Democracy in Action: A Lecture Series on American Pluralism
Featuring diverse viewpoints and bridging divides, a series exploring how place, geography, economics, demographics, faith, religion, race and culture are shaping the nature and experience of democracy in the United States. This series is presented by the Office of the Provost with the generous support of Gordon Clemons '65.
The Rural Voter: Separating Myth from Reality
Nicholas Jacobs and Daniel Shea
The first insallment of the Democracy in Action Lecture Series occured on Friday, October 18 in PRAx. A recording of the event is available below.
Hailing from Colby College in Waterville, Maine, Nicholas Jacobs, Assistant Professor of Government, and Daniel Shea, Professor of Government, authored The Rural Voter: The Politics of Place and the Disuniting of America in 2023. Their lecture "The Rural Voter: Separating Myth from Reality" and book are based on over one hundred years of data and results from three large voter surveys, they have attempted to better understand the decisions of rural voters and have explored where the urban-rural divide is a real thing. Pinpointing forces behind the rise of the so-called rural voter, Jacobs and Shea discuss in the book how this critical group of voters emerged and how they have impacted American politics. The first intallment of Democracy in Action included a lecture by Jacobs and Shea and a moderated conversation with Associate Professor and Knudson Endowed Chair in Family Policy David Rothwell and Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer Scott Vignos.
OSU's Free Speech and Expression website.
Dr. Nicholas Jacobs
Nicholas Jacobs is an Assistant Professor of Government at Colby College. He has published dozens of peer-reviewed articles and book chapters on topics ranging from school segregation to tax reform. He is one of the country’s leading experts on the rural-urban divide, federalism, and developments in the American party system.
Dr. Dan Shea
Dan Shea is a Professor of Government and the Chair of the Department of Government at Colby College. He has written or edited more than 20 books on American Politics. His most recent volume is Why Vote? Essential Questions about the Future of Elections in America. His areas of expertise are in American Politics, parties and elections U.S. Congress, politics of the media, youth political engagement and civility in politics.