News

News

Dan Butler, aka PoliSci Brick Guy, Quoted in the Wall Street Journal

3.26.26 | Wall Street Journal

The article, titled "How Lego Became a Go-To Meme of the Propaganda Wars," discusses recent AI propaganda videos utilizing Lego characters addressing the war between Iran and the US.

Ophelia Vedder Publishes New Article in Ethics

3.25.26

The article looks at Vedder's research regarding compulsory sex-marking and the impact of abolishing the practice on freedom and autonomy for all people.

Lucia Motolinia Interviewed on the New Books Network Podcast About New Book

3.24.26

Motolinia discusses her new book, Unity through Particularism: How Electoral Reforms Influence Parties and Legislative Behavior, and helps answer the questions "Why do supposedly accountability-enhancing electoral reforms often fail in young democracies? How can legislators serve their constituents when parties control the necessary resources?" with host Dr. Miranda Melcher from Kings College London.

Professor Carly Wayne discusses how local politicians are reacting to Donald Trump's attack on Iran with STLPR

3.11.26

University introduces +AI academic initiative

3.5.26 | The Source

The initiative strikes a vital balance between AI and commitments to student formation, knowledge development and discovery across the university’s research and education enterprises, and features work by teams lead by Political Science chair Betsy Sinclair.

Dan Butler Publishes New Article in Political Research Quarterly with WashU PhD Benjamin Noble

2.25.26

Assistant Professor Lucia Motolinia Publishes Article for London School of Economics

2.9.26 | London School of Economics Blog

Most voters are generally aware that most politicians are wealthier than they are. But do they know just how big this gap is? In new research covering the United States, Brazil, Chile, and India, Marko Klašnja and Lucia Motolinia find that the richest politicians are far wealthier than voters imagine. And while they determine that voters want politicians to be less wealthy, telling them the truth about politicians’ wealth makes little difference to their attitudes towards their elected representatives.

WashU Expert: Assessing geopolitical, economic risks ahead

1.20.26 | The Source

At least in the short term the U.S. invasion of Venezuela and capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife curiously has had little effect on the stock market. Timm Betz, an associate professor of political science, said the markets have largely shrugged off the geopolitical shock, in part, because Venezuela has little impact on the global economy.

WashU Expert: International alliances, global stability on shaky ground

1.12.26 | The Source

Professor David Carter was interviewed by WashU's The Source regarding the reaction of America's allies and neighbors to the Trump Administration's recent actions surrounding Venezuela, Greenland, and Iran.

WashU Expert: How polarization limits power of public opposition

1.8.26 | The Source

Historically, public opinion has constrained presidents’ use of unilateral power. But political scientist Dino P. Christenson, at Washington University in St. Louis, explains why public opposition to President Trump’s actions in Venezuela is unlikely to sway him.

Professor Dan Butler Publishes New Article in Legislative Studies Quarterly

1.6.26

The article presents research centered on insights about legislative leadership that can help better understand the conditions under which politicians may vote against their constituents' preferences.

The Department of Political Science builds a cohort of international relations scholars

1.6.26 | Ampersand

The department has spent years decoding global dynamics, assembling a team who pair deep subject-matter expertise with rigorous, data-driven methods to address the pressing issues of our time.