News
Dr. Ana Bracic awarded the APSA Experimental Research Section Book Prize
July 1, 2021
Dr. Bracic's book "Breaking the Exclusion Cycle" was named Best Book Published in 2020.
Young Alumni Spotlight: Gabby Kindig
June 24, 2021 - Liz Schondelmayer
This Pride month, the College of Social Science is celebrating our LGBTQ+ alumni who are working to make positive changes within their communities. June's Young Alumni Spotlight, Gabby Kindig, graduated from the College of Social Science in 2021 with degrees in both Political Science and Psychology. Now a Press Assistant for the Executive Office of Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Gabby shares how she found a community at Michigan State University that allowed to be true to herself while she found the career path right for her.
Diversity Torch: Julian Trevino
June 16, 2021 - Liz Schondelmayer and Brandon Drain
Julian Trevino is a junior, studying Political Science with a minor in International Development and French. The Grand Rapids native is also a representative in ASMSU and has worked on a myriad of bills within the college and the city of East Lansing. Trevino envisions his post-graduation future as one in public policy, law or becoming a Representative for the State of Michigan.
Two PLS students chosen for the 2021-22 MSU Homecoming Court
June 7, 2021
The Michigan State University Homecoming Court is one of the highest honors for MSU seniors. Ten Spartan students, including two Political Science majors, have been carefully chosen from a highly qualified group of candidates to serve on the 2021-2022 Homecoming Court. These students represent the diversity and richness of the MSU experience and will serve as exceptional role models and Spartan ambassadors.
MSU PLS moves up two spots in Shanghai Rankings
May 27, 2021
MSU Political Science is pleased to share that the program has advanced two spots in the international rankings of Political Science departments to 41 out of 400, as measured by the Shanghai Ranking.
Young Alumni Spotlight: Manny Alalouf
May 14, 2021 - Liz Schondelmayer
Manny Alalouf is a 2018 graduate of the College of Social Science. A Political Science major and Social Science Scholar, Manny joined alumni mentor Doug Scott at Movement Search & Delivery Company as a headhunter.
Dr. Ana Bracic receives Harriman Rothschild Book Prize Honorable Mention
May 10, 2021
Dr. Bracic's book "Breaking the Exclusion Cycle: How to Promote Cooperation between Majority and Minority Ethnic Groups" was named Honorable Mention for the prize by the Association for the Study of Nationalities World Convention.
MSU PLS welcomes Dr. Jenny Wolak
May 10, 2021
Dr. Wolak is moving to MSU from the University of Colorado. Her research interests include political psychology and public opinion.
MSU PLS bids farewell to Drs. Jakana Thomas and Benjamin Appel
May 7, 2021
Associate Professors Jakana Thomas and Benjamin Appel have accepted positions at the University of California-San Diego. We wish them the very best!
Brannon, Bichay awarded Spring PhD Awards
May 6, 2021
MSU PLS is pleased to announce that PhD students Lizzie Brannon and Nicolas Bichay have been awarded the PhD Awards for 2021.
Dr. Matt Grossmann and IPPSR secure Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Michigan grant
May 5, 2021 - Cindy Kyle, Matt Grossmann
Michigan State University’s Institute for Public Policy and Social Research has secured a key grant supporting a new initiative instilling racial equity in all aspects of IPPSR’s policy education, political leadership development and survey research.
Two MSU PLS seniors win Richard Lee Featherstone Endowed Prize
May 4, 2021
MSU PLS graduating seniors Janet Ibarra and Jasmine Jordan are two of three undergraduates to be named the 2021 recipients of the Richard Lee Featherstone Endowed Prize.
MSU PLS senior featured as the 2021 Student Commencement Speaker
May 3, 2021
Selva Haidar, the 2021 Student Commencement Speaker for the College of Social Science at Michigan State University, has this message for her classmates. Selva majored in Political Science and Human Capital & Society.
Dr. Sarah Reckhow and PhD student Aliyah Mcilwain win AAPOR award
April 30, 2021
The American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) recently announced that PhD student Aliyah Mcilwain and Associate Professor Dr. Sarah Reckhow are among four teams receiving the 2021 Student-Faculty Diversity Pipeline Award.
Two MSU PLS research teams win WLI Tomlanovich Research Equity Awards
April 23, 2021 - Liz Schondelmayer
Research teams Dr. Nazita Lajevardi and undergraduate student Jasmine Jordan, and Dr. Cristina Bodea and Dr. Andrew Kerner with undergraduate students Zac Ozormoor and Lillian Meng are the winners of the inaugural 2021 Women's Leadership Institute Tomlanovich Equity Research Fund.
Former Malawi President Joyce Banda discusses female political leadership with Dr. Michael Wahman
April 21, 2021
In this interview with MSU Today with Russ White, Dr. Michael Wahman, Assistant Professor of Political Science, discusses his conversations with Malawi's first female president, Joyce Banda.
MGSP Spotlight: Bailey Tjolsen
April 21, 2021
This week's Michigan Government Semester Program Spotlight is Political Science senior Bailey Tjolsen.
Diversity Spotlight: Secretary Spencer Abraham
April 15, 2021 - Liz Schondelmayer
MSU Political Science alumnus Secretary Spencer Abraham has been featured as this month's Diversity Spotlight by the College of Social Science in recognition of Arab American Heritage Month.
Diversity Champion: Dr. Nazita Lajevardi
April 14, 2021 - Liz Schondelmayer
Dr. Nazita Lajevardi, assistant professor in MSU's Political Science department is an attorney and scholar who studies political opinion and political behavior in Muslim and Arab American communities.
MGSP Spotlight: Douglas Dallich Jr.
April 14, 2021
This week's Michigan Government Semester Program Spotlight is Douglas Dallich Jr., a Political Science junior and one of the inaugural recipients of the Michigan Government Semester Program Scholarship.
Dr. Nura Sediqe to join MSU PLS in 2022
April 12, 2021
MSU PLS is pleased to announce that Dr. Sediqe, currently a Postdoctoral Research Associate & Lecturer at Princeton University, will join the department as an Assistant Professor of Minority Politics.
MSU PLS pleased to announce the hiring of Andrew Halterman
April 9, 2021
Mr. Halterman, PhD candidate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, will join the faculty of political methodology.
MSU PLS alumna honored with Bryce Harlow Award
April 7, 2021 - Karessa Weir
MSU Political Science alumna Brenda Larsen Becker has some advice for today's PLS students: “First of all, it’s about building relationships and networking. Don’t wait – it’s not all about bookwork. It’s important to study and get good grades but it’s about internships, building your resume and getting involved on campus and in campaigns,” Ms. Becker said. “It’s great that you played lacrosse – that’s leadership and teamwork – but what have you done that shows your interest in this world?”
MGSP Spotlight: Devin Dudley
April 7, 2021
This week's Michigan Government Semester Program Spotlight feature is Devin Dudley! Devin is a senior PLS major working with state Sen. Lana Theis.
MGSP Spotlight: Philip Schichtel
March 31, 2021
This week, we shine the spotlight on Michigan Government Semester Program participant Philip Schichtel, a senior studying political science with a peace and justice studies minor. Philip is interning with state Sen. Sean McCann, D-20.
LeFrak Forum to be held virtually April 8-10 to discuss “Freedom of Speech and Intellectual Diversity on Campus”
March 29, 2021
The freedom of speech is one of Americans’ fundamental civil rights but how often is that right abridged on college campuses? Even when all speech is welcomed in academia, how often is only one perspective heard? Over three days in April, political science, law and policy experts will debate “Freedom of Speech and Intellectual Diversity on Campus” during the LeFrak Forum on Science, Reason, and Modern Democracy’s 31st Annual Program.
MSU PLS Summer 2021 Classes
March 25, 2021
MSU PLS is pleased to announce a wide variety of Summer Classes for 2021, including Political Science and ISS courses.
MGSP Spotlight: Nia Skinner-Miller
March 24, 2021
This week's Michigan Government Semester Program Spotlight is Nia Skinner-Miller, a World Politics junior placed with Rep. Abraham Aiyash.
Diversity Spotlight: Christine Mason Soneral
March 22, 2021 - Liz Schondelmayer
This Women's History Month, we are celebrating the Spartan women who make diversity, equity, and inclusion a top priority in everything they accomplish. No alum embodies this empowering mission quite like the co-founder and executive board member of the Michigan State University Women's Leadership Institute, Christine Mason Soneral, who is also the Senior Vice President for ITC Holdings Corporation.
Diversity Torch: Danielle McClain
March 19, 2021 - Liz Schondelmayer
Danielle McClain is a third-year MSU College of Social Science student majoring in Political Science and Pre-Law. She has interned both for the City of Detroit and Michigan House of Representatives.
MGSP Spotlight: Alec Poland
March 17, 2021
This week's Michigan Government Semester Program Spotlight is Political Science Pre-Law junior Alec Poland.
All Politics is Personalized
March 15, 2021 - Erica Frantz
MSU PLS Dr. Erica Frantz discusses how political leaders around the world have amassed power by weakening their parties and may have permanently harmed democracy in Foreign Policy.
MGSP Spotlight: Andrew Thatcher
March 10, 2021
This week's Michigan Government Semester Program Spotlight is Andrew Thatcher, who is interning with the City of Lansing Clerk's Office.
MGSP Spotlight: Mark Blinn
March 3, 2021
This week's Michigan Government Semester Program Spotlight is Mark Blinn, an active-duty veteran studying Political Science and Anthropology at Michigan State University in his senior class.
MGSP Spotlight: Dylan Gebhard
February 24, 2021
This week we are featuring a profile of Michigan Government Semester Program participant Dylan Gebhard. Dylan is interning at the Michigan House of Representatives Democratic Caucus.
MGSP Spotlight: Anaria Rambus
February 17, 2021
Our first Michigan Government Semester Program Spotlight is Anaria Rambus, senior majoring in Political Science Pre-Law with a minor in Human Behavior and Social Services.
Janet Yellen will be the first female treasure secretary in the U.S. Why are so few women in top economic posts?
February 10, 2021 - Andrew Kerner, Ha Eun Choi and Cristina Bodea
MSU PLS Associate Professor Dr. Cristina Bodea, Research Associate Andrew Kerner and PhD student Ha Eun Choi analyzed why so few women are in top finance positions and how the pandemic may change for The Washington Post.
MSU PLS Senior Jasmine Jordan wins prestigious Gates-Cambridge Scholarship
February 8, 2021
Michigan State University senior Jasmine Jordan, an Honors College Political Science senior who grew up in Detroit, has been named as a Gates-Cambridge Scholar.
PLS Students Featured in College Scholarship Highlights
February 2, 2021
PLS majors Gabby Kindig and Kendel Vasser were recently featured in videos created by the College of Social Science to highlight scholarship award winners.
Pete Buttigieg may not know this yet: Rail transportation funding is a racial equity issue.
February 1, 2021 - Sarah Reckhow, Kate Lowe and Andrea Benjamin
MSU PLS Associate Professor Sarah Reckhow writes about how federal transportation policy still fosters racial inequity in the Washington Post's Monkey Cage blog.
Capitol mob wasn’t just angry white men – there were angry white women as well
January 22, 2021 - Dr. Jakana Thomas
The terror inflicted on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 laid bare America’s problem with violent extremism. The FBI and other law enforcement agencies have begun to piece together the events of that day, while attempting to thwart any impending attacks. Scores of people have been arrested and charged over the attack – the vast majority being men. In the wake of these events, there were stories attributing the violence and destruction to “white male rage” “violent male rage” and “angry white men.” But what about the women?
MSU Political Science faculty discuss the Jan. 6 events at the U.S. Capitol
January 18, 2021
Faculty from the Department of Political Science at Michigan State University seek to understand the events and violence of January 6 and help our community navigate contrasting claims of what these events represent and mean for the future of U.S. democracy. Four faculty experts on democratization, authoritarianism, and electoral and political violence share how they view of what just happened and what immediate or long-term challenges they think it might pose to U.S. democracy. Moderated by PLS Chair Corwin Smidt, panelists include Drs. Erica Frantz, Christian Houle, Jakana Thomas and Michael Wahman.
MGSP Announces First Scholarship Winners
January 13, 2021
The Michigan Government Semester Program is pleased to announce the winners of the first MGSP Scholarships.
MSU PLS PhD candidate Zuhaib Mahmood receives an NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship
December 4, 2020
Zuhaib Mahmood, who studies international conflict, cooperation and diplomacy, is one of 23 new postdoctoral researchers announced this week by the National Science Foundation.
Professor Emertius Michael Bratton grows fellowship to support work in Africa
November 24, 2020 - Karessa E. Weir
University Distinguished Professor Emeritus Michael Bratton has increased his support to the MSU Department of Political Science with a $10,000 contribution to the Bratton Fellowship, which supports graduate students for doctoral fieldwork in Africa.
Maysa Sitar wins Mitchell Scholarship
November 23, 2020
MSU PLS senior Maysa Sitar has been awarded a highly prestigious George J. Mitchell Scholarship, one of only 12 students honored with the national scholarship.
Deadline extended for MGSP Scholarships for Spring Semester
November 17, 2020
The deadline to apply for this new scholarship has been extended to Dec. 4. To spur more students to pursue careers in public service and help offset the cost of completing an internship, MSU’s Department of Political Science, in conjunction with generous donors, offers two scholarships to students participating in our prestigious Michigan Government Semester Program (MGSP).
Best Wishes to Brian Egan!
October 28, 2020
After approximately fourteen years of working as an Academic Advisor in the Political Science Department at MSU, Brian Egan has a started a new position and will be moving on to the MSU College of Social Science Student Affairs Office where he will be working as an Assistant Director of Student Affairs & International Engagement Coordinator. Although he will miss PLS (and we will miss him dearly), Brian will still be on campus and his new office will be in Berkey Hall.
Ask the Expert: Can we trust election polling?
October 21, 2020 - Liz Schondelmayer
In the months leading up to this year’s historic presidential election, news headlines have consistently highlighted movement in national polls: who's up, who's down and who's winning in each state. For many voters, these polls can be confusing, and a challenge to interpret and trust. Corwin Smidt, associate professor and chair of the Department of Political Science, explains how poll data is collected, how to interpret it and why polling data shouldn’t dictate public opinion when voters cast their ballots.
MSU PLS students create Voters' Guide for local school board elections
October 20, 2020
Students in MSU PLS Assistant Professor Sarah Reckhow's Urban Politics class created a website to guide East Lansing voters in selecting their next Board of Education members.
MSU PLS professors create Election Madness game to teach students to learn, play and most importantly, care, about political campaigns
October 19, 2020 - Karessa Weir
MSU Political Science Associate Professor Eric Gonzalez Juenke came up with the idea of creating a bracket system similar to the NCAA’s to determine winners in close elections for public office across the country. This summer, he narrowed it down to 21 races and asked fellow political science professors to share it with their students and peers.
Two MSU PLS students nominated for prestigious graduate school scholarships
October 8, 2020
Two Political Science seniors - Jasmine Jordan and Maysa Sitar - are among the students Michigan State University has nominated for nationally competitive graduate school scholarships: the Marshall Scholarship, the Mitchell Scholarship and the Rhodes Scholarships.
PhD Student Mircea Lazar named Diversity Torch
October 7, 2020
Diversity Torches celebrate our students who uphold a diversity value or ideal. As “Diversity Torches,” they provide light, guidance, and awareness to their fellow students and all who see them. Our “Torch” for this month is Mircea Lazar, a MSU Political Science PhD student. He is currently researching LGBTQ+ communities in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Remembering Ruth: The long-lasting legacy and immediate controversy of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
September 28, 2020 - Karessa Weir, Liz Schondelmayer
When news of the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg spread Friday night, the political science world was rocked. Twitter and Facebook were filled with tributes by those who considered her an inspiration, as well as predictions by those who feared the long-term impact of her death just weeks before the 2020 presidential election.
Former SCOTUS law clerks are highly coveted for their skill and connections, but are they worth it?
September 23, 2020 - Karessa Weir
MSU Political Science Professor Ryan Black has published research to show that former Supreme Court clerks enjoy significant influence over their former bosses.
Dr. Nazita Lajevardi receives grant to study attitudes toward the release of inmates during Covid-19
September 18, 2020
Jail and prison inmates are disproportionately affected by the pandemic and advocates are calling for the release of non-violent offenders. Whether this will succeed depends on public attitudes toward the incarcerated and health emergencies, according to a new MSU PLS research grant.
MSU PLS to study how social pressure affects the youth vote amid Covid-19
September 18, 2020
Three MSU Political Science researchers were awarded a Rapid-Response Grant to assess the outcomes of civic training and positive social pressure to vote on young voters during a global pandemic.
Best Mentor Ever: Saying Goodbye to Dr. Chuck Matzke
September 17, 2020
Students, colleagues and friends send well wishes to Dr. Chuck Matzke, longtime Political Science professor, who retired at the end of the summer.
conflictNet: Helping researchers map the networks of civil unrest
September 15, 2020 - Karessa Weir
Dr. Shahryar Minhas, Assistant Professor of Political Science, has received a National Science Foundation grant to create conflictNet, a tool by which scholars can study civil conflict through a network perspective.
MSU PLS Welcomes Research Associate Meghan Wilson
September 9, 2020
Dean's Research Associate Meghan Wilson has joined MSU Political Science
Political Science Experts Available for Election
September 9, 2020
MSU Political Science is proud to offer a wide array of expertise on the upcoming elections.
MSU PLS senior Allie Klein named Diversity Torch
August 21, 2020
Allie Klein is a fourth-year undergraduate majoring in Political Science, who took a “Slavery and American Popular Culture” class with SSC’s Dean’s Research Associate Program scholar, Nakia Parker, in which she produced a paper on how black women have been imagined in selected works of popular cinema.
The longer-term coronavirus fallout could erode democracy. Here’s how that could play out.
August 4, 2020 - Cristina Bodea and Christian Houle
Drs. Cristina Bodea and Christian Houle discuss the impact of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic has had on democracy across the world in the Washington Post's Monkey Cage blog.
MSU PLS Professors chosen as new editors for The Political Economist
August 3, 2020
Drs. Shahryar Minhas, Andrew Kerner and Cristina Bodea are now serving as editors of The Political Economist Newsletter for the American Political Science Association.
Dr. Nazita Lajevardi joining University of Oxford as Visiting Professor of American Government
July 28, 2020
MSU Political Science Assistant Professor Nazita Lajevardi has been appointed the Winant Visiting Professor of American Government for 2021-22 at the Rothermere American Institute at University of Oxford.
Jasmine Jordan - Diversity Torch
July 27, 2020
Jasmine Jordan is a senior in the College of Social Science majoring in Political Science. She is the co-president of the Council of Students with Disabilities (CSD), as well as a member of the Honors College and Social Science Scholars Program.
MSU Political Science improves in global ranking
July 20, 2020
In the newly announced Global Rankings of Academic Subjects 2020, MSU Political Science has improved 16 positions to No. 43.
Remembering John Lewis
July 20, 2020 - Becky Jensen
Former Michigan Governor Jim Blanchard Reflects on the Life of Civil Rights Leader and U.S. Representative John Lewis.
MSU receives $4M for new doctoral fellowships in education sciences
July 9, 2020
Michigan State University has received $4 million from the U.S. Department of Education to prepare scholars who will help shape decisions affecting students and schools across the nation. The grant will provide fellowships, including tuition, living expenses and additional resources, for up to 21 doctoral students over five years.
To fight US racism, research prescribes a nationwide healing process
June 24, 2020 - Dr. Benjamin Appel
Calls for reform to policing across the nation can help to directly reduce police violence against civilians but don’t address the centuries-old underlying problems in American society. Our research indicates that the country is not likely to escape its historic cycles of violence and racial oppression without addressing this painful and troubled history.
PLS Announces Graduate Awards
June 16, 2020
The Department of Political Science is pleased to announce the two Graduate Student awards of the year. There were many outstanding nominations. The winners of each award will receive $500 from the department.
PLS PhD student Lizzie Brannon named Peace and Security Scholar Fellow
June 10, 2020
Lizzie will be a 2020-2021 USIP-Minerva Peace and Security Scholar Fellow at the US Institute of Peace. Her dissertation, “The Role of Women in Former Rebel Parties in Post-Conflict Africa,” examines the role of women in rebel groups that have transitioned into political parties.
MSU Political Science department statement condemning racism and anti-Black violence
June 8, 2020
We stand in support of our Black students, faculty, staff, and members of the community and join the College of Social Science and Michigan State University in condemning the racism and anti-Black violence that permeates the spaces we share.
PLS PhD student Jonathan King wins NSF grant
June 4, 2020
Jonathan King, an MSU Political Science doctoral student, has been awarded a National Sciences Foundation Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grant.
PhD student Erika Vallejo receives American Political Science Association's Minority Fellowship
May 28, 2020
The APSA Minority Fellows Program (MFP) is a fellowship competition for individuals from underrepresented backgrounds applying to or in the early stages of doctoral programs in political science.
Livestreaming arguments? The Supreme Court made the right decision
May 11, 2020 - Dr. Ryan Black
Dr. Ryan Black has published an oped in The Hill discussing the decision to livestream Supreme Court proceedings.
PLS Graduating Seniors Celebrated with an Online Yearbook
May 6, 2020
The MSU Department of Political Science is proud to celebrate our 2020 undergraduate seniors who completed their degrees in the Spring 2020 with an online yearbook.
Opinion: Why Is Support For Media Crackdowns Rising In Africa?
May 4, 2020 - Jeff Conroy-Krutz
Dr. Jeffrey Conroy-Krutz has published an opinion piece on National Public Radio on how leaders around the world are exploiting the fear and uncertainty created by the coronavirus pandemic to cement their power and suppress their opponents.
Two PLS students win Women's Leadership Institute Awards
April 28, 2020
Two Political Science undergraduate students Gifty Owusu-Tawiah and Danielle McClain recently won awards from the Women's Leadership Institute video contest.
MPP Capstone Forum will take place virtually in May
April 16, 2020
Dr. Josh Sapotichne, Director of the Master of Public Policy Program, announced yesterday that the current MPP cohort will be presenting their capstone projects virtually starting in May.
Report looks at how schools could make up for time lost in class due to COVID-19
April 10, 2020
Dr. Sarah Reckhow, Associate Professor of Political Science, discusses how to catch children up in their education once schools are allowed to reopen.
Dr. Ani Sarkissian awarded Global Religion Research Initiative grant
April 7, 2020
Dr. Sarkassian has been named as the winner of a Project Launch grant to research The Role of Religious Ministries in Arab Monarchies.
PLS major wins Julian Samora Institute Scholarship
April 3, 2020
Leobardo Vallejo, Political Science major and MSU Social Science Scholar, has been awarded the Julian Samora Institute Scholarship for undergraduates.
We Still Need Oral Arguments at Supreme Court
March 31, 2020 - Ryan Black
Dr. Ryan Black, professor of political science, has published an opinion article on why the U.S. Supreme Court needs to continue oral arguments instead of using only written briefs.
MPP remembers state Rep. Isaac Robinson
March 30, 2020
MI State House Rep Isaac Robinson passed away Sunday likely due to complications from Covid-19. Mr. Robinson, D-Detroit, had a great impact on Masters of Public Policy students.
New Summer Online Course Explores Pandemics and Social Science
March 24, 2020
We are pleased to add a highly relevant course to our Summer Online Course selection. ISS 318 Pandemics and Social Science explores the history of pandemics, how they are portrayed in pop culture, and related policies. Instructor Erica Frantz is the 2020 CSS Outstanding Teacher.
Millions of Africans lack access to clean water. This makes coronavirus a bigger threat.
March 22, 2020 - Brian Howard and Kangwook Han
MSU Political Science PhD student Kangwook Han writes about the effects of clean water shortage in Africa on efforts to fight the coronavirus.
Coronavirus could be used by authoritarian leaders as excuse to undermine democracy, experts warn
March 19, 2020
Dr. Erica Frantz discusses autocratic regimes in this article in The Independent.
MSU Coronavirus Updates
March 11, 2020
Effective at noon March 11, MSU is suspending face-to-face instruction in classroom settings and moving to virtual instruction. We are continuing to work with faculty and staff on laboratory and performance classes, and the university will provide additional guidance. This suspension of in-person classes will last until April 20.
Three Political Science majors are nominated for prestigious national scholarships
February 28, 2020
Jasmine Jordan, an Honors College junior majoring in political science, has been nominated for two scholarships. PLS junior Andrea Bair and Maysa Sitar, also an Honors College junior majoring in political science, has also been nominated.
Political Science Summer Online Courses Now Available
February 25, 2020
MSU Political Science is pleased to offer a wide array of courses online for the Summer 2020. Please refer to this page while we work to update the Summer Session course list on the Schedule of Courses website. https://polisci.msu.edu/undergraduate/summer.html
Five Things to Know about the Presidential Primary Election
February 24, 2020 - Karessa Weir
Super Tuesday is quickly approaching and the predictions are ramping up as to who will win the 2020 Democratic primary election. Matt Grossmann – associate professor of political science and director of Michigan State University’s Institute for Public Policy and Social Research – wants you to slow down, take a step back and learn a few important points about presidential primaries before you get overwhelmed by the rapid news cycle.
Jessica Schoenherr hired at University of South Carolina
February 18, 2020
Political Science PhD candidate Jessica Schoenherr has accepted a position as assistant professor of public law at University of South Carolina.
Dr. Erica Frantz named Outstanding Teacher for 2020
February 11, 2020
Dr. Erica Frantz, Assistant Professor of Political Science, was named by Social Science College Dean Rachel Croson as the College's Outstanding Teacher for 2020.
Prioritizing Judicial Nominations after Presidential Transitions
February 11, 2020 - Jonathan M. King, Ian Ostrander
MSU Political Science PhD student Jonathan M. King and Dr. Ian Ostrander have published their latest research examining district court judicial vacancies from 1981-2019 in Presidential Studies Quarterly.
Will bold landmark election ruling improve Malawian democracy
February 11, 2020 - Michael Wahman
The Constitutional Court in Lilongwe, Malawi, recently delivered its anxiously anticipated ruling in the much covered presidential election case. The atmosphere was tense. Many businesses had locked down, fearing rioting if the court ruled in favour of the incumbent government of President Peter Mutharika.
No to Court Packing but Yes to Term Limits?
February 6, 2020 - Ryan C. Black and Ryan J. Owens
Dr. Ryan Black, Professor of Political Science, surveyed members of the Supreme Court bar to determine their views on proposed reforms to the country's highest court. The result: a strong "no" to increasing justices but many are open to term limits.
The Digital Dictators: How Technology Strengthens Autocracy
February 6, 2020 - Erica Frantz, Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Joseph Wright
Dr. Erica Frantz writes about how a new arsenal of digital tools enables authoritarian regimes to cast a wider net than every before in surveillance of its citizens, with fewer resources than in the past. At the same time, digital suppression by the regimes decreases protests.
PLS professors discuss democracy promotion on U-M panel
February 6, 2020
Drs. Erica Frantz and Jeffrey Conroy-Krutz were panelists at the Weiser Center for Emerging Democracies' panel on "Is Democracy Promotion Dead?" at the University of Michigan Tuesday.
Political Science Scholar takes top Diversity Research award
January 28, 2020
Political Science Scholar Jasmine Jordan won first prize in the Third Annual Diversity Research Showcase, held in conjunction with the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Celebration at MSU.
Crowd-sourcing social science: How an MSU professor is engaging the public in one-of-a-kind Supreme Court research
January 17, 2020 - Liz Schondelmayer
Crowdsourcing is a controversial yet innovative product of the internet age, allowing for individuals and organizations to harness the collective power of the world wide web for fundraising and brainstorming. But can crowdsourcing also be used for academic research?
As MSU plans fall break "pilot", concerns about effect on voter turnout
January 12, 2020 - Michigan Radio
Political Science professors Sarah Reckhow and Matt Grossmann discuss the effects of the proposed fall break on student voter turnout with Michigan Radio.
Dr. Sarah Reckhow Named A Top Influencer in Education Policy
January 9, 2020
Dr. Reckhow, Associate Professor of Political Science, is among five Michigan State University faculty earned national recognition for their influential research in the field of education.
InnovateGov internship program featured in Urban Affairs Forum
January 9, 2020
MSU Political Science PhD student Kesicia Dickinson and faculty Marty Jordan, Sarah Reckhow and Joshua Sapotiche explain the impact that InnovateGov is having in Detroit as part of the Urban Affairs Forum's Engaged Scholarship Series.
Progress in rolling out of national power grids has stalled across Africa
January 9, 2020 - Carolyn Logan and Kim Ward
Political Science associate professor Carolyn Logan is deputy director of Afrobarometer. She wrote about the progress toward supplying electricity across Africa.
PhD student Caleb Lucas publishes paper analyzing Hezbollah's relationships with other non-state groups
January 2, 2020 - Karessa Weir
"Once More, With Feeling: Using Sentiment Analysis to Improve Models of Relationships Between Non-State Actors" was published Jan. 1, 2020 with co-author Kevin T. Green of University of Pittsburgh.
"Breaking the Exclusion Cycle" by Dr. Ana Bracic
January 1, 2020
Dr. Ana Bracic, Assistant Professor of Political Science, has published "Breaking the Exclusion Cycle: How to Promote Cooperation between Majority and Minority Ethnic Groups."
Dr. Erica Frantz publishes new book: "Democracies and Authoritarian Regimes"
December 23, 2019
Dr. Erica Frantz, Assistant Professor of Political Science, has published her latest book covering the full spectrum of political systems.
Let's define a better bellwether - with a focus on Michigan
December 12, 2019 - Dr. Corwin Smidt
Data-driven discussion and identification of what should be Michigan’s bellwether counties point to a consistent set of counties that exhibit sizable changes each election that are also accurate reflections of statewide trends. A county’s propensity to both change and change in the same way as the state is negatively correlated with its percentage of college graduates.
Five Things You Need to Know About the Impeachment Process
December 4, 2019 - Karessa Weir
In the inaugural Five Things to Know lecture series, Political Science assistant professor Ian Ostrander boiled down all the chatter about the ongoing impeachment of President Donald J. Trump into five important points about the little-understood process of presidential impeachment.
Public Policy Senior selected as Udall Scholar
December 2, 2019 - Beth Bonsall
Public Policy Senior Charlie Booher, an Honors College student also majoring in Fisheries and Wildlife, is one of 55 students selected as 2019 Udall Scholars.
Professor Wahman’s Research Launched to Malawi Political Stakeholders
November 26, 2019
Professor Michael Wahman is the keynote speaker at a launch and press conference organized by the UK’s Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) and Malawi’s Institute for Policy Interaction (IPI) in Lilongwe (Malawi), November 27. At the launch, Prof. Wahman will release the results from his new parliamentary candidate survey on the Costs of Politics in Malawi. The launch will be attended by Malawi Members of Parliament, members of the international diplomatic community, journalists, and representatives of Malawi Civil Society.
Dr. Cristana Bodea presents at international conference
November 8, 2019
Professor Bodea has been invited to attend the SUERF conference at Bocconi University in Milan, Italy on “Populism, Economic Policies and Central Banking.”
Training Detroit's Future Civic Leaders
October 17, 2019
“The inspiration for my work is my responsibility to my community.”
Dr. Boniface Dulani heading anti-corruption efforts in Malawi
October 3, 2019
Dr. Boniface Dulani, 2011 PhD alumnus, has been hired to lead a team of researchers in drafting of a new National Anti Corruption Strategy to guide the anti-corruption efforts in Malawi over the period 2020-2025. Dr. Dulani is research director at the Institute of Public Onion and Research in Malawai whose the Corruption Perception Survey of 2019 will guide the new strategy. Dr. Dulani has also served as Fieldwork Operations Manager for Afrobarometer since 2008
'Red State Blues' reveals how political parties haven't changed politices
October 1, 2019 - Caroline Brooks
The political divide between Democrats and Republicans seems to be the most contentious in recent years but in his latest book, “Red State Blues,” Michigan State University political scientist Matthew Grossmann presents findings that might put some liberals at ease.
Alumnus Nathan Ohle kicks of the Fall Speaker Series
September 23, 2019
On Sept. 23, the department kicked off the Fall Speaker Series with CEO of Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP) and Michigan State University alum (#GoGreen), Nathan Ohle.
Dr. Ryan Black named 2019 Graduate School Outstanding Faculty Mentor Award
September 16, 2019
Professor Ryan Black has been chosen by the MSU Graduate School as the recipient of the 2019 Michigan State University Graduate School Outstanding Faculty Mentor Award for his mentoring of students in research and teaching.
Elizabeth Lane Awarded Best Graduate Student Paper
June 17, 2019
Ph.D. candidate, Elizabeth Lane, has been recognized by the American Political Science Association’s Law and Courts Section as the Co-winner of the section’s Best Graduate Student Paper.
Political Science/Pres-Law Student Warren Stanfield seeking East Lansing City Council bid
May 30, 2019
Warren Stanfield has been busy. He is currently collecting signatures for a bid for East Lansing City Council.
Do you trust politicians? Depends on how you define trust
May 15, 2019 - Caroline Brooks, Joseph Hamm
Dr. Corwin Smidt collaborated with MSU Criminal Justice professor Joe Hamm to survey perceptions of federal government.