of Economics and Political Science, joined the podcast Hidden Brain to discuss the way "our personal, professional and political lives are shaped by the fear of what other people think." Listen at the Hidden Brain website or your favorite podcast app. read more about A Conspiracy of Silence »
In July 2020, President Donald Trump announced plans for the U.S. to withdraw from the World Health Organization, which he has repeatedly blamed for failing to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus. While the threat had no immediate practical effect – the WHO’s rules require a year’s notice to withdraw – it inflamed concerns in global health circles that the U.S. would back away from its historical commitment to the organization at the worst possible time. Following the election of Joe Biden as president,… read more about A Fresh Start for the U.S. and the WHO? »
Alexander Kirshner, an associate professor of Political Science, co-authored an op-ed in the Guardian arguing that "well-designed democracies need not turn the other cheek when confronted by aspiring autocrats." read more about Donald Trump Can – and Should – Be Stopped From Running in 2024 »
Between August 2020 and January 2021, Duke political science faculty engaged journalists on the most pressing issues of the election cycle. This collection of videos brings them together alongside Duke faculty from other parts of campus. “The right to vote requires a reasonable but not unlimited set of options. Citizens don’t have the right to violate the rights of others. Citizens don’t have the right to elect whomever they want. We typically have a limited set of… read more about The Media Briefing Series »