Description
Book SynopsisTells the stories of past and present academics who have ventured beyond the academy. Richard Davis frames his own story of political activism in Utah within the context of the need for political scientists to step away from the cloistered affairs of academia toward more public and political engagement.
Trade Review"Beyond the Ivory Tower will be informative and inspirational for a substantial community of political scientists who want to be politically engaged."—Peter Levine, Lincoln Filene Professor of Citizenship & Public Affairs, Tufts University
"Richard Davis makes the compelling case that political scientists will be better scientists and better teachers if they are also civically engaged. Through civic engagement, political scientists can broaden their perspective about how politics work and maximize their impact both inside and outside of the classroom. By providing examples of how political scientists have successfully straddled the worlds of academe and practical politics, Davis offers a path forward for those who are ready to embrace the civic mission of higher education: educating citizens for democracy. By practicing what they preach, civically engaged teacher-scholars, like Davis, provide valuable insights into how the concepts, theories, and facts they study and teach work in the real world while modeling the type of active citizenship we need for US democracy to thrive."—Elizabeth A. Bennion, Chancellor’s Professor of Political Science, Indiana University South Bend
"Political scientists are often criticized for producing research that is disconnected from the real-world problems people experience or for failing to engage in activities like running for office or trying to influence policy or public opinion. Sharing his experience as both a scholar and activist and presenting the experiences of other academics who have done the same, in Beyond the Ivory Tower Richard Davis presents a roadmap for how political scientists can use their knowledge to weigh in on some of the most important social and political issues facing society, and meaningfully engage in politically relevant work beyond the academy."—Bilal Dabir Sekou, associate professor of political science, University of Hartford
Table of Contents
- Preface
- Acknowledgment
- Introduction: Academic Disengagement
- 1. Engagement as a Practitioner
- 2. Engagement as an Academic
- 3. Civic Engagement Leadership
- 4. Utah Debate Commission
- 5. Service to a Major Party
- 6. Founding a New Minor Party
- 7. Community Service and Running for Office
- Conclusion: Overcoming the Barriers to Engagement
- Notes
- Index
