New Books in Political Science

Tyler Jost, an assistant professor of political science at Brown University, dives into fascinating insights from his upcoming book, exploring why states often miscalculate in wars they are destined to lose. He explains how different bureaucratic structures influence leaders' access to critical information, leading to potential disasters. Jost uncovers surprising findings about the role of civilian bureaucracies and discusses the political compromises that drive leaders to neglect better institutional designs. His research offers valuable lessons for policymakers navigating complex international conflicts.

In this discussion, Xiaobo Lü, an Associate Professor at UC Berkeley and author of "Domination and Mobilization", dives into the dynamics of political parties in China. He contrasts the Chinese Communist Party's mass-centric mobilization strategies with the elite-focused approach of the Nationalist Party. Lü examines key historical shifts, the impact of the wartime period, and how leadership styles influenced party fortunes. His insights shed light on how these legacies continue to shape China's political landscape today.

Francis Fukuyama, a renowned political scientist and Senior Fellow at Stanford, delves into the critical importance of democratic delivery. He discusses how perceived failures in meeting citizen needs fuel populism. Fukuyama examines key delivery areas like infrastructure and job growth that sustain public support. He warns against authoritarian narratives that misinterpret success and stresses the need for institutional reforms to enhance effectiveness. The conversation highlights the risks of complacency in democracies and the necessity for realistic expectations concerning delivery.

Emma Ashford, a foreign policy scholar and author of First Among Equals, presents a fresh perspective on U.S. grand strategy in today's multipolar world. She critiques the failures of past U.S. approaches, advocating for a realist internationalism that prioritizes pragmatic interests. Ashford explores how shifting political dynamics influence foreign policy decisions and argues for a phased U.S. withdrawal from Europe to focus resources on the Indo-Pacific, while still emphasizing strong relations with key allies like Europe and Latin America.

Madison Schramm, an Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Toronto, delves into the intriguing dynamics of why democracies often engage militarily with personalist dictators. She argues that cognitive biases and social narratives lead democratic leaders to perceive these dictators as significant threats, driving them towards aggressive actions. Schramm also explores the historical evolution of anti-dictator identity and how media personalization of leaders influences perceptions of threat. This insightful discussion sheds light on the complexities of international relations.

Raymond J. McKoski, a retired Illinois circuit judge and adjunct professor, shares insights from his new book on David Davis, one of Abraham Lincoln's key allies. They discuss the crucial role Davis played in Lincoln's 1860 presidential nomination and his close personal relationship with the future president. McKoski highlights Davis's remarkable impartiality as a judge, his bipartisan reputation, and the strategic decisions that influenced important Civil War-era rulings. Their deep friendship and shared commitment to integrity shaped both their careers in extraordinary ways.

Luis L. Schenoni, an associate professor at University College London and expert on Latin American political history, dives into how wars shaped state formation in 19th-century Latin America. He discusses the coercion-extraction cycle, illustrating how taxation and conscription strengthened bureaucratic capacity. Schenoni critiques the anti-Bellicist tradition and presents a nuanced view of how individual battles influenced legitimacy and tax morale. He draws compelling comparisons between Argentina's rise and Paraguay's collapse, revealing the profound long-term impacts of warfare on state development.

Sasha Davis, a Professor of environmental studies and author, dives deep into activism with her book discussing how to effect social change when traditional methods fall short. She explores the limitations of current institutions and the power of grassroots movements. Notably, she shares strategies from Indigenous resistance against environmental degradation and military occupations. Davis emphasizes the importance of direct governance, offering practical steps for local organizing and fostering a sense of community empowerment. This insightful conversation is a rallying cry for activism.

Researching Street-level Bureaucracy: Bringing Out the Interpretive Dimensions (Routledge, 2024) is the first among a number of new titles in the Routledge Series on Interpretive Methods that we’ll be featuring on New Books in Interpretive Political and Social Science. In it, Mike Rowe discusses the continued relevance of the idea of street level bureaucracy, and the merits of adopting interpretive methodologies for studying frontline discretionary workers. He reflects on his own ethnographic and interview-based research among social welfare officers and police culture in the United Kingdom, and comparatively, in places where bureaucracy may be noteworthy more for its absence than its presence.  Like this episode? You might also be interested in Sarah Ball talking about Behavioural Public Policy in Australia Looking for something to read? Mike recommends In Praise of Floods by James C. Scott, and Then We Came to the End by Joshua Ferris.  This interview summary was not synthesised by a machine. Unlike the makers and owners of those machines, the author accepts responsibility for its contents. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/political-science

In Ordinary Rebels: Rank-And-File Militants Between War and Peace (Oxford University Press, 2025), Kolby Hanson argues that these periods of state toleration do not simply change armed groups' behavior, but fundamentally transform the organizations themselves by shaping who takes up arms and which leaders they follow. This book draws on a set of innovative experimental surveys and 75 in-depth interviews tracing four armed movements over time in Northeast India and Sri Lanka. A powerful new theory of how conditions shape the trajectory of non-state armed groups, this book reshapes our understanding of why such organizations become more moderate over time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/political-science