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APSA Resources on Systemic Racism & Social Justice

Political scientists have long examined the linkages between race, power, governance, social injustice and oppression. This scholarship has made an invaluable contribution to our discipline and to public discourse. It has illuminated the sources and structures of systemic racism, pervasive inequality and human rights abuses in the United States, as well as the resulting social, political, and public policy consequences.  Below is a collection of resources and scholarly work from political scientists and a variety of other sources, that we hope you will engage. Additionally, we have provided access to articles from the journals of the American Political Science Association that address these important questions.


This project arose as a means to acknowledge the issues and debates that have re-surfaced into the public discourse as a result of the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery at the hands of police, and the resulting protests and civil debates about social justice, race, systemic racism and public policy. With the understanding that these social, political, and economic themes predate the events and protests in Minneapolis, MN and the protests around globe. The goals of this project are to: 1) Highlight the range of scholarly expertise and contributions of political scientists whose research and public engagement addresses these important topics, 2) Identify a diverse array of political science resources that can be brought to bear to assist students and faculty in the classroom and the public the better understand and dialogue about these issues in a constructive way, and 3) Acknowledge and appreciate that these themes are core and essential to the study of political science.


The resource page is divided into five key sections, as described below. While the resource page is not meant to be comprehensive, it is dynamic and inclusive. As we learn of new resources from our members and staff, we will update the page.

Getting Started

Familiarize yourself with key terms, and access resources about understanding race and social (in)justice. 

Engage

Learn about strategies for further engagement, involvement and advocacy.

Explore

Learn about existing diversity and inclusion and pedagogical resources such as syllabi and teaching tools.

Share

Submit a resource on social justice or systemic racism for consideration.

Get Informed

Read related political science research from APSA scholars and others on race, ethnicity and politics, social (in)justice, systemic racism, protest and politics, activism, criminal justice reform, institutional change, Black Lives Matter, police brutality, mass incarceration, human and civil rights and more.

Explore

 

 NASEM Report (2023): 

Juneteenth Resources

Crowd-sourced or Google Doc Syllabi Projects: Black Lives Matter, Systemic Racism, Social Justice 

 APSA Diversity & Inclusion Resources 

APSA RESPECT 

Raise the Vote Campaign   

APSA Educate

APSA Demographic Data on the Diversity in the Discipline 

Get Informed

 

APSA journal publications on related topics

Relevant Research

Centennial Center Project Grant Recipients 

Recent Books and Journal Articles

A Closer Look at the Discipline

Media resources and public engagement

 

APSA Opportunities 

APSA Diversity Fellowship Program 

The APSA Diversity Fellowship Program is a fellowship competition for individuals applying to or in the early stages of doctoral programs in political science. Program deadlines in the Fall and Spring Semesters.  Learn more.


Centennial Research Grants 
APSA’s Centennial Center offers grants to support members’ research, and workshops and other events. The Research Grants program is made possible by a set of endowed funds, some of which are designated for support for particular research areas. Two of these funds specifically support research on race and politics: 

  • The Marguerite Ross Barnett Fund: Supports research on diversity, cultural nationalism, African American voting behavior, education policy, and/or urban and minority policy and politics. 
  • Rita Mae Kelly Fund: Supports research on the intersection of gender, race, ethnicity, and political power. This year, in order to provide additional support to our members during the current crisis, the Centennial Center is making research grants more flexible by expanding the categories of costs eligible for funding to include stipends for PIs and research assistants, the costs of research software and hardware, surveys, and interview costs, per diems regardless of location, and more.
     
    Application Deadline: June of each year. Learn more here.