Social Sciences Division

The UW's political science professors James Long and Victor Menaldo are interviewed on whether the U.S. election was the latest eruption of populism across the globe.

The prescription to fix the Democratic Party after a historic loss in the presidential race, likely won’t be found in Washington State. Victor Menaldo, professor of political science at the UW, is quoted.

"Those fearing an impending dictatorship underestimate the robustness of our institutions and overstate the power of any individual to dismantle them," writes Victor Menaldo, professor of political science at the UW.

Before the results of the 2024 election start rolling in, UW News asked three University of Washington professors of political science to discuss whatâs on their minds heading into the final hours.

Famous fiends like zombies, vampires and werewolves are hallmarks of All Hallow's Eve. But how much do you know about why that is, and where those creatures come from? Charity Urbanski, teaching professor of history at the UW, is interviewed.

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

Much of what can make linking friends scary — insecurity, envy, an instinct to hold tight to the people you love — isn’t new; it’s fundamentally human. But keeping your friends to yourself, what I call “friend hoarding,” is a modern practice. Katherine Stovel, professor and chair of sociology at the UW, is quoted.

A survey of voters in July showed approval of Washington's four statewide initiatives, including repealing the Climate Commitment Act and the state's long-term care program. Three months later and voters appear more likely to reject three of them. James Long, professor of political science at the UW, is quoted.

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.

"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.

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.

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

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.

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%.