Madeline Mader

edefining the Diplomatic Stage: The Evolution of Feminine Redefining the Diplomatic Stage: The Evolution of Feminine Foreign Policy in the Russo-Ukrainian War

Avery Lord — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 14:40:16 +0000

edefining the Diplomatic Stage: The Evolution of Feminine Redefining the Diplomatic Stage: The Evolution of Feminine Foreign Policy in the Russo-Ukrainian War Avery Lord Thu, 06/18/2026 - 08:40

Redefining the Diplomatic Stage: The Evolution of Feminine Redefining the Diplomatic Stage: The Evolution of Feminine Foreign Policy in the Russo-Ukrainian War

By: Amber Brittain-Hale

Abstract:

This has been a year of breaking historical records. July 4, 2023 was the earth’s hottest day in history, and then July 5th was even hotter. In just 7 months, 2023 had already set the US record for the most school shootings in a year. Former president Donald Trump is the first American president to be indicted, Putin seems breathtakingly oblivious to his arrest warrant for war crimes issues by the International Criminal Court, and Netanyahu – the longest serving prime minister – has inspired the biggest protests in Israeli history. While the hotel workers’ strike has not been exactly record-breaking, it raises epic questions about the future trajectory of the labor movement, and APSA’s relationship to this process. All this earth-shattering news makes one whether past will continue to be prologue and gives our members much to think about, as we struggle to shed light on the present with our investigations of the past. Our section has a fantastic line-up of 23 panels and roundtables this year, plus a terrific selection of posters, and our heartfelt thanks go to program co-chairs Didac Queralt and Sarah Staszak for their energy and vision in putting together such a fine program. The panels reflect the impressive, boundary-spanning scope of our section, as they present cutting-edge research on American Political Development, comparative politics, historical political economy, and international relations. I hope that you can attend as many panels as possible.

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Growth, Demographics, Slavery, and Voting in U.S. Gubernatorial Elections, 1840-1860

Avery Lord — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 14:35:20 +0000

Growth, Demographics, Slavery, and Voting in U.S. Gubernatorial Elections, 1840-1860 Avery Lord Thu, 06/18/2026 - 08:35

Growth, Demographics, Slavery, and Voting in U.S. Gubernatorial Elections, 1840-1860

By: Alex Jensen, Madeline Mader, Srinivas “Chinnu” Parinandi, Anand Edward Sokhey, Michael Byrd

Abstract:

While scholars have given extensive study to the role of slavery as part of America’s political development, less attention has been given to how the institution affected subnational elections in the nineteenth century. More generally, little systematic work has been done on gubernatorial voting patterns in the antebellum period, and particularly on how the slavery positions of the parties mattered relative to other factors influencing gubernatorial vote share. In this paper we examine gubernatorial voting patterns in the antebellum period of 1840-1860, modeling vote shares for each election. We find that pro-slavery views matter second only to incumbency in predicting gubernatorial vote share. Results give quantitative heft to the degree to which slavery was a central organizing issue in nineteenth century political life, show how slavery was not only an issue that dominated federal but also state politics, and suggest that gubernatorial candidates sought labels communicating their slavery bonafides as a path to electoral success.

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Do the Effects of Unpopular Supreme Court Rulings Linger? The Dobbs Decision Rescinding Abortion Rights

Avery Lord — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 14:28:22 +0000

Do the Effects of Unpopular Supreme Court Rulings Linger? The Dobbs Decision Rescinding Abortion Rights Avery Lord Thu, 06/18/2026 - 08:28

Do the Effects of Unpopular Supreme Court Rulings Linger? The Dobbs Decision Rescinding Abortion Rights

By: James L. Gibson

Abstract:

New evidence suggests that the world recently changed for the U.S. Supreme Court owing to its decision to abrogate the abortion rights first announced in Roe v. Wade. In contrast to the conventional wisdom that Court support is little undermined by unpopular rulings, the Dobbs decision generated a substantial knock on the Court’s legitimacy. Two crucial frailties limit these findings, however. First, no one has determined whether the lost legitimacy has persisted, since earlier research relied on a one-shot survey conducted shortly after the decision. Second, no analysis has addressed the “values-based regeneration” hypothesis—that support reemerges not long after a legitimacy hit is inflicted. Based on a nationally representative 2023 survey, my analysis finds that the lost legitimacy has lingered, but institutional support may be being rebuilt owing to its close connection with democratic values. Overall, I conclude that understanding persistence is more complicated than many may have assumed.

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Federal Slavery Legislation and Voting in U.S. Gubernatorial Elections, 1840–1860

Avery Lord — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 14:24:46 +0000

Federal Slavery Legislation and Voting in U.S. Gubernatorial Elections, 1840–1860 Avery Lord Thu, 06/18/2026 - 08:24

Federal Slavery Legislation and Voting in U.S. Gubernatorial Elections, 1840–1860

By: Alexander Jensen, Madeline Mader, Srinivas C. Parinandi, Anand Sokhey, Michael Byrd

Abstract:

The demise of the Whig Party in the 1850s has long been a subject of great attention among scholars and the general public. However, this historical development has received less attention from the vantage point of quantitative empirical analysis. Using state-level gubernatorial electoral returns from 1840 to 1860, we assess how major events like the passage of the Fugitive Slave Act/Compromise of 1850, the passage of the Kansas–Nebraska Act, and the rise of the Know Nothing Party influenced the transformation of America’s party system in the lead up to the Civil War. We find evidence linking the passage of the Kansas–Nebraska Act to a drop in support for Northern Whigs, Free Soilers, and (more suggestively) Northern Democrats. The results are consistent with a narrative of the Kansas–Nebraska Act unleashing fears among Free Soilers, ultimately leading to a coalescing around the new Republican Party.

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Federal Slavery Legislation and Voting in US Gubernatorial Elections, 1840—1860

Avery Lord — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 16:46:33 +0000

Federal Slavery Legislation and Voting in US Gubernatorial Elections, 1840—1860 Avery Lord Wed, 06/17/2026 - 10:46

Federal Slavery Legislation and Voting in US Gubernatorial Elections, 1840—1860

By: Alexander Jensen, Madeline Mader, Srinivas C Parinandi, Anand Sokhey, Michael Byrd

Abstract:

The demise of the Whig Party in the 1850s has long been a subject of great attention among scholars and the general public. However, this historical development has received less attention from the vantage point of quantitative empirical analysis. Using state-level gubernatorial electoral returns from 1840 to 1860, we assess how major events like the passage of the Fugitive Slave Act/Compromise of 1850, the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act, and the rise of the Know Nothing Party influenced the transformation of America’s party system in the lead up to the Civil War. We find evidence linking the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act to a drop in support for Northern Whigs, Free Soilers, and (more suggestively) Northern Democrats. The results are consistent with a narrative of the Kansas-Nebraska Act unleashing fears among Free Soilers, ultimately leading to a coalescing around the new Republican Party.

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Federal Slavery Legislation and Voting in US Gubernatorial Elections, 1840—1860

Avery Lord — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 21:07:21 +0000

Federal Slavery Legislation and Voting in US Gubernatorial Elections, 1840—1860 Avery Lord Tue, 06/16/2026 - 15:07

Federal Slavery Legislation and Voting in US Gubernatorial Elections, 1840—1860

By: Alexander Jensen, Madeline Mader, Srinivas C Parinandi, Anand Sokhey, Michael Byrd

Abstract:

The demise of the Whig Party in the 1850s has long been a subject of great attention among scholars and the general public. However, this historical development has received less attention from the vantage point of quantitative empirical analysis. Using state-level gubernatorial electoral returns from 1840 to 1860, we assess how major events like the passage of the Fugitive Slave Act/Compromise of 1850, the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act, and the rise of the Know Nothing Party influenced the transformation of America’s party system in the lead up to the Civil War. We find evidence linking the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act to a drop in support for Northern Whigs, Free Soilers, and (more suggestively) Northern Democrats. The results are consistent with a narrative of the Kansas-Nebraska Act unleashing fears among Free Soilers, ultimately leading to a coalescing around the new Republican Party.

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