ProfessorAssociate Chairmasmith@uw.eduPersonal Website CV (288.79 KB)Please contact via emailOffice Hours: M/W 5:00-6:00PM Email for Zoom linkFields of Interest American Political Development American Politics Interest Groups Political Communication Religion Sociology Background and ExperienceSummaryMark Alan Smith did his undergraduate work at M.I.T. and earned his Ph.D. at the University of Minnesota in 1997 before joining the faculty at the University of Washington. As Professor of Political Science and Adjunct Professor of Comparative Religion and Communication, he teaches courses on political parties, research methods, American political culture, and religion in American politics. Smith is the author most recently of Secular Faith: How Culture Has Trumped Religion in American Politics. Despite what one might expect from common understandings of a “culture war,” the book argues that religious and secular Americans typically converge on similar moral and political stances. Previously Smith wrote The Right Talk: How Conservatives Transformed the Great Society into the Economic Society. The book examined the role of economic issues and rhetoric in the conservative ascendancy in recent decades. Smith’s first book, American Business and Political Power: Public Opinion, Elections, and Democracy, won the Leon Epstein Award from the Political Organizations and Parties section of the American Political Science Association. Research Publications, Books Mark A. Smith. Secular Faith: How Culture Has Trumped Religion in American Politics, University of Chicago Press, 2015. Publications, Book Chapters Mark A. Smith. “The Mobilization and Influence of Business Interests,” In The Oxford Handbook of American Interest Groups and Political Parties, edited by L. Sandy Maisel and Jeffrey M. Berry. Oxford University Press, 2010. Research Advised: Graduate Dissertations Allison Rank. 2014. "Bums, Revolutionaries, or Citizens? A Political History of Youth in Twentieth-Century America." Diss., U of Washington. Caterina Rost. 2017. "The Divergent Trajectories of an Idea: Sustainable Development in Germany and the United States" (Completed/published) Teaching Summer 2021 Full-term POL S 496 B: Undergraduate Internship Spring 2021 POL S 302 A: Free Will, Nature, and Nurture in Politics and Society POL S 498 A: The Washington Center Internship Winter 2021 POL S 285 A: Political Science As A Social Science POL S 498 A: The Washington Center Internship Autumn 2020 POL S 334 A: Topics in American Politics POL S 498 A: The Washington Center Internship Summer 2020 Full-term POL S 496 B: Undergraduate Internship Spring 2020 POL S 285 A: Political Science as a Social Science Winter 2020 POL S 302 A: Free Will, Nature, and Nurture in Politics and Society Autumn 2019 POL S 334 A: Topics in American Politics Summer 2019 Full-term POL S 496 B: Undergraduate Internship Spring 2019 POL S 285 A: Political Science as a Social Science Winter 2019 POL S 302 A: Free Will, Nature, and Nurture in Politics and Society Autumn 2018 POL S 334 A: Topics in American Politics Spring 2017 POL S 398 A: Honors Seminar Winter 2017 POL S 302 A: Free Will, Nature, And Nurture In Politics And Society Autumn 2016 POL S 202 A: Introduction To American Politics POL S 500 A: Political Research Design And Analysis News & Events Related News Three Political Science Professors in the News About US Capitol Riot Jan 8, 2021 Faculty Panel: The Biden Agenda: Promises and Prospects Jan 7, 2021 Political Economy Forum Podcast Available Now Jan 4, 2021 Video: Faculty Panel Session 3: A Turning Point? Impacts for Our Democracy Nov 3, 2020 Political Economy Forum: Neither Free Nor Fair? #3: “Presidential Debates--Special Crossover Episode!” Oct 8, 2020 New UW Political Economy Forum Podcast Episode - Is Cancel Culture Threatening Free Speech? Sep 1, 2020 Election 2020: A Turning Point? Aug 27, 2020 Winter Faculty Panel: Communication Breakdown: The Crisis of Public (Dis)Information Jan 9, 2020 Seeking Truth in an Age of Cynicism and Political Polarization: Professor Mark Alan Smith talks about his new undergraduate course Pols334 for Autumn 2018 Aug 8, 2018 Mark Smith interviewed on Q13 News This Morning on Dave Reichert's announcement Sep 8, 2017 Three Faculty Panels address the impact of the 2016 Presidential Election in the US and Around the World Jun 29, 2017 The Department in the News Jun 28, 2017 Mark Smith on Q13 News This Morning: Leaving the Paris Climate Agreement Jun 13, 2017 Mark Smith on Komo Radio: Did Jared Kushner set up a secret backchannel of communication with Russian officials? Jun 12, 2017 Professor Mark Smith wins book award for ‘Secular Faith’ Feb 27, 2017 Congressional Redistricting & Responsiveness to Constituents: Professor Mark Smith Discusses the Case of Representative Reichert on Crosscut Feb 23, 2017 A new form of corruption: Professors Smith & Thorpe address Trumpʼs Nordstrom Tweets on KUOW Feb 13, 2017 Professor Smith on King 5 discussing Pres Obama's Speech Jan 11, 2017 Professor Mark Smith discusses the electoral college on Q13 Fox This Morning Dec 18, 2016 What Now? Faculty Panel Discusses the 2016 Election & Its Aftermath Dec 3, 2016 FIUTS Lecture: Making Sense of the US Election Nov 10, 2016 Family Strain over Trump vs. Clinton: Professor Mark A. Smith cited in Seattle Times Oct 6, 2016 Professors Parker & Smith Discuss the 2016 Election at Seattle Town Hall Sep 29, 2016 Professor Mark Smith discusses gun legislation and the NRA on Q13 Fox This Morning Jun 27, 2016 Understanding the Role of Religion in American Politics Jun 27, 2016 Prof. Mark Smith in UW Today for his new book, Secular Faith: How Culture Has Trumped Religion in American Politics Dec 9, 2015 Affiliated Centers: WISER is now WISIR Nov 18, 2015 Prof. Mark Smith and his book Secular Faith featured on C-Span's Book-Notes Oct 27, 2015 Prof. Mark Smith cited in Christian Science Monitor on Religion vs. Science Oct 26, 2015 Prof. Mark Smith on KUOW discusses Bernie Sanders' chances in Washington State Sep 2, 2015 Why Cutting Government Spending is So Hard: Perspectives on National Government Spending Apr 3, 2013 2012 Political Science News Summary Dec 31, 2012 Related Events Winter 2021 PoliSci Faculty Panel: The Biden Agenda: Promises and Prospects - Feb 22 2021 - 5:30pm Faculty Panel -- Election 2020: A Turning Point? Session 2: Will Your Vote Matter? - Oct 14 2020 - 6:00pm to 7:00pm Winter Faculty Panel Feb. 25th: Communication Breakdown: The Crisis of Public (Dis)Information - Feb 25 2020 - 4:45pm to 6:30pm Political Science Autumn 2018 Faculty Panel: The 2018 Midterms and their Consequences - Nov 1 2018 - 5:30pm to 7:00pm In _________ We Trust. Finding Where Division Ends and Where Unity Begins - Jan 26 2017 - 8:00pm to 9:30pm The 2016 Election: What Now? - Nov 16 2016 - 4:30pm to 6:00pm Making Sense of the U.S. Elections - Nov 2 2016 - 3:30pm to 5:00pm Approaches to Religious Violence, Radicalism, and Deradicalization: Perspectives from the US and Indonesia - Oct 18 2016 - 9:30am to 2:00pm 2016 Election: How Did We Get Here? - Sep 27 2016 - 7:30pm Share: Print PDF