https://www.chriscooperwcu.com/home daily 1.0 2026-03-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/606334d1c379a676c0a863f4/1628465659818-R72O7PH96DMAFV04TUGU/64%2Bq5R8YSgC8cFm4Dx2VFw.jpg https://www.chriscooperwcu.com/teaching daily 0.75 2025-11-25 https://www.chriscooperwcu.com/research-1 daily 0.75 2026-01-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/606334d1c379a676c0a863f4/f42b2dc9-c209-45be-b94d-c9fb42eedf7e/1991DDE5-4A27-4460-A50E-2DDF146C2B3D.jpeg Research - Research My research focuses on American politics with particular emphasis on state and local politics, elections & voting, and southern politics, (often crossing over between these areas). I received Western Carolina University’s highest award in scholarship (University Scholar) in recognition of the impact of my work. To date, my research has been published in over 50 peer-reviewed journal articles in Political Science, Public Administration, Sociology, Psychology, Geography, and related disciplines. I have also published one co-authored book (The Resilience of Southern Identity), and one co-edited book (The New Politics of North Carolina). A new book , Anatomy of a Purple State: A North Carolina Politics Primer was recently released by UNC Press. https://www.chriscooperwcu.com/research daily 0.75 2021-03-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1589847898345-D40VLF9LAM9L2XYZ5A1B/image-asset.jpeg Research https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1589847897715-EWKVJ35VXQ5P9CDGSYVT/image-asset.jpeg Research https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1589847896972-M6Z43LS56WX5T1S74A5I/image-asset.jpeg Research https://www.chriscooperwcu.com/public-writing daily 0.75 2025-10-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/606334d1c379a676c0a863f4/78dee52a-0ee9-4213-8fcc-5030c1d21298/IMG_1082.jpeg Public Writing - Public-Facing Writing I enjoy writing about U.S., NC, and Southern politics for public audiences (outside of the pages of academic journals). I have contributed over 100 op-eds, and a variety of blog entries, magazine articles, and other writings to media outlets including Politico, Time, The Assembly, NC Tribune, NBC Think, The Washington Post, USA Today, the Atlanta Journal Constitution, the Charlotte Observer, The News and Observer, the Asheville Citizen Times, the Smoky Mountain News and the London School of Economics American Politics and Policy Blog. I am also a regular contributor to the Old North State Politics blog and publish from time to time on my Substack. Here are a few recent pieces: https://www.chriscooperwcu.com/nc-politics-resources daily 0.75 2025-12-09 https://www.chriscooperwcu.com/cooperbio daily 0.75 2024-01-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/606334d1c379a676c0a863f4/de9e8028-d91b-47b1-a4b4-3df290393c64/20231214-Chris+Cooper070+copy.jpg https://www.chriscooperwcu.com/anatomy daily 0.75 2025-07-14 https://www.chriscooperwcu.com/kruse-event daily 0.75 2025-01-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/606334d1c379a676c0a863f4/f0ff118a-b4a1-45a3-ab67-fa30dc41eab2/2024-1217-HEADSHOTS-MICHAEL-KRUSE-2.jpg Kruse event https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/606334d1c379a676c0a863f4/191cc3a4-1c54-4fbb-b0d1-9314ef2ae582/lilly.png Kruse event https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/606334d1c379a676c0a863f4/858a96c9-16eb-4dea-90fe-15d93929bb61/Picture1.png Kruse event