In the Media

 Associate Professor Elena Gambino has recently published a new book, Erotic Knowledge: Toward a Lesbian Feminist Political Theory (Duke University Press, 2026) ABOUT THE BOOK Erotic Knowledge explores how US lesbian feminists raised questions about the political stakes of sexual freedom, how their distinctive political vocabularies informed coalition- and institution-building in ways that strain against contemporary queer and feminist assumptions, and how these alternative grammars were left behind in the decades since lesbian feminism’s remarkable surge in the 1970s. Elena Gambino makes the case that the past of US lesbian feminism is rich in resources not only for rethinking vital questions of sexual freedom in the present, but also for incorporating these questions into a broader understanding of the silencing effects of disciplinary historical knowledge. Drawing on archival sources typically ignored in political theory, such as lesbian feminist poetry, literary criticism, and the...

What is the future of the Arab Gulf states after the onset of the Iran War? Given the damage caused by large-scale Iranian attacks on oil and natural gas production facilities, will the Gulf states be able to return to the status quo ante? Or will the Iran War, begun by the United States and Israel, impose permanent damage on the region?  In a recent blog post in The New Middle East, Professor Eric Davis addresses the future of the the Arab Gulf post Iran War.

Professor Robert Schub, along with co-authors Connor Huff and Eric Min recently published "Racial Inequality in War" in the May 2026 edition of American Political Science Review (APSR). Analyzing the case of World War I (WWI), this open access article argues that discriminatory societal institutions and prejudicial attitudes combined to reduce commanders’ beliefs about Black soldiers’ combat effectiveness. Citation: HUFF, C., MIN, E., & SCHUB, R. (2026). Racial Inequality in War. American Political Science Review, 120(2), 662–680. doi:10.1017/S0003055425101172

Professor Doug Cantor, in collaboration with members from the Rutgers TIIP community, has co-authored the  timely article, "Integrating Generative Artificial Intelligence Technologies Across the Disciplines to Facilitate Learning and Responsible Usage", as part of a special issue on the Journal on Excellence in College Teaching. To mark its April 6th's release, the guest editors and several authors are hosting a virtual webinar on Thursday, April 23, from 2 - 2:50 pm (EDT), to discuss their findings and the future of AI in the classroom. All are welcome to attend. The Rutgers Institute for Teaching, Innovation and Inclusive Pedagogy (TIIP), opened in May 2024 with the hiring of the inaugural director, is a strategic initiative of the Academic Master Plan. https://teaching.rutgers.edu/

Assistant Teaching Professor Selin Bengi Gümrükçü's Protest and Politics in Turkey in the 1970s: Echoes of Dissent, is now available for pre order. Prof. Gümrükçü's inaugural publication, Protest and Politics in Turkey offers the first comprehensive academic study of Turkey’s 1970s protest cycle, analyzing the political dynamics of the decade and its long-term consequences. Drawing on an original dataset of protests, the book examines the interplay between state repression and protests. On the significance of the publication, Jillian Schwedler, Professor of Political Science, Hunter College, City University of New York, says, "An important corrective to the lack of any comprehensive analysis of protests and social mobilization in Turkey during the 1970s…essential reading for understanding the demise of the left, the rise of religious conservatism, and the origins of democratic backsliding in Turkey." Publish date for the book is February 26, 2026.

Associate Professor Yalidy Matos has co-authored the new book, Politics in our Veins: the Rise of Dominican American Political Power in the United States  The book captures the complex journey of how Dominican Americans mobilized to become key progressive players in American politics.  Prof. Matos tells us, "This book was both personally and professionally a joy to work on and with my co-authors." Co-authors are Domingo Morel, Associate Professor of Political Science and Public Service at New York University and Michelle Bueno Vásquez, Doctoral Student in Political Science at Northwestern University. Set to publish this May (2026), preorders can receive 30% off at NYU Press using the code NYUAU30. 

FACULTY BOOK LAUNCH, ELECT WOMEN FOR A CHANGE: THE PATH TO GENDER PARITY IN POLITICS Women have made significant inroads into political life over the last 30 years. Yet many nations still lag behind. Tired of tokenism, a new global movement is on the rise, demanding the full and equal sharing of political power between women and men. Elect Women for a Change makes a clear and compelling case for why gender parity in politics matters and how it can be achieved. Drawing on research from around the world, it moves beyond counting women to focus on power and diversity, identifying the structural barriers that hold women back and the practical strategies that can move us closer to parity. About the Author Mona Lena Krook is Distinguished Professor of Political Science at Rutgers University. She is the award-winning author of Quotas for Women in Politics (Oxford University Press, 2009) and Violence against Women in Politics (Oxford University Press, 2020) and is currently editor of Politics...

A senior majoring in political science and public policy Rafael Escalante continues to advocate for democracy and human rights – both on and off campus. Read the full article published in Rutgers Today, July 23, 2025, using the link above.  Author: Mike Lucas  (Neal Buccino contributed to this article). Image: Jeff Arban/Rutgers University