Darrell M. West
Encyclopedia
Darrell West is an American author, political scientist
, and political commentator. West is the vice president and director of governance studies and director of the center for technology innovation at the Brookings Institution
. He has written about technology policy, mass media, and campaigns and elections in the United States. The spring 2008 semester was his final semester at Brown University
after 26 years on the faculty.
He was born in Richmond, Indiana
and graduated with a B.A.
from Miami University
(Ohio) in 1976 and a Ph.D.
in political science from Indiana University
in 1981. He taught at Brown University from 1982 to 2008. He was the director of the Taubman Center for Public Policy at Brown University. His book Digital Government is the winner of the Don K. Price award for best book on technology and his co-authored book Cross Talk won the Doris Graber award for best book on political communications. His most recent books are Brain Gain: Rethinking U.S. Immigration Policy (Brookings Institution Press, 2010) and Digital Medicine: Health Care in the Internet Era (Brookings Institution Press,2009; co-authored with Edward Miller). His latest book is The Next Wave: Using Digital Technology to Further Social and Political Innovation (Brookings Institution Press, 2011).
Starting in 2000, he has undertaken annual studies on the websites of the 50 states, the leading federal agencies, and the 198 nations around the world. His e-government reports are available online at InsidePolitics.org and Brookings.edu. The Center that he directs examines a wide range of topics related to technology innovation including governance, democracy, and public sector innovation; policy architecture, legal and Constitutional aspects of technology; digital media and social networking; health information technology; virtual education, and green technology. Its mission is to identify key developments in technology innovation, undertake cutting-edge research, disseminate best practices broadly, inform policymakers at the local, state, and federal levels about actions needed to improve innovation, and enhance the public’s and media’s understanding of the importance of technology innovation.
He has delivered lectures in a dozen different countries around the world, including China, Japan, Russia, Taiwan, Mexico, Brazil, Germany, Netherlands, Portugal, Turkey, Bahrain, and the United States. He has been quoted in leading newspapers, radio stations, and national television networks around the world. He has received grants from the National Science Foundation, Pew Charitable Trusts, the Gates Foundation, Kauffman Foundation, Ford Foundation, and McCormick Foundation.
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
, and political commentator. West is the vice president and director of governance studies and director of the center for technology innovation at the Brookings Institution
Brookings Institution
The Brookings Institution is a nonprofit public policy organization based in Washington, D.C., in the United States. One of Washington's oldest think tanks, Brookings conducts research and education in the social sciences, primarily in economics, metropolitan policy, governance, foreign policy, and...
. He has written about technology policy, mass media, and campaigns and elections in the United States. The spring 2008 semester was his final semester at Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
after 26 years on the faculty.
He was born in Richmond, Indiana
Richmond, Indiana
Richmond is a city largely within Wayne Township, Wayne County, in east central Indiana, United States, which borders Ohio. The city also includes the Richmond Municipal Airport, which is in Boston Township and separated from the rest of the city...
and graduated with a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from Miami University
Miami University
Miami University is a coeducational public research university located in Oxford, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1809, it is the 10th oldest public university in the United States and the second oldest university in Ohio, founded four years after Ohio University. In its 2012 edition, U.S...
(Ohio) in 1976 and a Ph.D.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
in political science from Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
in 1981. He taught at Brown University from 1982 to 2008. He was the director of the Taubman Center for Public Policy at Brown University. His book Digital Government is the winner of the Don K. Price award for best book on technology and his co-authored book Cross Talk won the Doris Graber award for best book on political communications. His most recent books are Brain Gain: Rethinking U.S. Immigration Policy (Brookings Institution Press, 2010) and Digital Medicine: Health Care in the Internet Era (Brookings Institution Press,2009; co-authored with Edward Miller). His latest book is The Next Wave: Using Digital Technology to Further Social and Political Innovation (Brookings Institution Press, 2011).
Starting in 2000, he has undertaken annual studies on the websites of the 50 states, the leading federal agencies, and the 198 nations around the world. His e-government reports are available online at InsidePolitics.org and Brookings.edu. The Center that he directs examines a wide range of topics related to technology innovation including governance, democracy, and public sector innovation; policy architecture, legal and Constitutional aspects of technology; digital media and social networking; health information technology; virtual education, and green technology. Its mission is to identify key developments in technology innovation, undertake cutting-edge research, disseminate best practices broadly, inform policymakers at the local, state, and federal levels about actions needed to improve innovation, and enhance the public’s and media’s understanding of the importance of technology innovation.
He has delivered lectures in a dozen different countries around the world, including China, Japan, Russia, Taiwan, Mexico, Brazil, Germany, Netherlands, Portugal, Turkey, Bahrain, and the United States. He has been quoted in leading newspapers, radio stations, and national television networks around the world. He has received grants from the National Science Foundation, Pew Charitable Trusts, the Gates Foundation, Kauffman Foundation, Ford Foundation, and McCormick Foundation.
Books
- Public Opinion in Rhode Island (1994) with Thomas Anton and Jack Combs
- Cross Talk: Citizens, Candidates, and the Media in a Presidential Campaign, (1996) with Marion Just, Ann Crigler, Dean Alger, Tim Cook, and Montague Kern
- The Sound of Money: How Political Interests Get What They Want (1999) with Burdett Loomis
- Checkbook Democracy: How Money Corrupts Political Campaigns (2000)
- Patrick Kennedy: The Rise to Power (2000)
- Celebrity Politics, (2002) with John Orman
- The Rise and Fall of the Media Establishment (2001)
- Digital Government: Technology and Public Sector Performance (2005)
- Evaluating Campaign Quality: Can the Electoral Process Be Improved? (2007) with Sandy Maisel and Brett Clifton
- Biotechnology Policy Across National Boundaries (2007)
- Air Wars: Television Advertising in Election Campaigns, 1952-2008 (2009)
- Digital Medicine: Health Care in the Internet Era (2009) with Edward Miller
- Brain Gain: Rethinking U.S. Immigration Policy (2010)
- The Next Wave: Using Digital Technology to Further Social and Political Innovation (2011)
External links
- Darrell West page at Brown University (http://www.brown.edu/Departments/Taubman_Center/)
- Darrell West homepage (http://www.InsidePolitics.org)
- Darrell West profile at the Brookings Institution