The David O. Sears Book Award is given for the best book published in the field of the political psychology of mass politics, including political behavior, political values, political identities, and political movements, during the previous calendar year. Befitting the far-reaching contributions to scholarship of David Sears, the award winning work should be one that demonstrates the highest quality of thought and makes a major substantive contribution to the field of political psychology.
The award winner will be determined by an international and interdisciplinary committee. As judged by the award committee, the book should increase substantially our understanding of an issue (or issues) that is central to the concerns of mass politics and the world in which we live.
How to Nominate:
Published books carrying a 2023 copyright may be nominated for the award by individuals or publishers. Self-nomination is acceptable and encouraged. All nominations must include the following: An argument as to why this particular book deserves the award. A copy of the book should be made available to the Award Committee. To complete a nomination, simply send these materials to the Committee Chair by the deadline.
The award recipient(s) will be strongly encouraged to attend the Annual Meeting and Awards Reception.
2024 Award Committee:
Chair: Bert Bakker, University of Amsterdam
Committee: Allison Anoll (Vanderbilt University), Kathleen Powers (Dartmouth College)
THE NOMINATION PROCESS FOR 2024 is CLOSED. The deadline for nominations was 15 December 2023.
Winners will be notified by early April 2024.
First awarded in 2012.
Current Winners
David O. Sears Best Book on Mass Politics Award
Kathleen Powers, Dartmouth College
For “Nationalisms in International Politics”
Kathleen Powers is an esteemed assistant professor in the Department of Government at Dartmouth College. Powers’ book, "Nationalisms in International Politics," published by Princeton University Press, marks a novel contribution to scientific literature by presenting an original perspective on nationalism through the lens of social psychology.
In her work, Kathleen Powers challenges the traditional stigma associated with nationalism as merely a source of conflict in international politics, driven by xenophobia, competition, and even violence. Instead, she offers an alternative interpretation that emphasizes equality and reciprocity among individuals, fostering civic engagement and paving the way for forms of international cooperation. Drawing on U.S. experiments and European surveys involving both laypeople and elite, Kathleen illuminates how these two contrasting forms of nationalism coexist, shaping distinct identity processes. Her rigorous vision challenges conventional notions of nationalism, equipping us with valuable tools to navigate contemporary realities and address pressing issues.
Past Winners
- 2023 Kathleen Powers (Nationalisms in International Politics)
- 2022 Cigdem V. Sirin, Nicholas A. Valentino, José D. Villalobos (Seeing Us in Them: Social Divisions and the Politics of Group Empathy)
- 2021 Nathan P. Kalmoe (With Ballots and Bullets: Partisanship and Violence in the American Civil War); Lafleur Stephens-Dougan (Race to the Bottom: How Racial Appeals Work in American Politics)
- 2020 S. Erdem Aytaç & Susan Stokes (Why Bother: Rethinking Participation in Elections and Protests)
- 2019 Lauren Davenport (Politics beyond Black and White: Biracial Identity and Attitudes in America)
- 2018 Christopher Johnston, Howard Lavine, and Christopher Federico (Open Versus Closed: Personality, Identity, and the Politics of Redistribution)
- 2017 Christopher H. Achen and Larry M. Bartels (Democracy for Realists: Why Elections Do Not Produce Responsive Government)
- 2016 Diana C. Mutz (In-Your-Face Politics: The Consequences of Uncivil Media)
- 2015 Christopher F. Karpowitz & Tali Mendelberg (The Silent Sex: Gender, Deliberation and Institutions)
- 2014 Deborah Jordan Brooks (He Runs, She Runs: Why Gender Stereotypes Do Not Harm Women Candidates)
- 2013 Howard Lavine, Christopher Johnston & Marco Steenbergen (The Ambivalent Partisan: How Critical Loyalty Promotes Democracy)
- 2012 Clark McCauley and Sophia Moskalenko (Friction: How Radicalization Happens to Them and Us)