The American Political Science Association awarded the 2024 Lynton Keith Caldwell Prize this summer to La Follette Professor Manny Teodoro and his co-authors for their 2022 book, “The Profits of Distrust: Citizen Consumers, Drinking Water and the Crisis of Confidence in American Government.”
The award is for the best book in environmental politics and policy published over the past three years. Co-authored with Samantha Zuhlke from the University of Iowa and David Switzer from the University of Missouri, “The Profits of Distrust” explores the relationship between public services like drinking water and confidence in government.
It highlights the vicious cycle through which drinking water failures lead to broader distrust of the government. This results in citizens seeking solutions from private, commercial firms, which further limits government revenue and service capabilities.
“I am deeply honored and grateful to receive the Caldwell Prize for ‘The Profits of Distrust,’” Teodoro says. “On one level the book is about drinking water, but on a deeper level it’s about the relationship between citizens and government–and how environmental quality builds state legitimacy.”
Teodoro’s book has also left a considerable imprint outside academia. “The Profits of Distrust” has led to op-eds in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, appearances on leading water podcasts, write-ups by the Center for Public Integrity, and more. Earlier this month, KAMR Amarillo published a sweeping piece focused on Amarillo, Texas’ water issues and framed largely by Teodoro’s book.
“Professors Zuhlke, Switzer, and I are delighted that ‘The Profits of Distrust’ is already shaping conversations about environmental policy across the country,” Teodoro says. “The Caldwell Prize is a gratifying recognition from our peers that the book also contributes to theoretical and empirical research on environmental politics and policy.”
The American Political Science Association is the leading professional organization for the study of political science. Founded in 1903, it serves more than 11,000 members in more than 100 countries. The association began awarding the Lynton Keith Caldwell Prize in 1995 in honor of Professor Caldwell’s work studying and advancing environmental policy.
The award will be officially presented on September 6 in Philadelphia during the American Political Science Association’s annual meeting.