Samuel L. Popkin
Encyclopedia
Samuel L. Popkin is a noted political scientist who teaches at the University of California, San Diego
. He received his Ph.D. from M.I.T. in 1969. Popkin has played a role in the development of rational choice theory within political science
. He is also noted for his work as a pollster.
Popkin has published in unusually diverse areas. His most recent book is The Reasoning Voter: Communication and Persuasion in Presidential Campaigns; earlier he co-authored Issues and Strategies: The Computer Simulation of Presidential Campaigns; and he co-edited Chief of Staff: Twenty-Five Years of Managing the Presidency.
When he was assistant professor of Government, in 1972, he was jail
ed for a week, for his refusal to answer questions before a grand jury investigating the Pentagon Papers
case, during a hearing before the Boston's Federal District Court. The Faculty Council later passed a resolution condemning the government's interrogation of scholars on the grounds that "an unlimited right of grand juries to ask any question and to expose a witness to citations for contempt could easily threaten scholarly research."
He is equally well known for his work on peasant society, with particular reference to East and Southeast Asia, including The Rational Peasant: The Political Economy of Rural Society in Vietnam.
Popkin has also been a consulting analyst in presidential campaigns, serving as consultant on Bill Clinton
's presidential campaign on polling and strategy, to the CBS News
election units from 1983 to 1990 on survey design and analysis, and more recently to the Gore campaign
. He has also served as consultant to political parties in Canada and Europe and to the Departments of State
and Defense
. His current research focuses on presidential campaigns and the relationship of public opinion
to foreign policy
.
He is married to Susan Shirk
, Professor of Political Science at the Graduate School of International Relations and Pacific Studies at the University of California, San Diego.
University of California, San Diego
The University of California, San Diego, commonly known as UCSD or UC San Diego, is a public research university located in the La Jolla neighborhood of San Diego, California, United States...
. He received his Ph.D. from M.I.T. in 1969. Popkin has played a role in the development of rational choice theory within political science
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...
. He is also noted for his work as a pollster.
Popkin has published in unusually diverse areas. His most recent book is The Reasoning Voter: Communication and Persuasion in Presidential Campaigns; earlier he co-authored Issues and Strategies: The Computer Simulation of Presidential Campaigns; and he co-edited Chief of Staff: Twenty-Five Years of Managing the Presidency.
When he was assistant professor of Government, in 1972, he was jail
Jail
A jail is a short-term detention facility in the United States and Canada.Jail may also refer to:In entertainment:*Jail , a 1966 Malayalam movie*Jail , a 2009 Bollywood movie...
ed for a week, for his refusal to answer questions before a grand jury investigating the Pentagon Papers
Pentagon Papers
The Pentagon Papers, officially titled United States – Vietnam Relations, 1945–1967: A Study Prepared by the Department of Defense, is a United States Department of Defense history of the United States' political-military involvement in Vietnam from 1945 to 1967...
case, during a hearing before the Boston's Federal District Court. The Faculty Council later passed a resolution condemning the government's interrogation of scholars on the grounds that "an unlimited right of grand juries to ask any question and to expose a witness to citations for contempt could easily threaten scholarly research."
He is equally well known for his work on peasant society, with particular reference to East and Southeast Asia, including The Rational Peasant: The Political Economy of Rural Society in Vietnam.
Popkin has also been a consulting analyst in presidential campaigns, serving as consultant on Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
's presidential campaign on polling and strategy, to the CBS News
CBS News
CBS News is the news division of American television and radio network CBS. The current chairman is Jeff Fager who is also the executive producer of 60 Minutes, while the current president of CBS News is David Rhodes. CBS News' flagship program is the CBS Evening News, hosted by the network's main...
election units from 1983 to 1990 on survey design and analysis, and more recently to the Gore campaign
Al Gore presidential campaign, 2000
Al Gore, the 45th Vice President of the United States under Bill Clinton, announced his candidacy for the presidency of the United States in Carthage, Tennessee on June 16, 1999. Gore became the nominee of the Democratic Party for the 2000 presidential election on August 17, 2000...
. He has also served as consultant to political parties in Canada and Europe and to the Departments of State
United States Department of State
The United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...
and Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
. His current research focuses on presidential campaigns and the relationship of public opinion
Public opinion
Public opinion is the aggregate of individual attitudes or beliefs held by the adult population. Public opinion can also be defined as the complex collection of opinions of many different people and the sum of all their views....
to foreign policy
Foreign policy
A country's foreign policy, also called the foreign relations policy, consists of self-interest strategies chosen by the state to safeguard its national interests and to achieve its goals within international relations milieu. The approaches are strategically employed to interact with other countries...
.
He is married to Susan Shirk
Susan Shirk
Susan L. Shirk is an expert on Chinese politics and former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State during the Clinton administration. She was in the Bureau of East Asia and Pacific Affairs . She is currently a professor at the Graduate School of International Relations and Pacific Studies at the...
, Professor of Political Science at the Graduate School of International Relations and Pacific Studies at the University of California, San Diego.