Rob Glover Headshot

Robert W. Glover

Associate Professor of Honors and Political Science, University of Maine

About Robert

Glover's research focuses generally on political engagement, democratic theory, and public policy (immigration and drug policy specifically). Presently, he is working on a project looking at determinants of public attitudes towards drug policy reform in Maine. Glover is an award-winning teacher who as developed an innovative series of courses in which students and local community partners engage in collaborative research to confront local challenges utilizing existing assets and resources.

Contributions

No Jargon Podcast

In the News

"Scholars Strategy Network: Maine Voters Want a New Approach on Drug Policy," Robert W. Glover, Columnists, Central Maine, October 4, 2022.
"UMaine System Is The Latest Maine University To Require COVID-19 Vaccinations This Fall. Here’s A Full List.," Robert W. Glover, Interview with Esta Pratt-Kielley, Maine Public Radio Morning Edition, August 12, 2021.
"Scholars Strategy Network: UMaine Must Mandate Vaccination," Robert W. Glover, Columnists, Centralmaine.com, August 2, 2021.
Robert W. Glover quoted on the state of Maine's political affairs by Gabrielle Gurley, "Maine Dumped Caucuses for Primaries, but COVID-19 Overshadows Super Tuesday Vote" The American Prospect, March 2, 2020.
"Look to Portugal to Address the Opioid Crisis," Robert W. Glover, Bangor Daily News, August 13, 2019.
"As Maine Goes ... So Goes the Way Americans Vote?," Amy Fried (with Robert W. Glover), The American Prospect, June 22, 2018.
Robert W. Glover quoted on campaign finance by Christopher Cousins, "Janet Mills’ Work as AG Grew More Political after She Joined Governor’s Race. She Says Trump is the Reason." Bangor Daily News, May 14, 2018.
"New Arrivals Will Help Maine Confront its Employment Crisis," Robert W. Glover (with Cleo Barker), Bangor Daily News, April 10, 2018.
"The Senate Tax Plan Would Harm Maine Communities," Robert W. Glover, Bangor Daily News, November 30, 2017.
"GOP Budget and Tax Plans Would Hurt Maine Students, Working Class, and the Elderly," Robert W. Glover, Research Shows, Bangor Daily News, October 17, 2017.
Robert W. Glover quoted on guns in America by Editorial Board, "Violence Has Declined in America, but Increased Fire Power Makes Shootings More Deadly" Bangor Daily News, October 5, 2017.
"Congress Must Fix Trump's Terrible Mistake on DACA," Robert W. Glover, Bangor Daily News, September 12, 2017.
Robert W. Glover quoted on Maine voters by Christopher Burns, "In General Election, Trump Sees a Chance to Make Maine Red Again" Bangor Daily News, June 3, 2016.
"How Maine Showed Marriage Means the Same to Everyone," Robert W. Glover (with Amy Fried), Bangor Daily News, July 2, 2015.
"How Straight People Finally Realized That Gay Couples ‘Respect’ Marriage," Robert W. Glover (with Amy Fried), Talking Points Memo, June 26, 2015.
"5 Ways to Keep Recent College Grads in the Bangor Area," Robert W. Glover, Bangor Daily News , May 22, 2015.
"LePage-King Dustup Has Drawn Us Away from Important Policy Debate," Robert W. Glover, Research Shows, Bangor Daily News, March 29, 2015.
"Why Some Feel Threatened by Unaccompanied Minors, Despite the Facts," Robert W. Glover (with Jordan LaBouff and Megan Dunphy), Bangor Daily News, August 5, 2014.
"What the EBT Misuse Data Really Tells Us," Robert W. Glover, Research Shows, Bangor Daily News, January 8, 2014.
"Immigration Reform: Let's Take a Step Forward," Robert W. Glover, Bangor Daily News, June 11, 2013.
"Immigration Reform: An Opportunity for Bipartisanship," Robert W. Glover, Bangor Daily News, March 19, 2013.
"Suspending MaineCare for Migrants is Shortsighted, Unethical," Robert W. Glover, Bangor Daily News, November 27, 2012.
"Colbert’s Testimony Shed Light on Immigrant Labor Abuses," Robert W. Glover, Harrisonburg Daily News Record, October 1, 2010.

Publications

"ENACT-ing Leadership at the State Level: A National Educational Network for Engaged Citizenship in State Legislatures," (with Kathleen Cole and Katharine Owens), University of Maine, 2018.

Argues that state politics represents a fruitful, yet often neglected, space for the development of political leadership skills. Presents ENACT as a pedagogical model for empowering students, enhancing their capacity or political leadership. Remains attuned to localized variation in the policymaking environment and state political culture.

"Advocating for Engagement: Do Experiential Learning Courses Boost Civic Engagement?" (with Daniel C. Lewis, Richard Meagher, and Katherine A. Owens). Journal of Political Science Education (2020).

Findings presented here provide preliminary evidence that ENACT course experiences have powerful impacts on students when compared alongside non-experiential courses. Engages students directly in state legislative processes. Yields promising results with higher reported levels of political engagement and political efficacy, and greater likelihood to engage in civic action.

"Ranked Choice Voting in Maine from the Perspective of Local Election Officials" (with Joseph Anthony, Amy Fried, and David C. Kimball). Election Law Journal (2021).

Examines the role of local election officials (LEO) as implementers of state election reforms. Derives that data comes from a survey of municipal clerks in Maine conducted after the 2018 general election, as well as interviews with many local officials, garnering their assessments of ranked choice voting (RCV).

"Games without Frontiers?: Democratic Engagement, Agonistic Pluralism, and the Question of Exclusion" Philosophy and Social Criticism 38, no. 1 (2012): 81-104.
Analyzes the tension between calls for greater democratic inclusion and the need to, at some point, establish boundaries as to who partakes in the democratic conversation. Develops a conceptual framework for democratic participation where we recognize the necessity of exclusion in political life, but periodically subject these boundaries to democratic contestation.
"Radically Rethinking Citizenship: Disaggregation, Agonistic Pluralism, and the Politics of Immigration in the United States" Political Studies 59, no. 2 (2011): 209-229.
Examines the 2006 pro-immigrant protests in the United States as an important moment for American democracy. Argues that such protests constitute a “moment of opportunity” which enables us to think about political citizenship in more expansive (and potentially less violent and exclusionary) ways.