In response to threats of violence and violent attacks against elected officials, some may limit their contact with constituents, change the issues they prioritize, or retire from public service. Political scientist Alexandra Filindra will investigate the prevalence of political threats/violence against elected officials and the personal and professional effects that direct and indirect (i.e., through the experiences of colleagues and members of professional networks) exposure may have on elected officials’ behavior.
By 2050, Whites are expected to become a minority in the United States and racial minorities are expected to become the majority. Political scientist Andrew Thompson will examine how this coming demographic shift impacts how Americans of color and White Americans think about racial identity and democracy. He will conduct a survey for his study.
The extent and quality of African Americans’ representation in local, state, and federal government remains understudied. Political scientists Mia Costa and Tatishe Nteta will conduct a study to determine which policy issues have been racialized as Black. They will then analyze correspondence with state legislators to determine whether this racialization impacts legislators’ responsiveness to these issues.
For nearly 30 years, the Wake County Public County School System (WCPSS) in North Carolina operated an ambitious desegregation initiative, which included reassigning students to schools in order to achieve a target level of diversity in each of the county’s schools. However, in 2009, voters elected opponents of the efforts to the school board, who then ended the initiative the following year. Political scientist Deven Carlson and sociologist Thurston Domina will examine how school reassignments influenced voter participation over time.
Black women are disproportionately impacted by the criminal justice system. Political scientist Sally Nuamah will examine how experiences with the criminal justice system impacts political participation among Black women. She will develop and conduct a survey for her study.
Despite increased attention to racial disparities in the justice system, we know little about how racial diversity on juries impacts jury deliberations. Political scientists Tali Mendelberg and Christopher Karpowitz will examine the influence of both White and non-White individuals on deliberations. They will analyze recordings and transcripts from mock juries for their study.
Despite widespread evidence of police brutality and misconduct, most White Americans have favorable views of the police. Political scientists Eunji Kim and Tyler Reny will examine the role of popular TV police dramas in shaping perceptions of police and the criminal justice system. They will analyze Nielsen ratings data, surveys, campaign advertisement data, and conduct experiments for their study.
The coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) has disrupted most areas of social and economic life, with disproportionate effects on service workers and low-income families. The negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic may substantially reduce the financial, economic, social, mental, and physical wellbeing of disadvantaged workers and their families. Economists Sarah Miller, Alex Bartik, and Eva Vivalt, political scientist David Broockman, and social worker and political scientist Elizabeth Rhodes will examine the immediate effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on low-income individuals and families.