Erik Johnson

Erik Johnson is a Professor in the Department of Sociology at Washington State University, affiliated with the College of Arts and Sciences. His research intersects environmental sociology, social movement theory, and political sociology, with a focus on organizational dynamics and policy outcomes.

Johnson’s research explores:

• Environmental movements and their political impacts
• Cross-national comparative analysis of voluntary associations
• Environmental crime and green criminology
• Content analysis methodology applications

His scholarly work examines how organizational diversity, tactical choices, and media coverage influence environmental policy. Johnson leads the Comparative National Associations Project (CNAP), creating longitudinal databases for civic associations across four nations, and the Environmental Crime Project, analyzing federal prosecution of ecological harm. His recent articles highlight partisan gaps in environmental support, climate change nonprofit strategies, and the evolution of environmental justice.

Johnson mentors students through research assistantships and teaches courses including Social Movements (SOC 582), Introduction to Sociology (SOC 101), and the Capstone Course in Social Research (SOC 497), which engages undergraduates in his NSF-funded comparative environmental civil society research.