TRUMP PHENOMENON: Political Science Panel Discussion Slated at U-M

Social Science Researchers to Analyze Current Presidential Race

May 18, 2016
By: Dave Rogers

Donald Trump's surprising rise to the presumptive Republican presidential nominee will be the focus of a political science discussion Thursday at the University of Michigan.

Political scientists at the University of Michigan and Duke University will attempt to explain Trump's rise and continued popularity during a roundtable discussion examining "The Trump Phenomenon."

The discussion, which will take place from noon to 1:30 p.m. Thursday, is free and open to the public. It will take place at the Institute for Social Research, Suite 1430, 426 Thompson St., Ann Arbor.

The panelists will review ongoing public opinion research on Trump's popularity and offer commentary on the campaign season. They will also provide historical perspectives on the Republican Party and on past "outsider" presidential candidates.

Panelists include:

Ken Kollman, director of the Center for Political Studies at the Institute for Social Research and professor of political science. His research focuses on political parties and organizations, elections, lobbying, federal systems, and American and comparative politics. Michael Traugott, research professor in the Center for Political Studies and emeritus professor of communication studies and political science. He is an authority on political communication, public opinion, media polling and campaign surveys.

Ted Brader, research professor in the Center for Political Studies and professor of political science. His research focuses on the role of emotions in politics, political partisanship, media effects on public opinion and political psychology.

Ashley Jardina, who received her doctorate in political science from U-M, is an assistant professor of political science at Duke University. Her work focuses on racial conflict and the way in which group identities influence voting behavior and political preferences in the U.S.

On May 19, political scientists at the University of Michigan and Duke University will attempt to explain Trump's rise and continued popularity during a roundtable discussion examining "The Trump Phenomenon."

The discussion, which will take place from noon to 1:30 p.m. Thursday, is free and open to the public. It will take place at the Institute for Social Research, Suite 1430, 426 Thompson St., Ann Arbor. The panelists will review ongoing public opinion research on Trump's popularity and offer commentary on the campaign season. They will also provide historical perspectives on the Republican Party and on past "outsider" presidential candidates.

Panelists include:

Ken Kollman, director of the Center for Political Studies at the Institute for Social Research and professor of political science. His research focuses on political parties and organizations, elections, lobbying, federal systems, and American and comparative politics.

Michael Traugott, research professor in the Center for Political Studies and emeritus professor of communication studies and political science. He is an authority on political communication, public opinion, media polling and campaign surveys.

Ted Brader, research professor in the Center for Political Studies and professor of political science. His research focuses on the role of emotions in politics, political partisanship, media effects on public opinion and political psychology.

Ashley Jardina, who received her doctorate in political science from U-M, is an assistant professor of political science at Duke University. Her work focuses on racial conflict and the way in which group identities influence voting behavior and political preferences in the U.S.

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