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Matthew C. MacWilliams
University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Department of Political Science
Amherst, Massachusetts 01003
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Email:
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(413) 537-6537
[email protected]
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EDUCATION
University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Ph.D., Department of Political Science – 2016
Fields: American Politics, Political Behavior, and Public Law
Dissertation: American Authoritarianism in Black and White
Committee: Brian Schaffner, Tatishe Nteta, and Linda Isbell
Media coverage of my recent work on American authoritarianism has appeared in the New York Times, The
Washington Post, Newsweek, Atlantic, Psychology Today, CNN, MSNBC, NPR, and PRI.
University of Pennsylvania
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Environmental Studies - 1980
PUBLICATIONS
Refereed Journal Articles
Matthew C. MacWilliams. “Who Decides When the Party Doesn’t? Authoritarian Voters and the Rise of Donald
Trump.” PS: Political Science & Politics. (Forthcoming, October 2016).
Matthew C. MacWilliams. 2016. “Designing Men, Dangerous Innovation: The Judiciary Act of 1925.” New
England Journal of Political Science. IX(1).
Matthew C. MacWilliams. 2015. “Forecasting Congressional Elections Using Facebook Data.” PS: Political
Science & Politics, 48(04), 579-583.
Peer Reviewed Monograph
Matthew C. MacWilliams. “America’s Authoritarian Spring: The Rise of Trumpism.” Amherst College Press.
(Forthcoming, September 2016).
Chapter in Edited Book
Matthew C. MacWilliams. “Afraid and Intolerant: Authoritarians Rise to Trump’s Call.” In The Myth of Rational
Politics – Understanding the Allure of Trumpism. Edited by Mari Fitzduff. Connecticut: Praeger Publishers.
(Forthcoming, October 2016).
RESEARCH FUNDING
The Gallup World Poll and The Open Society Initiative for Europe. 2017-2019 ($500,000 committed to date).
Senior Project Research Advisor for the Gallup World Poll’s Three-Year Authoritarianism Index study of 160
countries.
The Open Society Initiative for Europe. 2016 ($24,000).
Pilot grant to lead comparative study of authoritarian’s effect on civil society in the United States and Europe.
INVITED LECTURES & SEMINARS (selected)
Open Society in Europe: Fear and the Future of Democracy, TATRA Summit, 2016, Shaping the Future of
Europe. Topic: “Understanding Authoritarianism.” (Other invited speakers include Christine Lagarde,
Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, and H.E. Robert Fico, Prime Minister of the Slovak
Republic and President of the European Union Council.)
11th Annual New Democrat Coalition Retreat, 2016. Topic: “The Future of the Center in a Polarized Political
World.” (The New Democrat Coalition is comprised of 52 members of the United States House of
Representatives.)
Invited Speaker: The Dole Forum at the Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics, University of Kansas, 2014. Topic:
“The Brave New World of Political Communications: Lessons from the Obama Campaign.”
TEACHING
Instructor of Record
PS 362 - Politics, Law, and Judicial Behavior, University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
GOV 308 - Environmental Politics and Policy in the United States Since Rachel Carson, Smith College.
PS 194 - The Politics of Health Care Reform. University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
PS 181 - Introduction to Public Policy. University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
Teaching Modules
Simulation - Presidential Campaign. Institute on U.S. Political Thought: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of
Education and Cultural Affairs. (Part of summer institute for professors from the developing world.)
Simulation - Presidential and Congressional Campaigns. Civic Initiative at the Donahue Center, University of
Massachusetts, Amherst. (Part of summer institute for young leaders from Argentina, Pakistan, and Iraq).
Teaching Assistant
PS 201 - Politics through Film. University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
PUBLISHED COMMENTARY (recent)
MacWilliams, Matthew C. and Jonathan Weiler. 2016. “Authoritarianism, Not Social Class Is the Dividing Line
Between Supporting and Opposing Donald Trump.” London School of Economics United States Politics and
Policy blog.
MacWilliams, Matthew C. 2016. “Donald Trump’s Victories Show That Authoritarian Voters Are Now in
Control of the Republican Nomination Process.” London School of Economics United States Politics and Policy
blog.
MacWilliams, Matthew C. 2016. “The Best Predictor of Trump Support Isn’t Income, Education, or Age. It’s
Authoritarianism.” Vox.
MacWilliams, Matthew C. 2016. “Donald Trump Is Attracting Authoritarian Primary Voters, and It May Help
Him to Gain the Nomination.” London School of Economics United States Politics and Policy blog.
MacWilliams, Matthew C. 2016. “The One Weird Trait That Predicts Whether You’re a Trump Supporter.”
Politico.
MacWilliams, Matthew C. 2015. “Forecasting Models Using Facebook Data Can Be More Accurate Predicting
Election Outcomes Than Polling.” London School of Economic United States Politics and Policy blog.
MacWilliams, Matthew C., Edward Erikson, and Nicole Berns. 2014. “Facebook Forecasting and the Curious
Case of Scott Brown.” MassPoliticsProfs blog.
MacWilliams, Matthew C., Edward Erikson, and Nicole Berns. 2014. “Facebook Forecast: Jeanne Shaheen to
Defeat Scott Brown.” MassPoliticsProfs blog.
MacWilliams, Matthew C. and Nicole Berns. 2014. “In Alaska, Candidate’s Call for Impeachment Resonates on
Facebook.” The Hill.
MacWilliams, Matthew C., Edward Erikson and Nicole Berns. 2014. “Can Facebook Predict Who Wins the
Senate in 2014?” Politico.
MacWilliams, Matthew C. and Edward Erikson. 2013. “Stamping Out Big Money in Politics.” Politico.
MacWilliams, Matthew C. and Edward Erikson. 2013. “The Year of the Jilted Tweep?” Politico.
MacWilliams, Matthew C. and Edward Erikson. 2012. “The Facebook Bump.” Politico.
MANUSCRIPTS IN PROGRESS
MacWilliams, Matthew C. “A Comparative Study of Authoritarianism in the United States and Europe.”
MacWilliams, Matthew C. “If the Solicitor General is the 10th Supreme Court Justice, Is the National Chamber
Litigation Center the 11th?”
MacWilliams, Matthew C. “American Authoritarianism in Black and White.” Book Proposal.
MacWilliams, Matthew C. “ Using Facebook Metrics to Predict Election Outcomes: A Review of the Facebook
Forecasting Model After Three Election Cycles.”
Schaffner, Brian and Matthew MacWilliams “A Methodological Analysis of the Cross-Racial Invariance of
Authoritarian Scale Survey Questions.”
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS (selected)
Papers
“Did American Authoritarians Rise to Donald Trump’s Authoritarian Siren Call?” American Political Science
Association Conference. September, 2016.
“Model 2.0: Using Facebook Metrics to Forecast 2014 Senate Results.” New England Political Science
Association Conference, 2015.
“Are African Americans a Monolithic Group? The Political Behavior of African American Authoritarians.” New
England Political Science Association Conference. 2014.
“The Facebook Bump? Measuring the Effectiveness of Social Media in 2012 Congressional Campaigns.”
Midwest Political Science Association Conference. 2013.
“Measure Twice, Cut Once: Analysis and Critique of the Methods Used in Natural Experiments and
Observational Studies to Measure Exposure to and Campaign Effects From Candidate Television, cable, and
Radio Ads.” Midwest Political Science Association Conference. 2012.
AWARDS
Distinction: Public Law comprehensive exam, University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
Distinguished Teaching Award Nominee, University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
Phi Beta Kappa, University of Pennsylvania.
Benjamin Franklin Scholar, University of Pennsylvania.
SERVICE
Panel Chair and Discussant. “How Americans Think About Politics.” New England Political Science Association
Conference, 2016.
Panel Chair and Discussant. ”Advertising, Media, and Voting on Public Policy.” New England Political Science
Association Conference, 2015.
Panel Chair and Discussant. “Media, Policy Framing, and Public Opinion.” New England Political Science
Association Conference, 2015.
Member, President’s Committee. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation, 2016-Present.
Member, Board of Directors and Grants Committee, 2005-Present. Proteus Fund.
Member, Board of Directors and Grants Committee, 2005-Present, Proteus Action League.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
President, MacWilliams Sanders Communications. 1990-Present. Developed media, message, and strategy
for foundation, political, and advocacy clients. Led and managed company and staff for 25 years.
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Elected over a dozen candidates to the House of Representatives and Senate, including Congressman
Steny Hoyer, the Minority Whip of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Advised the Rockefeller Family Fund, the MacArthur Foundation, and other foundations on climate
change, clean energy development, and environmental conservation in the United States and globally.
Won over 110 national awards for television, cable, radio, print, and online communications as well
as social networking and new technology awards.
Coached candidates, organizational leaders, and citizen spokespeople on speechmaking and
presenting to the media, including preparing for TED talks.
Trained candidates, organizational leaders, and citizens in campaign and participation techniques for
the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee,
Emily’s List, National Education Association, Wellstone Action, and numerous state-based 501c(3)
and 501c(4) organizations.
Conducted qualitative and directed quantitative public opinion studies on a wide range of policy
topics for over 25 years.
Founder and Publisher, The Polling Report. January 1985-December 1989.
Deputy National Political and Field Director, Mondale for President/Campaign for the Future of America
December 1981-November 1984.
Executive Director, Environmental Action’s Political Action Committee. May 1981-November 1981.
Deputy Field Director, The Democratic National Committee. September 1980-May 1981.