Politics, Institutions, and Public Policy
A message from Rachel Davis Mersey, program chair
From ongoing gridlock in Washington to increasingly polarized media coverage, political institutions have faced a variety of challenges over the past few years. IPR faculty continue to examine key aspects of the ways in which social, political, and institutional dynamics shape and constrain national policymaking in the United States. Researchers analyze the role of government, policymakers, public opinion, and the media, among others.This broad multidisciplinary program traces how social, political, and institutional dynamics shape and constrain national policymaking in the United States and in comparison with other countries. Experts in political identity, public opinion, inequality, political parties, media, gender, and many other areas come together to debate and study political processes and institutions and their participants.
Recent Research
Find out more about faculty research that considers the policymaking process, public opinion formation, polarization, political engagement, media use, gender stereotypes, and other relevant topics.
Working Papers and Publications
- Levendusky, M., J. Druckman, and A. McLain. 2016. How group discussions create strong attitudes and strong partisans. Research & Politics 3(2).
- Cohen, M., M. McGrath, P. Aronow, and J. Zaller. 2016. Ideologically extreme candidates in U.S. presidential elections, 1948–2012. The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science 667(1): 126–42.
- Bauer, N., L. Harbridge Yong, and Y. Krupnikov. 2017. Who is punished? Conditions affecting voter evaluations of legislators who do not compromise. Political Behavior 39(2): 279–300.
Faculty Experts
Representing the fields of political science, economics, social policy, psychology, and sociology, faculty delve into the worlds of politics, institutions, and policymaking. Learn more about them through their bios, research, and publications.
