Randy Besco

Randy Besco is an Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Toronto, specializing in elections, public opinion, and the role of race, ethnicity, and immigration in political behavior. He earned his PhD from Queen's University and was a Visiting Research Fellow at Duke University's Center for Race, Ethnicity and Gender in the Social Sciences. His research integrates social psychology to explore how identity influences political engagement, particularly focusing on racialized voters and the impact of discrimination on political participation.

• Education:
  • PhD and MA, Queen's University
  • BA, University of Waterloo

His research interests include the motivations behind racial affinity voting, the effects of identity-based attacks on political mobilization, and the interplay between multiculturalism and electoral dynamics. Notable works include his book Identities and Interests: Race, Ethnicity, and Affinity Voting and co-authored articles such as Who Controls the Purse Strings? and Rainbow Coalitions or Inter-Minority Conflict? These studies highlight the complexities of racialized political participation and the evolving landscape of Canadian public opinion on immigration and diversity.

Besco’s recent work examines how explicit racism and identity-based criticism influence minority political engagement, offering insights into both mobilization and alienation dynamics. His interdisciplinary approach bridges social psychology and political science to address contemporary issues in electoral democracy and minority representation.