R. Kent Weaver
Encyclopedia
Kent Weaver is a professor at Georgetown University
. His focus is on a variety of fields in U.S. political science
, including comparative social policy, comparative political institutions, and the politics of expertise. Weaver joined the Georgetown Public Policy Institute
in the fall of 2002, after 19 years at the Brookings Institution
. Before coming to Brookings, Weaver taught in the Political Science Department at the Ohio State University
for several years. He received his B.A. from Haverford College
and his Ph.D. in Political Science from Harvard University
.
Weaver's focus is on understanding how political institutions, past policy choices and the motivations of politicians interact to shape public policy choices. Much of his work has attempted to understand when and why politicians undertake actions that appear to offer more political risks than rewards, and how they attempt to avoid blame when they do so, popularly known as blame avoidance. From 2002 to 2002, he served as co-director of the Welfare Reform & Beyond Initiative at Brookings
, which sought to build a better understanding of social science research findings among policymakers and advocates in the lead-up to congressional debate on reauthorization of welfare reform
legislation. He is currently completing a book on what the United States can learn from the experiences of other advanced industrial countries in reforming their public pension systems. He is also writing another book on how states have implemented welfare reform legislation in the United States.
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
. His focus is on a variety of fields in U.S. political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
, including comparative social policy, comparative political institutions, and the politics of expertise. Weaver joined the Georgetown Public Policy Institute
Georgetown Public Policy Institute
Georgetown Public Policy Institute is a leading public policy program affiliated with Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.. GPPI offers master's degrees in public policy and policy management as well as administers several professional certificate programs and boasts five affiliated research...
in the fall of 2002, after 19 years at the Brookings Institution
Brookings Institution
The Brookings Institution is a nonprofit public policy organization based in Washington, D.C., in the United States. One of Washington's oldest think tanks, Brookings conducts research and education in the social sciences, primarily in economics, metropolitan policy, governance, foreign policy, and...
. Before coming to Brookings, Weaver taught in the Political Science Department at the Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
for several years. He received his B.A. from Haverford College
Haverford College
Haverford College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college located in Haverford, Pennsylvania, United States, a suburb of Philadelphia...
and his Ph.D. in Political Science from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
.
Weaver's focus is on understanding how political institutions, past policy choices and the motivations of politicians interact to shape public policy choices. Much of his work has attempted to understand when and why politicians undertake actions that appear to offer more political risks than rewards, and how they attempt to avoid blame when they do so, popularly known as blame avoidance. From 2002 to 2002, he served as co-director of the Welfare Reform & Beyond Initiative at Brookings
Brookings
- Organizations :* Brookings Institution, a nonprofit, nonpartisan public policy organization based in Washington, D.C.- Places :* Brookings, Oregon, USA* Brookings, South Dakota, USA* Brookings County, South Dakota, USA- People :* Robert S...
, which sought to build a better understanding of social science research findings among policymakers and advocates in the lead-up to congressional debate on reauthorization of welfare reform
Welfare reform
Welfare reform refers to the process of reforming the framework of social security and welfare provisions, but what is considered reform is a matter of opinion. The term was used in the United States to support the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act...
legislation. He is currently completing a book on what the United States can learn from the experiences of other advanced industrial countries in reforming their public pension systems. He is also writing another book on how states have implemented welfare reform legislation in the United States.
Education
- B.A. Haverford CollegeHaverford CollegeHaverford College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college located in Haverford, Pennsylvania, United States, a suburb of Philadelphia...
, Political SciencePolitical sciencePolitical Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior... - Ph.D. Harvard UniversityHarvard UniversityHarvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, Political SciencePolitical sciencePolitical Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
Selected publications
- Weaver, R. Kent. 2000. Ending Welfare as We Know It. Washington, DC: Brookings Institution Press.
- Weaver, R. Kent. 1998. "The Politics of Pension Reform: Lessons from Abroad," In R. Douglas Arnold, Micheal Graetz, and Alicia Munnell, eds., Framing the Social Security Debate: Values, Politics, and Economics. Washington, DC: National Academy of Social Insurance, p. 183-229.
- Weaver, R. Kent. 1988. Automatic Government: The Politics of Indexation. Washington, DC: Brookings Institution Press.
- The Politics of Industrial Change (Brookings, 1985)
- The Collapse of Canada? (Brookings, 1992)
- Do Institutions Matter?: Government Capabilities in the U.S. and Abroad (Brookings, 1993)
- Think Tanks and Civil Societies (TransAction Publishers, 2000)
- The Government Taketh Away: The Politics of Pain in the United States and Canada (Georgetown University Press, 2003)