Olavi (Ole) Rudolf Holsti born August 7th, 1933 in Geneva, Switzerland died July 2nd, 2020 in his home in Salt Lake City, Utah after a long battle with lymphoma. Ole received his bachelors and PhD from Stanford University by 1962 and earned tenure at the University of British Columbia before making his way to Duke University to become the George V. Allen Professor in 1974. He served as the chair of the department from 1978 - 1983.
He received two undergraduate teaching awards and a lifetime achievement award from the… read more about Ole Holsti, beloved professor emeritus, passed away »
The American Political Science Association (APSA) has produced a statement on systemic racism, signed by APSA President and Duke professor of political science Paula McClain. Dr. McClain began teaching in the Duke Department of Political Science ten years ago, and has served in multiple leadership roles across the discipline culminating in her current service as the President of APSA.
The recent murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery have reignited protests and calls for justice in the United States… read more about Duke professor signs leading statement on systemic racism »
Congratulations to the following student award winners from Duke University units in 2020.
African & African American Studies
John Hope Franklin Award for Academic Excellence: Elizabeth DuBard Grantland
Karla FC Holloway Award for University Service: Beza Gebremariam
Mary McLeod Bethune Writing Award: Jenna Clayborn
Walter C. Burford Award for Community Service: Kayla Lynn Corredera-Wells
Art, Art History & Visual Studies
Mary Duke… read more about Student Honors and Laurels for 2020 »
Every year, the Director of Graduate Studies submits an annual report to the Duke Graduate School and this year reveals another productive round of innovative, multifaceted, other-oriented, and ambitious scholarship. Below is one snapshot to celebrate, a list of publications involving graduate students over the past year. However, this is only an incomplete snapshot of their work. Scholars should be defined by much more than countable metrics related to publications and citation counts. Scholarship is more than… read more about A snapshot of graduate student scholarship - our annual report »
The 2020 Senior Class of Political Science majors will occupy a unique place in the history of the Department, and the University. The Honors students whose achievements are celebrated on this page have overcome all of the usual difficulties involved in navigating a degree, finding classes, and finishing requirements, and managed on top of all that to do original research on some of the biggest questions and problems that face humanity. But this class of Honors celebrants have done something more: without the resources that… read more about Honors Program students »
A white student asks: Was the criticism leveled at rapper Eminem racist when he came on the scene in the 1990s because he’s white in a predominantly black genre?
No, says political scientist Ashley Jardina. That’s because society does not treat white people -- including Eminem -- with historic, widespread discrimination simply for his skin color.
Prejudice, yes. Racism? No.
Such is the goal of the spring political science course, “Racial Attitudes and Prejudice,” which delves into work from sociology, social psychology and… read more about Race in Politics: Undergraduates Learn the History, Implications »
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread, the question of where to turn for solid information has never been more important. Many Duke experts are being approached now for their expertise and insight. But where do they turn for guidance and the latest information? Duke Today asked several Duke experts to share their preferred sources. We’ll share their insights over the coming weeks.
Peter Feaver, a professor of political science at the Sanford School of Public Policy and director of the Duke Program in American Grand… read more about Peter Feaver: Who Are Your Trusted Sources on COVID-19? »
Duke University has awarded distinguished professorships to 29 faculty members from eight Duke colleges and schools. While the annual University Distinguished Professors dinner will be postponed until social gathering restrictions are lifted, Provost Sally Kornbluth is ready to congratulate this year’s recipients now.
“I am thrilled to honor this wonderful cohort of scholars, teachers, and members of the Duke community,” Kornbluth said. “Becoming a distinguished professor at Duke is a great achievement, and one that is… read more about Duke Awards 29 University Distinguished Professorships »
Voter turnout among young Americans has been dismal since 18-year-olds earned the right to vote with the passage of the 26th amendment in 1971.
While 18–29 year-olds account for nearly 22% of the voting age population, they made up just 13% of the voting electorate in 2018 – and that’s an improvement over previous years.
By not voting, younger Americans miss out on representation, policies and civic benefits that come with the practice, researchers say.
But it’s not that younger Americans are apathetic about politics and… read more about Making Young Voters - new book from Sunshine Hillygus »
"I've been on guard for some mischief," Kyle Beardsley said, expecting a joke when he received the announcing email on April Fools Day, but he was surprised with delight to hear that he received the 2020 Inclusive Faculty Award from the Duke Graduate & Professional Student Council.
For the past three years, Dr. Beardsley has served as the department's Director of Graduate Studies (DGS), a job that includes carrying on important academic traditions like the End of Year Conference, also… read more about Kyle Beardsley honored with Inclusive Faculty Award from GPSC »
"At first blush," Ismail White writes, "black voters appear to be an almost monolithically Democratic bloc." But in his newest co-authored book, Steadfast Democrats, offers innovative explanations for black political behavior. Dr. White, and his co-author Chryl Laird, draw close ties between the historical experience of slavery and segregation, and contemporary political socialization. "Black voters are uniquely influenced by the social expectations of other black Americans to prioritize the group’s ongoing… read more about Steadfast Democrats? New research on black voter loyalty and the process of racialized social constraint »
During a public discussion on Feb. 20, the Hon. Philippe Étienne, Ambassador of France to the United States, spoke candidly about the challenges facing European nations.
“We must never forget we are democracies,” Ambassador Étienne said. “And we must speak about our values.”
The ambassador was… read more about At Duke, French Ambassador Contemplates Europe’s Future »
In the end, John Bolton didn’t reveal any explosive new details from his anticipated book about his time in the Trump administration.
But it wasn’t because political science professor Peter Feaver, who interviewed Bolton for an hour Monday night before a packed Page Auditorium, didn’t give him the opportunity.
Asked if he thought President Trump’s call to the Ukrainian president was “perfect,” as Trump claims, Bolton replied: “You’ll love chapter 14.”
Compared with other subjects he deals with in the book, which is due… read more about John Bolton at Duke Makes First Public Remarks Since Impeachment »
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Voter turnout among young Americans has been dismal since 18-year-olds earned the right to vote with the passage of the 26th amendment in 1971.
While 18–29 year-olds account for nearly 22% of the voting age population, they made up just 13% of the voting electorate in 2018 – and that’s an improvement over previous years.
By not voting, younger Americans miss out on representation, policies and civic benefits that come with the practice, researchers say.
But it’s not that younger Americans are apathetic about… read more about Why Young People Don’t Vote – And How to Fix That »
Last week’s killing of top Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani has raised a number of legal and strategic questions for which there seem to be no consensus, including among Duke faculty.
Charles J. Dunlap Jr., a professor of the practice of law and executive director of the law school’s Center on Law, Ethics and National Security, said President Donald Trump’s directive to kill Soleimani was “lawful self-defense” as authorized by the United Nations Charter, not an unlawful assassination.
“Because Soleimani was engaged in… read more about Killing of Iranian Commander Raises Legal, Strategic Questions »
After two tight elections and three years of no national consensus on Brexit, a resounding electoral victory for Boris Johnson and the Conservative Party now makes clear the way forward for the United Kingdom to leave the European Union.
Professor Georg Vanberg, chair of political science and a leading scholar of international comparative political systems, says there is relief across Britain and even Europe that the Brexit drama appears to be over. But in an interview with Duke Today, he also sees some nuances that suggest… read more about Brexit Is Put to Bed: A Look at What Follows the UK Election »
What does it mean to get China right? On December 6-7, more than 50 professors of Chinese politics from nearly 40 institutions convened at Duke University to consider this question.
As China has grown in power and stature as the second largest economy in the world, a dominant trading partner, and a world power, its interests have also grown global. Many issues of Chinese domestic politics are now also truly issues of global politics. In today’s politically charged atmosphere, the need for rigorous, objective, and… read more about Getting China Right: a global conference at Duke »
No administration has been consistent on human rights issues, “but you need one that’s way more consistent than this one,” President Barack Obama’s ambassador to the United Nations (UN) told a packed Penn Pavilion Tuesday night.
“You can’t just show up and talk about human rights in one country while you excuse a government that murders one of its dissidents in a consulate in another part of the world,” said Samantha Power, referring to President Trump’s foreign policy.
“Or when you’re saying Kim Jong-un is a wonderful man… read more about Former Obama UN Ambassador Reflects on Syria, Trump Policy »
DURHAM, N.C. -- Five Duke University students and alumni have been named Schwarzman Scholars, a program that funds one year of study in Beijing, China.
Seniors Charles Berman of Durham, North Carolina, and Max Labaton of Washington, D.C., were named Schwarzman Scholars. They join 2019 Duke… read more about Five From Duke Named Schwarzman Scholars »
The Polarization Lab at Duke brings together scholars from the social sciences, statistics, and computer science to develop new technology to bridge America’s partisan divide. Before their first team publication, faculty and graduate students from the Department of Political Science began collaborating in the Lab, guided by Director Chris Bail. Social media sites are often blamed for contributing to political polarization because they encourage people to segregate themselves from those with opposing political views. So in… read more about The rise of the Duke Polarization Lab »
The exploration the public lives of the “first ladies” of America’s Christian evangelical megachurches and an intimate portrait of the joys and hardships of rural life in Appalachia are among the new noteworthy books by Duke authors this fall.
Many of the books, including new editions of previous titles, can be found on the "Duke Authors" display shelves near the circulation desk in Perkins Library. Some are available as e-books for quick download. Most can also be purchased through the Gothic Bookshop.
[Duke Today will… read more about Fall Books: Clean Hands, Aging Brains, Evangelical Women and Other Great Reads »
President Trump’s decision to pull U.S. troops out of northern Syria without the traditional consultation of military and other leaders means he “alone bears the political price for any adverse developments,” says a Duke political scientist.
That scenario already appears likely.
Turkey’s military began bombing the area as its troops crossed into Syria Wednesday in an operation already planned but not carried out until the U.S. troop withdrawal. Turkey’s stated goal was to root out Syrian Kurdish fighters, an American ally… read more about Feaver: Why Undermining the Kurds Could Hurt U.S. Relations With Allies »
The political headlines coming out of the United Kingdom this past week were shocking: A rebellion of Conservative Party members in Parliament threw the party into a civil war and put Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s plans on Brexit into doubt.
However, perhaps, the biggest surprise might be this: Why hasn’t the same thing happened in the United States?
Both Johnson and U.S. President Donald Trump are political disrupters, proudly willing to ignore traditional political norms and practices. For Trump, that disruption has… read more about Why have Conservatives in Britain rebelled, but Republicans in Congress have not? »
Political Science Professor Eddy Malesky and a lecturer from the Australian National University surveyed people in Vietnam to see if those in developing countries prioritize the economy or the environment. Listen to the results during… read more about "Fish or Steel?": Dr Quynh Nguyen & Professor Eddy Malesky »
Over the past 50 years, John Aldrich and David Rohde have shared many academic milestones.
They met as graduate students at the University of Rochester. Both launched their teaching careers at Michigan State University. And they both ended up as political science professors at Duke.
On Friday, they will share the American Political Science Association’s Barbara Sinclair Legacy Award. The award – named after a former colleague who also earned a Ph.D. at Rochester -- recognizes “the work of a scholar or set of scholars who… read more about 50 years of friendship and scholarship: Aldrich and Rohde receive career Legacy Award »
Over spring break 2019, the Duke Program in American Grand Strategy hosted its annual international staff ride. Led by Professor Peter Feaver, 40 Duke students, faculty, alumni and guests traveled throughout Gibraltar and Morocco tracing the steps of Operation Torch, part of the US North Africa Campaign during World War II.
The AGS Staff Ride to Morocco was the highlight of the semester for me and for many of the students who took part. Our team came from a wide range of backgrounds, from first-year students going…read more about Student Stories: touring Morocco and learning lessons from war »
Political Science
