Department of Political Science

Protecting African-Americans from state-sanctioned violence remains “an unmet challenge for civil rights groups committed to racial equality.” 

The Black Lives Matter Movement remains a prominent force on the presidential campaign trail, with the latest confrontation targeting Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.

Political analysts still question whether Bernie Sanders' mega-rallies can actually translate to votes for the self-described socialist Democrat. UW political science professor Chris Parker is quoted.

A pair of professors say the persistence of racism rests in part on the inability of moderate conservatives to recognize its continued negative effects.

Mark Smith says while Pope Francis is perceived as shaking things up he is really reiterating themes that have been part of Catholic doctrine for a long time.

Crosscut offers a guide to all 47 contenders for the seven district positions and two at-large seats on Seattle's City Council.

Four students who earned graduate degrees this year have been named A&S Graduate Medalists for 2015.

With Yakima's new district-based election system, the Latino community has new-found momentum in its efforts to organize politically. Mark Smith, UW political science professor, is quoted.

In this examination of Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker's re-creation of his political identity, a paper co-written by Hannah Walker, a doctoral candidate at the UW, is quoted.

The Labor Archives of Washington is creating an online resource called the Minimum Wage History Project to document the 2013-2014 campaign that succeeded in mandating a $15 minimum hourly wage.

Legislative Explorer is an interactive tool that lets you explore what actually happens in Congress -- which bills are introduced, where they go, and what their ultimate fate is. UW political scientists Nicholas Stramp and John Wilkerson developed it.

Last month, two UW political geeks were honored by Communication Arts for a program they developed called Legislative Explorer. Seattle Weekly talks with "the brains behind the cool new tool," John Wilkerson, associate professor of political science.

The online Legislative Explorer, the big-data policy project by John Wilkerson and Nicholas Stramp of the UW political science department, has been named an award of excellence winner in interactive design by Communication Arts.

This episode of Speakers Forum presents a debate focused precisely on the role public sector unions play in the overall health or weakness of the labor movement.

KUOW talks with Mark Smith, professor of political science, about "dark money" and how that fits into campaign financing.