Department of Political Science

2016 News

In Memoriam - Donald R. Songer

Political science and the law and courts community lost a prominent scholar, caring mentor, and esteemed friend. Donald R. Songer (Don) passed away on November 29, 2015 after a year-long battle with cancer. He was 70 years old. A memorial service celebrating his life was held on December 3, 2015 at Ashland United Methodist Church in Columbia, SC. Don is survived by his wife of 41 years, Valerie Marlow Songer; children Michael Johnson Songer (Erica) of Washington, DC and Julie Songer Belman (Travis) of Winnsboro, SC. He is also survived by his grandson, James Glenn Belman; brother, Richard Noble Songer (Carol); and numerous nieces and nephews.

Matt Wagner has been awarded a Fulbright fellowship

Matt Wagner has been awarded a Fulbright fellowship to conduct research in Malaysia and Thailand during the 2016-17 academic year, where he will be affiliated with the Department of Southeast Asian Studies at the University of Malaya.

Michael Link University of South Carolina alumni named President and CEO of Abt SRBI

Michael Link University of South Carolina alumni named President and CEO of Abt SRBI Abt Associates has named Michael W. Link, a widely respected data scientist and leader in survey research, as President and CEO of Abt SRBI, a leader in survey, opinion, and public policy research. Link is the past-president of the American Association for Public Opinion Research. Contunue reading

Chris Witko discusses his research on the growth of Wall Street in Washington Post's The Monkey Cage

Department major named USC Outstanding Woman of the Year

Caroline Westberg, a graduating senior majoring in International Studies, was named the University of South Carolina's Outstanding Woman of the Year.

ISA Interview with Harvey Starr

ISA Interview with Harvey Starr The International Studies Association has posted a set of interviews in The Presidents Series

Political science undergrad presents research at 2016 meeting of the Southern Political Science Association

Political science junior Kimberly Pilatovsky joined graduate students and faculty of the Department of Political Science and scholars from around the country at the 2016 meeting of the Southern Political Science Association in San Juan, Puerto Rico on January 7-9. Her paper, "De Jure Provisions for Judicial Independence in US States: 1776 to 2015" examined how constitutional protections affecting courts have changed in US state constitutions over time. The paper drew on data she collected under guidance of USC Political Science faculty, and was supported by the Provost's Office, Honors College, and Magellan Scholar program.

New Stanford University Press book by Harvey Starr

Zaryab Iqbal (Penn State University) and Harvey Starr, Dag Hammarskjold Professor in International Affairs Emeritus and recent president of the International Studies Association, have published State Failure in the Modern World (Stanford University Press, 2016). More details on the book may be obtained from the publisher's website: http://www.sup.org/books/title/?id=21418.

The University of South Carolina's Department of Political Science Philo S. Bennett Medal Essay Competition on "The Principles of a Free Government"

Deadline: Friday, February 26, 2016, 5:00 PM

Sara Najjar-Wilson Scholarship Award

One award in the amount of $800 for the 2016-2016 academic year will be made to a student majoring in International Studies.

Challenge the conventional. Create the exceptional. No Limits.