• Home
• Markets & Culture Major
• Sociology Major
• People
• Donate
• Contact
• SMU Homepage

Research and Teaching Interests

Economic Sociology, Organizations and Innovation; Political Sociology, Collective Violence, and Racial Politics; Historical and Comparative Sociology

Current Research

My research revolves around government policies and the intellectual and political currents that shape them. One main project explores government responses to episodes of mass violence: how do democratic governments explain why such violence occurs, and, in the wake of unexpected violent outbreaks, how do they justify policies concerning the use of police or military force to quell violence or social protest? A second major project involves technology policy and the dynamics of the innovation economy. I am currently co-editing a book (with Fred Block) on technology policy in the U.S. and the public sector’s role in fostering technological innovation over the last several decades. I also research public sector venture capital initiatives and the relationships between public institutions and the private sector in the development and implementation of new technologies.

Selected Publications

 Fred Block and Matthew R. Keller, eds. State of Innovation: U.S. Innovation Policy 1969-2009 (provisional title; forthcoming 2010, Paradigm Press).

Keller, Matthew R. (forthcoming, 2010) “The Rise of Public Venture Capital Initiatives in the U.S. Federal Government” in Fred Block and Matthew R. Keller, eds. State of Innovation: U.S. Innovation Policy 1969-2009

Keller, Matthew R. (2009) “Commissioning Legitimacy: The Global Logics of National Violence Commissions in the 20^th Century” Politics & Society 37(3), pp. 352-396.

Fred Block and Matthew R. Keller (2009) “Where do Innovations Come From? Changes in the U.S. Economy, 1970-2006” Socio-Economic Review 7(3): pp. 459-483.

Active Grants

Economic Stimulus and Innovation Capacity at the Department of Energy. NSF Science of Science and Innovation Policy Program (SciSIP) (Co-Principal Investigator with Professor Fred Block, UC Davis).