vlog

Gavel and scales of justice on a green-felted desk in front of bookshelves.
Feature: How U.S. Courts Privilege Conservative Policy Outcomes

Maya Sen assesses the institutional and compositional features of U.S. federal courts that tend to bias them toward conservative policy outcomes.

Map of the united states with a pin in the midwest.
Feature: The U.S. Place-Based Policy Supply Chain

Dani Rodrik and Gordon Hanson document how vertical policy supply chains distribute resources from federal and state governments to recipients at the local level.

Political leader speaks into a microphone at a podium with an advisor standing behind her.
Feature: How Does Shaming Human Rights Violators Abroad Shape Attitudes at Home?

Lotem Bassan-Nygate theorizes that by shaming human rights violators abroad, governments can improve their image at home but may encourage tolerance toward certain domestic violations.

Two people sit at a desk in front of a laptop with rows of filing cabinets behind them.
Feature: Thinking (about Peace Science) in Time

Erica Chenoweth speaks to colleagues in the peace science community, reflecting on the world events that have shaped their scholarship and how researchers might think about the current geopolitical moment.

Harvard Kennedy School faculty disseminate their research in working publications and papers that contribute to public knowledge and fuel policy innovation. This list features recent faculty publications, including journal articles, books, edited volumes, research papers, and public testimony.

Faculty Publications

How Has the Electoral College Survived for This Long?

Keyssar, Alexander. "How Has the Electoral College Survived for This Long?" New York Times. August 3, 2020.

Why Do We Still Have the Electoral College?

Keyssar, Alexander. Why Do We Still Have the Electoral College? Harvard University Press, 2020.

Muito Longe da Esperança (Far From Hope)

Keyssar, Alexander. "Muito Longe da Esperança (Far From Hope)." Piaui (Brazil). October 2012.

Do Away With the Electoral College

Keyssar, Alexander. "Do Away With the Electoral College." New York Times, July 8, 2012.

Voter Suppression Returns

Keyssar, Alexander. "Voter Suppression Returns." Harvard Magazine. July 1, 2012.

Voter Suppression Returns-Voting Rights and Partisan Practices

Keyssar, Alexander. "Voter Suppression Returns-Voting Rights and Partisan Practices." Harvard Magazine. July-August 2012.

The Strange Career of Voter Suppression

Keyssar, Alexander. "The Strange Career of Voter Suppression." New York Times, February 12, 2012.

How Americans Vote

Keyssar, Alexander. "How Americans Vote." Election Law Journal: Rules, Politics, and Policy 10.4 (December 2011): 471-473.

The Balancing Act of Barack Obama

Keyssar, Alexander. "The Balancing Act of Barack Obama." Estudos e Análises de Conjuntura. January 2011, 1-10.

The Genesis and Legacy of the U.S. Constitution

Keyssar, Alexander. "The Genesis and Legacy of the U.S. Constitution." Republics in Parallel: Portugal and the United States of America. Coordinated by Mario Mesquita, Paulo Zaglo, and Paula Vicente Melo. Fundação Luso-Americana, 2010, 129-141.

The Right to Vote: The Contested History of Democracy in the United States

Keyssar, Alexander. The Right to Vote: The Contested History of Democracy in the United States, Revised Edition. Basic Books, 2009.

The Way of the Ship: America's Maritime History Reenvisioned, 1600-2000

Roland, Alex, W. Jeffrey Bolster, and Alexander Keyssar. The Way of the Ship: America's Maritime History Reenvisioned, 1600-2000. John Wiley & Sons, 2008.

Quem Leva a Cadeira de Bush?

Keyssar, Alexander. "Quem Leva a Cadeira de Bush?" O Estado de S. Paolo, December 30, 2007.

How Not to Choose a President.

Keyssar, Alexander. "How Not to Choose a President." Los Angeles Times, October 28, 2007.

Democracy as an Ongoing Project: Threats and Challenges to Democratic Governance in the U.S.

Keyssar, Alexander. “Democracy as an Ongoing Project: Threats and Challenges to Democratic Governance in the U.S.” The September Project, University of Utah, September 2007.

Democracy as a Project: The Strange Career of Political Participation in the U.S.

Keyssar, Alexander. “Democracy as a Project: The Strange Career of Political Participation in the U.S.” Latin American Regional Forum, Monterrey, Mexico, August 2007.

A Terrible Metaphor for the U.S.

Keyssar, Alexander. "A Terrible Metaphor for the U.S." Folha de Sao Paulo (Brazil), January 7, 2007.

The Meaning of Democracy: Electoral Reform in Local and Global Contexts.

Keyssar, Alexander. “The Meaning of Democracy: Electoral Reform in Local and Global Contexts.” American Historical Association's Annual Meeting, January 2007.

É o Fim da Presidência Imperial de Bush.

Keyssar, Alexander. "É o Fim da Presidência Imperial de Bush." Brazil: O Estado de S. Paulo, November 9, 2006.

EUA Criam Obstáculos à Democracia, Diz Professor.

Keyssar, Alexander. "EUA Criam Obstáculos à Democracia, Diz Professor." Valor, November 8, 2006.

Recent Trends in American Policy: Democracy Abroad but Not at Home.

Keyssar, Alexander. "Recent Trends in American Policy: Democracy Abroad but Not at Home." Institute for Advanced Study, Sao Paulo, Brazil, November 8, 2006.

Sistema Eleitoral Continua Falho Nos EUA.

Keyssar, Alexander. "Sistema Eleitoral Continua Falho Nos EUA." Folha de Sao Paulo, October 15, 2006.

Voter Registration: Past and Present.

Keyssar, Alexander. "Voter Registration: Past and Present." Voter Identification/Registration Conference, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, October 5, 2006.

Six Ways to Reform Democracy: Reaffirm in Law that Voting Is a Fundamental Right.

Keyssar, Alexander. "Six Ways to Reform Democracy: Reaffirm in Law that Voting Is a Fundamental Right." Boston Review 31.5 (2006): 19-23.

Katrina: Thinking About How to Respond.

Keyssar, Alexander. "Katrina: Thinking About How to Respond." Confronting Katrina Symposium, hosted by Carleton College, March, 2006.

What Are The Current Trends in Civic Engagement and Historical Literacy?

Keyssar, Alexander. "What Are The Current Trends in Civic Engagement and Historical Literacy?" 2006 National Parks Scholars Forum: National Park Service and Civic Reflection, 2006.

Inventing America: A History of the United States

Maier, Pauline, Merrit Roe Smith, Alexander Keyssar, and Daniel J. Kevles. Inventing America: A History of the United States, Second Edition. W.W. Norton, 2006.

Reminders of Poverty, Soon Forgotten.

Keyssar, Alexander. "Reminders of Poverty, Soon Forgotten." The Chronicle Review November 4, 2005.

Taking the Pledge

Keyssar, Alexander. "Taking the Pledge." Review of To the Flag: The Unlikely History of the Pledge of Allegiance, by Richard J. Ellis. Washington Post, June 14, 2005: C04.

The Electoral College Flunks

Keyssar, Alexander. "The Electoral College Flunks." Review of Why the Electoral College Is Bad for America, by George C. Edwards III. The New York Review of Books, 52.5 March 24, 2005.

What Right to Vote?

Keyssar, Alexander. "What Right to Vote?" New York Magazine November 8, 2004.

Peculiar Institution.

Keyssar, Alexander. "Peculiar Institution." Boston Sunday Globe October 17, 2004.

The Aristocrats: Focusing on the Presidents Bush

Keyssar, Alexander. "The Aristocrats: Focusing on the Presidents Bush." Review of American Dynasty: Aristocracy, Fortune, and the Politics of Deceit in the House of Bush, by Kevin Phillips. Boston Sunday Globe, February 8, 2004: H9.

Giving Revisionists a Bad Name.

Keyssar, Alexander. "Giving Revisionists a Bad Name." The Washington Post, June 24, 2003.

The Majority's Rules; Courting Disaster: The Supreme Court and the Unmaking of American Law.

Keyssar, Alexander. "The Majority's Rules; Courting Disaster: The Supreme Court and the Unmaking of American Law." Los Angeles Times, May 25, 2003.

Shoring up the Right to Vote for President: A Modest Proposal.

Keyssar, Alexander. "Shoring up the Right to Vote for President: A Modest Proposal." Political Science Quarterly 118.3 (2003): 181-190.

Education for Public Service in the United States: A History.

Keyssar, Alexander, and Ernest R. May. "Education for Public Service in the United States: A History." For the People: Can We Fix Public Service? Ed. John D. Donahue and Joseph S. Nye, Jr. Brookings Institution, 2003.

The Right to Vote in the South.

Keyssar, Alexander. "The Right to Vote in the South." Southern Exposure Winter 2003: 17-35.

The Project of Democracy.

Keyssar, Alexander. "The Project of Democracy." Maine Policy Review 11.2 (Winter 2002): 90-99.

Inventing America: A History of the United States

Maier, Pauline, Merrit Roe Smith, Alexander Keyssar, and Daniel J. Kevles. Inventing America: A History of the United States. W.W. Norton, 2002.

Reform and an Evolving Electorate.

Keyssar, Alexander. "Reform and an Evolving Electorate." New York Times, August 5, 2001.

The Right to Vote: The Contested History of Democracy in the United States

Keyssar, Alexander. The Right to Vote: The Contested History of Democracy in the United States, Paperback Edition. Basic, 2001.

The Right to Vote and Election 2000.

Keyssar, Alexander. "The Right to Vote and Election 2000." The Undecided Election. Ed. Jack Rakove. Basic, 2001.