Kerstin Hamann

Kerstin Hamann (Ph.D. Washington University) is Pegasus Professor and Chair of the Political Science Department. She was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the APSA Section on Political Science Education. Hamann also served as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Political Science Education(2012-2016) and was Vice President of the American Political Science Association.

Her research interests focus Western European politics, especially the role of labor unions in politics, and Spanish politics. She has also published in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, with a focus on online education. Her recent research has analyzed the causes and consequences of union inclusion in reforming policies in Western Europe, looking at inclusion of unions through social pacts as well as union protest through general strikes. Her books include The Politics of Industrial Relations: Labor Unions in Spain (2012); Parties, Elections, and Policy Reforms in Western Europe: Voting for Social Pacts, with J. Kelly (2010; paperback 2015); Assessment in Political Science, co-edited with M. Deardorff and J. Ishiyama (2009); and Democracy and Institutional Development: Spain in Comparative Theoretical Perspective, co-edited with B. Field (2008). Recent articles include “The Electoral Effects of General Strikes in Western Europe,” Comparative Politics;  “Framing Legislative Bills in Parliament: Regional-Nationalist Parties’ Strategies in Spain’s Multinational Democracy,” Party Politics (with B. Field); “Sharing the Rewards but Dividing the Costs?: The Electoral Consequences of Social Pacts and Legislative Reform in Western Europe,” West European Politics (with A. Johnston, A. Katsanidou, J. Kelly, and P. Pollock); “Unions against Governments: Explaining General Strikes in Western Europe, 1980-2006” (with J. Kelly and A. Johnston), Comparative Political Studies, and “Distance Education and the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in Political Science,” Politics (with P. Pollock, G. Smith, and B. Wilson).