IU Political Science Graduation 2025
On Saturday, May 10th, IU Political Science held our Graduation Celebration to honor our graduating seniors. Congratulations Class of of 2025 and good luck with all your future endeavors!
Departmental news + announcements
IU College of Arts and Sciences Receives Anonymous $1 Million Gift to Establish Named Professorship in Honor of Political Science Professor Edward Carmines
An anonymous donor has made a transformative $1 million planned gift to the College of Arts and Sciences at Indiana University Bloomington that will endow a professorship in the College’s Department of Political Science. The gift will establish the Edward G. “Ted” Carmines Professorship in Political Science, recognizing one of the most influential figures in in political science at IU, and the country.
Professor Jack Bielasiak Retires After 50 Years of Service
Last month, IU Political Science celebrated the retirement of Professor Jack Bielasiak at Indiana University after 50 years of service.
IU Political Science Chair Aurelian Craiutu Invited to Speak at the Commemoration of Francois Guizot
Professor Aurelian Craiutu was invited to speak at the commemoration of 150 years since the death of the great French politician and historian, Francois Guizot (1787-1874). His speech explored Guizot’s views on representative government and his political moderation.
Remembering Elinor Ostrom, Nobel Laureate
Fifteen years ago, on October 9, 2009, our colleague, the late Elinor Ostrom (1934-2012), became the first female scholar to win the Nobel Prize in Economics. Her work remains an inspiration to many of us and an invitation to build upon it.
Interview with Olympian and Political Science Major Carson Tyler
Both an Olympian and a Politican Science major, Carson Tyler has to work to balance it all. Read his interview with one of our staff members.
Steven Webster Featured on NPR’s "Here and Now"
IU Political Science Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies, Steven Webster, did a segment on NPR’s nationally syndicated “Here and Now” program about joy and anger in American politics on August 29th, 2024.
Christian Cruzatti Publishes Article in World Development
IU Political Science graduate student, Christian Cruzatti, published an article this week in World Development.
Ore Koren Receives National Science Foundation Grant and Publishes New Article
IU Political Science Professor Ore Koren has received a grant from the National Science Foundation. He also has published a new article on disease's impact on conflict and violence in Springer Nature.
Cultivating Moderation in an Age of Extremism
Aurelian Craiutu joined Ben Klutsey to discuss the state of liberalism today and the "neglected virtue of moderation".
IU Political Science Graduation 2024
Congratulations to all our 2024 Political Science graduating seniors. We are so proud of you!
Professor Hicham Bou Nassif honored at faculty installation ceremony
This April, Professor Hicham Bou Nassif, an IU Political Science alumni, was installed as the Weinberg Associate Professor of International Relations and the Middle East and George R. Roberts Fellow at Claremont McKenna College.
The IU Department of Political Science Presents: The Russell Hanson Endowed Lecture
In this upcoming lecture, Andrew Murphy (Professor of Political Science, University of Michigan) will present his talk titled “Political Martyrdom and American Democracy: From Crispus Attucks to Ashli Babbitt”.
IU Political Science Welcomes a New Board of Advisors
We are pleased to welcome the seven members of our new Board of Advisors.
Constitutional Powers and Politics: How Citizens Think About Authority and Institutional Change
Constitutional Powers and Politics: How Citizens Think About Authority and Institutional Change
The IU Department of Political Science Presents: The Distinguished Charles S. Hyneman Endowed Lecture
The IU Department of Political Science Presents: The Distinguished Charles S. Hyneman Endowed Lecture
Jacek Dalecki awarded Kathy O. Smith and Morley Career Distinguished Teaching Award
Jacek Dalecki awarded Kathy O. Smith and Morley Career Distinguished Teaching Award.
Logan Williams named a Key into Public Service Scholar
Logan Williams named a Key into Public Service Scholar. Selected from over 900 applicants attending Phi Beta Kappa institutions across the nation, the class of 2023 Key into Public Service Scholars hail from 16 states. The students represent a broad range of academic interests across the liberal arts and sciences, backgrounds, and institutions.
Vanessa Cruz Nichols wins scholarly awards
Professor Vanessa Cruz Nichols receives Ford Foundation Award and will be in-residence at Purdue University next year.She also recently received an Emerging Scholar Award through the Latino Faculty and Staff Council (LFASC).
Armando Razo awarded Trustees Teaching Award
Armando Razo awarded Trustees Teaching Award.
Vaccination campaigns - 5 Questions with Britt Koehnlein
Britt Koehnlein’s research focuses on civil conflict, vaccination campaigns, epidemics, and climate change, with a focus on sub-Saharan Africa.On March 8, Britt will present “Building Symbolic Capacity through Vaccination Campaigns” through the Ostrom Workshop Research Series, which highlights innovative research by graduate students and visiting scholars who build upon the theme of governance to understand and address major societal problems.
Russell L. Hanson, former department chair, passed away November 8, 2022
Russell L. Hanson, former Chair of the Department of Political Science and long time faculty member of our department, passed away on November 8.
The Conversation: Not all Asian Americans vote Democratic – and the political leanings of different Asian ethnic groups vary
Sumit Ganguly and Steven Webster joined the conversation: “Not all Asian Americans vote Democratic -- and the political leanings of different Asian ethnic groups vary”.
Tim Hellwig on failures of constitutional design
Failures in constitutional design are at the heart of the crisis in western democracies.
New book in Romanian published by Aurelian Craiutu - Elogiul moderatiei (In Praise of Moderation)
New book in Romanian published by Aurelian Craiutu
Ore Koren named 2022 IUB Outstanding Junior Faculty
Ore Koren named one of five 2022 IUB Outstanding Junior Faculty
Chris DeSante - Serious Thoughts About Laughing Matters- Indiana Public Media
Chris DeSante has Serious Thoughts About Laughing Matters- Indiana Public Media
Ore Koren welcomed as 2022 Harry Frank Guggenheim Distinguished Scholar
Ore Koren welcomed as 2022 Harry Frank Guggenheim Distinguished Scholar
Regina Smyth joins the Conversation on "a year after Navalny's return"
Regina Smyth contributes to The Conversation: A year after Navalny's return, Putin remains atop a changed Russia
Anthony DeMattee awarded three APSA Disseration Awards
The Indiana University Bloomington Department of Political Science is very pleased to acknowledge Anthony DeMattee, one of our recent PhDs who is currently on a postdoctoral fellowship at Emory University that is sponsored by the National Science Foundation. Dr. DeMattee’s dissertation recently earned three awards from the American Political Science Association, which is an incredible accomplishment (and quite possibly a record!). Dr. DeMattee’s dissertation explores the regulation of nongovernmental “civil society organizations”, in particular those related to human rights, with a special focus on the regions of the Caribbean and East Africa.
Public Support in Challenging Times: Varieties of Crises, Elite Responses, and Executive Approval
Tim Hellwig awarded a significant NSF grant of $684,000 as a co-PI for a new study on the politics of public support during a range of different crises, including economic, security, natural disaster and public health.
Chinbo Chong wins APSA's Race and Ethnic Politics 2020 Best Paper
Chinbo Chong, POLS CRRES Post-Doc. Her collaborative paper with Tanika Raychaudhuri entitled “Group-based belief systems about the racial order: Racial stereotypes and Asian American partisan identification” has won APSA’s Race and Ethnic Politics Best Paper Award of 2020.
NYT Opinion: Trump's Cult of Animosity Shows No Sign of Letting Up
Steven Webster published in the New York Times Opinion section. "Trump’s Cult of Animosity Shows No Sign of Letting Up", with Steven Webster, New York Times, July 7, 2021.
European Political Science Association Best Paper Award
Steven Webster's paper (coauthored with Gregory J. Martin) "Does Residential Sorting Explain Geographic Polarization?" has been selected as the "Best Paper" published in Political Science Research and Methods for 2020-21.
Political Science awards Greenough Outstanding Dissertation Award
Political Science awards Greenough Outstanding Dissertation Award to Wynand Kastart.
Political Science awards Associate Instructors of the year awards
Political Science awards Associate Instructors of the year award to Sean Byrne, Tonya Dodez, and Matthew Lucky.
Armando Razo awarded Trustees Teaching Award
Armando Razo awarded Trustees Teaching Award.
STATEMENT REGARDING HATE CRIMES AND VIOLENCE AGAINST ASIAN AND ASIAN-AMERICANS
We stand in support and solidarity with our students, faculty, and staff and with all the members of our community in the fight against racism and intolerance.
Recalibrating our politics using the principles of moderation
Professor Aurelian Craiutu and Constantine Vassiliou (Kinder Institute, University of Missouri) reflect on what might be done to recalibrate our politics using the principles of moderation, which have kept America on an even keel during previous crisis points in its history.
Regina Smyth's commentary on Aleksei Navalny protests
Regina Smyth contributes to The Conversation: Navalny returns to Russia and brings anti-Putin politics with him.She also published in both the Washington Post's Monkey Cage and Wilson Center on the protests.
Spring 2021 Tocqueville Lectures
This semester, the Tocqueville Program, in collaboration with the Ostrom Workshop, will continue to host a series of events on the topic “The Idea of America” that was started last Fall with two presentations on Alexander Hamilton and the history of the Statue of Liberty.
Our events, organized on Fridays at noon, will include presentations and discussions on factions in American politics, the political thought of James Madison, the idea of fraternity in America, liberalism in non-western contexts (Iran), the nature and limits of executive power in American political tradition, and the symbols of ISIS.
The whole list of speakers and topics can be found here:
https://ostromworkshop.indiana.edu/events/tocqueville-lecture/index.html
Professor Ore Koren contributes to the Conversation on Political Violence
Professor Ore Koren contributes to the Conversation on Political Violence.
Rashid Marcano Rivera contributes to The Conversation on Puerto Rico's Statehood
Rashid Marcano Rivera contributes to The Conversation on Puerto Rico's recent request for statehood to become the 51st state of the United States.
Kate Feinberg shares experience as a double major
IU Student Kate Feinberg shares experience as a double major in Political Science and Cinema Media Arts.
Statue honoring Elinor Ostrom to be dedicated
Statue honoring Nobel Prize winner Elinor Ostrom to be dedicated on Bloomington campus this week, November 12, 2020.
Donovan Watts featured in College spotlight
Political Science PhD student, Donavan Watts, was featured in the College spotlight on how to support the Black community through voting and especially engaging in local politics.
Indiana University Political Science included in world rankings of political science studies.
Indiana University's Department of Political Science ranked 51-75 in the ShanghaiRanking's Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2020 - Political Sciences.
Professors William Winecoff and Sarah Bauerle Danzman awarded nearly $450,000 from NSF
Professors William Winecoff and Sarah Bauerle Danzman awarded nearly $450,000 from NSF to investigate “The Political Economy of Business-Government Connections”.
Professor Emerita Margie Hershey contributes to Chicago Tribune article
Professor Emerita Margie Hershey contributes to Chicago Tribune article about mail in voting in Indiana.
Professor Regina Smyth contributes to The Conversation on Alexei Navalny
Professor Regina Smyth contributes to The Conversation on How Alexei Navalny revolutionized opposition politics in Russia, before his apparent poisoning.
Political Science alumni featured on the College's 20 Under 40 list 2020
Political Science alumni featured on the College's 20 Under 40 list 2020
Aurelian Craiutu elected member of the European Academy
Professor Aurelian Craiutu has been elected member of the European Academy . The Academia Europaea was founded in 1988, on the initiative of several national academies in Europe. The Academia Europaea is the only continent-wide Academy with individual membership from Council of Europe states and from other nations across the world. It is an organisation of eminent, individual scientists and scholars, covering the full range of academic disciplines (see: www.ae-info.org). It is a 'not-for-profit' Charity registered in the UK. The Academy organizes meetings and workshops, provides scientific and scholarly advice including for policy development and publishes the international journal the 'European Review' (http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayJournal?jid=ERW). The Academy also operates five regional knowledge hubs (Barcelona, Bergen, Cardiff, Tbilisi and Wroclaw) and will also be launching two new Regional Hubs this year – Munich and Budapest.
Documentary about Elinor and Vincent Ostrom
Actual World, Possible Future. A new documentary by alumna Barbara Allen explores the lives and works of Elinor and Vincent Ostrom.
Professor Regina Smyth contributes to The Conversation on Russia's election
Professor Regina Smyth contributes to The Conversation on Russia's July 2020 election on how official rigged the election to create the illusion that President Vladimir Putin remains a popular and powerful leader after 20 years in office.
Political Science celebrates our graduating Seniors and PhD students
The Indiana University Department of Political Science sends warm congratuations to our graduating seniors and graduate students.
Lauren Meadows named James C. Gaither Junior Fellow
Warm congratulations to our senior Lauren Meadows who has been awarded the 2020 James C. Gaither Junior Fellowship with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
IU’s Annual Experts’ Survey on Congress’s Performance Shows Key Differences Among Political Parties
According to a survey of public attitudes about Congress and public affairs conducted by IU’s Center on Representative Government and Center on American Politics, Democrats and Republicans have different views about the importance of a free press, an independent judiciary, the Bill of Rights, and a potent Congress.
Political Science senior Tyler Combs to appear on 'Jeopardy!'
IU senior Tyler Combs will appear on "Jeopardy!" 2020 College Championship at 7:30 p.m. Friday on NBC (WTHR). The winner out of 15 U.S. college students will receive $100,000.
Professor Ore Koren co-authors a guest post on “Political Violence at a Glance” describing how COVID-19 affects diplomacy
At a time when global cooperation is needed more than ever, new research suggests that pandemics may weaken diplomatic connections between countries and lower the probability that nations will establish new diplomatic ties.
Professor Sumit Ganguly featured in radiocast "Secular India and the rise of Hindu Nationalism."
Professor Sumit Ganguly featured in radiocast "Secular India and the rise of Hindu Nationalism."
Professor William Winecoff appears on PBS
William Winecoff, a political science professor, is inerviewed by PBS and talks about Trump's truce with China.
Political science professor receives NEH grant
Aurelian Craiutu, a political science professor and assistant chair and the director of undergraduate studies in the Department of Political Science at IU Bloomington, is among the recipients of National Endowment for the Humanities grants.
Professor Sumit Ganguly discuses threats to political liberalism in India
Since the Bharatiya Janata Party assumed power for a second time in May 2019 with a resounding majority in parliament it has been seeking to implement a wide-ranging anti-secular agenda.
Professor Aurelian Craiutu debates nationalism and liberalism
Dr. Aurelian Craiutu, Professor of Political Science at Indiana University and Yoram Hazony, President, Herzl Institute debated Liberalism vs Nationalism at Villanova University on November 14, 2019.
Mike Munger (Duke) gave Charles S. Hyneman Distinguished Lecture
Mike Munger (Duke University) gave the lecture for the Charles S. Hyneman Lecture for the Department of Political Science, and co-sponsored by the Ostrom Workshop and the Tocqueville Program. The talk was titled “Polycentricity, Transaction Costs, and the Future of Local Government: An Ostrom Perspective” brought scholars and students from across the Bloomington campus and beyond.
Aurelian Craiutu Book Symposium on Faces of Moderation
The September 2019 issue of the Political Science Reviewer, currently edited at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, hosts a symposium on Aurelian Craiutu's Faces of Moderation (University of Pennsylvania Press, 2017). Titled "A Moderate Voice Against Our Orthodoxies," the symposium features contributions from Paul Carrese (Arizona State University), Bryan-Paul Frost (University of Louisiana at Lafayette), and Murray S. Y. Bessette (Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation, Washington, D.C.), followed by a response from Aurelian Craiutu. The papers were originally presented at a roundtable at the Annual Meeting of the Northeastern Political Science Association in Philadelphia, November 2017.
The Growing political crisis in Russia
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ruling party, United Russia, eked out a majority in the Moscow municipal legislature in elections on Sept. 8.
Aurelian Craiutu and Michael McGinnis - The Ostroms Legacy
Aurelian Craiutu and Michael McGinnis contributed two chapters to a new book exploring the legacy of Elinor and Vincent Ostrom, Ostrom’s Tensions: Reexamining the Political Economy and Public Policy of Elinor C. Ostrom, eds. Roberta Q. Herzberg, Paul Dragos Aligica, and Peter J. Boettke (Arlington, VA: Mercatus Center at George Mason University, 2019). Based on the papers originally presented at a conference at the George Mason University last year, this new collection sheds fresh light on the richness of what is known as the Bloomington school of institutional analysis created by Elinor and Vincent Ostrom and continued by their students and collaborators around the globe. Craiutu's chapter, “In Praise of Eclecticism: Why Elinor and Vincent Ostrom’s Works Matter,” explores the eclectic methodology and political philosophy of the Ostroms, while McGinnis examines the general relevance of the institutional analysis of the Bloomington School.
Professor Chris DeSante's research featured in the New York Times
Professor DeSante's research on racial attitudes was featured in the New York Times OpEd by Thomas B. Edsell "We Aren’t Seeing White Support for Trump for What It Is"
Graduation Celebration 2019
The Department of Politcal Science celebrated graduation on May 4th, 2019.
Midwest Model EU 2019
Every spring, more than 160 college and university students meet to decide the future of the European Union (EU).
Pi Sigma Alpha new inductees
Recently Political Science held a lunch for the recent inductees into Pi Sigma Alpha. Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Political Science Honor Society, is the only honor society for college and university students of political science in the United States.
Maggie Haberman is a reporter for the New York Times and she visited IU to present a lecture in the Media School’s Lecture Series.
Professor Ted Carmines and Representative Lee Hamilton present the Lee H. Hamilton Public Service Fellowship to Maggie Haberman.
Edward G. Carmines receives award from Dean Larry Singell at the 2019 College Alumni Awards Reception
Professor Ted Carmines wins College of Arts + Sciences Distinguished Faculty Award
Economic voting and party positions: when and how wealth matters for the vote
Does the ownership of economic assets matter for how people vote? Drawing on new research, Timothy Hellwig and Ian McAllister find the answer is yes. They argue that by changing their policy positions, parties can shape the influence of asset ownership on voter decisions.
Political Science Professor and associate chair Marjorie Hershey honored with Sylvia E. Bowman Teaching Award
Political Science Professor and associate chair Marjorie Hershey honored with Sylvia E. Bowman Teaching Award
James H. Rudy Professor Jeffrey Isaac publishes book titled #AgainstTrump
In this collection of essays, Jeffrey C. Isaac argues that the threat posed to liberal democracy by illiberal forces today, from Trump and his authoritarian counterparts in France, Hungary, Poland, and Turkey, warrants a strong democratic response, centered on both defending and extending the core commitments of liberal democracy. Isaac articulates a politics that bridges the gap between liberalism and leftism, pointing the way toward more productive disagreements and more meaningful, effective alliances.
Political Science Visiting Professor Justyna Zajac honored with highest academic title
Political Science Visiting Professor Justyna Zajac honored with highest academic title
PolsNews: Fall 2018
Keeping you updated on what’s happening in the Department of Political Science.
Election Series
Just as we did in 2016, the Political Science Department co-sponsored an election series this fall about the 2018 midterm elections, along with PACE (the Political and Civic Education Program) at IU and the Civic Leaders Center, led by former Fort Wayne mayor Paul Helmke.
Indiana Model UN
Almost 400 students attended last year! The next conference to be held February 2019!
Sumit Ganguly on nationlist statue in India
Sumit Ganguly quoted in the Christian Science Monitor on nationalist statute in India
Political Science alumni featured on the College's 20 Under 40 list 2018
Political Science alumni featured on the College's 20 Under 40 list 2018
Professor Bernard L. Fraga's research featured in the New York Times
Professor Fraga's research on race and voter turnout was featured in the New York Times article "What if Everyone Voted?"
Rafael Khachaturian was awarded the Stephen Eric Bronner Award from the APSA New Political Science Organized Section for his dissertation
Rafael Khachaturian has been awarded the Stephen Eric Bronner Award from the APSA New Political Science Organized Section for his dissertation, Discipline, Knowledge, and Critique: Marxist Theory and the Revival of the State in American Political Science, 1968-1989.
Washington D.C. Internship Program
Our IU Internship in Politics, Opportunity, Leadership, Social Entrepreneurship (IU POLS DC) is a semester-long residential internship program in Washington, D.C. Our goal is to give you the very best the College of Arts and Sciences has to offer—a solid liberal arts education—while preparing you to find, apply for, and obtain the kind of job that makes you want to get up in the morning. Attend an Info Session to learn more.
Make your voice heard
Indiana University strongly encourages you to fulfill your civic duty and participate in the 2018 primary and general elections—in Indiana or your home state.
Salih Yasun publishes an article at Women's Studies International Forum
Salih Yasun, a graduate student at the Department of Political Science, publishes an article at Women's Studies International Forum about the role of education in enabling underprivileged women to benefit from their inheritance rights in Turkey.
Professor Lauren MacLean receives award
Professor Lauren MacLean and her co-PIs were awarded an APSA Special Project Grant for their project "Avoiding ‘Day Zero’” in the U.S. & Global South: Climate Justice in Teaching & Policy Action.
Dr. Sumit Ganguly received Humboldt Award
Dr. Sumit Ganguly recently received the Humboldt Award, considered among the most prestigious honors that Germany awards to scholars.
Congratulations to Professor Fraga on his MPSA Latino/a Caucus Early Career Award
This award recognizes a Latino/a or Latino Politics (pre-tenure) scholar based upon research accomplishments and contributions to the discipline.
Best paper for emerging scholar
Congratulations to Chris DeSante and his co-author on their award for best paper by an emerging scholar.
Cyanne Loyle co-authored article in Political Violence @ a Glance
The title of Loyle’s article is “The Organization of Rebellion: New Research Program on Rebel Governance and Legitimacy.”
Professor Bernard Fraga and IU alum, Brian Schaffner, in the New York Times
They co-authored an article titled “The Missing Obama Millions.”
Aurelian Craiutu’s book released in paperback
The University of Pennsylvania Press has just released the paperback of Aurelian Craiutu’s Faces of Moderation: The Art of Balance in an Age of Extremes.
Professor Ted Carmines gives invited lecture
Professor Ted Carmines gave an invited lecture at the Institute for Advanced Study.
Mac Jewel Enduring Contribution Book Award
The State Politics and Policy Section of the APSA named Politics in the American States: A Comparative Analysis as the 2017 recipient of the Mac Jewel Award Enduring Contribution Book Award.
Cyanne Loyle receives National Science Foundation Grant
Professor Cyanne Loyle has been awarded a NSF to pursue a new scholarly agenda on the topic of rebel governance.
Armando Razo and his team received a nearly $3 million National Science Foundation Grant
The National Science Foundation has awarded Indiana University nearly $3 million to train future research leaders in the skills needed to tackle society's most urgent subjects.
Aurelian Craiutu’s book cited in “Washington Post”
Aurelian Craiutu's Faces of Moderation was cited in David Nakamura's Washington Post article "Trump's penchant for extremes worked on the campaign trail but hinders his White House" and David Brooks' New York Times article "What Moderates Believe.”
The College of Arts