News

Cal Undergrads Chart a Path to Public Service in Year 2 of the Democracy Camp in DC pilot program

June 14, 2023
Megan Collins
Cal Undergrads Chart a Path to Public Service in Year 2 of the Democracy Camp in DC pilot program “Flying over the lush greenery and tiny monuments, I was starting to get jittery with excitement about what the week had in store for me. I never thought I would have the opportunity to be in D.C. and somehow, I managed my way there. I could not wait for what was to come.” – Fiza Mehmood (Political Science, minor in Public Policy, ’23)

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IGS Mini-Podcasts

Students who enter the doors of IGS on the first floor of Philosophy Hall tend to have extraordinary experiences. Our interdisciplinarycommunity of researchers and change-makers share an investment in the study of our government, both past and present, and in our students, who are the next generation of leaders. We invite you to listen in as some of our students share about their experiences with our student programs and the impact they’ve had on their career path and studies.

IGS in the News

Highlighting the Institute of Governmental Studies' contributions in the field of research on public policy in the media.

Blog: IGS Fellows in the World

Our Matsui Center undergraduate fellows share their unique and transformative experiences in public service, research, and public policy opportunities.

The Library Corner - Spring 2024 Edition

March 22, 2024
Accessing our Historical Collections 1920-1983

Did you know that IGS Library historical materials collected before 1983 are not readily discoverable in UC Library Search, the UC library catalog??

In addition to policy reports, pamphlets, books and journals, the IGS Library has an extensive historical collection of state and local government information. Library staff utilize our knowledge of the collection along with several analog tools or “card catalogs” to assist researchers with uncovering materials for their work.

We rely heavily on the Author...

Brookings Institute cites IGS Co-director Schickler's 'Racial Realignment' as it draws comparisons between the Great Migration of African-Americans in the 1920s and the potential political impact of climate change-fueled mass migration

March 19, 2024
Vanessa Williamson

As climate change continues to accelerate, tens of millions of people will become climate migrants, and millions of Americans will be uprooted. This article looks to learn from the Great Migration of African-Americans in the 1920s and the ways that the industrial, social, and economic conditions of the Jim-Crow south led to the gradual reformation of the Democratic political identity as one aligned with racial justice during the 1960s, which is well documented in co-director Shickler's book, Racial Realignment: The Transformation of American Liberalism, 1932–1965. The article...

Co-Director Mora cited in Sacramento Bee article highlighting polls showing increased frustration with U.S. immigration policies among Latinos

April 17, 2024
Matthew Miranda
IGS Co-director and sociologist at UC Berkeley, Cristina Mora, points to continued trends of economic inequality and inflation, and lack of policy reform as the real culprits for Latinos disillusionment and growing frustration with the border crisis, leading to newcomer immigrants being scapegoated. The story seeks to add nuance to the conversation by highlighting the factors that contribute to negative perceptions of immigrants, while also acknowledging the increasing frustration amongst longtime residents who share their undocumented status...

IGS Co-director Cristina Mora speaks on KQED panel for Night of Ideas: How Our Racial and Ethnic Identities Connect – and Divide – Us

March 15, 2024
Alexis Madrigal

Earlier this month we brought some of our favorite Forum guests – a poet, a novelist, a sociologist and a musician – who all work with themes of cross-cultural identity for a conversation, and live music and readings, before an audience. We discussed the complexities of racial and ethnic identity and how the hyphens we sometimes use to bridge our identities – Mexican-American, Chinese-American etc – can serve to both connect and divide us. It was all part of Night of Ideas, an annual public event bringing together artists and thinkers at the San Francisco Public Library.

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