Dr. Xiran Chen: Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Arizona
Wednesday, November 11, 2024,
2:30pm – 3:30p.m.,
ASA Koffler Great Room and Zoom
Pre-election violence (PEV) seeks to influence the electoral outcomes in favor of the perpetrators and is a frequent occurrence during elections in African countries. This presentation explores how African chiefs shape local patterns of PEV. Specifically, chiefs with greater voter coordination capability, which stems from precolonial centralized states, reduce local risk of PEV. Dr. Chen will provide evidence to support this claim, including case studies and a quantitative analysis of elections in Ghana, as well as statistical evidence from broader sub-Saharan Africa. The findings suggest that precolonial centralized states have a negative effect on PEV, particularly in Anglophone Africa, where precolonial institutions have been better preserved. These findings highlight the important roles community leaders play in shaping the dynamics of PEV in rural areas, offering insights into the voter intimidation that has occurred in the United States over the past decade.
Dr. Xiran Chen is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Arizona. His research and teaching, which have been supported by grants and fellowships from the U of A and the American Political Science Association, focus on political violence, traditional institutions, and democratization. Dr. Chen has conducted extensive fieldwork in both Ghana and China. After receiving his BA in Management from Beijing Foreign Studies University and his MA in Chinese Studies from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, he earned his PhD in Government and Public Policy from the University of Arizona.
Compiled and edited by Marilyn B. Skinner, Academy Village Volunteer
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