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New study ranks Graduate Programs based on placement record: UCLA ranked #8
A new paper written by Benjamin M. Schmidt and Matthew M. Chingos recently released a paper introducing a new system of ranking Political Science graduate programs, by basing such rankings upon the success of a department's graduates. In this study the UCLA Political Science Graduate Program was ranked number 8 in the nation!
To read the paper and see the complete list of 79 graduate programs, click here.
Left Turn: How Liberal Media Bias Distorts the American Mind, book reviewed by The Claremont Institute
The book Left Turn: How Liberal Media Bias Distorts the American Mind, by UCLA Political Science professor Tim Groseclose was recently reviewed by James Q. Wilson on the new issue of the Claremont Review of Books. To read the full article, click here.
Professor Daniel Treisman cited on CNNMoney
Professor Daniel Treisman, an expert in Russian politics, was cited in an article in CNNMoney. To read the full article, click here.
Professor Lynn Vavreck's research featured in The Washington Post
Professor Lynn Vavreck's research on the presidential campaign was featured in a recent article in The Washington Post. To read the full article, click here.
Professor Lynn Vavreck was also cited in another article in The Seattle Times. To read this second article, click here.
Professor Daniel Treisman cited on Local10.com
Professor Daniel Treisman, an expert in Russian politics, was cited in an article in Local10.com that discussed China and Russia's response toward Syria's recent power struggle. To read the full article, click here.
Professor Tim Groseclose cited in The Washington Post
Professor Tim Groseclose was cited in an article in The Washington Post about the Super Bowl. To read the full article, click here.
Professor Lynn Vavreck's research featured in Washington Post blog
Professor Lynn Vavreck's research on the presidential campaign was recently featured in a Washington Post blog. To read the blog and find out why Professor Vavreck does not expect the nation's low employment rate to be a major factor this November, click here.
Professor Daniel Treisman discusses Russian-Syrian relations
Professor Daniel Treisman, an expert in Russian politics, recently wrote a feature article about Russian-Syrian relations for the Opinion section of CNN. To learn more about the relationship between these two countries and its possible implications, please click here and read the full article.
Professor Lynn Vavreck discusses the Florida primary
Professor Lynn Vavreck, an expert on political communication and American politics, spoke to local news station, KTLA, about the results of the Florida primary. Click here to see the interview.
Professor Tim Groseclose appears on Fox & Friends
On Tuesday, January 31, Fox & Friends' Steve Doocy interviewed Tim Groseclose. Among the topics they discussed were the effects of media bias and the South Carolina primary election. Click here to see the interview.
The Party Decides, cited in The Economist
The 2008 book The Party Decides, by UCLA Political Science Professor John Zaller and professors Marty Cohen of James Madison University, David Karol of the University of Maryland, and Hans Noel of Georgetown University, was recently cited inThe Economist. To read the full article, click here.
The Party Decides was also cited in recent articles from The Washington Post, and The American Prospect.
The book was also mentioned in another article in The American Prospect. To read this second article, click here.
Associate Professor Lynn Vavreck interviewed on ABC News
On Monday January 23, Associate Professor Lynn Vavreck, who is currently conducting research on the Republican Party primary elections, was interviewed on ABC News, where she discussed Mitt Romney's recent loss in the South Carolina primary to the former Republic House Speaker, Newt Gingrich. To watch this interview, click here.
UCLA Political Science Professors speak out about the election
Associate Professor Lynn Vavreck, who is currently conducting research on the Republican Party primary elections, was recently interviewed on the KPCC radio program AirTalk. To hear Vavreck's analysis and the entire radio episode, click here.
In addition, Vavreck's recent article that analyzes polling results on the Republican presidential nomination election was mentioned in a Atlantic article. To see the full article, click here.
Professor Joel Aberbach was also interviewed in a Reuters report about the Republican Party presidential nomination front-runner, Mitt Romney. To read the full article in Reuters, click here.
The Party Decides, a recommended read in The Washington Post and cited in CNN special report.
The 2008 book The Party Decides, by UCLA Political Science Professor John Zaller and professors Marty Cohen of James Madison University, David Karol formerly of UC Berkeley (currently at the University of Maryland), and Hans Noel of Georgetown University, was recently recommended in The Washington Post. The blogger said, "This is a good time to read The Party Decides, if you haven't done so already." To read the full article click here.
The Party Decides, was also sited in a special report for CNN by Assistant Professor of Government and Public Policy, Jonathan M. Ladd at Georgetown University. To read the article click here.
Political Theorist and UCLA alumnus, Professor John Schaar dies
Dr. John Schaar received his B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. from the UCLA Political Science Department, and went on to become an extremely well respected scholar of Political Theory. Professor Joshua Miller of Lafayette College, wrote an obituary for Professor Schaar, which we are republishing on our website with his permission:
John Homer Schaar, 83, died of cancer in Ben Lomond, California, on December 26, 2011. Jack was born on July 7, 1928, in Montoursville, PA, where he was raised on a farm in a Lutheran family. He was a political theorist and a legendary teacher at the University of California, Berkeley; U.C., Santa Cruz; and Deep Springs College. He received his B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. from UCLA. In 1958 he came to Berkeley where he won two teaching awards and played a significant role in the Free Speech Movement of the 1960s. In 1970 he joined the faculty at UCSC. His publications included Loyalty in America, Escape from Authority: The Perspectives of Erich Fromm, and Legitimacy in the Modern State (collected essays), and many articles. He was co-author, with Sheldon S. Wolin, of The Berkeley Rebellion and Beyond. An authority on American political thought, he advocated community, radically democratic political participation, and the decentralization of political and economic power. His survivors include his wife, Hanna Fenichel Pitkin, his son, John Homer Schaar IV, and scores of former students who were deeply influenced by his teaching. Details of a memorial at U.C., Santa Cruz, will be announced shortly.
Assistant Professor Lynn Vavreck interviewed about her survey research in Iowa and New Hampshire
Assistant Professor Lynn Vavreck is currently utilizing the latest technology to conduct cutting edge research about the 2012 Republican primary process and the campaign events leading up to this years presidential nominations. In one of her latest interviews with the UCLA Newsroom, she discusses where the candidates stand leading into the New Hampshire primary elections on January 10, 2012. To watch this interview and read the news story that accompanies it, click here. To see another recent interview with Professor Vavreck, in which she discusses the significance of political attack ads, please click here.
Tony Blankley, PoliSci grad and former Gingrich aid, died January 7, 2012
Tony Blankley passed away on Saturday January 7, 2012 reportedly from stomach cancer. Blankley had a long career both as Newt Gingrich's press secretary and later as a member of the press himself (you may remember him as the conservative voice on NPR's show Left, Right and Center). Blankley was also a graduate of the UCLA Political Science Department, where he earned his bachelor's degree before going on to law school at Loyola Law School. He is survived by his wife and three children. To learn more about Tony Blankley, please see his obituary in the New York Times or the Los Angeles Times.
Professor Emeritus Leo Snowiss died January 4, 2012
Leo Snowiss, Professor Emeritus, former Dean, and specialist in American Politics, passed away on January 4, 2012. Snowiss became a member of the Political Science Department in 1965 and retired, becoming an Emeritus Professor, in 1994. Snowiss is survived by his wife and children.
Leo Snowiss greatly enjoyed Yosemite National Park and the family is asking all those who would like to honor his memory to make a donation to the Yosemite Conservancy.
Associate Professor Lynn Vavreck and doctoral student Michael LaCour featured in the Washington Post
Recent research conducted by Associate Professor Lynn Vavreck and doctoral student Michael LaCour was recently featured in the Washington Post. To read the full article and see Vavreck and LaCour's findings on the effects of media exposure, click here.
Professor Tim Groseclose's Research Lauded by Congressman on House Floor
In this video, Congressman Lamar Smith(R-Tex.) gives a speech on the floor of the U.S. House. The focus of the speech was Professor Groseclose's book, Left Turn: How Liberal Media Bias Distorts the American Mind.
In addition, Groseclose recently gave lectures about the book at the Cato Institute and the Miller Center at the University of Virginia.
The Party Decides cited in Time
The 2008 book The Party Decides by UCLA Political Science Professor John Zaller and Political Science professors Marty Cohen of James Madison University, David Karol formerly of UC Berkeley (currently at the University of Maryland), and Hans Noel of Georgetown University, was recently mentioned in a Time article. To see the full article click here.
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Junior Fellows Program
All applications must be received no later than Friday, January 6, 2012 at 5:00pm.
Application materials may be hand-delivered to the Political Science business office at 4289 Bunche Hall or sent via email to bonduran@polisci.ucla.edu. If application materials are mailed through the US Postal Service, please ensure that it is postmarked by Friday, January 6, 2012.
Professor Daniel Treisman mentioned in The New York Times and receives critical acclaim from Financial Times.
Professor Daniel Treisman was mentioned in a New York Times article about Vladimir Putin's campaign for the Russian presidency. To read the full article and find out how Professor Treisman's research on middle class uprisings is being used to explain the current state of Russian politics, click here.
Professor Treisman's book "The Return: Russia's Journey from Gorbacehev to Medvedev" was listed as one of "the best political books of 2011" in the Financial Times. To see the full list of books, including Professor Treisman's, click here.
Professor Timothy Groseclose's research referenced in Op-Ed
Professor Timothy Groseclose's research was recently referenced in an Op-Ed article in Investor's Business Daily. To see this and other stories please click here. To go directly to the Investor's Business Daily article, click here.
Professor Daniel Treisman gives a special report for CNN
Professor Daniel Treisman recently wrote an article for CNN, discussing the demise of Vladimir Putin's political regime in Russia. To read Professor Treisman's full article click here.
Professor Giulia Sissa invites all to attend an international and interdisciplinary conference
Professor Giulia Sissa (Political Science and Classics) has organized* an international and interdisciplinary conference, on the emotions in our cultures and societies.
Life! Motions, Motives, Emotions: A Festival of the Passions
November
17 - November 19, 2011
Each day has
a specific focus:
Nov. 17: Italy Made! Passions and Projects, IIC, 1023 Hilgard Avenue, LA.
Nov. 18: The Renaissance of the Passions, UCLA, Royce Hall 314.
Nov. 19: The Emotional Turn in the Social Sciences, IIC, 1023 Hilgard Avenue,
LA.
You are warmly invited to pick and choose, or to attend all three events. Please come!
The programs and further details are available on this website: http://lifeconference2011.wordpress.com
Please note that "Italy made! Passions and Projects" requires an RSVP
to the Center for Jewish Studies at cjsrsvp@humnet.ucla.edu.
For "The Renaissance of the Passions" and "The Emotional
Turn", please RSVP to Professor Sissa, sissa@ucla.edu.
* in collaboration with the UCLA Center for Jewish Studies (CJS), the Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies (CMRS), the Ahmanson Foundation, the UCLA Division of Social Sciences, the UCLA Department of Political Science, the Network of Italian Scholars Abroad (NISA), the UCLA Department of Italian Studies, SUM, the Istituto Italiano di Cultura in Los Angeles (IIC) and the Embassy of Italy to Washington.
Undergraduate Political Science and History major Nick Matthews doesn't let hearing impairment stand in his way.
Nick Matthews, a double major in Political Science and History is also the captain of the UCLA debate team. He refuses to let his hearing impairment prevent him from pursuing his passion for the high speed and listening intensive world of collegiate debate. To read the full story of Nick's outstanding feats of perseverance click here.
Professor Michael Ross' Foreign Affairs article also featured in Harper's Magazine.
Professor Michael Ross' recent essay, "Will Oil Drown the Arab Spring?" was featured in the September/October issue of Foreign Affairs and has recently been reprinted in the November issue of Harper's Magazine. To read the full version of the article click here.
Professor Michael Chwe honors the memory of Professor Victor Wolfenstein at Occupy Los Angeles.
On Saturday October 15, a group of graduate students, faculty and family members of the late professor E. Victor Wolfenstein, gathered at Occupy L.A. at City Hall in downtown Los Angeles. The group came to honor the memory of Victor Wolfenstein, the political theorist, professor and social activist who passed away in December 2010.
To read an exclusive story about the day's events click here.
To listen to a Daily Bruin Radio interview with Professor Chwe, explaining his motivation to attend the protest and how Professor Wolfenstein served as an inspiration, click here.
For more information on UCLA involvement in the Occupy Los Angeles movement, including an interview with Political Science graduate student Jason Ball, click here.
Professor Timothy Groseclose interviewed for FOX & Friends, Human Events
On Monday October 3, Timothy Groseclose was interviewed on FOX & Friends, where he discussed his book Left Turn: How Liberal Media Bias Distorts the American Mind and the charitable-organization status of Media Matters for America.
In Human Events Groseclose was quoted in an article discussing the drone attack on Anwar Al-Awlaki and Dick Cheney's criticism of President Obama.
UPCOMING: Professor Groseclose will be in Minneapolis on October 19, as mentioned in the MinnPost and the Powerline Blog for an American Experiment luncheon. For more information on the event click here.
Professor Daniel Treisman on CNN
Professor Daniel Treisman was recently featured in the Opinion section of CNN, sharing his expert analysis on the upcoming Russian presidential elections. To find out what Professor Treisman thinks about Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's announcement to run for president, click here.
Professor Treisman was also quoted in the New York Times on October 1, in an article discussing the current estate of Russian politics. Click here to read the full article.
Left, Right and Media Bias
UCLA professor of political science Timothy Groseclose was interviewed Friday on FOX News' Sean Hannity show about his new book, Left Turn: How Liberal Media Bias Distorts the American Mind, which examines political bias among news organizations. To see the interview click here.
Earlier, Groseclose was interviewed on Uncommon Knowledge. To see that interview, click here.
Professor Michael Ross has a new article in Foreign Affairs.
Professor Michael Ross' new article, discussing the connection between oil and the Arab Spring, is featured in the recent issue of Foreign Affairs. To read the article click here
The Message Matters: The Economy and Presidential Campaigns, receives mention in The New Republic.
Associate Professor Lynn Vavreck's book The Message Matters: The Economy and Presidential Campaigns, was mentioned in an article in The New Republic discussing the current economy and how it may affect the presidential election. To read the article click here
Groseclose's book, Left Turn, featured in the media.
Professor Tim Groseclose, the Marvin Hoffenberg Chair of American Politics, has been featured on numerous news and media programs since the release of his new book, Left Turn: How Liberal Media Bias Distorts the American mind.
On August 8, Professor Tim Groseclose was interviewed on the Dennis Prager Show, where he discussed his book. Click here to listen to the interview.
To listen to more audio interviews with Professor Groseclose click here.
Also check out video interviews with Professor Groseclose's on FOX News, the Daily Caller, Newsbusters, and more.
Associate Professor Lynn Vavreck shares her expertise.
Lynn Vavreck, a specialist in American Politics, has recently shared her expert analysis with a variety of news outlets. Listen to her discuss upcoming 2012 presidential election and the current state of politics in the United States.
Welcome to UCLA Political Science Department
In 2011 the Department of Political Science celebrates ninety-one years of teaching, research and public service within one of the nation's finest universities. Instruction in Political Science began on September 14, 1920 with a staff of one assistant professor, Dr. Charles E. Martin, offering three year-long courses (Comparative Government, U.S. Foreign Policy, and International Law).
Today the department is among the best in the country. The most recent ranking by the highly respected National Research Council ranks us nationally in the top ten. Among the department's many strengths, we have gained notable distinction in political economy, comparative politics including the politics of developing nations, and political theory. Click Here to see more...
Spring 2011 Newsletter