Political Science
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 choices. We don’t… read more about The Media Briefing Series »
Of all the things that make college students anxious, now you can add ghost cars to the list. Not haunted, unoccupied moving vehicles, Flying Dutchman style. “Ghost cars” is a term Duke Parking & Transportation (DPT) uses to define cars that enter or leave parking lots when the gates are up, like during a football game or evening event. The gate sensors don’t record them both entering and exiting, which causes problems in keeping an accurate count of the cars using a lot. A few summers ago, DPT asked a group of… read more about Quantitatively and Qualitatively, Data+ and Its Affiliated Programs Are Big Hits »
Alexander Kirshner, an associate professor of Political Science, argued in The Hill that Donald's Trump's "refusal to acknowledge that the election has been called for Joe Biden or even to allow Biden to receive the customary security briefings given to the presidents-elect has generated broad concern about the state of our constitutional system." read more about Saving Legitimate Opposition »
Kerry Haynie, an associate professor of Political Science and African & African American Studies, co-wrote an article for the Washington Post describing his new research with Beth Reingold and Kirsten Widner, which found that "women of color are the most likely to address the needs of multiple marginalized groups with their legislative portfolios, but Latinas and Black women approach such issues somewhat differently." read more about Women of Color Won Congressional Seats in Record Numbers. How Will They Legislate? »
DURHAM, N.C. -- Duke University senior Amelia Steinbach of Durham, North Carolina, is one of 12 Americans selected this weekend to receive the George J. Mitchell Scholarship for a year of graduate study in Ireland. This year, 453 students applied for the scholarship, named in honor of Sen. George Mitchell’s contributions to the Northern Ireland peace process. Recipients are chosen on the basis of academic distinction, leadership and service. Steinbach, a political science major with minors in Gender, Sexuality &… read more about Duke Senior Awarded George J. Mitchell Scholarship to Study in Ireland »
Sunshine Hillygus, Professor of Political Science, was interviewed for an Atlantic article about how to convince loved ones to change their votes. “It’s not just one conversation," she said. “It is a repeated discussion of the things that you value.” Read the article at The Atlantic. read more about The Science of Changing a Loved One’s Vote »
As the Trump administration continues its flurry of largely evidence-free allegations of widespread voter fraud and rigged voting results, President-elect Joe Biden is left to wait for some of the resources needed for his official transition to the White House. As the clock ticks, two Duke professors with experience in previous White House administrations discussed the impact the transition delay will have on the nation’s handling of the pandemic, national security and other important issues. The two political scientists… read more about Former White House Official: 'The Delay in Transition is not Helpful' »
Writing at Foreign Policy, Professor of Political Science Peter Feaver argues that the presidential election "was no repudiation of Trumpism, making it harder for the [Republican] party to heal and return to its strengths." Instead, Feaver claims, "the Trumpist faction in the party will be empowered and in no mood to compromise or reform." read more about What Trump’s Near-Victory Means for Republican Foreign Policy »
Although election campaigns are at the forefront of our collective consciousness when it comes to politics, what happens between elections really shapes people's lives and their degree of engagement with our political system. We chose five Duke-authored books that showcase the importance of politics and the consequences of policy. These books along with many others are available at the Duke University Libraries, the Gothic Bookshop or the Regulator Bookshop. White Identity Politics by Ashley… read more about Five Duke Books on Politics and Public Policy »
The pandemic, wildfires in the west, a hurricane brewing in the Gulf of Mexico, an avalanche of misinformation and the most contentious presidential race in recent memory are combining to create an unprecedented election season. Record numbers of Americans are voting early, many of whom are spending hours in line to do so. What does all this mean? Three Duke faculty members and the leader of a nonpartisan group at Duke dedicated to getting students to the polls took questions from journalists Wednesday during a digital… read more about Pandemic, Voter Suppression, Record Early Voting – Experts Discuss 2020 Election »
Christopher Johnston, Associate Professor of Political Science, co-authored an op-ed in the Washington Post about the research in his book Curbing the Court: Why the Public Constrains Judicial Independence. In it, he argues that the American public is "less willing to defend the Supreme Court’s stability and integrity than many political scientists believe — especially now, at a time when they’re so polarized ideologically." read more about Why Americans are Perfectly Willing to Undermine the Integrity and Independence of the Supreme Court »
If you are considering majoring in political science, professor Adriane Fresh outlines what the Duke Department of Political Science has to offer, in this video. "Political science is the application of the scientific method to questions in the political realm. Political scientists study how individual political attitudes are formed, how complex institutions like legislatures or judiciaries function, we study why some protests are successful and others aren't, how corruption responds to new… read more about Why Major in Political Science? - new video launch »
Kerry Haynie, an Associate Professor of Political Science, participated in a panel about political engagement, offering his take on which states will have the highest turnout, the impact of political action committees and more. Read the article at WalletHub. read more about 2020's Most & Least Politically Engaged States »
North Carolina is changing. It’s more diverse than even just a couple election cycles ago, and people are leaving rural areas and moving to cities and suburbs. This all signals a shift in the state’s voting tendencies, making it a significant swing state in the upcoming presidential election. With the state poised to begin early voting, two Duke University scholars Wednesday discussed the state’s voter tendencies, changing demographics and crucial voting blocs. Here are excerpts from the conversation, held via Zoom in a… read more about Experts: NC’s Shifting Population Makes it a Significant Swing State »
Here are recently published and forthcoming books by Duke authors, from September and October: Marc Zvi Brettler, co-author: “The Bible With and Without Jesus: How Jews and Christians Read the Same Stories Differently” Annotated Edition (HarperOne, Oct. 27, 2020) Avshalom Caspi and Terrie E. Moffitt, co-authors: “The Origins of You: How Childhood Shapes Later Life” (Harvard University Press) Samuel Fury Childs Daly: “A History of the Republic of Biafra: Law, Crime, and… read more about New Great Reads from Duke Authors »
With the 2020 presidential election less than a month away, we have collected six Duke-authored books detailing the forces — social, economic, and historical — behind the electoral process in the United States. Afterwards, check out all the new Duke-authored publications from September and October 2020. These books along with many others are available at the Duke University Libraries, the Gothic Bookshop or the Regulator Bookshop. Duke Votes — a non-partisan, student-led organization — is also a source for information… read more about Six Duke Books on Elections and Voting »
Sunshine Hillyguys has been studying voter behavior for years. In her newest book with co-author John Holbein, Making Young Voters, she brings an interdisciplinary approach, drawing from economics, psychology, and child development, to shed new light on youth voter turnout dynamics. This timely publication happens as Duke University increases its resources to encourage voter turnout. The Duke Votes campaign helps raise awareness about local resources available for registration and voting. Hillygus has helped… read more about Sunshine Hillygus addresses youth voter turnout numbers »
From Oxford University, then-Rhodes Scholar Rachel Myrick gained an entirely new perspective on U.S. foreign policy. “It was there where I spent a lot of time reading about these big classical debates about international security and thought a lot about America’s role in the world from an international perspective,” says Myrick, who this fall became an assistant research professor in Duke’s political science department. Those long-standing theories and concepts were upended in 2016 with the election of Donald Trump as… read more about How political polarization is changing American foreign policy - a profile of Rachel Myrick »
Researchers have found no evidence that the U.S. Supreme Court’s modification of the 1965 Voting Rights Act led to voter discrimination in North Carolina through partisan relocation of polling places. Despite concerns the 2013 decision would lead to such unfairness, a cross-county study of North Carolina elections concludes that the state’s politically appointed county elections officials did not appear to change polling place locations to suppress voters of the opposite party following the ruling. The study looked at… read more about Study Finds No Partisan Relocating of Polling Places in NC »
The recent protests over police killings of Black men, and the reaction to those protests by some white Americans, underscores a massively polarized electorate heading into the November election. But to what extent is the nation truly divided, and which voting blocks might play key roles? Three Duke scholars discussed these topics and more Wednesday during a virtual media briefing. Watch the briefing on YouTube. Here are excerpts: ON DISTINCTION BETWEEN WHITE IDENTITY AND WHITE RACIAL DISCRIMINATION… read more about How Racial Identity and Polarization Could Influence the Election »
From Oxford University, then-Rhodes Scholar Rachel Myrick gained an entirely new perspective on U.S. foreign policy. “It was there where I spent a lot of time reading about these big classical debates about international security and thought a lot about America’s role in the world from an international perspective,” says Myrick, who this fall became an assistant research professor in Duke’s political science department. Those long-standing theories and concepts were upended in 2016 with the election of Donald Trump as… read more about Rachel Myrick: How Political Polarization Is Changing American Foreign Policy »
In the upcoming election, North Carolina voters will have a lot of sway. Republican President Donald Trump and his Democratic challenger, former Vice-President Joe Biden, are locked in a tight race thus far. As a Southern state that often leans Republican in presidential elections, North Carolina could change the course of the entire national election if Biden can eke out a win here, three Duke experts said Thursday during a media briefing on the relevance of the Tar Heel state this election season. Watch the briefing on… read more about How NC Votes Likely to Determine National Outcomes, Experts Say »
The signs of change were all around: Students walking around campus wearing face masks, talking to new friends in distanced circles. Socializing tents scattered around campus. Seminars in large rooms with seats spaced out. But the first day of classes also had much that was familiar. Students strolled along pathways with coffee and food-for-later in hand. Groundskeepers zipped past on riding mowers while joggers circled the East Campus loop, albeit giving each other plenty of room. Most importantly, there was excitement… read more about The First Day of Classes Start With Masks, Distancing and Vigorous Classrooms »
This fall semester, Duke Kunshan University lecturer Ashton Merck will be communicating with her students more than usual. She plans to check in with her students early and often through WeChat messages, email, and virtual office hours. Merck hopes that by staying in contact, students will feel more connected to the course and to each other, no matter where they are in the world. “I think that especially in this stressful time, instructors have a responsibility to open up lines of communication that students feel… read more about How Duke Faculty Prepared for the Fall Semester »
Sunshine Hillygus, professor of Political Science, was interviewed for a Good Housekeeping article on raising good citizens. She discussed the need to show children how to take part in civic life. Read the article at Good Housekeeping. read more about How to Raise a Good, Civic-Minded Citizen While Avoiding the Ugly Side of Politics »
Kerry L. Haynie, associate professor of Political Science, contributed to a forum about electing women. He argued that the issue must be analyzed with an intersectional lens that also accounts for race. Read the article at Boston Review. read more about What Does It Take to Get Women Elected? »
There’s an old fact-checking adage in journalism: If your mother says she loves you, check it out. It’s good advice that, given the avalanche of political misinformation and outright falsehoods available on the internet, is absolutely critical now, several Duke experts in communication, policy and technology said Wednesday. But being a savvy, clear-eyed news consumer these days isn’t easy, the scholars said during a briefing for reporters. Watch the discussion on YouTube here. Here are excerpts: ON THE SCALE OF… read more about Navigating Fake News: How Americans Should Deal With Misinformation Online »
What cancelled summer plans—and new ones—say about the Duke student body. One was supposed to be saying goodbye to her childhood home on the other side of the Atlantic. Another was meant to be working with refugees in Ireland. Two more had plans for research projects in Africa. None of it happened. With international travel grounded thanks to COVID-19, all of the plans that Duke students carefully laid for the summer came apart at the seams. But Duke’s inherently global nature remains—evident in its diverse student body… read more about Purpose from Disruption »