political science

Q&A with “Youth without Representation” Authors Daniel Stockemer and Aksel Sundström

by Briana Johnson December 13, 2022

This guest author post is a Q&A with Daniel Stockemer and Aksel Sundström, authors of Youth without Representation: The Absence of Youth Adults in Parliaments, Cabinets, and Candidacies, from the University of Michigan Press. This book is available in hardcover, paper, and open access. What surprised you the most while researching?  The first big surprise to us is the dearth of academic works on youth representation. Youth are probably the most underrepresented group in parliaments, and other political bodies worldwide, but very few scholars have investigated this problem. As such, our book is the first comprehensive study ever published on […]

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Excerpt from Book of the Disappeared

by Danielle Coty-Fattal December 8, 2022
Cover of Book of the Disappeared

This excerpt by Ashraf Zahedi will be published in the chapter “Politics of Silence and Denial: 1988 Enforced Disappearances and Executions in Iran” in Book of the Disappeared: The Quest for Transnational Justice from the University of Michigan Press. Book of the Disappeared will be published in May of 2023 in hardcover, paperback, and open access. Evin prison, located in Tehran, Iran, has been the primary site for holding Iranian political prisoners. Opened in 1972, it is estimated to hold 15,000 men and women. Evin is notorious for physical and psychological tortures, including sexual abuse and rape, savage interrogations, forced […]

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Elections in Modern Dictatorships: Why Do Some Autocrats Tie Their Hands by Credible Elections?

by Briana Johnson July 19, 2022

Today, most autocracies hold elections. Surprisingly, opposition parties are allowed to participate in such elections despite the presence of electoral manipulation. This seems to contradict our stereotype of authoritarian regimes, where autocrats are seen as essentially repressive and do not allow any dissent against them. Intriguingly, some of those modern autocrats even embark on political reforms that attempt to reduce blatant forms of electoral manipulation, as well as willingly accept the participation of opposition parties. How do authoritarian leaders design elections? What consequences do autocratic elections have on autocratic stability? My new book, The Dictator’s Dilemma at the Ballot Box […]

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A Reading List for Understanding the U.S. Supreme Court

by Kristen Twardowski May 6, 2022

  This week the University of Michigan Press presents a reading list of titles that focus on the proceedings of the United States Supreme Court. Through the exploration of specific rulings, amendments, and procedures, these books help to demystify some of the more opaque aspects of the judicial process, particularly as they relate to topics such as marriage equality, transgender rights, confirmation hearings, and more.  This list includes only a selection of our books on these topics, and we encourage you to explore more of our titles on law and political science and to follow us on Twitter (@UofMPress) for […]

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Q&A with “Delegating Responsibility” Author Nicholas Micinski

by Briana Johnson January 14, 2022

This guest blog features a conversation with Nicholas Micinski, Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Maine and author of Delegating Responsibility: International Cooperation on Migration in the European Union from the University of Michigan Press.  This volume is available for purchase in hardcover, paper, and open access. Click the link above to start reading today!  You conducted 86 interviews for your book! Who did you interview, and how did those conversations lead to your book’s argument? Thank you for the opportunity to discuss my book and research process. I conducted fieldwork in 2016-17 with follow-up interviews since. I spoke with […]

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