Center for American Political Studies at Harvard University

Welcome to the Center for American Political Studies (CAPS). Led by an interdisciplinary group of political scientists, sociologists, economists, and historians at Harvard University, CAPS fosters discussion, research, public outreach, and pedagogy about all aspects of modern U.S. politics. CAPS offers funding opportunities for affiliated faculty, graduate students, and undergraduates. In addition, CAPS sponsors conferences and workshops, and holds a seminar series during the academic year.

FALL 2008 EVENTS

Congratulations to Theda Skocpol, CAPS former director (2000-2006), on her elections to membership in the National Academy of Sciences. HarvardScience article.

CAPS Director, Dan Carpenter was awarded a "We the People" Special Challenge Grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities for $875,000 for his proposal titled "The American Republic Initiative at Harvard University." The program, to be developed over the next four to five years, will include the creation of new courses, invitations to visiting faculty conversant with the subject of American political thought, and programs that will engage the larger community, including a summer program for Boston high school teachers. Harvard Gazette article.

Want to receive email notices about CAPS events and programs? Email caps@gov.harvard.edu to join our mailing list.

CAPS LECTURE EVENTS FOR FALL 2008

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CAPS PRE-ELECTION FORUM
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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2008, 4:00-6:00PM
PANELISTS:
    Steven Ansolabehere, Harvard University
    Thomas Edsall, Columbia University, The Huffington Post
    Morris Fiorina, Hoover Institute and Stanford University
    Sunshine Hillygus, Harvard University
LOCATION: Room K262, CGIS Knafel Building, 1737 Cambridge Street

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SEMINAR CO-SPONSORED WITH THE PROGRAM ON U.S.-JAPAN RELATIONS
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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2008, 12:30-2:00PM
SPEAKER: Michael S. Dukakis, Northeastern University and 1988 Democratic Party Presidential
    Nominee
TITLE: "The 2008 Presidential Election: What's at Stake?"
DISCUSSANT: Virginia Sapiro, Boston University
LOCATION: Room S-020, CGIS South Building, 1730 Cambridge Street

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CAPS SEMINAR
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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2008, 2:00-4:00PM
SPEAKERS:
    Arthur Lupia, University of Michigan
    Jon Krosnick, Stanford University
TITLE: "What Are They Thinking? Information, Persuasion, and the American Public's Response to Climate Change"
LOCATION: Room K262, CGIS Knafel Building, 1737 Cambridge Street

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ALEXIS DE TOCQUEVILLE LECTURE ON AMERICAN POLITICS
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THURSDAY & FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30-31, 2008 - SCHEDULE BELOW
LECTURER: John Lewis Gaddis, Yale University
TITLE: "The Uses of Kennan: A Grand Strategist's Legacy"
COMMENTATORS:
    Jeff Frieden, Harvard University
    Robert W. Kagan, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
    Ian Shapiro, Yale University
SCHEDULE:
    Thu, 10/30, 4:00-6:00pm, Lecture
    Fri, 10/31, 10:00am-12:00pm, Comments and Rejoinder
LOCATION: Room S-010, CGIS South Building, 1730 Cambridge Street (both
days)

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POST-ELECTION ANALYSIS & FORUM
CO-SPONSORED WITH THE PROGRAM ON CONSTITUTIONAL GOVERNMENT
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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2008, 4:30-9:30PM
SPEAKERS:
    William Galston, Brookings Institution
    William Kristol, Editor, The Weekly Standard
SCHEDULE:
    4:30-6:30pm Seminar
    6:30-7:30pm Buffet Dinner - *RSVP REQUESTED*
    7:30-9:00pm Discussion
LOCATION: Room S-010, CGIS South Building, 1730 Cambridge Street

*PLEASE RSVP TO caps@gov.harvard.edu BY FRI 10/31/08 FOR THE DINNER.*

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CAPS SEMINAR
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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2008, 2:00-4:00PM
SPEAKER: Robert A. Kagan, University of California, Berkeley
TITLE: "Compliance Costs, Regulation, and Environmental Performance:
    Controlling Truck Emissions in the United States"
LOCATION: Room K354, CGIS Knafel Building, 1737 Cambridge Street

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CAPS SEMINAR
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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2008, 2:00-4:00PM
SPEAKER: Mark Graber, University of Maryland
TITLE: "Polarized Parties, Centrist Justices"
LOCATION: Room K354, CGIS Knafel Building, 1737 Cambridge Street

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CAPS SEMINAR
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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2008, 2:00-4:00PM
SPEAKER: Ted Brader, University of Michigan
TITLE: "Public Responses to Threat: Media Discourse, Emotions, and
    Public Opinion on Immigration, Globalization, and Terrorism"
LOCATION: Room K262, CGIS Knafel Building, 1737 Cambridge Street