Social Sciences Division

UW History professor Margaret O'Mara provides historical context for this moment in US presidential politics. 

Charity Urbanski, a teaching professor of history at the UW, studies monsters and monstrosities in medieval Europe. One of her interests is the purpose monsters served for medieval Europeans, and what we can learn about medieval European society by looking at their monsters, which served as vehicles for expressing anxieties and fears.

New research is shedding light on how war inflicts mortality, displaces families and erodes mental health. Nathalie Williams, professor of sociology and of international studies at the UW, is quoted.

"Hurricanes Helene and Milton remind us of electricity infrastructure’s vulnerability to extreme weather events. However, at least one Florida community, Babcock Ranch, managed to avoid electricity shutoffs from downed power lines," write the UW's Nives Dolšak, professor of marine and environmental affairs, and Aseem Prakash, professor of political science.

The best way to stay engaged in the political process is to vote. But even with a record number of people voting in the last presidential election, we still only had a 66.8% turnout, unfortunately. Victor Menaldo, professor of political science at the UW, is quoted.

Silicon Valley has historically prided itself on technological supremacy and a belief in social progress. Now many of its loudest and most well-resourced personalities support a candidate who espouses retrograde views. Margaret O'Mara, professor of history at the UW, is quoted.

Margaret O'Mara, professor of history at the UW, talks to GeekWire about the rise of Silicon Valley in the early 1980s.

New research from the University of Washington investigated responses to sweetened beverage taxes using the purchasing behavior of approximately 400 households in Seattle, San Francisco, Oakland and Philadelphia. Researchers found that after the tax was introduced, lower-income households decreased their purchases of sweetened beverages by nearly 50%, while higher-income households reduced purchases by 18%.

The College of Arts & Sciences welcomes students and their families to connect with faculty and staff, learn about a variety of topics, and explore our spaces throughout Family Weekend.

Conventional history states Christopher Columbus was from Genoa, Italy, but he may have been, in fact, a Sephardic Jew from the eastern Iberian Peninsula, according to a new documentary by Spain’s national broadcaster that also rekindles questions of religious persecution and the treatment of Indigenous communities. Devin Naar, associate professor of history and of Jewish studies at the UW, is quoted.

Victor Menaldo, UW professor of political science, co-authored the forthcoming book, "U.S. Innovation Inequality and Trumpism." The book focuses on how former President Donald Trump â like other populists that came before him â exploits âinnovation inequality," or the divide between areas that are more technologically advanced and those that arenât.

James Long, University of Washington professor of political science, launched a new course this quarter. "How to Steal an Election" highlights the types of politicians who try to steal elections, and how and what can be done to secure them.

To navigate this momentous election season, Arts & Sciences faculty suggest 10 books about the US political landscape.

UW students cited abortion, LGBTQ+ rights & gun violence as important issues, but can they be motivated to vote? Students from the UW and James Long, professor of political science at the UW, are quoted.

"This time of year, aspiring elected officials insist that we must get tough on crime to keep us safe. 'Getting tough' almost always includes imposing more and longer prison sentences. Unfortunately, most of those claims are based on myths, fear, and half-truths. Therefore, voters should insist that calls for increased punishment be replaced by programs that can actually reduce crime, help victims, and increase public safety," writes David Trierweiler. Heather Evans, assistant professor of rehabilitation medicine at the UW School of Medicine, and Katherine Beckett, professor of sociology and of law, societies and justice at the UW, are mentioned.