We are delighted to announce that ten of our senior thesis writers have received top honors in this year’s Government Prizes, recognizing their extraordinary scholarship and commitment to critical inquiry.
Conner Huey, Danny Laughary, Emory Paul, and Mateo Velarde-Berrios have each won the coveted James Gordon Bennett Prize for their thought-provoking theses exploring U.S. policy, bureaucracy, homelessness, and political disinformation, respectively. Meanwhile, Oluchi Amadife, Addie Esposito, and Zaki Lakhani claimed the Philo Sherman Bennett Prize for their insightful work on free government, focusing respectively on migrant recognition in France, identity divisions in German politics, and timely analysis of U.S. hostage negotiation strategies.
Michael Zhao was honored with the Gerda Richards Crosby Prize, awarded to the top-ranked student for outstanding performance in Government, for his innovative use of deep learning to examine Congressional speeches.
Finally, Ethan Jasny and Katalina Toth were named recipients of the Eric Firth Prize, awarded for essays on the ideals of democracy, with research on constitutional rights and Indigenous self-determination.
James Gordon Bennett Prize
This is one of six prizes given for work in different areas of political science. Funded by a gift from the late James Gordon Bennett, this particular prize goes to the best essay written in English on a current topic related to American government, either in domestic or foreign policy.
Conner Huey: The Progressive Paradox: How the Democratic Party Won Rural Western Washington, 1976-2024
Danny Laughary: The Neutral Ethic and the Spirit of Bureaucracy
“While I was working on my thesis, I often heard—and I readily agreed—that my thesis topic, while interesting to some, was a relatively niche subject with somewhat limited relevance to current affairs. But when the second Trump administration took power and inaugurated its assault on the federal workforce, I realized that the topic of bureaucracy was perhaps more relevant than even I had guessed.
“I see the Bennett prize as a credit to all the work that brought my thesis into being—not just my own efforts, but all the help, guidance, and stimulating conversations that made the thesis-writing process bearable. While I may have “won” the prize, I owe this achievement to the many brilliant and generous people who supported me along the way and shaped many of my best ideas.”
Emory Paul: ‘Homeless, Not Helpless’: How Homeless Unions Transform the Local Political Life of the Unhoused
“My thesis explored how grassroots organizations led by homeless people, often referred to as homeless unions, overcome significant barriers to building power amongst a population thought to be unorganizable. Despite homeless unions growing in number and influence as they seek to organize unhoused people against the structural forces perpetuating their plight, political scientists largely dismiss homeless people as political actors and, consequently, overlook the role of homeless unions in building and channeling the power of the unhoused.
“It is an incredible honor to receive the James Gordon Bennett Prize and a great feeling to know that the Government Department believes in my research, which I hope to continue engaging in after I graduate. I could not have done this without my amazing thesis advisor, Dorothy Manevich, and my Gov99 instructor, Elizabeth Thom. Moreover, I am indebted to the remarkable homeless political organizers who I spent countless hours speaking with and observing for my data collection––they deserve this honor more than myself.”
Mateo Velarde-Berrios: A Shapeshifting Reality: The Influence of AI-Generated Political Disinformation on Affective Polarization in the United States
“My thesis combines systematic content analysis with a six-group, between-subjects experiment involving 678 U.S. adults to ask two questions: (1) Do deep-fakes actually widen the emotional divide between Democrats and Republicans? (2) Can a simple transparency label blunt that harm?
“The project began as a concern about deep-fake posts on social media and their effects on democracy; turning that concern into evidence was only possible thanks to my advisors, Professor Jim Waldo and Ahmet Akbiyik, along with the incredible support of both the Computer Science and Government departments. I’m honored to receive the James Gordon Bennett Prize.”
Philo Sherman Bennett Prize
A prize, made possible by a fund from the late Philo Sherman Bennett of New Haven, Connecticut, is awarded for the best essay that explores the principles of free government.
Oluchukwu Amadife: REIMAGINING FRENCH UNIVERSALISM: Le prix littéraire de la Porte Dorée and Migrant Recognition
Addie Esposito: The Berlin Wall Still Cuts Through the Bundestag: East/West Divides on Personal and National Identity Among German Parliamentarians
“My thesis examined 1) the extent to which members of the German Bundestag (parliament) still identify as East and West German and 2) East/West divides in how parliamentarians approach questions of German national identity. To answer these research questions, I conducted a survey of all Bundestag members (which received 183 responses) and 48 in-depth interviews in German.
“I am so grateful for this award because it recognizes the extensive qualitative research I conducted from May 2024 to January 2025. As political science shifts in a more quantitative direction, the discipline runs the risk of undervaluing qualitative research, such as in-depth interviews. This award—with its focus on worthiness of publication—suggests that there is still a meaningful place for qualitative, personalistic research in political science publications. Thank you so much again for this recognition!”
Zaki Lakhani: ‘We Do Not Negotiate with Terrorists’…Until We Have To: Investigating the Influence of U.S. Administrations’ Political Ideology on Hostage Negotiation Outcomes
“I wanted my thesis to investigate how governments navigate decision-making in time-sensitive and high-stakes situations, and found that the issue of hostage diplomacy offered a unique and compelling lens through which to explore this. It also allowed me to illustrate the relevance of political ideology to hostage crisis outcomes in order to address a gap I perceived in existing literature regarding partisanship and international negotiation.
“I am honored that my thesis has been recognized by the Department of Government with the Philo Sherman Bennett prize, especially at a time when the principles of free government are more important to examine and uphold than ever.”
Gerda Richards Crosby Prize in Government (1954)
Thanks to the generosity of many friends of the late Gerda Richards Crosby (A.M. 1923, Ph.D. 1933), a prize has been set up to be given each year. It’s awarded to a student earning an A.B. with honors, based on a recommendation from the Department of Government, in recognition of outstanding work in that concentration.
Michael Zhao: Words Speak as Loudly as Actions: Deep Learning Methods for Stance-Based Ideal Points From Congressional Speeches
“I am deeply honored to receive the Gerda Richards Crosby Prize in Government and I’m profoundly grateful to the Government department for fostering an environment that encourages exceptional intellectual engagement and undergraduate research. Special thanks to my advisors António Câmara (Government) and Ariel Procaccia (Computer Science), whose guidance helped me navigate the intersection of political science and computer science.”
Eric Firth Prize
Thanks to a gift from Eric Firth, a prize is awarded for the best essay on the ideals of democracy. The essay should explore not just the political side of democracy, but also its social and ethical values, and how it connects to supporting peace and freedom.
Ethan Jasny: The Rights of the Dead: How the Precision of National Constitutions Shapes Institutional Stability and Change
“In recent years, political scientists have begun to consider how constitutions can gradually evolve over time without being formally amended. My thesis brings a quantitative approach to evaluating how subtle processes of institutional change affect the trajectories of constitutions around the world.
“I was very excited to receive the Firth Prize; now more than ever, we need research that examines why democratic institutions succeed or fail. I am very grateful for my advisors Daniel Ziblatt (Government) and Luke Miratrix (Statistics).”
Katalina Toth: Power to the Individual, Knowledge to the Public: A Foucauldian Reconsideration of Indigenous Self-Determination in Canada
“My thesis reexamines Canadian Indigenous health policy through Foucault’s philosophy, showing how apparent support for autonomy often hides ongoing state control. Drawing on case studies and testimony, I trace the evolution of colonial coercion into subtle domination within institutions. Using Foucault’s concepts, I reveal how policy shapes Indigenous well-being through hidden control of social determinants, undermining trust and remedies. Ultimately, I argue that overcoming these limitations requires investment in Indigenous research and storytelling.
“I was thrilled to find out I had received the Firth Prize. It is wonderful to know that others found the topics and cases I discuss in my thesis to be as important as I believe them to be. I am so grateful to my advisors, Professors Antonia Maioni and Christie McDonald.”
Congratulations to these outstanding seniors for their original research and impact within the field of government. We are proud of their achievements and look forward to their future contributions!