Spring Quarter 2013

From the Chair

With this newsletter, we reach out to our extensive alumni network and our many friends to tell just a part of the story about what makes our department exceptional. The vitality of what we do shines through each and every item that follows. This newsletter includes a cogent analysis of national politics, examples of our innovations in teaching, a retrospective about our State Legislative Intern Program, a description of a student research project, a tribute to some of our highly distinguished alumni, and a fond remembrance of some departed faculty colleagues.  
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A Catalyst for Careers in Politics and Public Policy

What do King County Executive Dow Constantine, gubernatorial candidate and KIRO Radio host John Carlson, and Washington’s newest Solicitor General Noah Purcell have in common? As UW Political Science undergraduates, they all participated in the Washington State Legislative Internship Program, a preeminent opportunity for ambitious undergraduates from the state’s institutions of higher learning to learn about lawmaking.
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Holding Global Brands Accountable

Political Science students and faculty have teamed up to document the role of universities in securing labor rights for apparel workers. The Brand Responsibility Project addresses the relationship between multinational corporations—including Nike Inc. and Russell Athletics—and workers in Central America, looking at cases in which subcontractors have violated the labor rights of their employees. In each case, workers, activists, and consumers succeeded in pressuring global brands to take responsibility for violations committed by their subcontractors.
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Why Cutting Government Spending is
So Hard

Architect of the Capitol

The budget deficit is once again a prominent item on the political agenda. The fiscal cliff deal signed on January 2 included tax increases for the highest earners. The “sequestration” process, which began on March 1, implemented cuts in discretionary spending that Congress and the President initially agreed to in 2011.  For now, at least, the sequestration is taking effect.  What is the likelihood of a follow-up deal with significant cuts in entitlement spending?  Not very.
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Pause, Rewind, and Forward: The New World of Online Education

It's 9:30 am. A student shifts her books aside, flips open her laptop, and gets ready for another stimulating lecture on political economy.  As the professor winds through the topic of rent-seeking, the student finds herself a bit confused.  No problem.  She simply hits the pause key and rewinds to listen for a second time.  As you might guess, this is not the traditional classroom.  Welcome, instead, to the world of online learning at the University of Washington.
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