Joshua Yesnowitz

Joshua Yesnowitz

  • Senior Lecturer, Global Studies
  • Ph.D. in Political Science, Boston University
  • M.A. in Political Science, Boston College
  • B.A. in Government and American Studies, Skidmore College

Teaching Interests

Political Parties, Interest Groups, Social Movements, Congress, State and Local Government, US Politics and Public Policy in Comparative Context

Research Interests

Participatory Politics, Electoral Reform, American Political Development, Youth Civic Engagement, Politics of Higher Education

Bio

Joshua Yesnowitz is a political scientist in the global studies department at Bentley University, where he teaches courses in American Politics and Public Policy. He specializes in American political development with an emphasis on social movements, political parties, youth political participation, and democratic reform.

Scholarly Contributions and Creative Productions

Journal Articles

  • Yesnowitz, J., Penar, P. (2025). "Within Their Ranks: Ranked Choice Voting Reform and Intra-Party Coalition Management". The Forum: A Journal of Applied Research in Contemporary Politics (Link)
  • Gerring, J., Yesnowitz, J. (2006). "A Normative Turn in Political Science?". Polity: The Journal of the Northeastern Political Science Association, (38) 1 101-133. (Link)

    • Books

  • Blakely, A. (Ed.), Heywood, L. (Ed.), Yesnowitz, J. (Ed.) (2015). African Americans in U.S. Foreign Policy: From the Era of Frederick Douglass to the Age of Obama Champaign, IL: University of Illinois Press
  • Bird, S. (Ed.), Silver, A. (Ed.), Yesnowitz, J. (Ed.) (2013). Agitation with a Smile: Howard Zinn's Legacies and the Future of Activism Boulder, CO: Paradigm Publishers (Link)

    • Book Chapters

  • Bird, S., Silver, A., Yesnowitz, J. (2013). "Agitation with a Smile: A Framework for Reassessing the Contributions of Howard Zinn" Agitation with a Smile: Howard Zinn’s Legacies and the Future of Activism. Boulder, CO: Paradigm Publishers
  • Bird, S., Silver, A., Yesnowitz, J. (2013). "Reassessing Zinn: Critical Reflections on a Scholar-Activist" Agitation with a Smile: Howard Zinn’s Legacies and the Future of Activism. Boulder, CO: Paradigm Publishers

    • Reviews

  • Yesnowitz, J. (2021). "Review of How Social Movements Can Save Democracy: Democratic Innovations from Below by Donatella della Porta.". , (20) https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14742837.2021.1967134.
  • Yesnowitz, J. (2011). "Review of Social Movements and Activism in the USA by Stephen Valocchi". , (10) 3 318-320.
  • Yesnowitz, J. (2010). "Review of In the Balance of Power: Independent Black Politics and Third-Party Movements in the United States by Omar H. Ali.". , (32) 1 157-162.
  • Bird, S., Yesnowitz, J. (2008). "Choosing the One for 101: A Review of Primary Textbooks for Introductory Political Science Survey Courses". , (4) 2 253-259. (Link)
  • Yesnowitz, J. (2007). "Review of News: The Politics of Illusion". , (3) 3 327-329. (Link)

    • Service

    Service: Department

  • Faculty Advisor for Pi Sigma Alpha Political Science Honor Society 09-01-2025 - Present
  • Faculty Advisor for Minor in Politics 2024-09-01 - Present
  • Committee Member for Global Studies Departmental Committee on Anti-Racism, Diversity, and Inclusion 2023-09-01 - Present

    • Service: University

  • Committee Member for Bentley Learning and Teaching Council 2025-09-01 - Present