Central OC Times

The University of California, Irvine, announced that David S. Meyer, a sociology professor, has been chosen as part of the 2025 class of Andrew Carnegie Fellows. Meyer is one of 26 individuals selected out of more than 300 nominees across the United States. Each fellow will receive a $200,000 grant intended for research into political polarization in the country.

Hal Stern, UC Irvine provost and executive vice chancellor, remarked, "I am pleased to congratulate Professor Meyer on being named a 2025 Andrew Carnegie Fellow." He emphasized that this "highly regarded program will support his important study of social movements and protest and their role in democracy and public policy."

The fellowships are awarded based on the innovation and potential influence of the research proposal, as well as the scholar's ability to communicate findings to a broad audience. Meyer plans to use the funds to investigate how social movements and protest campaigns utilize polarization to drive political progress, while also analyzing its potential to impede government policymaking.

Bill Maurer, dean of the School of Social Sciences, stated, “A world-renowned scholar of social movements and their role in political change, Professor Meyer will advance our understanding of protest, polarization, and the possibility for positive change.” Maurer described Meyer’s work as “vital for our times and for our collective future."

Meyer has authored or edited nine books and produced over 100 articles, book reviews, and reports on social movements and contentious politics. His latest book, "How Social Movements (Sometimes) Matter," examines the origins of social movements, their differences from revolutionary campaigns, and their impact on politics, policy, and culture.

His research projects have received funding from numerous organizations, including the Carnegie Corporation and the National Science Foundation. In 2017, Meyer was honored with the John D. McCarthy Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Scholarship of Social Movements and Collective Behavior from the University of Notre Dame.

Commenting on his upcoming project, Meyer said, “It’s extremely encouraging to find support for this work, especially in this volatile moment in higher education and American politics more generally.” He aims to explore strategies for managing polarization in democratic settings and offer guidance to political organizers.

The Carnegie Corporation of New York began the Andrew Carnegie Fellows Program in 2015 to support social sciences and humanities research addressing significant societal issues. Following a hiatus in 2022-23, the program's focus turned to investigating political polarization in the United States. Fellow recipients aim to assist Americans in understanding the roots and consequences of societal polarization and identifying ways to enhance social unity.

Further information about the Andrew Carnegie Fellows Program can be found on their official channels.

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