My first blog post!
What are some of the implications of your work for the wider world?
By working on research that deals with the U.S. government there are a lot of implications that affect the rest of the world. The United States is one of the most politically powerful nations in the world. The U.S. government makes policy decisions and creates laws that have the power to affect the lives of people living in other countries. My field of research deals specifically with politicians who are elected members of the U.S. House of Representatives (aka Congress).
One example of how this field of work affects the wider world is by looking at the Appropriations Committee within Congress. The Appropriations Committee has the power to decide the amount of money that is allocated to various government departments and programs, one of those being U.S. foreign aid. U.S. foreign aid is sent out to other countries who are in need of economic assistance. Through the Appropriations Committee deciding how much of the U.S. budget will go towards assisting other countries this one committee alone makes decisions that affect the wider world.
How would you explain the importance of your work to a non-expert, someone who is intelligent but does not understand your field?
I recently met a young woman who told me she had never heard of political science as a field of study before (true story). It shocked me to hear her so happily admit her ignorance. Unfortunately I did not have the time to explain to her how important it is to educate yourself on how our government works, or lecture her on why it is her civic duty to vote. While I may have failed in that moment, I would like to take the time now to practice what I will say when I meet someone like her again in the future:
To put it very simply, political science is the study of government and society. Political science is important because it studies the political activities and political behavior of people living under the rule of a government. Living in America gives us many unique political freedoms and protections that people who live in different countries do not have. It is important to educate yourself on political issues because you as a citizen are given the power to vote. Voting determines what your life will be like for future years to come. Even if you do not care to learn about anything else related to political science, you should at least do yourself the favor of registering to vote. That way, you give yourself the power to determine who the next leader of the world will be.
How would you explain to someone why what you do is important, and worth the investment of time and resources?
My research looks at the social interactions members of Congress are having with one another. By studying how often members are travelling abroad together, we are able to get a better understanding of why Democrats and Republicans fail to successfully work together on the House floor. Politicians are human, whether someone is a liberal or conservative everyone has families to go home to, personal fears and dreams. By having members spend time together they get to know their political “enemy” as a human being. When you connect with someone it is much easier to listen to what they have to say (even if you do not agree with it). This creates mutual understanding and allows politicians to work together, and as a result allows for Congress to be productive and do the work it is meant to do.
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