https://www.chriscooperwcu.com/home daily 1.0 2026-06-19 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 2026-06-19 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 published by UNC Press in 2024. 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 2026-06-18 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, along with 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