Institute of Governmental Studies

The Institute of Governmental Studies (IGS) is an interdisciplinary organized research unit at UC Berkeley, in Philosophy Hall. It was founded in 1919 as the Bureau of Public Administration.[1] IGS and its affiliated centers spearhead and promote research, programs, seminars and colloquia, training, educational activities and public service in the fields of politics and public policy, with a strong focus on national and California politics.[2] Current IGS research focuses include institutional policy and design, political reform, term limits, campaign finance, redistricting, direct democracy, presidential and gubernatorial politics, representative government, the politics of race and ethnicity, immigration and globalization.[3]

Faculty

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IGS has an active interdisciplinary core faculty that draws from several schools and departments.[specify] In addition to political science, those disciplines include sociology, public policy, law, business, and history. The core faculty have published widely on many topics within the areas of institutional design, policy and politics. In addition, several of them have extensive experience working with governments, the media, and public commissions, adding a practical perspective to their work on institutional design and reform issues.[citation needed]

Research

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IGS organizes and funds research in the areas of institutional design and reform. The Constitutional Revision and Blanket Primary projects drew together scholars from across the UC system and in several disciplines to analyze important contemporary institutional issues,[when?] such as how the California Constitution should be reformed and the impact of change in primary rules on the political system. In addition, IGS sponsors seminars on various topics in the social sciences, such as game theory and political history.[citation needed]

Resources and facilities

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As part of IGS's mission to facilitate and disseminate research, the IGS Library hosts a collection of fugitive research materials. The library answers thousands of public queries annually and launched a 2.0 website[when?] that has received much acclaim[from whom?] for its ability to break down state propositions in a clear and accessible manner.[4]

IGS Press is a small press publisher and has entered into more formal collaborations with the University of California Press and other campus social science units. The Institute publishes an occasional magazine called The Public Affairs Report and the e-journal California Journal of Politics and Policy.[5]

Public service

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In addition to conferences and seminars, IGS regularly hosts visits by public officials to the campus and provides outreach to state government leaders.[example needed]

IGS Directors

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Samuel C. May: 1921–1955[2]
Milton Chernin (acting director): 1955–1958[6]
Dwight Waldo: 1958–1967
Eugene C. Lee: 1967–1988[7]
Nelson W. Polsby: 1988–1999[8]
Bruce E. Cain: 1999–2007[9]
Jack Citrin: 2007–2017[10]

Lisa García Bedolla: 2017-2019

G. Cristina Mora and Eric Schickler: 2019-present

References

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  1. ^ Institute of Governmental Studies. "A Timeline of IGS History from 1919–1995". Archived from the original on June 11, 2010. Retrieved May 14, 2012.
  2. ^ a b Vieg, John A. (1955). "Two Men and Two Institutions: The Lengthening Shadows of Samuel C. May and Emery E. Olson". Public Administration Review. 15 (4): 244–246. doi:10.2307/972977. JSTOR 972977.
  3. ^ "UC Berkeley". Vcresearch.berkeley.edu. Archived from the original on June 9, 2010. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
  4. ^ "IGS goes Web 2.0 with information resource on state propositions". Archived from the original on June 1, 2010. Retrieved August 6, 2010.
  5. ^ "Home". Bepress.com. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
  6. ^ "University of California: In Memoriam, 1987". Content.cdlib.org. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
  7. ^ "Eugene C. Lee – Institute of Governmental Studies – UC Berkeley". Igs.berkeley.edu. October 2, 2012. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
  8. ^ Bernstein, Adam (February 8, 2007). "Nelson W. Polsby, 72; Explained Change in Political Institutions". The Washington Post.
  9. ^ "About IGS – Institute of Governmental Studies – UC Berkeley". Igs.berkeley.edu. October 19, 2011. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
  10. ^ "Jack Citrin – Institute of Governmental Studies – UC Berkeley". Igs.berkeley.edu. July 31, 2012. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
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