W. W. NORTON & COMPANY

The Norton
Political Science
Speakers Series

Engage with top political scientists, researchers, and teachers—including Norton's award-winning authors—for thought provoking talks and student lectures throughout the academic year.

Featured Events

ATTEND LIVE
Teaching Elections through a Data-Driven Lens with Caroline Tolbert

Hosted by Caroline Tolbert

Wednesday, November 20th at 3pm ET

Professor Caroline Tolbert (University of Iowa) will lead a discussion on teaching students about the 2024 presidential election using data and empirical analysis. The session will discuss public opinion polling, polling predictions (538), and money spent in the 2024 election (i.e. open secrets, including SuperPACs and dark money). We will explore exit poll data and the demographics and issues behind the candidates. Attention will be placed on the presidential battleground states and ad buys, as well as the 80 percent of Americans who don’t live in one of the seven battleground states. Along the way, we will discuss reform of presidential elections, including the direct election of the president. Beyond the presidency, we will explore data on competitive congressional elections (Cook Political Report), statewide ballot measures, and unusual results. Unique challenges this election season include extensive misinformation (including deepfakes), election denialism, billionaires backing candidates with million-dollar-a-day giveaways, legal challenges, natural disasters, and other factors. Significant variation in state voting laws matters for turnout, including mail voting, early voting, and automatic voter registration. Because of the extensive use of mail voting ballots and possible election audits, the election results may be delayed. Finally, we will evaluate the key policy issues in the election. This teaching session is presented from a nonpartisan perspective. The event will be recorded, so those who cannot attend live can register to receive a recording after the session.

WATCH ON DEMAND
Norton Resources for Comparative Politics

Hosted by Julie Sindel, Spencer Richardson-Jones, and Ashley Sherwood

The date of this workshop has passed.

Join our political science team for a workshop to learn about how Norton's resources for instructors and students can improve your comparative politics course. During the workshop, our Norton editorial and marketing team will cover: how the new assignable Norton Illumine Ebook helps ensure your students understand what they're reading and come prepared to class, how InQuizitive helps students understand and apply the concepts of comparative politics, how to build case study quizzes and exams in Norton Testmaker, and how all of our resources can be accessed through your campus learning management system, including Blackboard, Moodle, Desire2Learn and Canvas.

WATCH ON DEMAND
Teaching Populism in Comparative Politics

Hosted by Patrick O'Neil

The date of this workshop has passed.

What is populism and how do we teach it? While the concept is now everywhere in political science and news, it remains fuzzy in its definition and effects. Are all populisms the same? Is populism an ideology or something else? Can populism support democracy or is it inherently undemocratic? We'll talk about some of the ways to ask interesting questions about populism and give students different ways to think about this amorphous topic.

WATCH ON DEMAND
Foolproof: Why Misinformation Infects Our Minds and How to Build Immunity

Hosted by Sander van der Linden

The date of this workshop has passed.

In this lecture for students and instructors, hear from Cambridge University Professor Sander van der Linden as he explains why our brains are so vulnerable to misinformation and how we can protect ourselves.

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Archived Events

"The Landscape of Civic Opportunity and Collective Action in America wuth Hahrie Han"

Join Professor Hahrie Han, co-author of American Government: Power and Purpose, for a live lecture and Q&A on Election Day! During this lecture, Professor Han will discuss how a healthy democracy depends on the ability of people from all backgrounds to participate in collective life. Yet, as Alexis de Tocqueville famously argued, such participation depends on a network of formal and informal civic associations that act as ‘schools of democracy’ that equip people for participation in a pluralistic democracy. What do those schools of democracy look like in the 21st century? This project harnesses big data and the tools of computational social science to develop a map of civic opportunity in America and reflect on the implications of these patterns for contemporary politics, including the operation of campaigns and elections.

"California 2022 Midterm Election Analysis with Dr. Melissa Michelson"

California went to the polls on Tuesday, November 8. While only three of 52 U.S. House races in the state were competitive and Democratic party control of the legislature was never in doubt, the election nevertheless brought plenty of drama and high rates of campaign spending. Hundreds of millions of dollars were spent hoping to nudge votes on ballot measures. Voters were going to the polls in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Dobbs, scandals in Los Angeles, and ongoing state debates over homelessness and affordable housing, gas prices, and crime, among other issues. What message did California voters send?

Join Dr. Melissa Michelson, coauthor of Governing California in the 21st Century, as she talks about the results of the midterm elections in California, including statewide races, local races, and state propositions.

"Civil Rights and the Modern American State: The Role of Citizen Participation to Democracy" Hosted by Megan Ming Francis

In this live virtual lecture with renowned teacher and author Megan Ming Francis, Professor Francis will discuss the long history of civil rights organizing and strategizing and how it has shaped the development of founding ideals such as equality and justice.The lecture will also discuss the importance of citizen participation via social movements in improving the strength of democracy today.

“The Politics of International Trade” Hosted by Stephanie Rickard, March 2022

Why is trade politically contentious? How do growing trade tensions affect countries' engagement with the global economy?

Join Stephanie Rickard, Professor of Political Science at London School of Economics and contributor to World Politics, Fifth Edition, for this engaging Speakers Series where she will explore these questions and more using the Interests, Interaction and Institutions analytical framework.

“The Environment: A New International Relations Issue?” Hosted by Karen Mingst, October 21, 2021

In this talk and Q&A, Karen Mingst, co-author of Essentials of International Relations, discusses how the environment became an international relations issue, and how IR theories can help us analyze these important issues.

"The Future of the Republican Party" Hosted by Seth Masket, February 18, 2021

Seth Masket (University of Denver), co-author of Political Parties, examines the lessons Republicans are learning from the 2020 elections and the future of the GOP as the party struggles with a populist movement that is increasingly powerful and uncommitted to democratic traditions.

"The Imperial Presidency and the Future of American Democracy" Hosted by Benjamin Ginsberg, January 21, 2021

In this lecture, Benjamin Ginsberg (Johns Hopkins University), co-author of We the People, American Government: Power and Purpose, and American Government: A Brief Introduction, discusses the problem of the imperial presidency and whether the change of administrations will make a difference to the future of American democracy.

"Political Parties and the 2020 Election" Hosted by Hans Noel, November 2, 2020

Hans Noel (Georgetown University), co-author of Political Parties, hosts an “Ask Me Anything” the day before the 2020 presidential election.

"Are We in an Authoritarian Moment?" Hosted by Patrick O’Neil and Karl Fields, October 7, 2020

In this lecture, Patrick O’Neil (University of Puget Sound) and Karl Fields (University of Puget Sound) discuss their own teaching and research on authoritarianism and political transition in Europe and Asia. They consider the sources of rising illiberalism and authoritarianism and discuss how they try to understand comparative politics at this critical juncture of political institutions under stress. Related to Essentials of Comparative Politics and Cases and Concepts in Comparative Politics.

"Accessible Elections: How the States Can Help Americans Vote in 2020" Hosted by Caroline Tolbert, October 1, 2020

Caroline Tolbert (University of Iowa, co-author of the best-selling American government textbook We the People) discusses research from her new book, Accessible Elections. She addresses how state governments can modernize their electoral procedures to increase voter turnout, address inequalities, and influence campaign and party mobilization strategies.

"COVID, Racial Justice, and Student Activism: How Federalism Matters" Hosted by Andrea Campbell, September 23, 2020

In this lecture and Q&A, renowned teacher and author Andrea Campbell (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), discusses the relevance of federalism to the coronavirus pandemic and the racial justice protests around the country, as well as how to know what level of government is in charge and where to direct your voice to be an effective participator in democracy. Related to We the People.

"Fighting Over the Right to Vote" Hosted by Bill Bianco, September 17, 2020

In this lecture, Bill Bianco (Indiana University, Bloomington) discusses how voting is fundamental to democracy, and the ongoing, heated debate in America over issues such as registration laws, ID requirements, early voting, the number and hours of polling sites, and absentee voting. Related to American Politics Today.

"Norton American Government Resources Workshop" Hosted by Norton Specialists

Are you interested in learning more about the digital assignment tools for Norton's American government textbooks? Join us for a brief workshop to learn about our digital learning tools and how they can easily integrate into your campus LMS. During the workshop, we will cover: the assignable new Norton Illumine Ebook, how to assign the InQuizitive adaptive learning tool to provide low-stakes assessment and keep your students accountable for the reading week by week, Skills Exercises and Concept Check question assignments for American Politics: A Field Guide a brief overview of our summative assessment in Norton Testmaker, and how these and other resources can be accessed through any campus LMS.

"A New Approach for Teaching Introduction to American Politics" Hosted by Jennifer Lawless and Richard Fox

Are you looking for a way to make your American politics course more engaging and relatable? Do you struggle to get your students to actually read their course material? Join authors Jennifer Lawless (University of Virginia) and Richard Fox (Loyola Marymount University) for an engaging workshop where they will share the story behind their dynamic new textbook, American Politics: A Field Guide, which engages students through short segments centered on big questions, and helps them build the skills they need to be effective, engaged citizens. The authors will also share how you can integrate these teaching and learning strategies into your own American politics course.

"Norton American Government Resources Workshop" Hosted by Norton Specialists

Are you interested in learning more about the digital assignment tools for Norton's American government textbooks? Join us for a brief workshop to learn about our digital learning tools and how they can easily integrate into your campus LMS.

During the workshop, we will cover: the assignable new Norton Illumine Ebook, how to assign the InQuizitive adaptive learning tool to provide low-stakes assessment and keep your students accountable for the reading week by week,Skills Exercises and Concept Check question assignments for American Politics: A Field Guide a brief overview of our summative assessment in Norton Testmaker,and how these and other resources can be accessed through any campus LMS.

"Active Learning in Comparative Politics Workshop" Hosted by Patrick O'Neil and Karl Fields, April 12, 2021

Authors Patrick O’Neil (University of Puget Sound) and Karl Fields (University of Puget Sound) will share how they incorporate active learning into their student activities and course assignments to make a more engaging course. Related to Essentials of Comparative Politics and Cases in Comparative Politics.

"Norton Comparative Politics Resources Workshop" Hosted by the Norton Political Science Team, April 22, 2021

Learn how to assign Norton's digital resources for comparative politics (InQuizitive, case quizzes, and Norton Testmaker). Related to Essentials of Comparative Politics and Cases in Comparative Politics.

"Norton American Government Resources Workshop" Hosted by the Norton Political Science Team, April 8, 2021

Learn how to assign Norton's digital resources for American government (InQuizitive, Weekly News Quizzes, and Evaluating Sources module). Related to We the People, American Politics Today, American Government: Power and Purpose, and American Government: A Brief Introduction.

"Cutting Through the Noise: A Workshop on Teaching Media Literacy" Hosted by David Canon, March 12, 2021

In this workshop, David Canon (University of Wisconsin–Madison), co-author of American Politics Today, discusses how to teach your American government students to cut through the noise and focus on the facts in this age of fake news and misinformation.

"Teaching Political Science in 2021" Hosted by Dustin Tingley and Eric Loepp, November 18, 2020

In this workshop, Professors Eric Loepp (University of Wisconsin-Whitewater) and Dustin Tingley (Harvard University) will share best practices for effective student engagement and strategies for using efficacy-based assessment tools in your course, including InQuizitive, Norton’s award-winning adaptive quizzing tool for students.

"Thinking Critically About the 2020 Elections" Hosted by Steve Ansolabehere, September 24, 2020

Join Steve Ansolabehere, co-author of American Government: Power and Purpose, and American Government: A Brief Introduction where he will share how crises—including wars, natural disasters, and pandemics—have affected voting practices and elections in the past, and how we might use that historical lens to consider the impact of the current coronavirus pandemic on our upcoming election.

"Teaching World Politics in the Age of COVID-19" Hosted by Ken Schultz, David Lake, and Dustin Tingley, April 2, 2020

In this online workshop, World Politics authors Ken Schultz (Stanford University) and David Lake (UC San Diego) will discuss how COVID-19 has affected world politics, giving you talking points to discuss in your online class. Dustin Tingley, Professor of Government (Harvard University), will discuss best practices for teaching your course online.

"Online Assessment in the Political Science Classroom" Hosted by Danny Fuerstman, March 20, 2020

In this online workshop, Danny Fuerstman (State College of Florida Manatee–Sarasota) discusses how using online assessment can help ensure that your students are getting the coaching and support they need as they work through the course material. He also shows how the gradebook can give you the tools to make sure your students are on track. Last, he walks through Norton's online learning tool, InQuizitive, and answers questions about switching to an online model of instruction.

New from Norton Political Science

Learn more about these titles for American government as well as upper-level courses, and view our discipline landing page.

Essentials of Comparative Politics

Eighth Edition

Cases and Concepts in Comparative Politics

Third Edition

Cases in Comparative Politics

Eighth Edition

We the People

Fourteenth Edition

American Politics: A Field Guide

First Edition

American Politics Today

Eighth Edition

American Government: A Brief Introduction

Seventeenth Edition

American Government: Power and Purpose

Seventeenth Edition

Readings in American Politics

Sixth Edition

The Enduring Debate

Ninth Edition

Governing Texas

Sixth Edition

Governing California in the Twenty-First Century

Ninth Edition

Media Politics

Fifth Edition

Contact Your Norton Representative

Copyright © W. W. Norton & Company, Inc. 2024
Image Credits: (Line and Dots) iStockPhoto.com/Ani_Ka; (Ming Francis Photo) Jonathan Pilkington, (Han Photo) Will Kirk/Johns Hopkins University, (Ginsberg Photo) Will Kirk/Johns Hopkins University; (Tolbert Photo) Courtesy of The University of Iowa, Office of Strategic Communication, Photographer: Tom Jorgensen; (Masket Photo) University of Denver/Wayne Armstrong; (Noel Photo) U.S. Embassy Vienna; (Canon Photo) Ricardo Galliano Court; (Campbell Photo) Ashley Sherwood; (Bianco Photo) Paul B.; (Ansolabehere Photo) Bob Weber