full-time faculty teaching and conducting research in political science
of Maxwell faculty conduct research focused outside of the U.S.
graduate students in residence; fewer than 12 admitted each year
Undergraduate Studies
Graduate Studies
I am Maxwell.
Civic engagement is a core value for me. I have always aspired to help the communities I’m from.” Mazaher Kaila, a Maxwell alumna and third-year student at Syracuse University's College of Law, moved with her family from Sudan to Central New York when she was four years old. “I realized that to make meaningful change in society, I needed to understand the systems that power it—government and politics—and that’s insight I would gain by studying political science.”
Mazaher Kaila ’19, L’22
political science, law
While most voters and politicians are convinced that campaign finance shapes policy and elections, studies typically have found small or no effects. However, better data and a greater focus on causal identification have transformed the literature in recent years.
In this chapter, I take stock of our current understanding of campaign finance in democratic countries: Who are the campaign donors and what motivates them? How does campaign finance affect policy? And how does campaign spending affect elections?
I argue that the recent findings chip away at the old conventional wisdom that campaign spending has little impact, and instead supports the view that it has important consequences for policy and election outcomes. I also point to gaps in our understanding and highlight areas for future research.
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May 14, 2024
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Mar 18, 2024
BaoBao Zhang Joins First Cohort of AI2050 Early Career Fellows
One of only 15 scholars chosen from across the U.S., Zhang will receive up to $200,000 in research funding over the next two years. Zhang will use the funding to partner with the nonprofit, non-partisan Center for New Democratic Processes to test whether public participation in AI governance is increased through the creation of public assemblies, known as “deliberative democracy workshops.”
Baobao Zhang
Assistant Professor, Political Science Department
While most voters and politicians are convinced that campaign finance shapes policy and elections, studies typically have found small or no effects. However, better data and a greater focus on causal identification have transformed the literature in recent years.
In this chapter, I take stock of our current understanding of campaign finance in democratic countries: Who are the campaign donors and what motivates them? How does campaign finance affect policy? And how does campaign spending affect elections?
I argue that the recent findings chip away at the old conventional wisdom that campaign spending has little impact, and instead supports the view that it has important consequences for policy and election outcomes. I also point to gaps in our understanding and highlight areas for future research.
Related News
Commentary
May 14, 2024
Commentary
Mar 18, 2024