Politics and Government

When North Carolina raised the age when people are considered an adult in the criminal justice system to 18, the change was more than a dozen years in the making. Now, advocates are setting their sights – and their desired age limit – higher. Chelsea Moore, a doctoral student in political science and a law student at the UW, is referenced.

More than 800 civilians in Myanmar have been killed by security forces since the February coup. Members of the U.N. Security Council were told Myanmar stands at the brink of state failure. Mary Callahan, associate professor of international studies at the UW, is interviewed.

At least 15 states are trying to ban schools from teaching critical race theory and the 1619 Project. Christopher Parker, professor of political science at the UW, is quoted.

Christopher Sebastian Parker, professor of political science, discusses what sparked the summer of social unrest.

Scott Radnitz, associate professor in the Jackson School of International Studies, discusses his new book, “Revealing Schemes: The Politics of Conspiracy in Russia and the Post-Soviet Region."

Seattle was the first city in the country to pass laws mandating premium pay and sick days for delivery-app drivers during the pandemic. But the current laws are set to expire after the pandemic ends, so Seattle leaders may soon consider making those protections permanent. Margaret O'Mara, professor of history at the UW, is quoted.

In 2019, federal agents took Carlos Rivera away in handcuffs when he strayed across the U.S.-Canada border, even though he says they could see his 7-year-old son waiting for him with a friend on the Canadian side. The UW's Angelina Godoy, professor of law, societies and justice and of international studies, and director of the UW Center for Human Rights, is quoted.

A bill state lawmakers passed this month directs UW and Eastern Washington University to search for racial covenants in home deeds and notify property owners when their homes are affected. James Gregory, professor of history at the UW, is quoted.

Fighters in Burkina Faso are putting their faith in traditional spiritual practices to protect them as attacks linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State ravage the West African nation, killing thousands and displacing more than 1 million people. Daniel Hoffman, professor of international studies at the UW, is quoted.

Jake Grumbach, assistant professor of political science, is quoted in this article discussing whether the Democratic party should focus on race or class when trying to build support.

"Biden’s credibility [on climate] with the international audience depends on whether he can show a domestic policy pathway to the promised 50% reduction. Moreover, he needs to make sure that the climate targets do not get tied to other issues that might invite strong domestic opposition," write Nives Dolšak, professor of marine and environmental affairs at the UW, and Aseem Prakash, professor of political science at the UW.

Glennys Young, professor of history and of international studies at the UW, writes of sanctions against Russia, "But are they the United States’ best option if the goal is, as Biden has put it, to avoid a 'cycle of escalation and conflict with Russia' and instead to create a 'stable, predictable relationship'? ... My answer is sanctions aren’t the only option. The U.S. needs to offer Russia positive incentives, too."

The story of the U.S. population is one of fluidity. Of the 50 states plus Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, more than half jumped ahead or fell behind others this year, despite state population totals that showed the nation’s slowest population growth since the 1930s. James Gregory, professor of history at the UW, is quoted.

Under a bill headed to Gov. Jay Inslee's desk, all agricultural workers will start receiving overtime pay in 2022 and have a 40-hour work week by early 2024. It is part of a wave of momentum for legislation to extend overtime pay to farmworkers. Carlos Gil, professor emeritus of history at the UW, is quoted.

Many people across the country felt relief Tuesday as former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was found guilty on all three charges brought against him for the murder of George Floyd. But many also felt conflicted about what the moment meant to them. Christopher Parker, professor of political science at the UW, is interviewed.