Department of Political Science

UW political scientist Rebecca Thorpe’s book “The American Warfare State: The Domestic Politics of Military Spending,” has been honored by the Lyndon Baines Johnson Foundation.

Bill Radke speaks with University of Washington historian Margaret O'Mara about mud slinging and crudeness in American politics. 

Experts say it’s not the norm to stray from one’s political upbringing. Mark Smith, professor of political science at the UW is quoted.

The theory goes, the U.S. keeps the peace in the world through reputation. Jonathan Mercer, professor of political science at the UW, weighs in on the validity of this theory. 

A mostly white crowd gathers to hear an all-black panel including Megan Ming Francis, assistant professor of political science. But listening is, at best, a start.

What impact will the GOP may on the 2016 presidential election and Supreme Court decisions if its members don't consider President Obama's nominee?

Christopher Parker, an associate professor of political science, explains why he believes Bernie Sanders will struggle to gain support from black voters. 

NGOs are in the forefront of the transparency movement but there is a question that most tend to be less interested in answering: Where do they get their money from? 

"A strong sense of curiosity is an absolute necessity," says Allan Mustard (1978), U.S. Ambassador to Turkmenistan.

Twelve political gurus discuss one of the most pressing questions of 2016. Margaret O'Mara, associate professor of history at the UW, is featured. 

In the Iowa caucuses, expectations are nearly as important as votes, say University of Washington professors who are closely watching this year’s presidential race.

"The state votes so consistently Democratic... that presidential campaigns generally don't even bother advertising in Washington," says Mark Smith, professor of political science at the UW.

Mark Smith, a professor of political science, was recently featured in the New Books in Political Science podcast where he talked about his book "Secular Faith."

Megan Ming Francis, assistant professor of political science at the UW, says there's a long history of distrust between minority populations and police.

Assistant professor Megan Ming Francis discusses what Americans can learn from the history of lynching in the U.S.