Michael Dawson

Michael C. Dawson is the John D. MacArthur Professor of Political Science and the College at the University of Chicago.

Professor Dawson’s research interests include the development of quantitative models of African American political behavior, identity, and public opinion, the political effects of urban poverty, and African American political ideology. He also combines more recent quantitative work with work in political theory. Both his research on race and his strong interest in the impact of the information technology revolution on society and politics are fueled in part from his time spent as an activist while studying and working in Silicon Valley for several years.

Dawson is a founding co-editor of The Du Bois Review and the founding director of the Center for the Study of Race, Politics and Culture at the University of Chicago. He was also co-principal investigator of the 1988 National Black Election Study and principal investigator with Ronald Brown of the 1993-1994 National Black Politics Study. (more)

Featured Project

Racial Divides in Public Opinion
Since the fall of 2000, Michael Dawson has collaborated with several colleagues in collecting and analyzing data on the racial divide in public opinion between blacks and whites. The selected data highlight some of the areas, including evaluations of the Katrina disaster, where racial differences are both prominent and politically salient.

About the Header
From Out Chorus, 1979, by Romare Bearden. Silkscreen and watercolor. Owned by Michael Dawson and Alice Furumoto. You can view the full work, read more about Bearden and see more of his work.