Harvard Institute of Politics

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Harvard Institute of Politics
Harvard Institute of Politics logo.png
Established1966; 56 years ago (1966)
MissionTo inspire students to consider careers in politics and public service.
DirectorMark Gearan
Location
Cambridge
,
Massachusetts
,
United States
Coordinates42°22′17″N 71°07′20″W / 42.37145°N 71.12210°W / 42.37145; -71.12210Coordinates: 42°22′17″N 71°07′20″W / 42.37145°N 71.12210°W / 42.37145; -71.12210
Websiteiop.harvard.edu

The Harvard Institute of Politics (IOP) is an institute of the John F. Kennedy School of Government of Harvard University that was created to serve as a living memorial to President John F. Kennedy, as well as to inspire Harvard undergraduates to consider careers in politics and public service.[1][2] The IOP works to bring the academic world into contact with the world of politics and public affairs in a non-partisan way to promote public service. Undergraduates Menat Bahnasy and Kevin Ballen serve as President and Vice President of the Institute.

History and structure[]

The Institute is housed at the John F. Kennedy School of Government.

Following President Kennedy's death in 1963, the Kennedy Library Corporation raised more than $20 million for both the construction of the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, and for the creation and endowment of an institute at Harvard for the study of politics and public affairs. More than 30 million people from around the world, including school children, contributed to the fund. In 1966, the Kennedy Library Corporation presented Harvard University with an endowment for the creation of the Institute of Politics.

The IOP does not offer formal courses or degree-granting programs. The IOP hosts the John F. Kennedy Jr., located in the John F. Kennedy School of Government. The Forum regularly hosts speeches, debates and panel discussions.[3][4] Since its founding in 1978, the Forum has hosted more than 1,000 events, seen by live audiences totaling more than 650,000 people and millions more via cable television, teleconferencing and the Internet. Originally known as the KSG Forum, it was renamed in 2002 in tribute to the president's son, who had served on the Institute of Politics' board of directors until his death in 1999. The forum was renovated in 2003.[5] The current directors of the JFK Jr. Forum are Hannah Bottarel and Carson Kurad.

Senior Advisory Committee[]

The following individuals make up the Senior Advisory Committee of the IOP:[6]

Harvard Votes Challenge[]

In 2018, students at the IOP started the Harvard Votes Challenge (HVC) in collaboration with the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation. The university-wide initiative "strives to build a civic culture at Harvard University by increasing voter registration and participation among students, staff, and faculty."[7] During the 2018 midterm election, HVC launched the first-ever Harvard-Yale Votes Challenge.[8] HVC integrated voter engagement and registration into First-Year Orientation in 2019.[9] For the 2020 election, 390 volunteers from all 12 degree-granting Harvard schools worked to mobilize voters during the COVID-19 pandemic. Organizers sent 94,297 text messages, distributed over 1700 stamps to students, and recruited 121 campus organizations to a pledge committing to 100% voter participation.[10]

Harvard Public Opinion Project[]

Founded in 2000, the Harvard Public Opinion Project (HPOP) aims to track young Americans' (18- to 29-year-olds) attitudes toward politics and public service. Undergraduate members, in conjunction with the IOP's Director of Polling, John Della Volpe, conduct the largest national survey of the Millennial generation. These take the form of a tracking poll in the fall and a more comprehensive poll in the spring. After analyzing the data, the committee shares its findings in a nationally covered media release.[11]

Harvard Political Review[]

The IOP is also home to and publishes the Harvard Political Review (HPR).[12] The HPR is a quarterly, non-partisan journal of political affairs, written, edited, and managed entirely by Harvard College undergraduates.

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Founding". Harvard Institute of Politics. Harvard University. n.d. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  2. ^ "About Us". Harvard Institute of Politics. Harvard University. n.d. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  3. ^ Aguero, Edward. "Edwards Kicks Off 'Hardball' Series at IOP." The Harvard Crimson, October 14, 2003.
  4. ^ Kumar, Prateek. "IOP Panelists Simulate Oil Shock." The Harvard Crimson, April 29, 2008.
  5. ^ "KSG Forum to be renamed in honor of JFK Jr". Harvard Gazette. December 5, 2002. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
  6. ^ "Senior Advisory Committee". Harvard Institute of Politics. Harvard University. n.d. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
  7. ^ "Harvard Votes Challenge". voteschallenge.harvard.edu. Retrieved 2020-12-07.
  8. ^ "Harvard Wins Harvard-Yale Votes Challenge | News | The Harvard Crimson". www.thecrimson.com. Retrieved 2020-12-07.
  9. ^ "Harvard Votes Challenge Targets Freshmen With Move-In Registration Program | News | The Harvard Crimson". www.thecrimson.com. Retrieved 2020-12-07.
  10. ^ "https://twitter.com/harvardiop/status/1331630610662662149". Twitter. Retrieved 2020-12-07. {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)
  11. ^ "Youth Poll".
  12. ^ ISSN 0090-1032; OCLC 1784689

External links[]

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