Monthly Archives: April 2017

The Green Wall against Trump

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Donald Trump may repeal Obama’s Clean Power Plan, writes Joan Fitzgerald, but states and cities can, and will, still do a lot to advance clean power.

On March 28, President Trump signed an executive order to repeal President Obama’s Clean Power Plan, which mandated emission reductions from power companies (an estimated 650 million tons by 2025 alone). But since 29 […]

April 7th, 2017|Environment, Joan Fitzgerald|0 Comments|
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    How advertising campaigns can help to mitigate the negative effects of voter ID laws on turnout.

How advertising campaigns can help to mitigate the negative effects of voter ID laws on turnout.

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A majority of American states have instituted some form of voter ID law, laws which have been found to reduce turnout for poor and minority populations. In new research Michael S. Lynch and Chelsie L.M. Bright examine the introduction of Kansas’ recent voter ID law. They find that in one county, the distribution of materials reassuring voters about provisional […]

April 7th, 2017|Chelsie L.M. Bright, Elections and party politics across the US, Michael S. Lynch|0 Comments|
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    How increasing wealth concentration and inequality leads to less generous state welfare policies.

How increasing wealth concentration and inequality leads to less generous state welfare policies.

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The growth of income and wealth inequality has led to greater political influence for the 1 percent. But what are the social policy outcomes of this increasing inequality? In new research, Thomas Hayes and Lyle Scruggs examine support for social safety nets among different income groups as well as the link between state welfare generosity and income inequality. They […]

April 6th, 2017|Democracy and culture, Lyle Scruggs, Thomas Hayes|0 Comments|
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    Why pursuing more rehabilitative policies may actually lead to harsher punishments for prisoners.

Why pursuing more rehabilitative policies may actually lead to harsher punishments for prisoners.

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In recent decades prison policy has a reoriented towards measures which try to rehabilitate, rather than punish offenders. While this discourse may appear to be beneficial to inmates, Anthony Grasso warns that it may actually make incarceration even more punitive for some inmates. Rehabilitative policies, he writes, often lead to harsh punishments for those who commit new crimes despite […]

April 6th, 2017|Anthony Grasso, Justice and Domestic Affairs|2 Comments|
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    How expanding Medicaid can help prisoners in the Southern states.

How expanding Medicaid can help prisoners in the Southern states.

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While the Obama presidency saw the introduction of Obamacare and the expansion of Medicaid in many US states, President Trump’s administration may well roll back these reforms. Nickolas Zaller argues that while they can, Southern states should expand Medicaid, one effect of which would be to improve health outcomes for those involved with the criminal justice system. He suggests […]

April 6th, 2017|Healthcare and public services, Nickolas Zaller|0 Comments|
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    Why Senate Democrats should vote for cloture on Gorsuch’s nomination

Why Senate Democrats should vote for cloture on Gorsuch’s nomination

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This week President Trump’s nominee for the US Supreme Court, Judge Neil Gorsuch, is likely to be confirmed by the Senate – but with few Democratic votes. John D. Rackey and P.C. Peay write that despite their stated intention not to vote for cloture on debate over Gorsuch’s nomination – which will likely lead Senate Republicans to invoke the […]

April 4th, 2017|Elections and party politics across the US, John D. Rackey, P.C Peay|0 Comments|
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    How negative ads from diverse right-wing media makes conservative voters dislike Democratic candidates even more

How negative ads from diverse right-wing media makes conservative voters dislike Democratic candidates even more

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Recent years have seen growing hostility between those who support different political parties in America. But what is the media’s role in creating this increasing dislike? In new research, Richard Lau, David Andersen, Tessa Ditonto, Mona Kleinberg and David Redlawsk investigate this “affective polarization” by exposing participants to different news sources and positive and negative political advertising. They find […]

April 4th, 2017|David Andersen, David Redlawsk, Elections and party politics across the US, Mona Kleinberg, Richard Lau, Tessa Ditonto|0 Comments|
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    Individuals’ “reverence” for constitutions acts as a barrier to constitutional change.

Individuals’ “reverence” for constitutions acts as a barrier to constitutional change.

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Of the 27 Amendments to the US Constitution, less than a handful has been enacted in the past 50 years. So why is constitutional change so difficult in the US? Jim Zink argues that, in addition to difficult amendment procedures, the people’s “reverence” for the constitution makes them reluctant to consider changes to it. Using two studies, he finds that […]

April 3rd, 2017|Democracy and culture, Jim Zink|1 Comment|
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    Book Review: The Despot’s Accomplice: How The West is Aiding and Abetting the Decline of Democracy by Brian Klaas

Book Review: The Despot’s Accomplice: How The West is Aiding and Abetting the Decline of Democracy by Brian Klaas

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In The Despot’s Accomplice: How the West is Aiding and Abetting the Decline of Democracy, Brian Klaas provides a frontline account of the contemporary history of democracy, the current state of democracy promotion and the fundamental flaws in the West’s approach. This dynamic book offers convincing insight into the impact of current policy and proposals for future strategies that should be […]

April 2nd, 2017|Book Reviews, Democracy and culture, Robert Ledger|0 Comments|
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