The Higher Research Seminar: ‘Personal Issue Importance Effects on Voters’ Perceptual Accuracy of Party Issue Positions’ – Zeynep Somer-Topcu, University of Texas

Wednesdays 13.15 to 14.30 in Eden 367, unless otherwise indicated. 

Notice this seminar is on a Thursday

Chair: Professor Jonathan Polk

The Department’s Higher Research Seminar Series | Department of Political Science

Zeynep Somer-Topcu

Associate Professor Department of Government University of Texas at Austin

Research

My research interests are at the intersection of political parties and voter behavior in advanced democracies. My work so far has appeared in the American Journal of Political Science, British Journal of Political Science, Journal of Politics, and other journals. 

I am currently working on a series of projects examining party campaign rhetoric and party organizational change. My research sheds light on why political parties adopt certain strategies (rhetorical or organizational) and what the electoral and behavioral consequences of these strategies are. 

I am the co-winner of the Emerging Scholar Award given by the Political Organizations and Parties section of the American Political Science Association (2013) and have received various other awards for my research. 

Teaching

My undergraduate teaching offerings include European Union Politics, West European Politics, and Comparative Political Parties. At the graduate level, I teach Comparative Political Parties and Comparative Representation and Accountability seminars, as well as Scope and Methods and Statistics I courses as part of the methods sequence.