Ian McDonald

Ian McDonald (PhD Duke University 2009) has taught undergraduate courses in American politics, research methods, comparative politics. His research focuses on political geography and he published the article Migration, Polarization, and Sorting in the American Electorate in American Politics Research. At Lewis & Clark, he taught classes about U.S political culture in the 1960’s and taught the introductory English course for first year students. In 2020, he published Doing Favors: The Insular Moral and Political World of Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman in Bright Lights Film Journal. He thinks The Sopranos has more to say about American politics than The West Wing.

Academic Credentials

Teaching

Spring 2022

POLS 102: Introduction to Comparative Politics

MWF 10:20 am - 11:20 am 

Introduction to the central questions in comparative politics. Fundamental differences in the organization of states, democratic political institutions (presidentialism versus parliamentarianism, for example), and domestic social forces (for example, social capital, ethnic versus nonethnic identities). The impact of political organization on economic performance and social peace.

Prerequisites: None.

Restrictions: None.