On Wednesday, February 15th the University of New Hampshire at Manchester will feature Dr. Michael Contarino, Associate Professor of political science, as part of the college’s Brown Bag Lecture Series. The lecture, entitled “It's Not What You Think: Partisan Identity Among American and Italian Voters”, will be held from 11:30 – 12:30 in the 3rd floor Auditorium at the University Center, 400 Commercial Street, Manchester, NH.

Professor Contarino's research comparing the Italian and American electorates shows that most voters -- including those who consider themselves to be politically "independent" -- actually have strong psychological proclivities toward one political party or another.  His research also shows that for most voters such partisanship is not the result of rational assessments by voters of party ideology or performance. Rather, partisanship tends to be the result of a personal sense of identification with a social group.

Professor Contarino has held numerous teaching positions in the United States and Europe. In addition to teaching, Dr. Contarino has served as an Economic Affairs Officer for the United Nations World Food Council in Rome, a consultant for Business International in Rome and as a freelance journalist for the Associated Press in Rome. He was recently requested to serve Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico, as his Senior Foreign Policy advisor, during his sabbatical year, 2006-2007.