UC Berkeley | Institute of Governmental Studies

IGS News and Events

Name	Description

Congratulations to IGS's new PhD's!	IGS is pleased to recognize our graduate students who will receive their PhDs in Political Science on May 14. All five have landed prestigious position in academia. Devin Caughey, Assistant Professor of Political Science, MIT Katie Galloway, Lecturer, Graduate School of Journalism, UC Berkeley Alex Theodoridis, Assistant Professor of Political Science, UC Merced Abby Wood, Assistant Professor of Law, USC School of Law John Hanley, Distinguished Post-Doctoral Fellowship, Maxwell School, Syracuse University Congratulations, all!
Gardner Fellow Zarko Perovic ('12) is a University Medal Finalist	New Gardner Fellow Zarko Perovic ('12) is featured in the recent edition of the Berkeleyan along with the other finalists for the University Medal. Read more about Zarko in the Berkeleyan and learn about the Gardner Fellowship on the program page. Congratulations Zarko!
How Canada and Mexico Influence American Policy-making	Round two of the Berkeley-British Columbia Symposium co-sponsored by IGS took place last month in Vancouver. More than 30 international scholars and experts gathered at the University of British Columbia to analyze the impact of trade, border security, energy development and immigration on North American policy priorities. Read more about it here.
Special Session of the Research Workshop on American Politics	Please join us Friday, May 18 at noon in the IGS library (109 Moses Hall), for a special session of the Research Workshop on American Politics with authors Thomas Mann and Norm Ornstein. As always lunch will be served. Mann, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, and Ornstein, a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institution, have observed Washington politics for more than 40 years — and they're acclaimed for their carefully nonpartisan positions. Now, they say, Congress is more dysfunctional than it has been since the Civil War, and they know who to blame. "One of the two major parties, the Republican Party, has become an insurgent outlier — ideologically extreme; contemptuous of the inherited social and economic policy regime; scornful of compromise; unpersuaded by conventional understanding of facts, evidence and science; and dismissive of the legitimacy of its political opposition," they write in their new book, It’s Even Worse Than It Looks, How the American Constitutional System Collided with the New Politics of Extremism. Books will be on sale at the event. To read more about their findings in advance please see their Washington Post editorial introducing the book, or check out the excerpt available from NPR.
Lt. Gen. Ellen M. Pawlikowski on Adapting America's Space Systems	Lt. General Ellen M. Pawlikowski is the featured speaker at this month's Harold Smith Seminar. She will address the shrinking Department of Defense budget, emerging technologies, the cyber threat, and the commercialization of space and how these new realities affect space system acquisition and design. Lt. Gen. Pawlikowski is the Commander, Space and Missile Systems Center, Air Force Space Command, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif. Wednesday, April 25, 2012 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. IGS Library, 109 Moses Hall, UC Berkeley
Salon Gala Dinner -- Pictures and Video Now Online	An excellent time was had by all at IGS's 2012 Salon Dinner, held April 12 in San Francisco. Pictures of the event are now online, as well as a video of the evening's keynote featuring Sen. Dick Durbin and pollster Peter Hart.
2012 IGS Salon will feature US Senator Dick Durbin	On April 12, 2012, the IGS Salon Gala event will be held in San Francisco, featuring US Senator Dick Durbin (D- Ill.), Assistant Majority Leader of the US Senate, in conversation with Peter Hart, lead pollster for the NBC/WSJ poll. At the Salon, the Institute will be giving out two prestigious awards. Mervin Field, founder of the Field Poll, will receive the Darius & Sarah Anderson Distinguished Service Award, and Kevin Johnson ('87), the current mayor of Sacramento, will receive the Bill & Patrice Brandt Alumni Leadership Award. For more details see the Salon event page. The press release about the event is also available.
California's Taxes: What's the Problem? What's the Solution? Webcast Now Available!	A panel of experts convened at IGS earlier this month to discuss the condition of the state's fiscal policies and competing proposals to generate more California tax revenue. Check out a webcast of panel discussion. More details on the event page.
Annual Review of the Presidency -- Webcast Now Available!	The 31st Annual Review of the Presidency on April 2, 2012 was a great success. Check out a webcast of the event here. For more information, visit the event homepage.
Special Issue of the California Journal of Politics and Policy -- Electoral Reform	The Institute of Governmental Studies is pleased to announce a new Special Issue of the California Journal of Politics and Policy: Electoral Reform in California.
Three New Members Join IGS National Advisory Council	IGS is pleased to announce the appointment of the following three new members to the Institute's National Advisory Council. Stephen Burns, Manager of California Government Affairs for Chevron Corporation Kelly Calkin, Political Director for the Personal Insurance Federation of California (PIFC) Dave Howard, Political Affairs Director for the California Association of Realtors (CAR) The Council is responsible for providing guidance and direction to advance the Institute's development and outreach efforts. Membership is composed of distinguished individuals representing the corporate, philanthropy, non-profit, professional, and academic sectors that are affiliated with the IGS mission.
IGS Grad Student Alex Theodoridis Published in Political Psychology	IGS grad student (and former Synar Fellow) Alex Theodoridis has been published in the journal Political Psychology. His article, "Of BOLD Claims and Excessive Fears: A Call for Caution and Patience Regarding Political Neuroscience," appears in volume 33, issue 1.
John Gardner Fellowship Receives Carnegie Grant	The Institute of Governmental Studies is pleased to announce that the Carnegie Corporation of New York has awarded a grant in the amount of $50,000 to the John Gardner Public Service Fellowship Program at UC Berkeley. John Gardner was president of Carnegie Corporation from 1955 to 1965. It is a great investment in the future of public service.
IGS Event Provides Background on Supreme Court Health Care Case	This week, the Supreme Court will hear arguments on the Obama Administration's health care reform law. Interested in learning more about these issues? Check out the video of IGS's event last fall -- "Is the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Constitutional?" -- featuring Laurence Tribe and Dr. Roger Pilon.
Newly Renovated Matsui Center Dedicated	After a significant renovation, the Matsui Center was formally dedicated in a ceremony on March 13 attended by Rep. Doris Matsui and other California dignitaries. A major donation from the Robert T. Matsui Foundation for Public Service allowed the Matsui Center to double its physical size and create new office and collaboration areas, including a group study room for up to 24 undergraduates that features a large-scren TV, whiteboard and Wi-Fi. More details are in this Berkeley NewsCenter article. See pictures of the event here.
Conference Examines "North American Futures"	Has the concept of a wider North American home for Canada, the US, and Mexico faded? Some declare that the spirit that gave birth to NAFTA is now “dead.” Or, is it an essential platform upon which Canada, the United States and Mexico, can confront the challenges of the 21st Century? IGS and the University of British Columbia are co-sponsoring a bi-national conference March 16-17 to examine these issues. For speakers, panels, and conference details please see the event page.
Election Year: The Obama Presidency and the 2012 Campaign	The 31st Annual Review of the Presidency Monday April 2, 7:30 p.m. -- 105 Stanley Hall Free and open to the public As President Obama seeks a second term, we examine his presidency and the 2012 election. Is the president to blame for the stagnant economy that has bedeviled his administration? Would any president have been able to engineer a speedier economic recovery? How has the president managed the foreign policy challenges of his time? Has he met the need for symbolic leadership from the president? And what of the Republicans who seek to replace him? Four years after a dramatic election that made American history, what should we expect from the election of 2012? For more information, visit the event homepage.
Columbia's Professor Don Green on Voter turnout	Columbia University political scientist Donald Green spoke at IGS's Colloquium on Political Psychology last week about his recent work, which sheds light on what can motivate people to get out to the polls. More details about his talk on trends in voter turnout are in the latest version of the IGS Zipline.
Professor Bloemraad speaks about immigration and citizenship	Each month, IGS sponsors a seminar in its series called: Colloquium on Race, Ethnicity & Immigration. Last week Professor Irene Bloemraad spoke about her recently released book: Rallying for Immigrant Rights. Read about this talk in the latest installment of the IGS Zipline.
Former Gardner Fellow Awarded Gates Cambridge Scholarship	Pedro Spivakovsky-Gonzalez ('10), a 2010 John Gardner Fellow, has been awarded a Gates Cambridge Scholarship. One of only 40 Americans chosen across all subject areas, Spivakovsky-Gonzalez will begin his studies in Economics at Kings College, Cambridge University, in the fall. Currently, Spivakovsky-Gonzalez works in the White House for the Council of Economic Advisers. As an undergrad he worked for the U.S. State Department (in Spain) and the American Enterprise Institute.
Distinguished Visiting Scholar Sergio Fabbrini Brings EU Expertise to Cal	Over the last month the IGS community benefitted from the insight and expert analysis of Professor Sergio Fabbrini as he spoke in multiple events on the state and future of the European Union. For those who weren't able to make it to his seminars, or who just want to review his key findings, we have posted his presentation slides and draft research paper entitled, "Intergovernmentalism and Its Outcomes: The Implications of the Euro Crisis on the European Union."
James Q. Wilson, CJPP editor and friend of IGS, dies at 80	IGS regrets to announce the passing last week of James Q. Wilson, one of the Editors of the Institute's on-line journal, The California Journal of Politics and Policy. Wilson was one of the nation's preeminent scholars and a great friend to IGS. More on his life and work can be found at the NY Times.
A Special Discussion on Ballistic Missile Defense Airs on C-SPAN2	On Feb. 1 IGS hosted a panel discussion with Dean Wilkening, Senior research scientist at Center for International Security & Cooperation; Theodore Postol, Professor of Science, Technology and International Security at MIT; and Michael Nacht, Professor of Public Policy at the Goldman School. The panelists fiercely debated the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty and defense under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama. If you missed the event, you can still catch it on C-Span2.
Meet the man behind the Harold Smith Seminars	IGS sponsors the Harold Smith Seminar Series, which focuses on U.S. defense policies with emphasis on the control and management of nuclear weapons. In its third year, this unique seminar series brings to campus distinguished experts to speak and engage on topics of vital national security. Read more about it on the IGS Zipline.
Politics Italian Style	IGS Visiting Scholar Sergio Fabbrini spoke to a large campus audience last week about the rise and fall of former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. Read about it on the IGS Zipline.
John Gardner Fellowship Program applications due February 15!	Each fellow is given a stipend of $27,500 and an opportunity to work at the governmental or non-profit organization of their choosing for 10 months. During their fellowship, they are placed with a high-level senior mentor. Three graduating seniors from UC Berkeley and three from Stanford University receive the fellowship annually. See the program page for application details.
Pamela Duffy Named "Real Estate Lawyer of the Year"	National Advisory Council member Pamela Duffy, a partner at San Francisco law firm Coblentz, Patch, Duffy & Bass LLP, has been selected as the "Real Estate Lawyer of the Year" by prestigious legal ranking company Chambers and Partners. Duffy was awarded the honor at Chambers' first annual Women in Law Awards, which took place in New York City on Feb. 2 and recognizes the leading women in the legal profession nationwide.
Meet the 2011-12 Synar Fellowship Recipients	Congratulations to the winners of this year's Mike Synar Graduate Research Fellowship! Five awards of $3000 each are granted annually to noteworthy UC Berkeley graduate students writing a dissertation on an aspect of American politics. Read more about this year's recipients and their research projects in the latest installment of the IGS Zipline.
Peter Brightbill Named to National Advisory Council	IGS is pleased to announce that Peter Brightbill ('87) has joined its National Advisory Council. Peter Brightbill, Senior Director of Government Relations for Wells Fargo, is based in San Francisco. In this role, he is responsible for managing the organization’s state legislative and political agendas in California. Prior to joining Wells Fargo, Peter served in various management and policy positions in California state government. He also served on the White House staff of two U.S. Presidents.
Sen. Dick Ackerman's Take on Romney's Florida Win	After last Tuesday's Republican primary election in Florida, former State Senator Dick Ackerman weighs in on the race to win the Republican nomination. Read his observations on the road ahead for the candidates in the latest edition of the IGS Zipline.
Ballistic Missile Defense: Needed, Effective, Useful, Affordable?	The Harold Smith seminar presents Dean Wilkening (Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory), Theodore Postol (MIT), and Michael Nacht (University of California, Berkeley) in a panel discussion of the issues confronting ballistic missile defense policies. Wednesday, February 1st, 4pm - 6 pm IGS Library, 109 Moses Hall
Supreme Court Cites IGS Study in Redistricting Decision	The California Supreme Court today twice cited a new IGS study in its decision declaring that the 2012 state Senate elections will be conducted under maps drawn by the Citizens Redistricting Commission, even if a referendum challenging the commission maps is certified for the ballot. The study, "Redistricting California: An Evaluation of the Citizens Commission Final Plans," will appear in a forthcoming special issue of the California Journal of Politics and Policy, which is published online by IGS. The study, which is already available at the IGS website, was authored by Eric McGhee of the Public Policy Institute of California and by Vlad Kogan of the University of California, San Diego. Critics of the Commission have submitted signatures for a referendum that would block use of the panel's Senate maps. However the referendum cannot go to voters before November of 2012, giving rise to a dispute over the maps that should be used for the 2012 elections. The Supreme Court ruled that the Commission maps will be used. The Supreme Court quoted the IGS study: "Academic observers have concluded that the Commission's maps, including the certified state Senate map, 'represent an important improvement on the legislature-led redistricting of 2001. The new district boundaries kept more communities together and created more compact districts while at the same time increasing opportunities for minority representation. ... These maps ... have the potential to modestly increase competition in California elections and the responsiveness of the legislative branch to changing voter preferences.'" The high court also cited the IGS study in discussing the history of the redistricting that followed the 1980 census. The court's opinion is here, with citations of the IGS study on pages 48 and 61. McGhee and Kogan found that the Commission's maps are less gerrymandered than the districts in place since 2001, and will likely lead to more electoral victories for Democrats. The IGS press release regarding the study is here, and the full study is here.
Matsui Center's Washington Interns	Each semester, the Robert T. Matsui Center for Politics and Public Service provides scholarship funding for two undergraduates as they pursue a full course load and an internship in the nation’s capitol. To learn about their "inside the beltway" experiences, check out the latest installment of the IGS Zipline.
New Study Evaluates Maps Drawn by California Redistricting Commission	An independent analysis of California’s newly drawn legislative and Congressional districts concludes that the maps are less gerrymandered than the districts in place since 2001 and will likely lead to more electoral victories for Democrats — and potentially a two-thirds supermajority in the state legislature. The study by Vladimir Kogan of UC-San Diego and Eric McGhee of the Public Policy Institute of California will appear in an upcoming issue of the California Journal of Politics and Policy, and is available for download here. Read the full press release here. NBC News in San Diego covered the report on their January 5 newscast. The study was also cited in Peter Shrag's article in the California Progress Report.
IGS Winter Break Closure	The Institute will be closed December 23, 2011 through January 1, 2012, for winter break. We will re-open on Monday, January 2, 2012. Happy Holidays from IGS!
IGS End of Year Review, 2011	2011 was another banner year for IGS. Read about how the Institute is leading the way forward in research and public service after 92 years of serving the University and California. See how you can be part of this success story here.
Meet Benjamin Leclere, IGS Visiting Scholar from France	Benjamin Leclere, a 28 year old geography teacher from Paris, France, arrived at IGS in September on a mission to spend this year engaged in original research on Bay Area Indian tribes. To fund out why a Frenchman might come to IGS to do this research, see the full story in the IGS Zipline.
Webcast of "Demystifying the Chinese Economy" Now Available	Justin Yifu Lin, Vice President of the World Bank and a leading expert on China, gave a talk co-sponsored by IGS on November 29 on "Demystifying the Chinese Economy." A video of his talk is now available on YouTube. Read about this fascinating talk in the IGS Zipline.
Recent and Notable IGS Publications	A new book co-edited by Professor Taeku Lee has been published by Russell Sage: Asian American Political Participation: Emerging Constituents and Their Political Identities Taeku Lee, was just released by Russell Sage. IGS was the administrative home for this national research program on Asian American political participation. Former IGS grad student Justin Buchler (PhD '04) just published a new book, Hiring and Firing Public Officials. Buchler is associate professor of political science at Case Western Reserve University:
Demystifying the Chinese Economy: A talk by Justin Y. Lin of the World Bank [Nov. 29]	Justin Yifu Lin, Chief Economist and Senior Vice President of the World Bank, will give a talk based on his new book on "Demystifying the Chinese Economy" on Tuesday, November 29, 2011, 4-6 pm, at the Bancroft Hotel's Great Hall. Free and open to the public. View the event flyer [pdf].
Mike Synar Graduate Research Fellowship Applications due December 1	The Mike Synar Graduate Research Fellowship is awarded to distinguished UC Berkeley graduate students who are writing their dissertations on an aspect of American politics, including public opinion, electoral behavior, civic participation, government institutions, social movements, and public policy. Each year, the Center for the Study of Representation will award up to five Synar Graduate Research Fellowships of up to $3,000 each. For more information click here.
Video of Affordable Health Care Debate Now Available	The video of last month's debate on the constitutionality of Obama’s Affordable Care Act, featuring Laurence Tribe and Roger Pilon is now available. See the event page for more details on IGS's health care reform series.
Department of Defense Efforts to Counter Weapons of Mass Destruction	Assistant Secretary of Defense Andrew Weber will discuss U.S. countering-WMD efforts, how they have changed, and what the Department of Defense is doing to address the threats that face us today. November 15, 4:00-5:45 p.m., IGS Library (109 Moses Hall) Presented by IGS and the Harold Smith Seminar Series.
Meet Andy Nevis, Cal-in-Sac Student Director	Andy Nevis, Class of 2012, will lead the Cal-in-Sacramento interns this summer. Read about why he loves working in politics in the Zipline.
Percy Grant Recipients Announced	The Institute of Governmental Studies and the Center for the Study of Representation are proud to announce the recipients of the 2011-12 Charles H. Percy Undergraduate Grant for Public Affairs Research. The grant is awarded to U.C. Berkeley undergraduate students who are conducting research on an aspect of American politics, including public opinion, electoral behavior, civic participation, government institutions, social movements, and public policy. Click here for a list of this year's recipients and research topics. Read profiles of the 2011 award recipients here.
The Constitution and the Affordable Care Act	Last Wednesday, October 26, an anticipatory audience filled the Commonwealth Club to witness a debate on the constitutionality of Obama’s Affordable Care Act, featuring Laurence Tribe and Roger Pilon. Read about it on the IGS Zipline.
David O. Sears on "New Directions in Public Opinion"	IGS is pleased to launch the inaugural gathering of the newly created Berkeley Political Psychology Colloquium featuring Professor David O. Sears (UCLA) on Friday, October 28, 4-6 pm, in the IGS Library (109 Moses Hall). Professor Sears will speak on the topic of "New Directions in Public Opinion." To find out more information, contact Professor Laura Stoker in the Travers Political Science Department at Berkeley.
Mill Valley Film Festival and the Life of Governor Pat Brown	Ethan Rarick, director of the Center on Politics & Public Service at IGS, was consulted with and interviewed in a new documentary about the life and times of Governor Pat Brown — the father of Governor Jerry Brown. Read the Q & A with Ethan Rarick about the film, and the man who is its subject here.
Redistricting Conference Audio Recordings	Audio recordings of the conference A Brave New World?: California's Redistricting Experiment are now available on the conference website.
Charles H. Percy, 1919-2011	The Institute of Governmental Studies is sad to announce the passing of Senator Charles H. Percy. Senator Percy was known for his entrepreneurial business skills, taking over the leadership of Bell & Howell, a major technology firm, at 29 years of age, and for his leadership in the US Senate, in which he served 18 years. IGS is honored to be the home of the Charles H. Percy Undergraduate Grant for Public Affairs Research. To read more about Senator Percy's life and the grant IGS named after him, please click here. Applications are due Oct. 12. IGS is accepting donations to honor the Senator and to help sustain the Percy Grant program.
A Brave New World? California's Redistricting Experiment	This year, in an unprecedented process, California asked a citizens commission to redraw the boundaries of Congressional and legislative districts. As the commission completes its work this fall, IGS brings together a panel of participants and experts to analyze the process in a conference, "A Brave New World? California's Redistricting Experiment" on Friday, September 30, 2011. For more information, please see the event page here.
"California State of Mind: The Legacy of Pat Brown"	IGS is co-sponsoring with the Mill Valley Film Festival a special premier viewing of: California State of Mind: The Legacy of Pat Brown. The event will be held at 8 p.m. Tuesday, October 11 at the Rafael Theater, San Rafael. Tickets ($13.50) are available from the festival website.
Constitutionality of President Obama's Health Care Reform	IGS is co-sponsoring with the Commonwealth Club of California a talk by Laurence Tribe and Roger Pilon: The Constitutionality of President Obama's Health Care Reform. The event will be held Wednesday, October 26 at 6 p.m. at the Commonwealth Club. Tickets ($7 students $ 12 Club members $20 general public) are available here.
Latest Public Affairs Report is Now Online	The latest issue of the Public Affairs Report, with updates on IGS events and activities in the last term, is now available! To have the PAR delivered directly to your inbox, sign up now for the PAR email list.
Matsui Foundation Makes Major Donation to IGS	A major donation from the Robert T. Matsui Foundation for Public Service will allow IGS to renovate and expand the Robert T. Matsui Center for Politics and Public Service, creating improved facilities for Berkeley students. The foundation's gift will roughly double the Center's physical size within IGS and also provide support for the Matsui Center's student-oriented initiatives. Complete details.
IGS Presents the 3rd Annual Matsui Forum	The Matsui Center at IGS is pleased to announce the third annual Matsui Forum, "9/11 Ten Years Later: How Did the Attack Change America?" Thursday, September 8, 7:30 - 9:00 pm Banatao Auditorium, Sutardja Dai Hall
Dan Pellissier Named to IGS National Advisory Council	IGS is pleased to announce that Dan Pellissier has joined its National Advisory Council. Dan Pellissier has had a distinguished 25 year career in public service that started with a Capitol Hill internship through the Cal-in-the-Capitol program at UC Berkeley. Most recently, Dan served as Deputy Cabinet Secretary for Energy and Environment, where he advised Governor Schwarzenegger and oversaw California’s Natural Resources and Environmental Protection agencies. Currently, he is serving as President of California Pension Reform, a citizen’s group that is preparing a pension reform initiative for the November 2012 statewide ballot.
IGS Website Downtime: Sunday, June 12	As part of a renovation project, the campus Information Services and Technology unit has scheduled a full power outage for the campus data center on Sunday, June 12. Since the IGS webserver is housed in the data center, this website will be unavailable on June 12 from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. We apologize for the inconvenience. For more details about this event, please see IST's information page.
Graduate Student Publications	IGS graduate students John Hanley and Michael Salamone (along with Matthew Wright) have a forthcoming article in Political Research Quarterly that has been published in advance online: Reviving the Schoolmaster: Reevaluating Public Opinion in the Wake of Roe v. Wade.
William Grayson Named to IGS National Advisory Council	IGS is pleased to announce that William E. Grayson has joined its National Advisory Council. Grayson is a senior advisor at Bernstein Global Wealth Management in San Francisco, and has held previous positions as Vice President of J.P. Morgan and Montgomery Securities/Banc of America Securities. The IGS National Advisory Council is responsible for providing guidance and direction to advance the Institute's development and outreach efforts. Membership is composed of distinguished individuals representing the corporate, philanthropy, non-profit, professional, and academic sectors that are affiliated with the IGS mission.
Congratulations IGS Graduate Michael Salamone!	This year was a busy one for IGS’ student Michael Salamone, who was hooded last week at the Political Science graduation, and became a father early this year. Salamone and his wife, Katie Cajigas, welcomed their first child, Rita Carmela Salamone on March 4, 2011. Salamone will be teaching next fall in the political science department at the University of Montana, his dissertation is entitled, "Public Perceptions of Judicial Unanimity and Dissent: The Impact of Divided Court Opinions on the Mass Media and Public Opinion."
Project Abstracts for IGS Grant Recipients	This year's Percy and Synar grant projects represent a wide range of research topics, from the Tea Party to Ayn Rand to the politics of the American South during the mid-20th century. Project abstracts are now online: Mike Synar Graduate Research Fellowship and Charles H. Percy Undergraduate Grant for Public Affairs Research.
Percy Grant Recipient is Published in California Journal of Politics and Policy	Congratulations to IGS student-scholar Katerina Robinson, whose thesis, "Shifting Power in Sacramento: The Effects of Term Limits on Legislative Staff," was recently published by the California Journal of Politics and Policy. Robinson's work explores the impact of term limits on the power and duties of legislative staff in Sacramento. She was a recipient of the Charles H. Percy Undergraduate Grant for Public Affairs Research in 2009-10, and interned for Representative Mike Honda as a Matsui Center Congressional Intern in Spring 2009.
IGS Salon Dinner 2011 Pictures	An excellent time was had by all at IGS's 2011 Salon Dinner, held April 28 in San Francisco. Pictures of the event are now online.
Using Regression Discontinuity to Uncover the Personal Incumbency Advantage	Please join us in welcoming Rocio Titiunik, Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Michigan for a talk on “Using Regression Discontinuity to Uncover the Personal Incumbency Advantage” (with Bob Erikson). Tuesday, May 10th at 4 pm Harris Room (119 Moses Hall)
Canadian Election Recap & Analysis	Observers see the making of a major upset in the May 2 Canadian Parlia- mentary election. What is not clear is the bottom line. Join us for expert recap and analysis of the election with: - Richard Johnston: Canada Research Chair in Public Opinion, Elections, and Representation, University of British Columbia - Jeremy Kinsman: Resident International Scholar, IGS, & Distinguished Visiting Diplomat at Ryerson University, Toronto - Jack Citrin: Heller Professor of Political Science and Director of the Institute of Governmental Studies Thursday May 5th, 12 noon Harris Room, 119 Moses Hall Lunch will be provided. Sponsored by IGS and the Canadian Studies Program.
Former IGS Director Eugene C. Lee Dies at 86	Professor Eugene C. Lee, whose multi- faceted career as a public servant included roles as a distinguished scholar of California government, a leading administrator of the University of California, and the longtime Director of UC-Berkeley’s Institute of Governmental Studies, died Wednesday, April 27, peacefully at home in Sonoma with his family. He was 86. A public memorial service was held on Thursday, May 12, 4 pm, at the UC Berkeley Faculty Club, Great Hall. Read more about Professor Lee. Obituaries: SF Chronicle \| Sacramento Bee.
IGS Annual Salon Dinner Announced	The IGS National Advisory Council will feature Judy Woodruff at its Salon Dinner on Thursday, April 28 from 6 to 9 p.m. in the Julia Morgan Ballroom of the Mercantile Exchange Building in San Francisco. For complete details and ticket information, please see the event page.
Judea Pearl on Recent Advances in Causal Inference	IGS presents a lecture by Professor Judea Pearl on May 6: "What's New in Causal Inference: From Propensity Scores and Mediation to External Validity and Selection Bias." The lecture will start at 3 pm, with a light reception to follow. Dr. Pearl, professor of computer science and statistics at UCLA, will discuss recent advances in causal inference. May 6, 3-5:30 p.m. 109 Moses Hall (IGS Library)
IGS in the News	- Remembrances of former IGS director Eugene Lee were published in the Sonoma News and the Daily Cal - The San Francisco Chronicle interviewed IGS Director Jack Citrin about two recent statewide polls sponsored by IGS. 1 \| 2 - Ethan Rarick, director of the Matsui Center, is quoted in a Contra Costa Times article on Gov. Brown's determination to change the political tone in Sacramento. [Contra Costa Times]
IGS Honors Justice Ronald M. George and Lisa M. Suennen	IGS presented its Distinguished Service Award and Outstanding Alumni Award at this year's Salon Gala Dinner. California Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronald M. George (retired) received the Distinguished Service Award, and Lisa M. Suennen ('86, '87 MA) received the Outstanding Alumni Award. Justice George's life and career are the subject of a short video, available here. More details on the IGS Awards page.
2011 Cal in Sacramento Interns	This year's class of Cal in Sacramento interns was recently welcomed at the Senate chamber in Sacramento. The Cal in Sac program provides students the opportunity to experience California's exciting political milieu for two months in the summer, through internships in the offices of Senate and Assembly members, the governor's office, state agencies, nonprofit groups, or media organizations.
POSTPONED - Lecture: Civil Liberties in the Age of Obama - Glenn Greenwald	Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Glenn Greenwald lecture scheduled for Monday April 18 has been postponed until further notice. Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience this may cause.
Financial Emergency: The Crises that Began and Ended the Decade - Webcast Now Available	A webcast of the Third Matsui Lecture, "Financial Emergency: The Crises that Began and Ended the Decade" by Michael Oxley, is now available for download at the following location: Berkeley Law.
Health Care Reform Series Premieres on UCTV	IGS is pleased to announce that recordings of its recent panel discussion series, Making Healthcare Reform Work are premiering this month on UCTV. UCTV is available in San Francisco (Ch. 75 from 8pm-midnight) and in Berkeley (Ch. 33 from 5pm-8pm). Additionally, all programs will stream live on the UCTV website and be archived for viewing on-demand within a few days of their premiere date.
Center for Globalization and Information Technology Seminar	IGS welcomes Liisa Malkki from the Stanford Anthropology Department to the spring seminar series of the Center for Globalization and Information Technology. She will give a talk on "Bear Humanity: Aid Bunnies, Trauma Teddies, and other Power-Objects of the Humanitarian Imagination." Malkki is associate professor of anthropology at Stanford University and author of “Purity and Exile: Violence, Memory, and National Cosmology Among Hutu Refugees in Tanzania” (University of Chicago Press, 1995). For more information on Liisa Malkki, see her profile at Stanford. All are Welcome. Free Admission. Thursday, April 28, 2011 11:30-1:00PM 119 Moses Hall (Harris Room)
Lecture: Daniel Sargent on the Globalization Paradox	UC Berkeley Center for Globalization and Information Technology presents Daniel Sargent on "The Globalization Paradox: The United States and the World Economy since the Civil War." Friday, April 8th, 2011 12:00-1:30PM 119 Moses Hall (Harris Room) All are welcome!
Financial Emergency: The Crisis that Began and Ended the Decade	Michael Oxley, author of one of the most important financial regulation laws in American history -- the Sarbanes-Oxley Act -- speaks about the fiscal crashes that ended the dot-com bubble and that once again have plunged the economy into recession. Oxley, who served in the House of Representatives from 1981 to 2007, will deliver the annual Matsui Lecture on Wednesday, April 6, 4 pm. For complete details and registration information, please see the Matsui Lecture page.
Race, Ethnicity, and Immigration Colloquium	Professor Daniel HoSang will speak on "Racial Propositions: Ballot Initiatives and the Making of Postwar California" at today's Race, Ethnicity, and Immigration Colloquium. Dr. HoSang is Assistant Professor of Ethnic Studies and Political Science, University of Oregon. Tuesday, April 5, 2011 12:30pm - 2:00pm 119 Moses Hall (Harris Room) Lunch will be provided
30th Annual Review of the Presidency -- Webcast Now Available	A webcast for the 30th Annual Review of the Presidency: Obama at Mid-Term is now available for download at the following locations: webcast.berkeley.edu youtube.com/ucberkeleyevents itunes.berkeley.edu The panel discussion, "Obama at Mid-Term: A Report Card," was held on March 14 and featured Claudia Anderson of The Weekly Standard, Daniel J. Balz of The Washington Post, and Ann M. O'Leary from the Center on Health, Economic and Family Security, Berkeley Law School. More details can be found on the Annual Review of the Presidency page.
Californians grow pessimistic about the Golden State, UC Berkeley poll finds	Fewer than four in ten California voters now consider the state "one of the best places to live." This is slightly less than the 41% who said this two years ago, and is the second lowest assessment in the past forty-four years. For complete poll details, see the UC Berkeley/Field Poll page.
UC Berkeley/Field Poll Results	Recent UC Berkeley/Field Polls queried California residents on the state budget, pensions, and quality of life. For complete poll details, see the UC Berkeley/Field Poll page.
UC Berkeley/Field Poll Finds Increased Skepticism About Public Pensions	California voters have changed their views in recent years about the pension benefits of state and government workers, according to a new UC Berkeley/Field Poll. More voters now feel those pensions are too generous. For full details on this poll and an earlier UC Berkeley/Field Poll on the state budget, go to the new webpage on the UC Berkeley/Field Poll.
UC-Berkeley/Field Poll Finds Voters Back Governor's Tax Package	A majority of California voters supports Gov. Jerry Brown's proposal to extend temporary tax increases enacted in 2009, according to a new UC-Berkeley/Field Poll sponsored by IGS. But most voters also balk at the idea of additional tax increases, according to the survey. For full details on the poll findings, go to the new web page on the UC-Berkeley/Field Poll.
The Politics of Evidence-Based Medicine: Patients, Profits and Partisanship	More than half the treatments provided to patients lack clear evidence that they are effective, according to the Institute of Medicine. The Obama Administration has made a major investment in “comparative effectiveness research” to learn what treatments work best. Eric Patashnik will discuss the politicization of evidence-based medicine and report the results of national opinion surveys on attitudes toward proposed reforms. Patashnik is Professor of Politics and Public Policy and Associate Dean of the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy at the University of Virginia. March 10, 2011 4:00 p.m. Harris Room, 119 Moses Hall Complete details on the event page.
Nuclear Power without Nuclear Proliferation?	The Harold Smith Seminar series presents Scott Sagan of Stanford University speaking on the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT). The NPT gives all member countries the "inalienable right" to nuclear power for peaceful purposes. In a time when alternative energy sources like nuclear power are becoming increasingly attractive, how can we best promote nuclear nonproliferation and prevent nuclear terrorism? March 9, 2011, 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. IIS Conference Room (223), Moses Hall
IGS Immigration Conference March 4-5	Scholars from several disciplines and from Europe, Canada, and the U.S. will gather in Berkeley this weekend, March 4-5, for an IGS-sponsored conference on immigration: "The Political Incorporation of Immigrants: Progress, Prospects and Pitfalls in Europe and North America." For complete details, please see the conference page.
Obama at Mid-Term: A Report Card	Halfway through his term, how do we assess the presidency of Barack Obama? A panel of experts will address this and other questions at this year's Annual Review of the Presidency on Monday, March 14 at 7:30 p.m. Full details and registration information are available on the event page.
Michel Laguerre's Latest Book Published by Routledge	Michel Laguerre's newest book, Network Governance of Global Religions: Jerusalem, Rome, and Mecca has just been published by Routledge. This study seeks to explain three models of network governance embedded in digital practices that the mainstream monotheistic religions —Judaism, Catholic Christianity and Islam - have used to lead and manage the worldwide distribution of their local nodes, exploring the connection between network governance and its digital embeddedness and showing how the latter enhances the performance of the former. Laguerre is director of the Berkeley Center for Globalization and Information Technology, based at IGS.
Special Election News Feed	IGS Library has created a news feed of articles related to this June's proposed special election -- see it in action on the library's home page. Gov. Jerry Brown has given lawmakers a March 10 deadline to call a June special election during which voters would be asked to extend increases passed two years ago to the personal income, sales and vehicle taxes.
Percy Synar Award Recipients	Congratulations to this year's Percy Grant and Synar Fellowship recipients! The 2010-2011 Percy Grant recipients are: Sigourney Jellins, Hae Jin Kang, Anne Beverly Powers, Andrina Tran, Aditya Ullal, and Annie Zanobini The 2010-2011 Synar Graduate Research Fellowship recipients are: Catherine Barry, Ruth Bloch Rubin, Devin Caughey, Sarah Cowan, and John Henderson.
Impact of Health Reform in California - Webcast Now Available	A webcast of IGS's recent panel, "The Impact of Health Reform on California" is now available for download at the following locations: webcast.berkeley Youtube iTunes (audio) iTunes (video)
Race & Ethnicity Colloquium	Wendy Roth of the University of British Columbia presents, "Relocating Prejudice: A Global Transfer Theory of Immigrant Racial Attitudes" Immigration is changing the racial composition of many societies. Yet leading theories of racial prejudice, even in a multiracial context, focus on dynamics in a single nation-state and fail to account for the experiences of the foreign-born. Tuesday, February 8, 2011, 12:30pm - 2:00pm 119 Moses Hall (Harris Room) Lunch will be provided For more information, see the colloquium's web page.
Adam Segal Lecture on American Innovation and Asian Challenge	Adam Segal, the Ira A. Lipman, senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, and author of "Advantage: How American Innovation Can Overcome the Asian Challenge," will speak today from 12-2 p.m. in 223 Moses Hall. The emergence of India and China as economic powers has shifted the global landscape and called into question the ability of the United States to compete and maintain its technological lead. In "Advantage," Segal sorts out the challenges the United States faces and focuses on what drives innovation, what constrains it, and what advantages we have to leverage.
Governor's Conference Webcast Now Available	A webcast of IGS's conference on the 2010 California governor's race is now available. Please see the event page for complete details.
The Impact of Health Reform on California	UC Berkeley’s Institute of Governmental Studies is proud to sponsor a program of public events analyzing the political and economic aspects of implementing national health care reform with an emphasis on California. The third event in this series, "The Impact of Health Reform on California," will be held fron 12-1:30 pm on Feb. 4 in Sacramento, at the CSAC Auditorium, 1020 11th Street, 2nd floor. For registration information and further details, please see the event page.
Victor Jones Memorial Lecture featuring Paul Saffo	Paul Saffo will deliver the 6th Victor Jones Memorial Lecture on Metropolitan Governance on Wednesday, February 23, 2011. This occasional lecture series is a memorial tribute to the late Professor Victor Jones, a pioneer in the study of metropolitan government. Wednesday, February 23, 2011, 4-6 pm UC Berkeley Alumni House, Toll Room Free and open to the public For more information, please visit the event page.
Ambassador Solomon to Address Harris Seminar	Dr. Richard Solomon, President of the United States Institute of Peace, is the next speaker in the Harris Seminar series. His address, "Moving American Foreign Policy from Military to Civilian Leadership", will propose that American institutions responsible for foreign relations and national security, particularly the Department of State, are struggling to adapt to the multi-faceted challenges of today’s world. February 24, 4 – 6 pm Toll Room, Alumni House
Making Health Care Reform Work: The Question of Affordability	Join UC Berkeley’s Institute of Governmental Studies and the School of Public Health for the second program of the Making Health Care Reform Work series: Can We Afford Health Reform?. Monday, January 31, 2011 3 p.m. - 5 p.m. 301 Health Science West (HSW), Parnassus campus of UCSF The panel discussion is free and open to the public. Please see the program page for more details.
Apply Now for the Charles H. Percy Research Grant [Deadline extended!]	Applications are now being accepted for the Charles H. Percy Undergraduate Grant for Public Affairs Research. Six grants of up to $500 each are awarded each year to U.C. Berkeley undergraduate students who are conducting research on an aspect of American politics, including public opinion, electoral behavior, civic participation, government institutions, social movements, and public policy. Students from a broad range of disciplines are encouraged to apply. For further details, see the grant information page. New application deadline: February 18, 2011.
Apply Now for the John Gardner Public Service Fellowship!	Applications are now being accepted for the John Gardner Public Service Fellowship: your golden ticket to a career in public service. The John Gardner Public Service Fellowship is a ten-month public service fellowship for graduating seniors. For more information, please see our webpage. Application deadline: February 16th. There will be an information meeting on Thursday, Feb. 3rd at 4:30 p.m. in 119 Moses Hall.
Synar Fellowship Recipients Announced	Congratulations to this year's new Synar Fellows! - Catherine Barry (Sociology and Demography): Military Service, the Military Institution, and the Incorporation of 1st and 2nd Generation Immigrants. - Ruth Bloch Rubin (Political Science): The Strategic and Electoral Logics of Sub-Party Coalitions. - Devin Caughey (Political Science): Public Opinion, Ideology, and Representation in the One-Party South, 1930s-1960s - Sarah Cowan (Sociology and Demography): Secrets, Lies, and Wishful Thinking: The Importance of Non-Truths for Sociological Theory and Practice - John Henderson (Political Science): Running on the Brand: Party Reputation in Congressional Campaigns
The 2010 Governor's Race: The Inside Story	Join your fellow California political junkies for the most in-depth analysis of the California governor's race -- the traditional postmortem conference at the Institute of Governmental Studies at UC-Berkeley. We bring together campaign pros, political journalists, pollsters, and others for a candid analysis of California's most important political contest. January 21-22, 2010 Due to room capacity, registration is now closed for this event. A webcast of all sessions will be available at this site approximately two weeks after the conference.
Cyber Security: What Policies Can Make A Difference?	The security of the .mil, .gov and .com networks requires a variety of technological, economic, organizational, legal and diplomatic responses. Any solutions must deal with: The complexity of the challenge The infringement of civil liberties The perception that the threat is exaggerated for financial gain This presentation will explore policy initiatives at the national level that hold the promise of making a positive impact on the security of the nation’s cyber networks. Moses Hall, 223 (IIS Conference Room) December 1, 2010, 4-6 pm Details on the seminar page.
Assessing Health Care Reform: Promise, Prospects, and Pitfalls	Join UC Berkeley’s Institute of Governmental Studies and the School of Public Health for the first program of the Making Health Care Reform Work series: Assessing Health Care Reform: Promise, Prospects, and Pitfalls. Thursday, November 18, 4-6 p.m. IGS Library, 109 Moses Hall The panel discussion is free and open to the public. Please see the program page for more details.
Race, Ethnicity, and Immigration Colloquium [Nov. 16]	The complaints of our latter-day nativists and immigration restrictionists resonate with the nativist arguments of three centuries of American history. Through that long history, we’ve fought about the same questions. Who belongs here? What does the economy need? What, indeed, is an American or is fit to be one? Peter Schrag, journalist and visiting scholar at IGS, will discuss these points at this week's Race, Ethnicity, and Immigration Colloquium. This talk is based on his latest book, Not Fit for Our Society: Immigration and Nativism in America (UC Press, 2010). Tues. November 16, 12:30pm - 2:00pm 119 Moses Hall (Harris Room) Lunch will be provided.
CGIT Lecture Series -- A National Niche in a Transnational World	Steve McKay, Associate Professor of Sociology at UCSC and Catherine Ceniza Choy, Associate Professor of Asian American Studies, UC Berkeley will discuss Filipino labor as part of the Center for Globalization and Information Technology’s lecture series. 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Moses Hall, 119 Harris Room
Congresswoman Matsui Visits IGS	Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-California) visited UC Berkeley on October 29 for a first-hand look at the Matsui Center at IGS. Ethan Rarick, Matsui Center director, said the congresswoman visited the center to learn more about the program. "The mission of the center is to involve undergraduates in politics and in public policy," said Rarick. Rep. Matsui also visited the Bancroft Library, where she reviewed the progress made toward processing the extensive collection of papers her late husband, Rep. Robert Matsui, donated to the university. For more information on the Matsui Center's programs, see the center's website.
The Polls: An Election-Eve Update	The Matsui Center is pleased to welcome Mark DiCamillo, the director of the Field Poll, to IGS for a special election-eve event. Mr. DiCamillo will provide updates on the latest polling numbers before the voting booths open on Nov. 2. All are welcome! Monday, November 1 4:00-5:00 p.m. Harris Room, Moses Hall
Eat, Drink and Be Partisan: The IGS Matsui Center Election Night Party	Join us starting at 5 p.m. to watch the returns on the big-screen TV in the IGS Library, 109 Moses Hall 6-7 p.m.: Pizza and political trivia. Think you know politics? Prove it and win prizes! 7-8 p.m.: Experts analyze the election. A panel discussion about what's happening nationally and in California. - David Chai, former Deputy Press Secretary for President Clinton - Jack Citrin, Director, Institute of Governmental Studies - Max Neiman, Senior Research Fellow, Institute of Governmental Studies
Public Affairs Report Goes Electronic	The Public Affairs Report, with updates on IGS events and activities in the last term, is transitioning to an e-newsletter format. Sign up now for the PAR email list!
California Journal of Politics and Policy -- Special Issue	California's persistent fiscal problem is a source of deep discontent among Californians. This compendium examines the nature and causes of California's recurring budget crisis. Several articles examine whether the fiscal problem in California differs from other states, and if so, how? This special issue of California Journal of Politics and Policy examines California's budget quagmire.
Gerrymandering Documentary	Filmmaker Jeff Reichert got the idea for his "Gerrymandering" documentary when he noticed that his local representative in Brooklyn had suddenly been drawn out of the district. That inspired Reichert to travel the country to explore the notion of gerrymandering -- the process of redrawing districts to benefit politicians desperate to hang on to their seats and their power by whatever means necessary. With two redistricting measures on the November ballot, this is a timely opportunity to learn more about this crucial process. Common Cause presents a screening of "Gerrymandering" tomorrow at the Shattuck Cinemas. Tuesday, October 19th, 7:15 p.m., $10 2230 Shattuck Ave.
Race, Ethnicity, and Immigration Colloquium [Oct. 19]	Dr. David Kyle, Associate Professor of Sociology at UC Davis, will speak on "Manufacturing the Mobile Underclass." Dr. Kyle's research interests include transnational migration and development, economic sociology, law and society, transnational criminology, and global comparative sociology. Details: Tuesday, Oct. 19, 12:30pm to 2:00pm 119 Moses Hall (Harris Room) For more information, see the colloquium's web page.
The Contest for Congress [Oct. 21]	The next in a series of election-season events at IGS is "The Contest for Congress." We look at the national battle to rule Washington. What does history suggest is likely to happen? What is the national mood? How will the Tea Party factor in? And what could happen in the California Senate and Congressional races? Thursday, October 21, 4-5:30 p.m. IGS Library, 109 Moses Hall
Tea Party Conference [Oct. 22]	This conference will bring together scholars, journalists and political commentators to discuss the emergence of the "Tea Party Movement" in the wake of Obama's election. Much has been made of the Tea Party Movement in the media, yet there is little, if any, scholarship on it. This conference, which features historians, political scientists, sociologists, and race and gender scholars, is intended to begin to fill this gap. October 22, 8:30-5 p.m. Toll Room, Alumni House Sponsored by IGS and the Center for the Comparative Study of Right-Wing Movements. Details and registration information.
Watch Gubernatorial Debate #3 at IGS	Join your fellow political junkies to watch the last of three gubernatorial debates on the big-screen TV in the IGS Library this Tuesday. Democrat Jerry Brown and Republican Meg Whitman will be at Dominican University in San Rafael for the last debate of the campaign. More details. Tuesday, October 12, 5:30-7:30 p.m. IGS Library, 109 Moses Hall Refreshments provided
IGS and IIS Present Inaugural Event in Harold Smith Seminar Series	The first event in the Harold Smith Seminar series is a screening of the film, "Nuclear Tipping Point." Former Secretary of Defense William Perry will be present to introduce the film and take questions from the audience. The Harold Smith Seminar Series will focus on U.S. defense policies with emphasis on the control and management of nuclear weapons. Thursday, October 14, 2010, 4-6 pm Banatao Auditorium, Sutardja Dai Hall For more details, see the seminar page.
Kaiser History in IGS Library	Research at the IGS Library helped historians from Kaiser Permanente document the legacy of child care in the World War II Kaiser shipyards. Their essay, "Wartime shipyard child care centers set standards for future," cites reports from the Portland care centers and pamphlets written for postwar child care providers that have been part of the IGS collection since the mid-1940s.
2010 Election Events at IGS	The Matsui Center and IGS are sponsoring many election-related events in the run-up to the November 2 midterm elections. Join us for lectures, panel discussions, and debate-watching parties -- check out the full list of events here.
Watch the Gubernatorial Debates at IGS!	Join your fellow political junkies to watch the first of three gubernatorial debates on the big-screen TV in the IGS Library this Tuesday. Democrat Jerry Brown and Republican Meg Whitman will be at UC-Davis for the first debate of the campaign. More details. Tuesday, September 28, 6-7 p.m. IGS Library, 109 Moses Hall Refreshments provided
Matsui Forum 2010 -- Webcast Now Available!	The webcast of last week's Matsui Forum is now available on YouTube. The panel discussion addressed the question: "California's Next Governor: What Should the Agenda Be?" For more details, see the Matsui Forum page.
Race & Ethnicity Colloquium: Sept. 28	Simón E. Weffer-Elizondo will address the Colloquium on Race, Ethnicity and Immigration this Tuesday, September 28, 2010. Weffer-Elizondo is an assistant professor at the University of California, Merced. His research examines the intersection of social stratification (in particular urban inequality) with collective action and social movements. He also has a special interest in issues of race and ethnic relations and immigration. Details: Tuesday, Sept. 28, 12:30pm to 2:00pm 119 Moses Hall (Harris Room) For more information, see the colloquium's web page.
IGS Visiting Scholars, Fall 2010	IGS is pleased to welcome its Fall 2010 cohort of visiting scholars. Please see the Visiting Scholars page for a list of the scholars, their academic affiliations, and research interests.
William K. Coblentz ('44) - 1922-2010	Bill Coblentz ('44), an attorney and former UC regent, passed away Sept. 13 at age 88. Coblentz was the first recipient of the IGS Distinguished Service Award, and a major supporter of UC Berkeley Law. His $500,000 contribution established The William K. Coblentz Civil Rights Endowment Fund for student and faculty research related to racial and ethnic justice. For more information, see the Coblentz Fund page.
IGS Presents the 2nd Annual Matsui Forum	The Center for Politics at IGS is pleased to announce the second annual Matsui Forum, "California's Next Governor: What Should the Agenda Be?" Monday, September 20, 4:00 - 5:30 pm Banatao Auditorium, Sutardja Dai Hall This event is free and open to the public. Panelists include: Mark Paul, senior scholar, New America Foundation, and author of California Crack-Up: How Reform Broke the Golden State and How We Can Fix It Debra J. Saunders, columnist, San Francisco Chronicle Yvonne Walker, president, SEIU Local 1000, California's largest state employee union Bill Whalen, research fellow, Hoover Institution, Stanford University Moderator: The Honorable Ted Lempert, former member, California Assembly; lecturer, Political Science dept., UC Berkeley
Research Workshop in American Politics	The Research Workshop in American Politics is meeting for a presentation of "Public Opinion, Organized Labor, and the Limits of New Deal Liberalism, 1936–1945" by Devin Caughey and Eric Schickler. Wednesday, September 8 12:00 - 1:30 IGS Harris Room (Moses Hall 118)
Former Congressman Michael Oxley named Matsui Lecturer	Former Congressman Michael G. Oxley will serve as the Matsui Lecturer for the 2010-11 academic year, spending a week in residence at Berkeley, the Robert T. Matsui Center for Politics and Public Service announced. Oxley, who served in the House from 1981 to 2007, will be in residence at Cal the week of April 4, 2011. In addition to delivering the annual Matsui Lecture, he will speak to classes and meet with students and faculty members.
Matsui Center Names New Washington Interns	The Robert T. Matsui Center for Politics and Public Service has selected three interns for Fall 2010. Meghan Ballard, Sara Johnson and David Velasquez will live in Washington, D.C., during the fall semester while participating in the U.C. Washington program.
State Treasurer Lockyer to Speak on State Budget Crisis	Get an expert's inside perspective on the perennial California budget crisis. State Treasurer Bill Lockyer--a UC Berkeley alumnus, former state legislator, and former two-term Attorney General--will speak on the political and historical context of the state budget crisis and solutions that can make California solvent again. Come hear his thoughts on jobs, the economy, and California's future. September 1, 7:30-8:30 p.m. 155 Dwinelle Hall
New Library Display on CA Redistricting	A new display in the IGS library highlights the library's collection of rare and ephemeral materials on the history of redistricting in California. Materials include pamphlets, newspaper clippings, books, stickers, and broadsheets. The library houses several important collections related to redistricting, including: the files of the special masters appointed by the California Supreme Court to reapportion state legislative and congressional districts following the 1970 and 1990 censuses; and redistricting maps, campaign literature and related political materials documenting the careers of Michael Berman and Carl D'Agostino, leading California political consultants and strategists.
Mark Paul and 'California Crackup'	IGS visiting scholar Mark Paul is co-author of the recently published 'California Crackup: How Reform Broke the Golden State and How We Can Fix It.' He was recently featured on KQED’s Forum radio program, and the book was positively reviewed in Newsweek. Paul will be on campus on September 20th for the Matsui Forum.
John Peterson returns to IGS	John Peterson, Professor of International Politics and Head of Politics & International Relations at the University of Edinburgh, has returned to IGS as a Visiting Scholar for summer 2010. John has had residence at IGS on numerous occasions starting in 1998. While at Berkeley, John will be working (inter alia) on his forthcoming book Parochial Global Europe: the Politics of EU Trade Policy (co-authored with Alasdair Young), forthcoming with Oxford University Press. He also will be writing up findings from ‘The Commission of the 21st Century’ project, which generated the largest data set ever compiled on the attitudes of European Union Commission officials. The President of the Commission, José Manuel Barroso, recently commented that "The project's findings will help us make the Commission a more efficient and effective administration that better serves European citizens."
IGS Alumni Accomplishments	Several IGS affiliates won the following prestigious awards for 2010 from the American Political Science Association (APSA): - Gordon Silverstein, Assistant Professor of Political Science at UC Berkeley, won the Herman C. Pritchett Award for his new book The Law's Allure: How Law Shapes, Constrains, Saves and Kills Politics. This award is given by the APSA's Law & Courts Section for the best legal book published by a political science that year. - Megan Mullin ('97, MA '00, Ph.D '05), Assistant Professor of Political Science at Temple University, won the Lynton Keith Caldwell Award for her new book Governing the Tap: Special District Governance and the New Local Politics of Water. This award is given by the APSA's Section of Science, Technology & Environmental Politics for the best book on environmental policy published by a political scientist that year. - Patrick J. Egan (MA '01, Ph.D '08), Assistant Professor of Political Science at New York University, won the Carl Albert Dissertation Award for his UC Berkeley doctoral thesis: Issue Ownership and Representation in American Politics. This award is given by the APSA's Legislative Studies Section to the best doctoral dissertation in the area of legislative studies issued in the last two years. IGS alums are also currently engaged in some very high profile political situations of note. - Julie Soderlund (nee Dobie), class of 2000, is Carly Fiorina's campaign spokesperson. Julie was the 1999 Travers Award winner. - Brian Brokaw ('03) is the campaign manager for Karmala Harris for CA Attorney General. Brian was a Cal in Sac student in 2002. Alums are involved in both sides of the Proposition 8 gay marriage issue: - Kenneth Miller (PhD, '02) is the lead political scientist on the Yes on 8 legal defense team. Ken teaches at Claremont McKenna. - Patrick Egan (PhD, '08) has been on involved in advising the No on 8 side.
The History and Future of California's Master Plan for Education	In collaboration with IGS, the Center for Studies in Higher Education has launched its MP@50 Project website, offering historical and contemporary documents, analysis, and links related to the California Master Plan for Higher Education. The site is intended as a resource for those interested or engaged directly in a growing debate on how to fund, possibly restructure, and further develop a public higher education system that must grow and improve in performance indicators such as degree production rates.
Dan Schnur Named Chair of FPPC	Dan Schnur, an IGS affiliate, has been named the new chairman of the Fair Political Practices Commission by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Schnur, an IGS Visiting Instructor, has taught the popular "Campaign Strategy - Media and Message" course for many years at Cal.
Cal-in-Sac Fellows Arrive in Capital	The Summer 2010 class of Cal-in-Sacramento fellows were welcomed to the Senate chamber this week. Over three decades, more than 500 Cal students have gone to Sacramento through this program to gain first-hand experience in the most dynamic state capital in the country.
June 8 CA ballot measure resources from the IGS Library	IGS has released guides to the five ballot measures on the June 8 California Primary Election ballot on the California Choices website. In addition to voter resources and in-depth analyses of the propositions, the site features a View Endorsements and Share Your Vote page where you can email people how you're going to vote, and compare endorsements from political parties, unions, newspapers, and other organizations. California Choices is a collaborative effort by the Institute of Governmental Studies at UC Berkeley, Next 10, the Bill Lane Center for the American West at Stanford University, and the Center for California Studies at CSU Sacramento.
Peter Schrag's Immigration Analysis Published by UC Press	Visiting scholar Peter Schrag's latest book, Not Fit for Our Society: Immigration and Nativism in America, has been published by the University of California Press. Schrag sets the modern immigration controversy within the context of three centuries of debate over the question of who exactly is fit for citizenship. He finds that nativism, with its attendant fear and hatred of newcomers, has created one of the significant faultlines of American cultural and political life. For more information, see the UC Press details page.
IGS Director's Report 2009-10	Director Jack Citrin has released his Director's Report for 2009-10, which includes information about developments in the staff as well as previewing important elements of planning for programs in 2010-11. The report can be found here.
Congratulations Graduates!	Congratulations to the IGS Fellows: Allison Gash has an appointment at the University of Oregon. Peter Hanson has accepted a position at the Universty of Denver. Amanda Hollis-Brusky has accepted a position at Pomona College. Loan Le and Iris Hui are going to UCLA for Postdoctoral Fellowships. Darshan Goux is going to University of British Columbia. David Hopkins is going to work at Boston College. Mark Oleszek will be an American Political Science Association (APSA) Congressional Fellow and then he'll be at Albright College in Reading, Pennsylvania. Matthew Wright is doing his postdoc work at Harvard University. And our undergraduates: Maggie Eisenberg Stephen Saribalis Ilda Cardenas
Take the California Budget Challenge	You're invited to an interactive, community event on Thursday, May 13, in Albany entitled, “Your Chance to Fix California’s State Budget.” This unique event is co-hosted by two distinguished Cal Alumni: Assemblywoman Nancy Skinner of Berkeley and Assembly Speaker John Perez. At this community event you will have the opportunity to make known your priorities—including higher education—as California legislators consider the state budget. Assemblywoman Skinner and Speaker Perez have joined forces with Next 10, an independent, non-partisan organization dedicated to engaging and empowering Californians to improve our state’s future, to bring the budget challenge to everyday Californians. Thursday, May 13 7 - 8:30 p.m. Albany High School 603 Key Route Blvd, Albany
A Night with the Ambassador	Edward Perkins, former ambassador to South Africa and the United Nations will be speaking about life, his experiences from a long diplomatic career, and the 20th anniversary of the release of Nelson Mandela. Monday May 3, 2010 6:15 p.m. - 7:15 p.m. Haas School of Business C125 [ map] Admission is complimentary. To RSVP and for more information, please visit OCMedia.org
Book Event for Harry Kreisler and Political Awakenings	Please join IIS to celebrate an author event featuring IIS Executive Director, Harry Kreisler, and his new book, "Political Awakenings." The book is based on his interviews over the past 25 years with economists, politicians, activists, and artists, including Elizabeth Warren, Michael Pollan, Tariq Ali, Howard Zinn, and Oliver Stone. Books will be signed and sold at the event. Thursday, April 29, 12 p.m. 109 Moses Hall, IGS Library For more information, see Conversations with History.
Voting from Abroad: Insights from Europe and Latin America	The Institute for the Study of Societal Issues and the Institute of Governmental Studies present: "Voting from Abroad: Insights from Europe and Latin America" Thursday, April 29 12:00-1:30pm Harris Room, 119 Moses Hall Looking at the development of external voting mechanism legislation in different parts of the world and focusing on the recent experiences of Mexico, Bolivia, and Italy, Lafleur will discuss the challenges and opportunities that it represents for migrants, their home country and their country of settlement. Jean-Michel Lafleur is Postdoctoral Researcher, Belgian Fund for Scientific Research and Fulbright Scholar, Baruch College's School of Public Affairs.
North American Futures Conference Premieres on UCTV	The UCTV broadcast of IGS's North American Futures conference will premiere on May 3 and continue through June. This major binational conference, held in March, brought together current and former government officials, scholars, practitioners and media commentators to examine issues driving the North American relationship, and its role in a changing world. For further details, see the conference home page.
Iran, Syria, and the Problem of Proliferation	The Travers Lecture series on U.S. Foreign Policy presents Ambassador Gregory L. Schulte at its next lecture April 27. Ambassador Schulte is a Senior Visiting Fellow at the National Defense University Center for the Study of Weapons of Mass Destruction, and served as the U.S. Permanent Representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency and the United Nations in Vienna from 2005-09. He played an important role in reporting Iran to the UN Security Council, implementing the U.S. nuclear cooperation agreement with India, and advancing the establishment of international nuclear fuel banks. April 27, 12 p.m. 109 Moses Hall, IGS Library
Colloquium: Immigration Politics in Spain	The subject of the next Colloquium on Race, Ethnicity and Immigration is "Immigration Politics in Spain" with Maria Elena Gomez of the Universidad Europea de Madrid. Friday, April 23, 12-1:30 p.m. 119 Moses Hall For more information, see the colloquium's web page.
Job Announcement: Executive Assistant 3	IGS is recruiting for an Executive Assistant 3. For complete details, see the Berkeley Careers page and search for job id# 10863. Applications will be accepted through May 6.
Peter D. Hart - The Mood of America and the 2010 Elections	The Goldman School of Public Policy presents the Michael Nacht Distinguished Lecture on Politics and Public Policy on April 27. Speaker Peter D. Hart is one of the leading analysts of public opinion in the United States. The National Journal named Mr. Hart to its select list of 150 national leaders who shape federal government policy, characterizing him as "probably the foremost Washington pollster for the Democratic Party and its centrist candidates, who plays a key role in identifying and shaping national trends and political messages." April 27, 6 p.m. Student Union, East Pauley Ballroom RSVP by emailing annette_doornbos@berkeley.edu.
Annual Review of the Presidency -- Webcasts Now Available	Webcasts of the 29th Annual Review of the Presidency are now available on webcast.berkeley, YouTube, and iTunes. The panel discussion, "Obama Settles In: A Report Card on the New President," featured Mark Z. Barabak, Mark Halperin, Peter D. Hart, and Steven F. Hayward. More details can be found on the Annual Review of the Presidency page.
After Copenhagen: 2010 Peder Sather Symposium	The Institute of International Studies presents a panel discussion, After Copenhagen: How to Meet the Economic and Environmental Challenges, featuring: - Brad DeLong, Professor of Economics, UC Berkeley - Jørgen Randers, Professor of Climate Strategy at the Norwegian School of Management - Margrethe Sørensen, Nordic Working Group for Sparsely Populated Areas - Sverker Sörlin, Professor of Environmental History at the Royal Institute of Tech- nology, Stockholm and Senior Researcher at the Stockholm Resilience Center Moderated by Harry Kreisler, Executive Director of IIS and host of Conversations with History. Thursday, April 15, 4 p.m. Goldman Theater, David Brower Center 2150 Allston Way at Fulton St., Westside of UCB Campus, Berkeley, CA 94704
New Gardner Fellows Named	Congratulations to the 2010-11 Gardner fellows! Christina Eloisa Markle '10 (Anthropology, minor in Public Policy) Bobby Rosen ‘10 (Political Economy with an independent concentration in sustainable development in Latin America) Pedro Spivakovsky-Gonzalez '10 (Political Economy, Economics) Gardner Fellowships provide opportunities for graduating seniors to invest their talent, energy and training in public service. Six fellows, three from Stanford and three from UC Berkeley, are selected each spring. Each is provided with a stipend plus health insurance for ten months and an assignment to work with a government or nonprofit agency.
A Conversation about California's Future	Join Assembly Member Nancy Skinner and Sunne McPeak of the nonpartisan organization California Forward to discuss California Forward's proposal to end the state's lengthy budget stalemates and refocus government on improving results. Wednesday, April 14, 2010 7-9 pm Lafayette War Veterans Memorial Building 3780 Mt. Diablo Blvd. Lafayette, CA 94549
Travers Lecture Series Presents Siegfried Hecker	"Science Diplomacy in a Changing Nuclear World" Thursday, April 8th, 4 p.m. Banatao Auditorium, Room 310 Sutardja Dai Hall, UC Berkeley Siegfried Hecker is a professor in the Department of Management Science and Engineering and an emeritus director of Los Alamos National Laboratory. Hecker's research interests include plutonium science, nuclear weapon policy and international security, nuclear security (including nonproliferation and counter terrorism), and cooperative nuclear threat reduction. Over the past 15 years, he has fostered cooperation with the Russian nuclear laboratories to secure and safeguard the vast stockpile of ex-Soviet fissile materials.
Donald Gerth to Speak on the "People's University"	Since its founding as a single institution in San Francisco in the years after the Gold Rush, the California State University has grown into a system of 23 campuses that enroll more than 450,000 students. The People's University is the story of that extraordinary growth. Author Donald Gerth, a CSU president for 27 years, will discuss his new book Thursday, April 1, noon - 1:30 p.m. in 768 Evans Hall. Co-sponsored by the Institute of Governmental Studies, the Berkeley Public Policy Press, and the Center for Studies in Higher Education.
Obama Settles In: A Report Card on the New President	After 15 months in office, how has President Obama responded to the historic opportunity that greeted his arrival in the White House? Join us as a panel of experts analyzes the early stages of a historic presidency. Monday, April 12, 7:30 p.m. 105 Stanley Hall, UC Berkeley Panelists include: Mark Z. Barabak, national political writer, Los Angeles Times Mark Halperin, editor-at-large and senior political analyst, TIME, and author of Game Change: Obama and the Clintons, Palin and McCain, and the Race of a Lifetime Peter D. Hart, chairman, Peter D. Hart Research Associates, and pollster for the Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll Stephen F. Hayward, F.K. Weyerhaeuser Fellow, American Enterprise Institute, and author of The Age of Reagan: The Fall of the Old Liberal Order and The Age of Reagan: The Conservative Counterrevolution This is the 29th Annual Review of the Presidency, and is co-sponsored by the Robert T. Matsui Center for Politics and Public Service and Berkeley Extension.
Fred Martin in San Francisco Chronicle	Fred Martin, IGS visiting scholar and benefactor, published an article in last week's San Francisco Chronicle on the impact of budget cuts on the city's mentally ill population. Despite studies showing that early intervention and treatment is often very successful, the city's 2010 budget would significantly reduce the number of beds available in San Francisco General Hospital's Psychiatric Emergency Services. Martin is a retired director of governmental relations for the Bank of America. He chaired the 2002 program on mental illness and public policy at UC Berkeley.
IGS Honors Coblentz and Harris	IGS honored two note- worthy alumni at its annual gala March 18 -- Mr. William K. Coblentz and Mr. Grant Harris. Mr. Coblentz ('43) is this year's recipient of the IGS Distinguished Service Award. Senior Partner at the law firm of Coblentz, Patch, Duffy & Bass LLP, Mr. Coblentz serves on the board of directors of the McClatchy Newspapers and the Koret Foundation. In this interview, he reflects on his varied career in California politics and civic affairs. Mr. Grant T. Harris ('98) will receive the IGS Outstanding Young Alumni Award. Mr. Harris serves as Policy Advisor to UN Ambassador Susan Rice and is a graduate of UC Berkeley, Princeton and Yale. More information on the award winners can be found on the IGS awards page.
IGS Salon Dinner 2010	The IGS National Advisory Council will feature David Gergen and Peter Hart at its Salon Dinner on Thursday, March 18, 2010 from 6 to 9 p.m. in the Julia Morgan Ballroom of the Mercantile Exchange Building in San Francisco. For complete details and ticket information, please see the event page.
North American Futures conference, March 12-13, 2010	IGS and the University of British Columbia are co-sponsoring a bi-national conference to examine the critical issues shaping the North American relationship and future directions for Canada, the United States, and Mexico. This two day conference entitled: “North American Futures: Canadian and U.S. Perspectives" will be held on Friday & Saturday, March 12-13, 2010 at the new David Brower Center in downtown Berkeley. Keynote speakers will include Thomas Pickering, Former US Ambassador to the UN, and Allan Gotlieb, Former Canadian Ambassador to US, among other leading experts. For speakers, panels and conference details please click here.
North American Futures Conference Webcasts Now Available	Webcasts of the North American Futures conference are now available on YouTube and webcast.berkeley. The two-day conference, co-sponsored by IGS and the University of British Columbia, examined the critical issues shaping the North American relationship and future directions for Canada, the United States, and Mexico. Keynote speakers included Thomas Pickering, Former US Ambassador to the UN, and Allan Gotlieb, Former Canadian Ambassador to US, among other leading experts.
IGS Voices in the News	With the 2010 campaign heating up, IGS experts are in the news: -- IGS Director Jack Citrin was quoted in the New York Times' coverage of Jerry Brown's gubernatorial campaign announcement. -- Ethan Rarick's op-ed on Jerry Brown was published in the Los Angeles Times on March 11. -- Rarick, head of IGS's Matsui Center, was also quoted in the Contra Costa Times' coverage of the Brown candidacy announcement.
2010 Regents' Lecture -- Full Text Now Online	If you missed Ambassador Jeremy Kinsman's lecture on Feb. 23, you can read or download the full text online from the lecture page. Ambassador Kinsman spoke on "Supporting Democracy Abroad: Moral Imperative or Imperialist Meddling?" .
Travers Lecture Series Features Garry Wills	Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Garry Wills will be the featured speaker at the Travers Lecture this Wednesday, February 10 at the First Congregational Church of Berkeley. Wills' latest book, Bomb Power: The Modern Presidency and the National Security State argues that the development and use of nuclear weapons has transformed the balance of powers within the American government, and kept the US in a continual state of security emergency. Tickets: $15 advance (through Brown Paper Tickets / 800-838-3006); $20 door. Sponsored by IGS, IIS, and Berkeley Arts and Letters.
Is a Constitutional Convention the Best Way to Reform?	A special issue of the California Journal of Politics and Policy published this month is devoted to the question of constitutional reform in California. Research and commentary by academic experts and civic leaders examine various aspects of the problem as well as a range of proposed solutions. While there are, as one might expect, some fundamental differences in emphasis regarding how best to address the problems, the depth of analysis and breadth of ideas expressed suggest California is not without a range of options that might attract a consensus, even in this polarized and seemingly fractured political environment.
Travers Lecture Series Presents Victor Davis Hanson	The Travers Lecture Series on U.S. Foreign Policy will feature Victor Davis Hanson at its next event. Professor Hanson will speak on "Laws of Conflict in a Post Modern World and the Lessons of the Classical Tradition." Details: February 25, 4 p.m. Maude Fife Room, 315 Wheeler Hall.
Information Session for 2010-11 Gardner Fellowship	An information session for students interested in the Gardner Fellowship is scheduled for Thursday Jan. 28 at 7:30 p.m. in Morgan 101. The Gardner Fellowship offers opportunities for graduating seniors to engage in compelling work in their chosen field alongside distinguished social and political leaders. Six Fellows are selected during the spring semester from among the graduating classes at UC Berkeley and Stanford University. More information is available on the Gardner Fellowship webpages.
The People's University -- Now Available from BPP Press	From its founding as a single campus in San Francisco in the mid-1800s, the California State University has grown into a system of 23 campuses with more than 450,000 students. In The People's University: A History of the California State University, Donald Gerth chronicles the story of the CSU's growth, and addresses its many facets -- from two polytechnic campuses, to agricultural programs in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley, to a campus in the state capital with first-rate public policy and government programs. Order now.
New IGS Working Paper: Antitrust Law and Public Services	IGS is pleased to announce the publication of a new Working Paper, "Antitrust Law and Public Services Performances with Reference to the Postal Industry," written by Stefano Gori of the Bristol Business School and Vincenzo Visco Comandini of the University of Rome Tor Vergata. This paper addresses one of the most striking differences between Europe and the US in antitrust law -- state aid legislation. It analyzes a specific aspect of regulation regarding the compensation for public services, with a focus on the European Court of Justice's 2003 Altmark decision.
IGS Harris Seminar: Voter Funded Media	Mark Latham will lead the next Harris Seminar on the subject of voter funded media -- a system of allowing voters to allocate funding to competing media organizations. This would prevent the government from controlling the publicly funded media and their messages. Such a system has been implemented for three years at the University of British Columbia's student union, and tested in Vancouver's 2008 civic election. The seminar will begin at 4 p.m. on November 17 in 119 Moses Hall.
Getting to Reform -- Conference Webcasts Available	If the time is right for reform in California, what is the best path toward constitutional change? The IGS-sponsored conference "Getting to Reform" on October 14 explored that and many other questions surrounding constitutional reform in California. Webcasts of the conference are now available. For links and additional details, see the conference website.
What Ails California? -- Conference Webcasts Now Online!	Webcasts from the "What Ails California" conference are now available on YouTube, berkeley.webcast, and UCTV. The conference, co-sponsored by IGS and the Travers Program on Ethics and Accountability in Government, examined the fundamental problems facing California and explored options for moving forward. Read more at the conference website.
Matsui Lecture Webcast Now Available	Recordings of Congressman Victor Fazio's lecture, "How Congress Works: Lessons from the Health Care Debate," are now available. If you missed the event, or would like to watch it again, please visit one of the following sites: webcast.berkeley, YouTube, and iTunes-U (part 1, part 2).
Former Canadian Ambassador Jeremy Kinsman to Speak at I-House	As part of the Travers Lecture Series on U.S. Foreign Policy, former Canadian Ambassador Jeremy Kinsman will lecture on "Democracy Development and Foreign Policy" this Thursday at the International House. The lecture begins at 7:30 in the I-House auditorium; admission is free.
Jeremy Kinsman on Europe, NATO, and Russia	Jeremy Kinsman, former Canadian ambassador to the EU and the Russian Federation, and current Regents' Lecturer at UC, will speak on Monday, November 9 at 12 noon in 223 Moses Hall. Ambassador Kinsman's topic will be "Europe, NATO, and Russia: Competitors? Partners? Does NATO have a Future? What is Russiaâ€™s Future?"
Robert Powell Receives NSF Grant	Political science professor Robert L. Powell was recently announced the winner of a National Science Foundation grant for his project, "Fighting and Bargaining over Political Power in Weak States." Professor Powell is one of 17 grant recepients funded under the joint NSF/Department of Defense program known as the Minerva Initiative, which focuses on social and behavioral science of strategic importance to U.S. national security policy. The The Chronicle of Higher Education reported on the grant recepients.
Victor Fazio to Deliver Matsui Lecture	Former California Congressman Victor H. Fazio, who served in the House from 1979-99, will deliver the Matsui Lecture on Tuesday, Nov. 3 at 4 p.m. in the Lipman Room in Barrows Hall. Rep. Fazio will speak on "How Congress Works: Lessons from the Health Care Debate." For more details and registration information, please see the Matsui Lecture page.
Symposium Honoring the Work of Daniel Hays Lowenstein	IGS is a co-sponsor of a symposium bringing together leaders in the field of Election Law from law, political science, economics and history to honor the pioneering work of Daniel Hays Lowenstein, who is retiring from UCLA School of Law to begin service as the founding director for UCLA's Center for the Study of Liberal Arts and Free Institutions. The symposium will be held at UCLA on January 29, 2010 -- more details on the event web page.
KQED Interviews Jack Citrin	As part of its coverage of the "What Ails California" conference on October 23, KQED Radio interviewed IGS Director Jack Citrin. The audio clip can be streamed or downloaded from KQED.
New Articles from the California Journal of Politics and Policy	Recently published articles in the California Journal of Politics and Policy include Michael Shin's article on disclosure of contributions to both sides of the Proposition 8 campaign, an examination of the role of Spanish language in California politics, and the featured article by IGS director Jack Citrin: Proposition 13 and the Transformation of California Government.
Avenues to Constitutional Change	If the time is right for reform in California, what is the best path toward constitutional change? IGS announces a day-long conference examining the most important questions surrounding constitutional reform in California: What process is most likely to produce results? Who should participate? Is a full constitutional convention the best choice, and what would that require? The conference will be held Wednesday, Oct. 14, from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Sacramento Convention Center. For further details and registration information, see the conference website.
IGS Scholar John R. Miller in New York Times	On October 3, the New York Times published John Miller's essay on international public opinion toward the United States. Miller is an IGS Visiting Scholar and former representative from Washington. His article, "Nobody Likes Us? Who Cares?" is available on the New York Times website.
REI Colloquium on Effects of Stigma	The Colloquium on Race, Ethnicity and Immigration hosts a talk on Friday, October 16 by Dr. Rodolfo Mendoza-Denton, Associate Professor in the Psychology Department at UC Berkeley. Dr. Rodolfo Mendoza-Denton will speak on "A Social Psychological Perspective on the Effects of Stigma" -- an overview of his research relating to the psychological legacy of race- and gender-based stigmatization and its effects on the targets of stigma. The colloquium meets at 12pm in 119 Moses Hall (Harris Room); all are welcome.
Travers Lecture: "Iran After the Election"	Karim Sadjadpour will speak on "Iran After the Election" this Thursday, October 1st at 4 p.m. in the Lipman Room, (8th Floor, Barrows Hall). Sadjadpour, an Associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, will discuss the impact of Iran's elections on the balance of power within Iran and on its foreign policy, and will also assess the implications of recent events on US policy options. This lecture is co-sponsored by the Religion, Politics and Globalization Program and the Iranian Students Alliance in America. For more information, see Travers Lecture Series on U.S. Foreign Policy.
New from Berkeley Public Policy Press	Why is California broke? California in the Balance offers a precise analysis of the Golden State's fiscal condition, from the process used to write the state budget to the reasons for chronic deficits to the possible paths to stability. Here are the details of California's financial woes, laid out step-by-step by one of the state's leading budgetary experts. With a foreword by California Treasurer Bill Lockyer. Order now.
IIS and IGS Launch Travers Lecture Series on U.S. Foreign Policy	Throughout the 2009-2010 academic year, the Institute of International Studies and the Institute of Governmental Studies will co-sponsor a series of lectures and seminars on the foreign policy challenges facing the Obama administration. Robert Baer, author of The Devil We Know, will inaugurate the series on Monday, September 21. Drawing on the history of Iran's emergence as a regional hegemon, Baer will analyze Iran's strategy and tactics and discuss U.S. policy options in the region in the wake of new regional realities. 12 p.m., 109 Moses Hall, IGS Library. For more information, please contact iis@berkeley.edu or visit http://globetrotter.berkeley.edu/.
Seminar on Institutions and Positive Political Theory	Please join us Monday, September 14, for the next speaker in the Positive Political Theory seminar series: Jonathan Bendor, of the Stanford University Graduate School of Business. PPT seminars are held at 12:00 pm in 119 Moses Hall.
Change and Continuity in the Italian Social Protection System	IGS Visiting Scholar Chiara Agostini looks at the status of Italy's welfare state in a seminar this Thursday at noon in 119 Moses Hall. This seminar will be dealing with processes of institutional innovation in the Italian welfare state, in an attempt to answer the larger question: is Italy moving away from a traditional welfare model? The analysis will be focused on the transformation of the social assistance sector, which was reformed in 2000. The impact of the reform in the various regions of the nation will be explored during the seminar, looking at the historically divided North and South and their varying ways of responding to the new demands of social services in the post-industrial society.
Gardner Fellowship Propels UCB Grad into Public Service	Sasha Pippenger ('08), profiled in the September 10 Berkeleyan, describes how her Gardner Fellowship year gave her the extraordinary opportunity to gain real-world humanitarian aid experience in war-torn Pakistan. Pippenger now works full-time for the International Rescue Committee in Islamabad. The Gardner Fellowship, a joint Berkeley-Stanford project, celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2010. For more information, see the fellowship program page.
Congressman Victor Fazio to Serve as Matsui Lecturer	Former California Congressman Victor H. Fazio will serve as the Matsui Lecturer for the 2009-10 academic year, spending a week in residence at Berkeley this fall. Fazio, who served in the House from 1979 to 1999, will deliver the Matsui Lecture on Tuesday, Nov. 3 in the Lipman Room in Barrows Hall. During his week at Berkeley, he will also speak to classes and meet with students and faculty members. Each year the Matsui Lectureship brings a former Member of Congress to Berkeley for a week, both to deliver a major public lecture and to interact with students and faculty members. [read more...]
Positive Political Theory seminar	The Positive Political Theory seminar for Fall 2009 gets underway on Monday, August 31, with Michael Peress speaking on "Estimating Proposal and Status Quo Locations Using Voting and Cosponsorship Data." Peress is James P. Wilmot Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Rochester. The seminar meets at noon in 119 Moses Hall. The PPT series is sponsored by the the Institute of Governmental Studies and the Charles and Louise Travers Department of Political Science. For more information about the PPT seminar, visit http://igs.berkeley.edu/research_programs/ppt/.
Nominating the President	The 2008 presidential primaries marked another milestone in the democratization of the nominations process with expanded participation by rank-and-file voters in donating money, voting, and using the Internet. In Nominating the President: Evolution and Revolution in 2008 and Beyond, edited by Jack Citrin, director of IGS, and David Karol, assistant professor of political science at UC Berkeley, leading scholars assess the state of the process with original research about money, scheduling, superdelegates, and the role of race and gender in voting.
Universities as Key to Progress in Post-Modern World	Universities have become a widely recognized route for full participation in the knowledge society. Research universities, in particular, serve as an unparalleled source of knowledge production and artful innovation, a foundation for modern science, an unequaled generator of talent, and a nearly required path for socioeconomic mobility in the post-modern world. But how do we build, nurture, and sustain these crucial institutions? Globalization's Muse helps to answer those questions, informing both policymakers and educators of the profound efforts by governments and institutions, and reminding both groups that in this complex and evolving environment, the United States is no longer the clear leader. Ordering information.
Climate Change in Europe	Frank Convery of University College Dublin will be speaking on August 19 on "A European Perspective on Copenhagen: Where Climate Change is Headed in Europe and What May Be Accomplished in Copenhagen." Frank Convery, Heritage Trust Professor of Environmental Policy at University College, Dublin, is an adviser on climate change policy to the EU Commission and the Japanese Government Cabinet Office. Details: Wednesday, August 19th at 4 p.m., 223 Moses Hall.
Special Budget Crisis Edition of California Journal of Politics and Policy	The Berkeley Electronic Press is pleased to announce the release of a special issue of California Journal of Politics and Policy on the California budget crisis. This special issue brings together a range of experts to assess what can be done to solve California's budget crisis. While there are, as one might expect, some fundamental differences in emphasis regarding where and how deep to cut spending and whether and how much to raise revenue, there is also a good deal of consensus.
IGS Donor Steps in to Help Berkeley Hopeful	Bill Brandt, a member of the IGS National Advisory Council and a major benefactor of the Institute, has expanded his contributions to Cal to include a four-year scholarship for a prospective student recently profiled in the New York Times. Brandt agreed to create a $20,000-a-year, four-year scholarship for Brennan Jackson, whose family lacked the resources to send him to Cal. Jackson, who is from Southern California, plans to enter Cal in the fall. more..
Former Cal-in-Sacramento Fellow is a University Medal Finalist	Lara Palanjian, who participated in the IGS Cal-in-Sacramento Fellowship program in 2007, is one of six students chosen this year as finalists for the University Medal, given to Berkeley's top graduating senior. As a Cal-in-Sac Platinum Fellow, Lara interned for Assemblywoman Sharon Runner. She also appeared in "The Voices of Tomorrow," a short film about IGS. For more about Lara and her accomplishments at Cal, see: The Berkeleyan, the Department of Political Science, and The Voices of Tomorrow.
IGS Authors Garner Praise	*Public Opinion and Constitutional Controversy*, edited by Nathaniel Persily, Jack Citrin and Patrick J. Egan, reviewed by retired Justice Pollock of New Jersey Supreme Court.
Hot Topics on Special Election Initiatives	The IGS Library has created a set of new Hot Topics webpages dealing with the six initiatives appearing on the May 19 special election ballot in California. The webpages offer comprehensive information on the measures, including historical background on each proposition, summaries of arguments for and against, and links to further analysis, endorsements, campaign committees, and financial data.
Cal-in-Sacramento Alumni Newsletter	The inaugural issue of Capital Corridor: The Cal-in-Sacramento Alumni Newsletter, has just been released. Check out the newsletter to learn about some of the Cal-in-Sacramento veterans who have gone on to careers in politics, and to keep up to date on the program's latest developments.
The September Project	Dr. David Silver of the University of San Francisco will speak on the September Project, a grassroots effort to encourage events about freedom and democracy in all libraries in all countries throughout the month of September. His lecture, â€œUsing Online Tools to Encourage Offline Participation," will be held Monday, April 6 at noon in the Harris Room, 119 Moses Hall.
Annual review of the presidency	Will America's new president change the country? Only a few weeks into the new administration, a panel of experts assesses the 2008 election and the likely future of the Obama presidency. Join us Monday, April 20 at 7:30 pm in 155 Dwinelle Hall for our review of the presidency.
The Forensics of Election Fraud with applications to Russia, Ukraine & Taiwan	On Tuesday, March 31, Peter C. Ordeshook, professor of political science at CalTech, will discuss his research on the detection and measurement of vote fraud in the electoral systems of transitional democracies. The talk will be held from 12-1:30 p.m. in the Harris Room, 119 Moses Hall.
Thirty years of Prop 13	In 1978 California voters shocked the political world by approving Proposition 13, a strict limit on local property tax rates. No state had ever approved such a far-reaching constitutional limitation of the power to tax. Three decades later, Prop 13 remains firmly entrenched in Californiaâ€™s Constitution. After the Tax Revolt: Californiaâ€™s Proposition 13 Turns 30 attempts to summarize the state of our knowledge about the consequences of this critical event in the history of California and the United States.
California Journal of Politics and Policy	The Berkeley Electronic Press and the Institute of Governmental Studies are pleased to announce the launch of California Journal of Politics and Policy, the first academic journal devoted to this unique state. The journal's first issue includes a special focus on Proposition 8 and the California Supreme Court review of the gay marriage amendment. See the NewsCenter article for more info.
IGS Donor Completes $250K Commitment	Citing the difficult economic challenges facing higher education, Institute of Governmental Studies National Advisory Council member Bill Brandt doubled his scheduled donation to the Institute this year, completing a five-year $250,000 commitment in just three years. Complete story here.
Nuclear Power as a Solution for Climate Change: Lessons from France	Dr. Jacques Bouchard, formerly head of the Nuclear Energy Division of the Commissariat a Lâ€™Energie Atomique (CEA), will speak in the IGS Library on Thursday, February 26, at 4 p.m.
Patterns and Puzzles in Asian American Politics	On Thursday, March 5, 2009 at 2 p.m. in the IGS Library there will be a panel discussion of a groundbreaking new survey of Asian-American political opinions, the National Asian American Survey. Panelists include Taeku Lee, Director of the Center on Race, Immigration and Ethnicity, Jane Junn (Rutgers), Karthick Ramakrishnan (UC-Riverside), and Janelle Wong (USC).
Immigrant Organizations	On Thursday, March 12, 2009 at 5:30 p.m. in the IGS Library Dr. Alejandro Portes will speak on "Convergent or Divided Loyalties: Immigrant Organizations in the Political Incorporation of Latin Migrants in the US."
Global Financial and Economic Crisis	What actions can G20 leaders take to stem the tsunami washing over the world economy? Join a distinguished panel of UC Berkeley economists discussing "What Should the G20 Do?" on Wednesday, March 18, at 12:30 in Booth Auditorium, Boalt Hall.
Matsui Lecture: Congressman Jim Leach	After 30 years as a Republican Congressman from Iowa, Representative Jim Leach broke party ranks and endorsed Democrat Barack Obama for the presidency. Congressman Leach will present the inaugural Matsui Lecture on Wednesday, March 18, at 4:00 pm in the Lipman Room, Barrows Hall, "The State of American Politics: Obama, the New Presidential Dynamic, and the Dilemma for the GOP."
Red State, Blue State, Rich State, Poor State	On Thursday March 19 at 4:00 p.m. in the IGS Library, Andrew Gelman will discuss his new book Red State, Blue State, Rich State, Poor State: Why Americans Vote the Way They Do. The book explores why Democrats win elections in wealthy states while Republicans get the votes of richer voters, how the two parties have become ideologically polarized, and other issues.
New Books by IGS Faculty	Civic Hopes and Political Realities: Immigrants, Community Organizations, and Political Engagement by S. Karthick Ramakrishnan and Irene Bloemraad, Editors. Law's Allure: How Law Shapes, Constrains, Saves, and Kills Politics by Gordon Silverstein.
Sweet Land of Liberty	On Friday, February 20 at noon in the IGS Library, Thomas J. Sugrue will discuss his new book Sweet Land of Liberty: The Forgotten Struggle for Civil Rights in the North. Thomas J. Sugrue is Edmund J. and Louise W. Kahn Professor of History and Sociology at the University of Pennsylvania.
2008-09 Synar Research Fellowship Recipients	Recipients of the Fall 2008-09 Mike Synar Research Fellowship have been announced. The recipients are listed here.
Management Services Officer	IGS is recruiting a new Management Services Officer III position. To apply for this position, please visit: http://berkeley.edu/work/jobs.shtml. The Requisition number for this position is #009534. This job remains open until filled. Applications will begin to be reviewed on January 26, 2009.
Smart Growth	The Fifth Victor Jones Memorial Lecture will present Carl Guardino, President and CEO of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, on Leading the Way to Smart Growth: Lessons from Silicon Valley. Wednesday, February 25, 2009 3:00 - 5:00 pm, UC Berkeley Alumni House, Toll Room
Presidential Pardons	The IGS Library has created a new Hot Topic guide to Presidential Pardons, including information about the history of the pardon power and potential Bush pardons.
Berkeley Biosafety and Biodiversity Workshop	This workshop brings together representatives from the US and the EU in academia, industry, the NGO-sector, and government in order to examine regulatory approaches to addressing biodiversity and biosafety issues in light of climate change. December 11-12, Helzel Board Room, Haas School of Business. See complete program.
Polsby Grant Recipients Announced	Recipients of the Fall 2008 Nelson W. Polsby Grants for Public Affairs Research have been announced. The recipients are listed here. The Center for the Study of Representation is accepting applications for the Spring 2009 grants. Click here for information on how to apply.
Olivier Roy Book Talk	On Wednesday, November 19 at 4:00 p.m. in the IGS Library, Olivier Roy, the internationally renowned specialist on global Islam and Visiting Professor at UC Berkeley will present his latest book to be published in 2009 in English, "The Holy Ignorance". The book examines the recent revival of religion, the increasing number of converts, the disconnect between religion and culture and its consequences.
The West and Russia After Georgia	Jeremy Kinsman, formerly the Canadian Ambassador to the European Union (2002-06), and now a Diplomat-in-Residence at Princeton University, will speak on "The West and Russia" in the IGS Library on Thursday, November 20 at 4:00 p.m.
Global Neighborhoods	Michel Laguerre, Professor and Director of the Berkeley Center for Globalization and Information Technology, has a new book *Global Neighborhoods: Jewish Quarters in Paris, London, and Berlin*.
Election Night at IGS	On Election Night, November 4, 2008, starting at 4pm, come hear what experts have to say about the 2008 election, and then watch the returns with political junkies at the Institute of Governmental Studies. All events are free and open to the public (with refreshments provided).
Field Poll Director to Speak at IGS on November 3	Mark DiCamillo, executive director of the Field Poll, will be at the IGS Library on November 3, 2008 at 4:00pm. He will provide a summary of the final week of California polling data. This event is free and open to the public.
Election Night Webcast	Students working with IGS faculty member Susan Rasky have produced Election 2008 resources on the News21 American Dream website. Tune in tonight for a Live Webcast.
Senator Darrell Steinberg on Green Jobs	California State Senator Darrell Steinberg will speak about SB 375, green jobs, and a future environmental agenda for California. The talk is co-sponsored by the UC Berkeley School of Law and IGS. It will take place on Tuesday, October 28 at 12:30 in the Goldberg Room, 2nd Floor, Boalt Hall.
Campaign Memorabilia	Campaign buttons from the IGS Library collection are featured in a video from the Contra Costa Times.
Ballot Measure Resources	The 2008 election season is now over, but if you're interested in what happened in the arena of California politics, IGS online resources can help. See the IGS Library's Hot Topics resources, Ballot Endorsements page, and the Election 2008 weblog to make sense of the 2008 California ballot measures.
Tried by War: Abraham Lincoln as Commander in Chief	On Monday, October 27 at 12:30 p.m. in the IGS Library, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian James M. McPherson speaks about his new book *Tried by War: Abraham Lincoln as Commander in Chief. McPherson is Professor Emeritus of History at Princeton University and received the Pulitzer Prize for Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era*.
Compound Democracies	On Wednesday, October 29 at 4:00 p.m. in the IGS Library, Prof. Sergio Fabbrini will discuss his new book *Compound Democracies: Why the United States and Europe Are Becoming Similar*. Fabbrini is Professor of Political Science and Director of the School of International Studies, Trento University.
Polsby Grants (old)	The Center for the Study of Representation is accepting applications for the Nelson W. Polsby Grant for Public Affairs Research. Click here for information on how to apply.
Reception for Debra Bowen	There will be a reception for California Secretary of State Debra Bowen, the state's chief elections officer, on Wednesday, October 29 at 5 p.m. in Room 223 Moses. Hall.
National Asian American Survey Released	A groundbreaking new survey of Asian-American political opinions, the National Asian American Survey, has been released. The survey is the result of research conducted by political scientists at four major institutions of higher learning, including Taeku Lee, Director of the Center on Race, Immigration and Ethnicity. The full survey, including accompanying documentation and methodology, is here.
Webcast of October 2 Global Financial Market Turmoil Panel Available	A webcast is now available from the October 2 panel of distinguished scholars from UC Berkeley who analyzed how the recent financial market meltdown occurred, evaluated the government's response, and explained its impact on American households and global markets. The event was co-sponsored by the Berkeley Center for Law, Business and the Economy and the IGS Center on Institutions & Governance.
"The American Presidency at War" Coming on September 19	An all-day conference will take place on Friday, September 19, exploring the presidency during wartime and the proper place of the executive branch in the American political system. Keynote speakers will include Ken Mehlman and John Podesta, who played pivotal roles in the Bush and Clinton Administrations. The conference will take place in the Lipman Room, Barrows Hall, and is open and free to the public. Click here for a full conference schedule.
IGS Fall 2008 Visiting Scholars Announced	IGS has announced its Fall 2008 Visiting Scholars. Please click here for a list of the scholars, their academic affiliations, and their research interests.
American Political History: Talk on "What Hath God Wrought"	Daniel Howe will speak on Friday, September 5 in the Harris Room as the inaugural guest in this year's American Political History seminar series on his recent book, "What Hath God Wrought: The Transformation of America 1815-1848." Howe's work won the Pulitzer Prize for nonfiction and general history in April 2008.
Fall 2008 American Political History Seminar Schedule Posted	The Fall 2008 schedule of speakers in the American Political History Seminar series has been posted. Please click here for more details.
Fall 2008 Political Theory Seminar Schedule Posted	The Fall 2008 schedule of speakers in the Positive Political Theory (PPT) seminar series has been posted. Please click here for more details.
"Racial and Ethnic Politics in California"	The third volume of this series from the IGS Press, edited by former IGS Director Bruce Cain and Sandra Bass, offers a unique examination of many of the crucial issues that spring from California's changing demographics. Click here for more details and information on ordering.
IGS Biennial Report Available	The Institute of Governmental Studies has released its 2006-2008 biennial report, which details and highlights the Institute's public activities, research, events, student projects, and other activities as a campus organized research unit. Click here for the full report.
"The Voices of Tomorrow": A Film about IGS	IGS is proud to present a short film that showcases what we do and who we are. Learn about IGS's role as a place that combines the practical work of politics with the theoretical dynamism that will shape tomorrow's generation of national and state leaders. Click here.
Laurence Tribe and Roger Pilon Webcast & Radio Broadcast	A webcast of the IGS-sponsored debate on the constitutionality of health-care reform, featuring Laurence Tribe and Roger Pilon, is now available. On Dec. 2 at 8 p.m. KQED (88.5 FM) in San Francisco will broadcast an audio recording of the debate. Visit KQED for additional air times.
New Articles from California Journal of Politics and Policy	The editors are pleased to announce the following articles recently published in California Journal of Politics and Policy: -- A Review of the 2011 and 2013 Digital Television Energy Efficiency Regulations Developed and Adopted by the California Energy Commission by C. Paul Wazzan and Dawn E. Eash -- Failed State: Political Corruption and the Collapse of Democracy in Bell, California by Tom Hogen-Esch -- Comparative Advantage and Job Formation in California and Texas by Jerry Nickelsburg -- Prop. 25:The State Budget and Incremental Reform in a Polarized Era by Kenneth C. Burt -- The Political Economy of Decline in California by Nicole Willcoxon and George Willcoxon

May 21, 2012