Public Policy (Section 4)
The Organized Section on Public Policy is committed to producing rigorous empirical and theoretical knowledge of the processes and products of governing and the application of that knowledge to critical policy issues.
Founded: 1983
Social: @APSA_PubPol
Website: connect.apsanet.org/s4/
Section Membership Dues
| Student | Regular |
|---|---|
| $8 | $15 |
Section Officers
Section Officers
Section Awards
Section awards are presented during the APSA annual meeting awards ceremony. To learn more about any award listed, contact the award committee chair for the award.
All section 04. Public Policy awards to-date »
Aaron Wildavsky Enduring Contribution Award
The Aaron Wildavsky Enduring Contribution Award is given for the best book or article published in the general area of public policy during the past twenty to thirty years. The book or article should have had a major impact on the field. This award carries a $625 prize. Deadline for nominations: April 15, 2026
Award Committee
| Name | Affiliation | |
|---|---|---|
| Deserai Crow | University of Colorado Denver | deserai.crow@ucdenver.edu |
| Martin Gilens | University of California, Los Angeles | gilens@g.ucla.edu |
| Matt Nowlin | University of Texas at Arlington | matthew.nowlin@uta.edu |
Best Comparative Policy Paper Award
The Best Comparative Policy Paper Award recognizes a paper presented at the APSA Annual Conference which is of particular distinction in the area of comparative public policy. It is granted in collaboration with and sponsored by the International Comparative Policy Analysis Forum and the Journal of Comparative Policy Analysis. Following nomination or self-nomination the paper is reviewed by a joint APSA/JCPA adjudication committee. The winning author(s) are awarded the JCPA Best Comparative Paper Award. This award carries a prize of $500. The author is invited to submit the paper for publication consideration in the JCPA. Deadline for nominations: April 15, 2026
Award Committee
| Name | Affiliation | |
|---|---|---|
| Ian Elliott | University of Glasgow | Ian.Elliott@glasgow.ac.uk |
| Xue Gao | Florida State University | xg23d@fsu.edu |
| David Switzer | University of Missouri | switzerd@missouri.edu |
| Mehmet Demircioglu | Carleton University | MehmetDemircioglu@cunet.carleton.ca |
| Michael Barzelay | London School of Economics | M.Barzelay@lse.ac.uk |
Best Paper on Public Policy Award
The Best Paper on Public Policy Award recognizes the best paper on Public Policy given at the previous APSA Annual Meeting. This award carries a $625 prize. Deadline for nominations:
Award Committee
| Name | Affiliation | |
|---|---|---|
| Bruce McDonald | Old Dominion University | bmcdonal@odu.edu |
| Jack Mewhirter | University of Tennessee | jmewhirt@utk.edu |
| Jing Zhao | Tsinghua University | jingzhao09@tsinghua.edu.cn |
Excellence in Mentoring Award
The Excellence in Mentoring Award has been established to recognize sustained efforts by a senior scholars to encourage and facilitate the career of emerging political scientists in the field of Public Policy. This award carries a $625 prize. Deadline for nominations: April 15, 2026
Award Committee
cchen1@hamilton.edu
| Name | Affiliation | |
|---|---|---|
| Charles Shipan | University of Michigan | cshipan@umich.edu |
| Catherine Chen | Hamilton College | cchen1@hamilton.edu |
| Johanna Hornung | University of Lausanne | johanna.hornung@unil.ch |
Theodore J. Lowi Policy Studies Journal Best Article Award
The Theodore J. Lowi Policy Studies Journal Best Article Award is given to recognize an article of particular distinction published at any time in Policy Studies Journal. This award carries a prize of $625. Deadline for nominations: April 15, 2026
Award Committee
| Name | Affiliation | |
|---|---|---|
| Dan Mallinson | Pennsylvania State University | djm466@psu.edu |
| Kristin Taylor | Wayne State University | kristin.taylor@wayne.edu |
| Annemieke van Den Dool | Duke Kunshan University | annemieke.van.den.dool@dukekunshan.edu.cn |