In Beyond the Ivory Tower: The Case for Civically Engaged Political Scientists, Richard Davis tells the stories of past and present academics who have ventured beyond the academy. He frames his own story of political activism in Utah within the context of the need for political scientists to step away from the cloistered affairs of academia toward more public and political engagement. Davis discusses different ways to remain active in academic life while also becoming more publicly engaged in one's community and state. This book shows how political scientists may find alternative ways to explore their passion for politics and not only advocate civic engagement but also become actively engaged citizens themselves.
Beyond the Ivory Tower skillfully discusses the institutional and cultural barriers to academic civic engagement and proposes solutions to overcome them while offering examples of political scientists who have been active citizens in a variety of forums, including running for office, serving in government, and founding and leading nonprofit organizations.