Political science is the study of constitutions, law, and government, at the local, national, and international levels, and of those things that influence the exercise of political power, such as individual interests and attitudes, norms, institutions, and culture.
On October 29, faculty, staff and graduate students attended the second Inklings gathering of the Fall 2026 semester. Dr. Omar Sanchez-Sibony, Professor of Political Science at Texas State University, gave a presentation entitled “Semilla Government: Confronting Dual Party Game Dilemmas.”
The presentation centered around the origins and developments of the Semilla party and government in Guatemala over the last decade. Dr. Sanchez-Sibony on the party’s origins out of the 2015 Plaza protest movement, the 2023 Guatemalan election, and the intrinsic corruption that has taken root within the state of Guatemala that has thus far remained an institutional bar on democratization. Forms of corruption may be expressed through the seats of Congress, exploitations of capitalism between political actors and policy entrepreneurs, and more.
In a reflection of the 2024 Semilla led by Bernardo Arévalo, Dr. Sanchez-Sibony found that the party had no true route to fully root out corruption in light of its spread across legal and institutional bodies. As such, the Semilla government was required to make concessions to authoritarian actors and institutions in order to ensure the state remained functional. In effect, the survival of the Semilla government in Guatemala in office came at the cost of conceding to authoritarianism and overall failed to fully democratize the state.
Dr. Omar Sanchez-Sibony is a Professor of Political Science within the Department of Political Science at Texas State University. His scholastic interests include Latin American politics, Democratization, Revolutions, Comparative Institutions, Economic Development, and Comparative Politics. He received his undergraduate degree in Economics at the University of Chicago and he holds a Masters in both Politics of the World Economy, Foreign Service, and a PhD. in Political Science from the London School of Economics and Political Science, Georgetown University, and the University of Oxford, respectively. He has published in the fields of Democracy, Democratization, Electoral authoritarianism, Latin American democracies, Economic Reform, tax reform, especially with regards to Democratization in Guatemala.
The original Inklings consisted of a small group of intellectuals (whose ranks included J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis) who met weekly at Oxford University to read aloud and discuss their works in a spirit of fellowship and civil conversation. In the spirit of these Inklings, the Department of Political Science at Texas State University has held similar gatherings for more than two decades. Meeting monthly, TXST Inklings participants discuss research, exchange ideas, and address a wide variety of issues reflecting diverse interests.
On October 24, Dr. Moravits attended the Society of Catholic Social Scientists Annual Conference at John Carroll University in University Heights, Ohio. The conference brings together social scientists from a wide range of disciplines, including business, economics, history, political science, psychology, and theology, to discuss topics within these disciplines in light of Catholic Social Teaching.
At the conference, Dr. Moravits presented his paper in a panel composed of three professors in total entitled “Balancing Human Dignity and National Sovereignty: A Catholic Perspective on the Role of Immigration and Customs Enforcement Officers during the Trump Administration.”
The paper addresses how an individual Catholic who serves as an agent of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and/or Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) can successfully balance upholding the law and the dictates of Catholic Social Teaching, especially as it pertains to the human dignity of all people. The paper is currently under peer review by the Society for inclusion in the next volume of the Catholic Social Science Review.
Dr. Will Moravits is a lecturer of political science at Texas State University and has previously taught for Texas A&M University at San Antonio, St. Philip’s College, and Northeast Lakeview College. He graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and holds a Master of Arts in Political Science from Texas State University, as well as a PhD in Public Policy and Administration from Walden University.
On Thursday, October 22, Dr. Michael J. Faber delivered a fall lecture at the LBJ Museum titled “Examining the 2026 Midterm Election.” Dr. Faber discussed the upcoming midterm elections in its historical context, a brief overview of congressional elections this year, and an analysis of current polling data and methodology. The lecture concluded with a question and answer session amongst participants about the midterm election.
The LBJ Museum of San Marcos Lecture Series began in 2013 and is held twice a year during the fall and spring semesters. The lecture series brings scholars and public officials to speak on a range of historic and contemporary political issues. Past speakers from Texas State Political Science faculty have included Drs. Thomas Doyle, Ed S. Mihalkanin, and more
Dr. Michael J. Faber is an Associate Professor of Political Science at Texas State University. His research focuses on Constitutional Scholarship, and Anti-Federalism. He has authored An Anti-Federalist Constitution: The Development of Dissent in the Ratification Debates (University of Kansas, 2019), The American Frontier as State of Nature (World Affairs, 2018), among others.
Through October 14-16, Dr. Fields participated in a panel discussion titled “Trail-Oriented Development: The Next Generation of Placemaking” at the Texas American Planning Association Conference in Irving. Dr. Fields spoke about how he created the term and his recent research on how the concept is being applied in plans from around the country to a group of approximately 50 participants.
The Texas Annual Planning Conference (APATX26) is the annual statewide event for planners and community leaders, providing a unique training and networking opportunity. It aims to showcase the best planners, projects, and programs in Texas. The conference features calls for session proposals and sponsorships.
Dr. Billy Fields is a Professor of Political Science at Texas State University. His research focuses on understanding the key elements of resilient communities. He is the lead author of the Adaptation Urbanism and Resilient Communities (Routledge 2021) and co-editor of Transport Beyond Oil (Island Press 2013). He directs the International Sustainable Transportation Engagement Program, an annual study abroad program in the Netherlands exploring best practices in active transportation. Prior to joining Texas State University, Dr. Fields was Director of the Center for Urban and Public Affairs at the University of New Orleans and Research Director for the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy where he developed and explored the concept of trail-oriented development.
On Friday, October 23rd, four members of the Political Science Department were honored with “Favorite Professor” awards by the Texas Iota chapter of Alpha Chi, the National College Honors Society. Receiving recognition were Ben Arnold, Howard Balanoff, Mari Garza, and David Levy.
Alpha Chi is a national honor society, which promotes academic excellence and exemplary character among undergraduate college and university students. Alpha Chi is the oldest honor society at Texas State, founded in 1922.
For more information about Alpha Chi at Texas State, contact alphachihonor@txstate.edu. The national website (https://alphachihonor.org/) discusses the national activities, a professional journal for student members, its annual conferences, and national scholarship opportunities for members.
On Wednesday, October 14, approximately 200 students attended the 4th annual Midterm Check-In event hosted by the Department of Political Science. 9 university support departments attended to provide students with resources before registration for the 2027 Spring semester. Involved Departments included the Office of Disability, the Student Learning Assistance Center (SLAC), Career Services, International Student and Scholar Services, the University Writing Center, University Library, Health Promotion Services, Undergraduate Research, and the Counseling Center.
What began as a departmental effort to help students to connect with The Department of Political Science while exploring campus resources, has grown into a collaborative event that brings together campus partners committed to helping all students build their sense of belonging and prepare for the next semester. Student Development Specialist Melissa Rendon coordinated this successful event alongside key Graduate Instructional Assistants like Jaelynn Sifuentes and Maisha Ibnat.
Students were able to connect to campus resources as well as members of the Department of Political Science in preparation for their midterm examinations. Refreshments and food was provided throughout the event.
The Department of Political Science houses two academic journals, an international mediation newsletter, and two program magazines - Political Science's Alumni NewsWire and Public Administration's Public Matters.
