Social Sciences Division

What does the state of Washington owe people who were convicted under a drug possession law that's been overturned? Alexes Harris, UW professor of sociology, is interviewed.

Republican efforts to stall President Joe Biden’s climate agenda are slowly beginning to take shape. The American Legislative Exchange Council, a membership organization for state lawmakers and industry representatives that is best known for drafting model bills that are then picked up by state legislatures, is also involved. Jake Grumbach, assistant professor of political science at the UW, is quoted.

Mary Callahan, associate professor in the UW Jackson School of International Studies, is interviewed about the conflict in Myanmar, following her recent departure from the country.

"Nomadland could provide a glimpse into future politics unless decarbonization processes are made equitable ... this is why 'just transition' policies should be a top political priority in climate policy design," write Nives Dolšak, professor of marine and environmental affairs at the UW, and Aseem Prakash, professor of political science at the UW.

Research from the UW Center for Human Rights has confirmed disturbing human rights violations at the Northwest Detention Center. 

U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rogers, Republican of Washington, drew kudos from across the aisle last month when she questioned the CEOs of Facebook, Twitter and Alphabet about the impact of their platforms on children. Margaret O'Mara, professor of history at the UW, is quoted.

Amazon warehouse employees voted against unionization in Bessemer, Alabama, in a victory for the company and a defeat for organized labor. But even if the results hold, was this really a win for Amazon? Margaret O'Mara, professor of history at the UW, is quoted.

Jeff Bezos surprised some Amazon critics and followers this week by throwing his weight behind a federal corporate tax hike to help pay for President Biden’s infrastructure plan. It was a position that seemed out of step with his company’s history and the rest of corporate America. Margaret O’Mara, professor of history at the UW, is quoted.

In an effort to protect the Native American community, the elders of Washington’s tribes and the state government have been forced to shut down large competitive and traditional powwows as a matter of social distancing, leaving this important emblem of Native American community, cultural visibility and in some cases, livelihood, on indefinite pause. Scott Pinkham, lecturer in American Indian studies at the UW, is quoted.

Dan Chirot, professor of international studies, discusses the unprecidented political events of the last year.

Amazon is the second largest private employer in the U.S. with nearly 800,000 workers. But none of its facilities are unionized and the push to unionize from workers in Alabama is over — for now. Margaret O’Mara, professor of history at the UW, is interviewed.

Amazon is the second largest private employer in the U.S. with nearly 800,000 workers. But none of its facilities are unionized and the push to unionize from workers in Alabama is over — for now. Margaret O’Mara, professor of history at the UW, is interviewed.

Amazon appeared to beat back the most significant labor drive in its history on Friday, when an initial tally showed that workers at its giant warehouse in Alabama had voted decisively against forming a union. Margaret O'Mara, professor of history at the UW, is quoted.

UW senior Hunter Brown has  275,000 TikTok followers. A UW Communication course helped him build his online community. 

Alexes Harris, Presidential Term Professor and Professor of Sociology, writes about the possibility of repaying people with now-voided drug convictions.