Department of Political Science

Amazon is launching a new tool to help shoppers select items that are deemed more environmentally friendly. Products will earn the “Climate Pledge Friendly” label if they have been approved by one of 19 certification programs, including Amazon’s own Compact by Design designation. Aseem Prakash, professor of political science at the UW, is quoted.

During this time of uncertainty and isolation, find solace in digital opportunities to connect, share, and engage. Each week, we will share upcoming events that bring the UW, and the greater community, together online. 

Strategists on opposites sides of the political aisle co-teach a course on political campaigns.Good thing they're close friends. 

Scott Lemieux, political science lecturer, explains the implications of when governance norms are broken.

"One of us is a political scientist at the University of Washington, and the other is a former elections commissioner who now studies voting laws. We can explain why voter fraud is so rare – especially for mail-in ballots," write Jake Grumbach, assistant professor of political science at the UW, and Charlotte Hill, of the University of California Berkeley.

Megan Ming Francis, University of Washington associate professor of political science, has been named one of 12 grant-supported “Freedom Scholars” in a new $3 million initiative by the Marguerite Casey Foundation and Group Health Foundation, working together. Scholars are recognized for work “shifting the balance of power to families and communities that have been historically excluded from the resources and benefits of society.”

Washington and Oregon rarely feature in presidential races. But as demonstrations against police brutality and systemic racism have continued across the country, the Pacific Northwest — the site of some of the country’s largest and most persistent protests — has taken on a narrative role in the national campaign even as it remains an electoral backwater. Jacob Grumbach, assistant professor of political science at the UW, is quoted.

"How a society handles disasters says a lot about its resilience, character and governance capacities. Disasters can foster paranoia or encourage solidarity. They can bring the country together or tear it apart," write Nives Dolšak, professor of marine and environmental affairs at the UW, and Aseem Prakash, professor of political science at the UW.

"Disasters can foster paranoia or encourage solidarity. They can bring the country together or tear it apart," write UW Professors' Nives Dolšak and Aseem Prakash.

With two months before the general election – and amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic – mail-in voting has taken on a greater importance, and drawn more political attention, than in elections past.

Christopher Adolph, associate professor of political science and John Wilkerson, political science professor and chair of the department explain the results of their study about mask mandates.

Christopher Adolph, associate professor of political science, authored a study showing that governor's political party is the biggest factor in whether a state has imposed a mask mandate.

Jacob Grumbach, assistant professor of political science, explains how unionization can help fix racial inequality.

Aseem Prakash, professor of political science, discusses outside influences on the Trump administration's environmental policies.

Political science professor Christopher Parker discusses conversations about race in relation to small-time sports.