Politics – Wicked Problems, Wicked Solutions

Undergraduate Spotlight: Tatyana LaCourse from the Department of International Affairs

What is your major and why did you choose it? I am an International Affairs and Political Science double major. I decided to major in these two fields because I am very interested in what goes on politically, across the world. I entered my studies hoping that in my future career, I could make a…

IOP@FSU Field-Advancing Research: Do Twitter Bans Matter? Political Influencers and the Quality of Information they Share Before and After Account Suspensions

The Institute of Politics at Florida State University (IOP@FSU) is a world-class, nonpartisan, and nationally renowned institute that promotes engagement in politics by students and citizens. Housed within the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy, the IOP@FSU supports applied political research by a cadre of world-class scholars and mobilizes the talents of our alumni, students, faculty,…

Graduate Student Spotlight: Austin Cutler from the Department of Political Science

What department are you a graduate student in? I am in the Political Science Department! Why did you decide to go to graduate school? I decided to go to graduate school to pursue a career as a professor and researcher. Did your interests change throughout your program? As I have gone through grad school, I…

Honors Thesis Spotlight: The Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Puerto Rico’s Tourism Industry

Tourism is one of the primary businesses which attracts external investment to the island of Puerto Rico, while also furthering pro-business interests in place of those from the general public. It has set the bar for Puerto Rico’s urban economy today, especially that of its capital, San Juan, and has developed around the influx of…

IOP@FSU Field-Advancing Research: Concede or Resist? Experimental Evidence of U.S. Local Officials

Honors Thesis Spotlight: Accommodation, to Competition, to Rivalry: An Evaluation of U.S.-China Relations in the Obama & Trump Administrations

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, public opinion has changed regarding the PRC in the populations of the United States and others, while showing the hazardous Chinese behavior has to the international community (1). Steven Richards’s thesis explores the US-China relations and identifies major events and trends within their history. In addition, the research will explore the…

Undergraduate Spotlight: Kaylah Ross from the Department of Political Science

What is your major and why did you choose it? My major is Political Science and I have a minor in Religion. I chose to do Political Science due to the fact that I hope to go to law school after I do my undergrad. I have always been fascinated with government practice and public…

Graduate Student Spotlight: Giulia Venturini from the Department of Political Science

What department are you a graduate student in? I am a 4th year Ph.D. candidate in the Political Science Department. Why did you decide to go to graduate school? Since I was a little kid, I have been fascinated with learning and understanding how the world works. While I was studying for a M.Sc. in…

Honors Thesis Spotlight: Will the Demographic Dividend Affect South Asia?

As fertility rates drop, it is evident that there are major economic and demographic consequences across the world. According to the researcher Melissa Pregasen, the replacement level of fertility at which the population will become stable is 2.1 children per woman given typical contemporary mortality levels. In other words, the average amount of births is…

Undergraduate Spotlight: Delylah Rodriguez from the Department of Interdisciplinary Social Sciences

What is your major and why did you choose it? The major I chose was interdisciplinary social sciences. I chose this major because I knew it would offer me a lot of flexibility in what classes I would be taking. This was a very important aspect for me as I am a very indecisive person…