Theda Skocpol

Theda Skocpol

Victor S. Thomas Professor of Government and Sociology
Director, Scholars Strategy Network
Theda Skocpol


Research interests: American politics. U.S. social policy and civic engagement amidst the shifting inequalities in American democracy.

The Shifting U.S. Political Terrain project, launched in 2015, documents transformations in advocacy groups, constituency organizations, think tanks, and donor organizations operating around the Democratic and Republican parties – and asks how these shifts contribute to GOP extremism, government gridlock, and public policies that spur economic inequality.

Other projects include tracking the implementation of health reform in the U.S. states; analyzing the dynamics of local Tea Party groups; and probing how the Democratic Party has handled – and mishandled – political battles over taxes and public revenues. 

Websites