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American Politics Speaker Series

A seminar series bringing together scholars researching today’s most important questions around democracy and politics in the U.S.

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The United States is at a crossroads.

In today’s drastically polarized society, how can Americans continue to connect with each other in productive and meaningful ways? What are the causes and consequences of our nation’s historic levels of partisan polarization? Just how far can democratic backsliding go before we reach a point of no return?

The American Politics Speaker Series (APSS) brings together scholars who are researching and addressing these and other important questions. Hosted jointly with the Center for American Political Studies and chaired by Professors Benjamin Schneer and Justin de Benedictis-Kessner, each session highlights a scholar whose research is at the forefront of the study of American politics.

APSS hosts events in both the fall and spring academic semesters. Any upcoming seminars will be listed below.

All seminars are hosted from 12-1:30 PM. Locations to be announced.

  • January 31, 2025 – Nolan McCarty, Princeton University
  • March 28, 2025 – Dan Hopkins, University of Pennsylvania
  • April 11, 2025 – Melody Crowder-Meyer, Davidson College
  • April 18, 2025 – John Lapinski, University of Pennsylvania
  • May 2, 2025 – Yamil Velez, Columbia University

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Does Ranked Choice Voting Create Barriers for Minority Voters?
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Does Ranked Choice Voting Create Barriers for Minority Voters?

Ranked choice voting (RCV) aims to expand voter choice and improve representation, but Nolan McCarty’s research warns it could have unintended negative effects on minority communities’ representation and influence.