CNBC interviewed Charles Hunt, an assistant professor in political science, during a segment about aging U.S. politicians. The segment referenced Hunt’s data that he collected and published in “The Conversation” and is part of a mini-documentary series.
When asked about the preferences on politicians’ ages from the perspective of political parties, Hunt is quoted in the article saying, “It doesn’t have to be generational warfare or anything like that. But it does really, really matter for representation in terms of the quality of the legislation that’s going to be coming out of Congress.”
A newly published journal article authored by School of Public Service Professor Christopher Courtheyn and co-author Ahsan Kamal analyzes how calls for “decolonizing” theory and methods have become prominent at academic institutions and beyond. Decolonization refers to cultural, economic and psychological freedom for Indigenous peoples. As part of decolonization theory, such peoples would gain the right to make decisions about their cultures, land and other systems without the influence of their colonizers.
Critics have pointed out that projects surrounding the idea of decolonizing are primarily located in the “global north” and distanced from actual political struggles. The global north is defined as containing groups of people who historically identify with capitalist and colonial systems, as well as those who may be in positions of privilege and power.
Researchers and Activists March to Confront Paramilitary Death Squad in Colombia – Christopher Courtheyn
The article reviews three historical efforts towards decolonization: resistance to imperialism (the extension of a country’s power, usually through military force), “global south” scholars gaining prominence and the intersections between academics and activists.
The paper explains how decolonial and postcolonial studies created a powerful “southern theory” that helps explain global inequities and potential solutions, but that these fields’ primary impacts are at universities in the global north. This furthers the separation of the global north from the global south, academia from activism, and theory from practice, the authors said. They reiterate calls of fellow scholars who insist that research be combined with public and community collaborations that challenge violence against peoples and environments of the world.
Sam Martin, Frank and Bethine Church Endowed Chair of Public Affairs and School of Public Service associate professor, was interviewed by Morning Edition host George Prentice on Boise State Public Radio. Listen to the conversation.
Martin covered topics related to free speech, public perceptions, the Idaho legislative session and more.
“When we affirm a person’s right to speak out and say things that we would spend our whole lives shouting against, that’s free speech,” she said during the interview.
The goal of the SPS Research Committee is to support and foster research across the School of Public Service through research grants, events, and graduate assistantships. The Committee is composed of faculty from across the School of Public Service and is chaired by Libby Lunstrum, SPS Research Director. Questions can be sent to spsresearch@boisestate.edu.
