Ben Manski

Ben Manski

Ben Manski

Assistant Professor

Sociology: Social movement; next system studies; sociology of constitutions and constitutionalism; democratization; environmental sociology; federalism and municipalism; philosophy of social science.

Ben Manski studies the participation of ordinary people in the deliberate constitution of their societies. His work takes in social movements, law, politics, climate and ecology, and the corporation, focusing on democracy, democratization, and constitutionalism, and he has published widely on these themes. In the past, Manski practiced public interest law for eight years and managed national non-profit organizations, direct action campaigns, and political campaigns and parties for twenty five years. He is an Institute for Policy Studies Associate Fellow, Next System Project Research Fellow, Liberty Tree Foundation Fellow, and a Critical Realism Network Associated Fellow.

Manski joined the faculty of George Mason University's Department of Sociology and Anthropology in August of 2020. He is director of Next System Studies, an initiative of Mason's Center for Social Science Research.

For a more extensive biography, see https://www.benmanski.com/biography

Selected Publications

Books in Progress

Manski, Ben. “The Constitutional Revolution.” Routledge, New York City. (forthcoming).

Peer Reviewed Journals

Collins, Mary and Simone Pulver, Dustin Hill, and Ben Manski. 2023. “Targeted pollution management can significantly reduce toxic emissions while limiting adverse effects on employment in US manufacturing.” Environmental Science & Policy (139):157-165.

Collins, Mary and Simone Pulver, Dustin Hill, and Ben Manski. 2020. “Characterizing Disproportionality in Facility-Level Toxic Releases in U.S. Manufacturing, 1998-2012.” Environmental Research Letters 15(6):064002.

Manski, Ben, Hillary Lazar, and Suren Moodliar. 2020. “The Millennial Turns and the New Period: An Introduction.” Socialism  &  Democracy 34(1):1-50.

Fletcher, Bill and Ben Manski. 2020. “Reflections on Organized Labor, the Black Radical Congress, and Building a United Front.” Socialism and Democracy 34(1):242-255.

Stockwell, Norman and Ben Manski. 2020. “Indymedia and Media Activism at the Turn of the Millennium.” Socialism  & Democracy  34(1):216-227.

Manski, Ben and Jackie Smith. 2019. “Introduction: The Dynamics and Terrains of Local Democracy and Corporate Power in the 21st Century.” Journal of World-Systems Research 25(1):6-14. 

Manski, Sarah and Ben Manski. 2018. “No Gods, No Masters, No Coders? The Future of Sovereignty in a Blockchain World.” Law & Critique, 29(2):151-162.

Manski, Ben. 2015. “The Democratic Turn of the Century: Learning from the U.S. Democracy Movement.” Socialism  &  Democracy 29(1):2-16.

Chapters of Books

Pulver, Simone and Ben Manski. 2021. “Corporations and the Environment,” in The Springer Handbook of Environmental Sociology, ed. Beth Caniglia et alia. Springer, NY, NY.

Manski, Ben. 2018. “Methodological Approaches to Movement Waves and the Making of History,” in The Palgrave Handbook on Social Movements, Revolution, and Social Transformation, ed. Berch Berberoglu. Palgrave Macmillan, NY, NY.

Manski, Ben. 2017. “Universalize Power: Build the Democracy Movement,” in Welcome to the Revolution: Universalizing Resistance for Social Justice and Democracy in Perilous Times, by Charles Derber. Routledge, NY, NY.

Manski, Ben. 2017. “Beginning the World Again: Social Movements and the Challenge of Constitutional Change,” in Human Rights Of, By, and For the People: How to Critique and Change the U.S. Constitution, edited by Louis Edgar Esparza, Keri E. Iyall Smith, and Judith Blau. Routledge, NY, NY.

Journal Editor

Manski, Ben and Hillary Lazar, sp. eds. “Movements at the Millennium: Seattle+20.” Socialism & Democracy, Volume 34, No.1, March 2020.

Manski, Ben, sp. ed. “Symposium: Corporate Power and Local Democracy.” Journal of World-Systems Research, Volume 25, Issue 1, Spring 2019.

Expanded Publication List

Books in Progress

Manski, Ben. “The Constitutional Revolution.” Routledge, New York City. (forthcoming).

Peer Reviewed Journals

Collins, Mary and Simone Pulver, Dustin Hill, and Ben Manski. 2020. “Characterizing Disproportionality in Facility-Level Toxic Releases in U.S. Manufacturing, 1998-2012.” Environmental Research Letters 15(6):064002.

Manski, Ben, Hillary Lazar, and Suren Moodliar. 2020. “The Millennial Turns and the New Period: An Introduction.” Socialism  &  Democracy 34(1):1-50.

Fletcher, Bill and Ben Manski. 2020. “Reflections on Organized Labor, the Black Radical Congress, and Building a United Front.” Socialism and Democracy 34(1):242-255.

Stockwell, Norman and Ben Manski. 2020. “Indymedia and Media Activism at the Turn of the Millennium.” Socialism  & Democracy  34(1):216-227.

Manski, Ben and Jackie Smith. 2019. “Introduction: The Dynamics and Terrains of Local Democracy and Corporate Power in the 21st Century.” Journal of World-Systems Research 25(1):6-14. 

Manski, Sarah and Ben Manski. 2018. “No Gods, No Masters, No Coders? The Future of Sovereignty in a Blockchain World.” Law & Critique, 29(2):151-162.

Manski, Ben. 2015. “The Democratic Turn of the Century: Learning from the U.S. Democracy Movement.” Socialism  &  Democracy 29(1):2-16.

Manski, Ben. 2014. “Seattle Uprising Still a Force in World Events, 15 Years Later.” Berkeley Journal of Sociology.

Manski, Ben. 2004. “The Massacre in Miami.” Socialism  &  Democracy 18(1):249-253.

 

Chapters of Books

Pulver, Simone and Ben Manski. 2021. “Corporations and the Environment,” in The Springer Handbook of Environmental Sociology, ed. Beth Caniglia et alia. Springer, NY, NY.

Manski, Ben. 2018. “Methodological Approaches to Movement Waves and the Making of History,” in The Palgrave Handbook on Social Movements, Revolution, and Social Transformation, ed. Berch Berberoglu. Palgrave Macmillan, NY, NY.

Manski, Ben. 2017. “Universalize Power: Build the Democracy Movement,” in Welcome to the Revolution: Universalizing Resistance for Social Justice and Democracy in Perilous Times, by Charles Derber. Routledge, NY, NY.

Manski, Ben. 2017. “Beginning the World Again: Social Movements and the Challenge of Constitutional Change,” in Human Rights Of, By, and For the People: How to Critique and Change the U.S. Constitution, edited by Louis Edgar Esparza, Keri E. Iyall Smith, and Judith Blau. Routledge, NY, NY.

Manski, Ben and Karen Dolan. 2009. “Unleash Democracy: Policies for a New Federalism,” in Mandate for Change: Policies and Leadership for 2009 and Beyond, ed. Chester Hartman. Institute for Policy Studies, Washington D.C.. 

Journal Editor

Manski, Ben and Hillary Lazar, sp. eds. “Movements at the Millennium: Seattle+20.” Socialism & Democracy, Volume 34, No.1, March 2020.

Manski, Ben, sp. ed. “Symposium: Corporate Power and Local Democracy.” Journal of World-Systems Research, Volume 25, Issue 1, Spring 2019.

Manski, Ben, ed., Liberty Tree Journal, Vol I-II, Issues 1-8, 2005-2008. 

Manski, Ben, ed., Midwest Headwaters Journal, Vol 5-8, 1995-1997.

Manski, Ben, ed., Democracy Unlimited Post Dispatch, Vol 1-2, 1996-1997.

Other Selected Publications

Manski, Ben. 2021. “Building the Global Movement,” in An Earth Constitution: Has Its Time Come?, Tellus Institute, Cambridge, MA.

Manski, Ben and Peter Knowlton. “Earth Day to May Day Point to a New America.” Common Dreams, April 30, 2021.

Manski, Ben and Suren Moodliar. 2020. “Voter Assemblies to Protect the Vote,” in TURNOUT! Mobilizing Voters During an Electoral Emergency, ed. Suren Moodliar et alia. Routledge, NY, NY.

Manski, Ben. 2019. “Review of the book, Constituents before Assembly: Participation, Deliberation, and Representation in the Crafting of New Constitutions. By Todd A. Eisenstadt, A. Carl Levins & Tofigh Maboudi.” Law & Society Review 52:1111.

Manski, Ben and Sarah Manski. “It Started in Wisconsin.” Jacobin, March 2018.

Manski, Ben. “After Trump and Obama: A President’s Day Resolution to Abolish the Presidency.” Common Dreams, February 2018.

Manski, Ben and Sarah Manski. 2017. “After Wisconsin 2011, Before Janus 2018: Lessons for the Next Popular Uprising.” In Critical Solidarity, Vol 14(3):8-10.

Manski, Ben. “DHS Immigration Memo Underscores Urgent Need for National Guard Reform.” BillMoyers.com, February 2017.

Ryan, Charlotte and Ben Manski, Gregory Maney. 2016. “Social Movement Thinkers, Activist Scholars Discuss Emerging Agenda for Social Movement Relevant Research.” Critical Mass Bulletin, Vol 42(2):6-8.

Alperovitz, Gar and Ben Manski. “What Comes After Capitalism? Upcoming Teach-Ins Can Show a Way Forward.” Truth Out, April 2016.

Manski, Ben. “Why Washington should fear the silence of the anti-war movement.” Al Jazeera, December 2014.

Manski, Ben and Jill Stein. “The Global Climate Strike: Why We Can't Wait.” Truth Out, September 2014.

Manski, Ben. “Liberty is Hunted Around the Globe: What Snowden Taught Us About American Freedom.” Truth Out, July 2013.

Manski, Ben. “The Protest Wave: Why the Political Class Can’t Understand Our Demands.” In These Times, October 2011.

Manski, Ben. 2010. “From Liberty to Empire: The Demise of American Defense,” in Come Home America, ed. George O’Neill, Jr.. Titan Publishing Company, London.

Manski, Ben and Lisa Graves. “Corporations are People Too.” In These Times, March 2010 

Manski, Ben and Lisa Graves. “New American Crisis.” Syndicated, multiple newspapers, March 2010

Columnist, The Planski, The Isthmus, Madison’s Weekly Newspaper, 2008-2010.

Manski, Ben and Karen Dolan. “Has Your Town Declared Peace Yet?” Yes! Magazine, Summer, 2008.

Manski, Ben and Karen Dolan. “Your Time is Up, Mr. President: The National Guard is Coming Home.” Syndicated, Spring 2008.

Manski, Ben. “From Liberty to Empire: The Demise of American Defense.” Liberty Tree Journal, Vol 2, Issue 3, 2007.

Manski, Ben. “How the Corporation Captured the Academy.” Liberty Tree Journal, Vol 2, Issue 2, 2007.

Manski, Ben. “State Power Against the Slave Power.” Liberty Tree Journal, Vol 1, Issue 3, 2006.

Manski, Ben. “The Essence of the Corporation.” Liberty Tree Journal, Vol 1, Issue 2, 2006.

Manski, Ben and John E. Peck. “Corporatization: An Internal Clash of Civilizations,” in the Annual Yearbook on Public Services. TNI Publishing, Amsterdam, 2005.

Manski, Ben. “A People’s Party for Dane County, Wisconsin.” Orion Afield, December, 2001.

Manski, Ben. “In the Hands of Youth,” in Campus Incorporated: Corporate Power and the Ivory Tower. ed. Geoffry White. Prometheus Books, Amherst, NY, 2000.

Manski, Ben. “97 Hours of Struggle.” Z Magazine, May 1998.

Manski, Ben. “Wisconsin Awakens.” New Internationalist, Oct. 1997.

In Progress

 

Manski, Ben, Hillary Lazar, and Suren Moodliar. ed. “Movements at the Millennium.” (book manuscript under review) 

Manski, Ben. “Next System Studies in Practice and Theory.” (article draft)

Manski, Ben. “A Field Guide to the U.S. Greens.” Heinrich Böll Foundation. (contracted report)

Manski, Ben. “Democracy Movements and Constitutional Change.” (article draft)

Manski, Ben and John Foran. “Toward Climate Democracy.” (article draft)

Manski, Ben. “The Three Traditions of Movement Theory in a Time of Systemic Movements: Contention, Identification, Praxis.” (article in draft)

Manski, Ben. “The Wisconsin Uprising: A Movement Building Analysis.” (article draft)

Grants and Fellowships

Next System Studies, 2024-2025: $100,000

The Democracy Collaborative, Next System Studies, 2021-2023: $250,000

Term Faculty Development Award, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, George Mason University, 2021: $4500

Graduate Division Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship, UCSB, 2018: $7500 

Flacks Fund for the Study of Democratic Possibilities, 2017 Grant Recipient: $2000

Research Fellow, Next System Project, 2017 and 2018: $6250

Sociology Research Grant, UCSB, 2015 and 2016: $1100

American Association of Political Consultants, 2012 Pollie Award (Six in four categories)

Finalist, Governor’s Business Plan Competition, Wisconsin 2010

Burrell Business Plan Competition Startup Grant, UW-Madison 2009

Courses Taught

George Mason University, Assistant Professor of Sociology:

Next System Studies Seminar                                          Spring 2024

Social Movements and Political Protest                           Fall 2021, Spring 2022, Fall 2022, Spring 2024

Internship and Graduate Practicum                                 Fall 2020-Summer 2023

Environment and Society in “The Decisive Decade”        Spring 2022

Social Change and the Next System                                Summer 2021, Spring 2022

Logics, Design, and Methods of Social Inquiry                Fall 2021

Introductory Sociology                                                     Fall 2020, Spring and Summer 2021

Power, Politics and Society                                               Spring 2021

Globalization and Social Movements                               Fall 2020

 

University of California Santa Barbara ~ Teaching Associate (instructor of record):

Sociology of Law                                                         Spring 2020

Special Topics in Theory                                              Spring, Fall 2019

The Sociology of Social Movements                           Summer 2016

 

Madison Area Technical College ~ Lecturer:

Social Problems                                                      Fall 2009, Spring 2010, Spring 2011

Contemporary American Society                            Fall 2009, Spring 2010, Spring 2011

Education

PhD, Sociology, University of California Santa Barbara (2020)

MA, Sociology, University of California Santa Barbara (2016)

JD, University of Wisconsin School of Law (2005)

BA, Sociology, University of Wisconsin at Madison (1999)

In the Media

Cobb, David. “Where are the Greens in the Green New Deal? Longtime democracy activist Ben Manski reflects on the history, and possible futures, of a Green New Deal.” The Progressive, Madison, WI, March 23 2019.

Barrett, Patrick. “An Interview with Ben Manski of the Wisconsin Wave,” in It Started in Wisconsin: Dispatches from the Front Lines of the New Labor Protests, ed. Mari Jo Buhle and Paul Buhle, Verso, Brooklyn, NY, 2012.

Perl, Jacob. “Megaphone: An Interview with Ben Manski of the Liberty Tree Foundation.” Jewish Currents, Brooklyn, NY, Spring 2012.

Gramling, Jonathan. “The Legacy of Chiune Sugihara.” The Capital City Hues, Madison, WI, August 25, 2011.

Zielinski, Graeme. “Green and Growing?” On Wisconsin Alumni Magazine, Madison, WI, Fall 2004.


Topical interviews on CNN, NBC News, CBS News, BBC News, Fox News, Voice of America, Pacifica, National Public Radio (various), Washington Post, New York Times, Chronicle of Higher Education, etc; regular guest on Wisconsin Public Radio’s Week in Review (2011-2013)