Michael
Berkman
Director for the Penn State McCourtney Institute for Democracy,
Professor of Political Science
Expertise:
- Politics & Policy
Focus Areas:
- American Politics
- Democracy
- Elections
- State Politics
In The Media:
About
- Berkman specializes in American and state politics and policymaking.
- He directs the McCourtney Institute for Democracy and can speak about the 2024 presidential election and the potential impacts for American democracy.
- He has published three books on state education policy and can speak about book banning efforts and the intersection of politics and public education.
Michael Berkman is a professor in the department of political science and the director of the McCourtney Institute for Democracy and director of the Center for American Political Responsiveness (CAPR), a center of excellence within the McCourtney Institute for Democracy. Berkman’s research focuses on American politics, particularly American state politics and policy.
Along with his colleague, Eric Plutzer, Berkman has published two books on state education policy: “Evolution, Creationism and the Battle to Control America’s Classrooms” (Cambridge University Press) and “Ten Thousand Democracies: Politics and Public Opinion in America’s School Districts” (Georgetown University Press). His first book, “The State Roots of National Politics: Congress and the Tax Agenda, 1978–1986,” (Pittsburgh University Press) looked at how state policies influence national politics.
On the Web
McCourtney Institute for Democracy
Democracy Works podcast from the McCourtney Institute for Democracy
In The Media
EXPLAINER: The history behind ‘parents’ rights’ in schools
from Associated Press November 14, 2022
“I would say that part of the game plan here is to just sort of discredit schools and to discredit the public school system.”
With election deniers running for office, our right to vote is on the ballot
from CBS Sunday Morning October 30, 2022
"I think that the thing to remember about democratic erosion is that it's most likely to happen from within."
Fact check: No, a deceased candidate’s victory in Pennsylvania isn’t evidence of voter fraud
from USA Today November 18, 2022
Democrats Spent $43 Million Helping Election Deniers Win Their Primaries
from Newsweek August 5, 2022
Why science teachers sow doubt about evolution (even when they don’t mean to)
from Washington Post November 30, 2018
"How does this happen? The most important reason is that these future teachers were not focused on mastering science. This emerged most clearly when we asked what would be their most important asset in covering a controversial topic such as climate change or evolution: understanding the science, or having classroom management skills to deal with the controversial topic."
New poll: only 3% of Trump voters regret their vote
from Washington Post November 30, 2018
"Only three individuals (fewer than 1 percent of Trump voters) said that, could they go back in time, they would cast their vote for Clinton. Seven said they would vote for one of the minor-party candidates. When we asked why, most regretful Trump voters pointed specifically to his performance as president. (Misspellings are original.)"
Has the Tide Turned Against Partisan Gerrymandering?
from The Atlantic January 23, 2018
“It’s been a very effective partisan gerrymander,” said Michael Berkman, director of the McCourtney Institute for Democracy at Penn State. “Republicans have had a challenging time if you look at it at the state level. Democrats clearly hold an advantage in the state, but they have just been destroyed in the legislature.”
How Do You Teach Politics In The Year Of Donald Trump?
from NPR October 7, 2016
Michael Berkman, a political scientist at Penn State, says the Trump phenomenon took his field by surprise. "One thing that occurred to me, and I don't think I'm alone on this in political science, is the extent to which we missed it," Berkman said. "I think we might have been more in tune to what was going on on the left in American politics than we were to what was going on in the right."
Biden Leans on Pennsylvania as Campaign Season Goes Full Throttle
from U.S. News & World Report September 5, 2022
“So they see Pennsylvania as critical to 2024, and of course our Senate race is critical to maintaining control of the Senate.”
In Penn State News
McCourtney Institute launches Democracy Works podcast
March 14, 2018
Asset Downloads
These assets are available for use. All rights reserved. Credit Penn State University.
Michael Berkman is interviewed for a segment that aired on CBS Sunday Morning on Oct. 30, 2022
Credit: CBS News
President Barron and Penn State experts discuss what a new poll is revealing about the U.S. electorate. Guests: Eric Plutzer, directorof the McCourtney Mood of the Nation poll, and Michael Berkman, director of the McCourtney Institute for Democracy.
Credit: Penn State
Related Topic
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Topic
Elections
The Penn State community includes a wide range of faculty members and researchers who contribute to an open, public dialogue on important political issues across the state, nation and world. Our faculty often speak with the media on research related to issues that are top of mind during elections.