Center on Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law is part of the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies
FSI’s researchers assess health and medicine through the lenses of economics, nutrition and politics. They’re studying and influencing public health policies of local and national governments and the roles that corporations and nongovernmental organizations play in providing health care around the world. Scholars look at how governance affects citizens’ health, how children’s health care access affects the aging process and how to improve children’s health in Guatemala and rural China. They want to know what it will take for people to cook more safely and breathe more easily in developing countries.
FSI professors investigate how lifestyles affect health. What good does gardening do for older Americans? What are the benefits of eating organic food or growing genetically modified rice in China? They study cost-effectiveness by examining programs like those aimed at preventing the spread of tuberculosis in Russian prisons. Policies that impact obesity and undernutrition are examined; as are the public health implications of limiting salt in processed foods and the role of smoking among men who work in Chinese factories. FSI health research looks at sweeping domestic policies like the Affordable Care Act and the role of foreign aid in affecting the price of HIV drugs in Africa.
Paul Wise explores and discusses the challenges of wartime pediatrics on the Stanford Radio show.
The Stanford Center for Innovation in Global Health invites you to a private screening of The New Barbarianism followed by a panel discussion with the film's executive producer and director Stephen Morrison, co-director and writer Justin Kenny and Stanford scholars Michele Barry, Paul Wise and Ertharin Cousin.
The New Barbarianism is a highly acclaimed CSIS Global Health Policy Center original feature documentary (58 minutes) that examines the crisis, its causes, the limited international response and possible ways forward through dozens of interviews and original footage obtained from inside Syria, Yemen and Afghanistan. It builds on several years of prior work on the intersection of health and security, the role of militaries, and the human tragedies seen in Syria and Yemen.
6:30pm Doors Open | 7pm Screening | 8pm Panel Discussion
Cubberley Auditorium
485 Lasuen Mall
Stanford, CA 94305
Dr. Paul Wise is dedicated to bridging the fields of child health equity, public policy, and international security studies. He is the Richard E. Behrman Professor of Child Health and Society and Professor of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology and Developmental Medicine, and Health Policy at Stanford University. He is also co-Director, Stanford Center for Prematurity Research and a Senior Fellow in the Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law, and the Center for International Security and Cooperation, Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, Stanford University. Wise is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and has been working as the Juvenile Care Monitor for the U.S. Federal Court overseeing the treatment of migrant children in U.S. border detention facilities.
Wise received his A.B. degree summa cum laude in Latin American Studies and his M.D. degree from Cornell University, a Master of Public Health degree from the Harvard School of Public Health and did his pediatric training at the Children’s Hospital in Boston. His former positions include Director of Emergency and Primary Care Services at Boston Children’s Hospital, Director of the Harvard Institute for Reproductive and Child Health, Vice-Chief of the Division of Social Medicine and Health Inequalities at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School and was the founding Director or the Center for Policy, Outcomes and Prevention, Stanford University School of Medicine. He has served in a variety of professional and consultative roles, including Special Assistant to the U.S. Surgeon General, Chair of the Steering Committee of the NIH Global Network for Women’s and Children’s Health Research, Chair of the Strategic Planning Task Force of the Secretary’s Committee on Genetics, Health and Society, a member of the Advisory Council of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NIH, and the Health and Human Secretary’s Advisory Committee on Infant and Maternal Mortality.
Wise’s most recent U.S.-focused work has addressed disparities in birth outcomes, regionalized specialty care for children, and Medicaid. His international work has focused on women’s and child health in violent and politically complex environments, including Ukraine, Gaza, Central America, Venezuela, and children in detention on the U.S.-Mexico border.
The Battle of Mosul was one of the largest urban sieges since World War II. From October 2016 and July 2017, Iraqi and Kurdish forces fought to retake Iraq’s second largest city, which had fallen to ISIL in 2014. They were backed by U.S.-led coalition forces. More than 940,000 civilians fled during the siege, and thousands were injured as they sought safety.
Early on it became clear that the Iraqi military did not have the capacity to provide trauma care, despite its obligations under the Geneva Conventions and Additional Protocols. The World Health Organization (WHO) and its partners stepped in to fill this void. This was the first time the WHO played a leading role in coordinating care in conflict, and the first time a civilian trauma setting was attempted at the frontline. Download the report here.
Violence in war must have a limit. Those who are not participating in the hostilities should be protected to prevent war from sinking into barbarity. Today, this is safeguarded by international humanitarian law (IHL), of which the cornerstones are the four Geneva Conventions of 1949 and its Additional Protocols. IHL provides for the wounded and sick to be collected and cared for by the warring faction that has them in their power, and for them to receive timely medical care. Traditionally, those entering into conflict could be expected to uphold these laws. Download here.
This essay confronts the collision of two potential global threats: the outbreak of infectious pandemics and the outbreak and protraction of civil wars. Specifically, it addresses the potential that civil wars can elevate the risk that an infectious outbreak will emerge; the possibility that civil wars can reduce the capacity to identify and respond to outbreaks; and the risk that outbreaks in areas of civil conflict can generate political and security challenges that may threaten regional and international order. Both global health governance and international security structures seem inadequate to address the health and security challenges posed by infectious outbreaks in areas of civil conflict. New approaches that better integrate the technical and political challenges inherent in preventing pandemics in areas of civil war are urgently required.
Download here:
This paper provides evidence that innovative multinational firms attempt to use health and safety regulations to eliminate cheaper, generic products from the market, even when they themselves produce those products. Stricter regulations on generic products allow innovative firms to shift the market to patented alternatives while forcing out generic producers. Firms are able to win these preferential regulatory outcomes at both national and international levels of governance, despite the fact that these outcomes create trade barriers and tilt the playing field in favor of companies in developed nations. I utilize original data from the agrochemical sector to provide evidence that agrochemical producers request stricter standards on their own products when it could help them sell patented alternatives. Using longitudinal data on actual regulatory change at both national and international levels I find that regulatory institutions seemingly set up to protect consumers also appear to have helped innovative firms win preferential outcomes.
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Following in the footsteps of last year’s international conference on violence and policing in Latin American and U.S. Cities, on April 28th and 29th of 2015, the Poverty Goverance and Violence Lab (PovGov) at Stanford’s Center on Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law (CDDRL) turned Encina Hall at the Freeman Spogli Institute of International Studies (FSI) into a dynamic, instructive and stimulating discussion platform. The exchange of experiences, expertise and ideals that flourished within this space helped create a “dialogue for action,” as speakers and participants explored the various dimensions of youth and criminal violence in Mexico, Brazil and the United States, while advocating for the importance of opening up adequate pathways to hope. The event was sponsored by the Center for Latin American Studies, The Bill Lane Center for the America West, The Mexico Initiative at FSI, and the Center on International Security and Cooperation.
The Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law (CDDRL) at Stanford University is pleased to announce the 2018 class of undergraduate senior honors students.
Honors students spend three quarters participating in research seminars to refine their theses, while working under the supervision of their thesis advisors. In September, the class travels to Washington, D.C. for a weeklong Honors College, where they visit leading government and development organizations to witness policymaking in practice and to consult with key decision-makers.
Please join CDDRL in congratulating the 2018 Fisher Family CDDRL Honors students and welcoming them to the Center.
Below are profiles of the 14 honors students highlighting their academic interests, why they applied to CDDRL, and some fun facts.
Major: Management Science and Engineering
Hometown: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Tentative Thesis Title: Technology and Political Influence: Exploring the Impact of Technology on Support for Singapore’s Government
Why is this topic important to the field of democracy, development, and the rule of law? Singapore, among the world’s richest countries never to have changed its ruling party, is an anomaly. In recent times, the Little Red Dot has been forced to navigate the choppy waters of a new global political climate. Access to technology and increased globalization have prompted the proliferation of paradigm-shifting ideologies. The internet, for example, sometimes represents a challenge for Singapore’s government. Some question whether access to the internet in Singapore should be managed, and whether this will have cascading political effects. Others question whether the increased spread of individual political and social views online will lead to shifts in the way Singaporeans think about their government. Understanding technology’s role in shaping Singaporeans’ political stances and views on democracy is important in projecting the effects any variations in these can have on Singapore’s economic development and political atmosphere.
What attracted you to the CDDRL undergraduate honors program? The CDDRL honors program grants me the opportunity to effectively tackle fundamental questions about a shifting political landscape that has development implications for Singapore. The program would also enable me to expand my abilities as a researcher and garner diverse opinions on democracy, development and the rule of law from professors and peers in the honors cohort.
Future aspirations post-Stanford: After my undergraduate career, I plan to complete a coterminal Master's degree in Management Science and Engineering. In the future, I hope to work at the intersection of strategy, technology and policy.
What are you summer research plans? This summer, I will be interning with the Corporate Strategy and Development team of an asset management firm. Alongside this, I plan to break ground on research for my thesis by dissecting available online data, reading relevant literature, conducting interviews and testing my hypotheses.
A fun fact about yourself: I discovered a love for running while serving in the Singapore military and hope to complete an ultramarathon someday.
Marin Callaway
Major: International Relations; Spanish (minor)
Hometown: Encinitas, CA
Tentative Thesis Title: Land, Power, and Changing Borders: California After the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
Why is this topic important to the field of democracy, development, and the rule of law? My topic relates to rule of law and democracy by examining what happens to non-citizens who become incorporated into a new country through a changed border and how the country treats this minority. I plan on touching on this broader issue by studying in detail the case of the Mexican Land Cession in the 19th century. How were Mexican citizens and other non-citizens in California treated after the Treaty and specifically what happened to their land? What is the legacy of policies that stripped many of their land and power?
What attracted you to the CDDRL undergraduate honors program? I was drawn to the collaborative and interdisciplinary nature of the CDDRL program. I am excited to learn from my peers' different perspectives and work together.
Future aspirations post-Stanford: Post-Stanford, I hope to attend law school and possibly focus on international or immigration law. Ultimately, I would like to pursue a career in public service related to policy and government.
A fun fact about yourself: When I was a kid, I wanted to be an architect. I was constantly drawing floor plans and asked for a subscription to Architectural Digest for Hanukah when I was eight. I still love going to random open houses!
Qitong (Thomas) Cao
Major: Political Science; Computer Science (minor); MS&E (Computational Social Science) (coterm)
Hometown: Nanjing, China
Tentative Thesis Title: The Internet Maneuvers of the Chinese Government
Why is this topic important to the field of democracy, development, and the rule of law? While there have been many studies on the internet and social media’s effects on promoting democratization, research on the internet maneuvers of a strong state has been a relatively recent development. In the case of China, in particular, the academic community have made tremendous progress in understanding what exactly the government has been doing, but so far, little research has focused on the strategic level in explaining why it is doing so from a governance perspective. In this sense, my research project seeks to provide a preliminary step toward filling this gap
What attracted you to the CDDRL undergraduate honors program? My talks with Professors Francis Fukuyama and Larry Diamond since I just got into Stanford.
Future aspirations post-Stanford: I would like to pursue a PhD in political science focusing on methods and the politics of internet/information.
What are you summer research plans? I will be interning at Google, using social network analysis, natural language processing, and unsurprised learning to analyze social media dynamics.
A fun fact about yourself: I learned English from reading Harry Potter!
Trey Hale
Major: International Relations; Music
Hometown: Forsyth, Missouri
Tentative Thesis Title: Post Apartheid South Africa's Restructured Health Care System and the Political Oversight of Community Health Workers
Why is this topic important to the field of democracy, development, and the rule of law? In transitional states such as South Africa in the early 1990s, state health care systems are often in a state of flux. In 1994, the ANC-led coalition chose not to include community health workers as part of the government's primary health care system. My historical analysis will place this political decision by the ANC in conversation with current efforts by the South African government to employ the thousands of community health workers under the Department of Health's umbrella. This research project will hopefully shed light on the political factors present in transitional states as they attempt to restructure their health care systems. It will also highlight the importance of community health workers in settings with high burdens of infectious diseases (i.e. HIV/AIDS).
What attracted you to the CDDRL undergraduate honors program? I was first attracted to the CDDRL honors program because of the interdisciplinary nature of the cohort. Everyone in the program has a different academic background, and it is incredibly useful to have so many perspectives in the room when discussing our research topics. Additionally, I saw the CDDRL honors program as an opportunity to return to the work I had started with community health workers in Cape Town where I studied abroad for six months.
Future aspirations post-Stanford: After undergrad, I hope to pursue a Master of Public Health and spend some time working abroad before attending law school. At the moment, a career in health care law seems most exciting.
What are you summer research plans? I will be interning at the Center for Democratic Development in Accra, Ghana for most of the summer. In late August, I will be traveling to Cape Town to conduct field research for my honors thesis with support from the Freeman Spogli Institute.
A fun fact about yourself: When I was ten years old, a vampire bat bit me on the back of the neck and I had to get the rabies vaccine.
Claire Howlett
Major: Symbolic Systems
Hometown: Stamford, Connecticut
Tentative Thesis Title: Predictors of Acute Malnutrition Incidence and Severity in Southern Malawi
Why is this topic important to the field of democracy, development, and the rule of law? Nearly half of Malawian children under five are malnourished, and this condition has a huge impact on economic and social development nationwide. A better understanding of malnutrition could improve how NGOs and policymakers approach this issue and add to the global body of literature on malnutrition and food insecurity.
What attracted you to the CDDRL undergraduate honors program? I was drawn to the CDDRL honors program because of its interdisciplinary nature, which allows students to combine quantitative and qualitative analysis to explore issues in development. I was excited by the prospect of working closely with the cohort and awesome faculty associated with the program.
Future aspirations post-Stanford: I hope to explore social and environmental determinants of health disparities in resource-poor settings through work and (maybe eventually) graduate school.
What are you summer research plans? I will be interning at a NGO that facilitates women's political participation in post-conflict societies. I will also conduct preliminary research for my thesis.
A fun fact about yourself: I love to run and used to be on the Stanford cross country/track team -- now I sometimes do trail races!
Steven Jiang
Major: Mathematics
Hometown: Sugar Land, TX
Tentative Thesis Title: A Comparative Evaluation of Property Rights Indices
Why is this topic important to the field of democracy, development, and the rule of law? This project evaluates different property rights indices by their correlation with measures of democracy, rule of law, and development.
What attracted you to the CDDRL undergraduate honors program? It's a great opportunity to do extended research.
What are you summer research plans? Some travel and some research work.
A fun fact about yourself: I biked from here to Monterey without knowing how to shift gears.
Alexis Kallen
Major: Political Science; Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies; Human Rights (minor); Spanish (minor)
Hometown: Camarillo, CA
Tentative Thesis Title: Sexual Assault in the Face of Genocide: Exploring Burundian Refugee Journeys to Rwanda and Tanzania
Why is this topic important to the field of democracy, development, and the rule of law? Currently, I think the general public is largely unaware of the use of sexual assault as a tool of war against Burundian women. I would like to shed light on this human rights issue and examine why international law is seemingly completely failing in Burundi. I think that this topic directly covers democracy, development, and the rule of Law, as I will examine the interaction between governmental, regional, and international legal systems to understand why these human rights abuses are permitted to occur.
What attracted you to the CDDRL undergraduate honors program? CDDRL was specialized in development and law with an international focus especially, which was of great interest to me. I liked that it is an interdisciplinary program, and offers great mentorship from FSI faculty as well as abundant resources to help me write my thesis, such as the preparation class my cohort is taking this spring.
Future aspirations post-Stanford: I would like to get a dual JD/ MPP degree and practice international human rights law in the future. I am especially interested in pursuing cases dealing with war crimes against women and girls.
What are you summer research plans? I will be doing research in refugee camps in Rwanda and Tanzania at the end of the summer.
A fun fact about yourself: I have a bit of an obsession with the Kennedy family and can be found analyzing Kennedy conspiracy theories in my spare time.
Jason Li
Major: Human Biology
Hometown: Hacienda Heights, CA
Tentative Thesis Title: Controlling Chronic Disease in China: Evaluating National Pilot Programs for Evidence-Based Policy Improvement
Why is this topic important to the field of democracy, development, and the rule of law? As global health advances have greatly decreased mortality in the developing world, low and middle income countries are now tackling the largest emerging global health threat of this century—non-communicable diseases. Global health is now entering an unprecedented stage: for the first time in the world, child mortality will be lower than adult mortality and more people will be obese than malnourished. After rapid economic development and successfully and aggressively controlling infectious diseases, China has now been called the “microcosm” of this global health transition. Grappling with an aging population and—with it—a substantial and growing NCD burden, China’s strategies and health system response will serve as a representative research opportunity for how other countries should address these issues as they develop and go through similar epidemiological transitions
What attracted you to the CDDRL undergraduate honors program? Interested in global health issues, I’ve found myself craving different perspectives necessitated by such a multidisciplinary field. How do policy strategies, development principles, governance and community dynamics, and cultures and histories translate into public health advances? The CDDRL honors program brings such a variety of skills and stories to the table, which I know will complicate and enrich my research and personal and professional goals.
Future aspirations post-Stanford: After graduating, I hope to take a year to work on global health policy issues and eventually apply to medical school.
What are you summer research plans? I will first be working with the Stanford Rural Education Action Plan to conduct field research on rural children’s health and education in China. I will then come back to Stanford to work on my honors thesis research.
A fun fact about yourself: I used to be an avid fan fiction writer for trashy young adult novels.
Riya Mehta
Major: Earth Systems; Spanish (minor)
Hometown: Overland Park, Kansas
Tentative Thesis Title: The Power of Land Tenure: The Food Security Implications of Increasing Women’s Access to Land Rights
Why is this topic important to the field of democracy, development, and the rule of law? In more than half of the countries on this planet, laws or customs challenge women’s ownership and access to land. Yet, more than 400 million women across the planet work in agriculture. The topic I have proposed is important to the field of democracy, development, and the rule of the law because it expands on existing research focused on gender-sensitive land tenure reform. A number of studies have begun to link secure land rights for women to increased agricultural productivity and food security. Moreover, existing data suggest that strengthening women’s land rights also leads to more sustainable resource use. This project attempts to discover the ways in which the world’s most food insecure regions must reexamine and restructure their existing land tenure laws—both customary and statutory—so that they have a tangible and positive impact on women farmers, and by proxy, the well-being of their communities and the sustainability of the planet’s natural resources.
What attracted you to the CDDRL undergraduate honors program? As an Earth Systems major, I have benefitted from both my “breadth” requirements that span classes in chemistry, biology, environmental science, and economics, and my “depth” requirements, which have allowed me to specifically concentrate on the topic of global food security, through courses such as Food and Security, Feeding Nine Billion and World Food Economy. My academic career thus far has emphasized to me the importance of having both general and specialized knowledge, and I believe the nature of the CDDRL program will allow me to further develop both. Particularly, as I develop my own specific research question starting this spring in the CDDRL research seminar, I will be able to engage with and learn from the other students in my cohort, each of whom is pursuing a question that falls under the broad banner of “democracy, development, and the rule of the law.” Later, as I develop my own thesis and become an expert on my specific topic, I will be able to seek out mentors and fellow students within CDDRL to help me reflect on and assess my research and its broader implications.
Future aspirations post-Stanford: After graduating from Stanford, I hope to gain some work experience and then go on to graduate school. I am considering both law school and a number of PhD programs that would allow me to delve deeper into the emerging field of food security.
What are you summer research plans? This summer, I will be working at the Landesa Center for Women’s Land Rights in Seattle, Washington.
A fun fact about yourself: I am a certified yoga instructor, and I enjoy waking up very early in the morning to practice and/or teach yoga.
Lucienne Oyer
Major: Economics
Hometown: Menlo Park, CA
Tentative Thesis Title: Energy Infrastructure Outcomes in Ghana: Comparative Analysis of Chinese & Western Investments
Why is this topic important to the field of democracy, development, and the rule of law? Infrastructure is a major bottleneck for development and countless sources have identified the large returns poor countries can generate by investing in major infrastructure projects. My topic explores a poorly understood trend in international infrastructure development: the rapid emergence of China as a development lender. Developing countries are increasingly choosing Chinese policy bank loans, as they offer attractive financing packages with few strings attached. The Chinese infrastructure building model differs significantly from the one used by traditional multi-lateral development banks, and thus it is pertinent to understand if the differing approaches effect the final productive outcomes of the infrastructure that is built. This knowledge can help inform the decisions of developing countries seeking finance for infrastructure development.
What attracted you to the CDDRL undergraduate honors program? The CDDRL undergraduate honors program offers a unique opportunity to work with students and faculty across disciplines, which I believe will help me view my research topic, approach, and analysis from a wide range of perspectives. I am also excited about the strong network of peer support that I will receive as a member of the honors cohort.
Future aspirations post-Stanford: I would like to work in the field of international development, though I am not yet sure in what capacity. I am particularly excited by infrastructure development, so I hope that I will be able to pursue this interest in my career and future education.
What are you summer research plans? I will travel to Ghana to conduct field research, funded through an FSI Large Research Grant. I will base my research in Accra, and also visit energy generation plants throughout the country to interview key stakeholders and gather data about the plants' operation and production patterns.
A fun fact about yourself: I love to ski and during winter quarter you can find me in Tahoe, studying Chinese vocabulary on the chair lift between runs.
Kelsey Page
Major: Political Science; Spanish (minor)
Hometown: Saratoga, CA
Tentative Thesis Title: Mercosur: Testing the trade union's potential for democratic and economic development amidst changing tides in the international system
Why is this topic important to the field of democracy, development, and the rule of law? Examining and understanding the role of regional trade blocs, like Mercosur, in the South America region and beyond offers valuable insights into the role of international organizations in democratic and economic development on a larger scale. Looking at the practices and policies that have led to credible enforcement powers for the union and mutually beneficial policies for member states are key to analyzing its impact on democratic development in the region and its relations to other regions. Through my thesis, I plan to research more deeply how Mercosur is or is not promoting democracy, development, and the rule of Law and apply this research to answering specific questions about its capacity to do so in the future.
What attracted you to the CDDRL undergraduate honors program? The CDDRL Honors Thesis program not only offers a unique opportunity to develop a thesis as a undergraduate, but also to do so with an interdisciplinary approach that has an emphasis on mentorship, peer-to-peer feedback, and meaningful conversations with top policy makers and government officials. Through CDDRL, I could puruse a topic that combines my interests in South America, democratic development, and economics with the support of the CDDRL cohort and faculty as well.
Future aspirations post-Stanford: After Stanford, I hope to be able to continue to pursue my interest in international political economy and development in some manner, whether it be business, field work, or graduate school. I am looking forward to working on my thesis to give me more insight as to how I can best contribute to this field.
What are you summer research plans? Thanks to the FSI Summer Research Grants program, I will be traveling to Uruguay, Argentina, and Brazil to interview relevant Mercosur stakeholders at the end of the summer. Then, I will head to DC a few days early before the CDDRL trip to meet other interviewees at embassies, government agencies, and think tanks.
A fun fact about yourself: I was a competitive Irish dancer growing up; I wore the wigs and dresses and everything!
Zoe Savellos
Major: Political Science; Creative Writing (Minor)
Hometown: Austin, TX
Tentative Thesis Title: Teaching Peace? : Education Policy’s Role in Post-Conflict Reconciliation in Cyprus
Why is this topic important to the field of democracy, development, and the rule of law? School isn’t just a place for learning formulas and facts—this is the place where we guide new generations towards learning what citizenship is and what it means to them. Post-conflict reconciliation studies haven’t focused enough on the role of education policy in bringing together fractured communities. Hopefully my thesis will help illuminate how education policy can be better incorporated into post-conflict reconciliation efforts.
What attracted you to the CDDRL undergraduate honors program? The CDDRL program strength is in its interdisciplinary approach. I’ve been interested in international development for a long time, so I knew that I wanted to write a thesis with the CDDRL, but it’s commitment to promoting diverse perspective and opinions is what really drew me to the program
Future aspirations post-Stanford: After Stanford, I’m planning on teaching for a year or two abroad. I’d love to get an MPP and work in global development policy.
What are you summer research plans? This summer, I’ll be doing some background research while interning in the Bay Area. In August, I’ll be traveling to Cyprus to gather more data and conduct interviews!
A fun fact about yourself: I’ve broken both of my pinky toes multiple times and I’ve accidentally stepped on a sea urchin!
Benjamin Chang Sorensen
Major: Political Science; Statistics (minor); History (minor)
Hometown: Stanford, California
Tentative Thesis Title: Large-scale political leaks and American democratic institutions
Why is this topic important to the field of democracy, development, and the rule of law? We live in an age of "leaktivism," where individual actors and organizations can release large amounts of sensitive or damaging information to the public in order to advance an agenda. Due to the recent prominence of cases like Edward Snowden's and Chelsea Manning's, the debate around the appropriateness of large-scale leaks has tended to center around issues of security. But during the 2016 U.S. election cycle, when leaks were central to the campaign narratives of both candidates, it became clear that leaks could have an impact on our democratic institutions, as well. My thesis will explore the ways in which politicians, members of the media, and the public interact with these leaks, which look to become a persistent feature of American democracy.
What attracted you to the CDDRL undergraduate honors program? I've known since I arrived at Stanford how helpful and kind the faculty and staff at CDDRL are, and while writing a thesis will certainly be challenging, I'm confident that I'll be supported at every step of the way. I'm also looking forward to working with my cohort, whose diversity of interests and expertise will certainly provide a powerful way to learn more about democracy, development, and the rule of law.
Future aspirations post-Stanford: I'd like to keep working on issues in democracy, both at home and abroad, either by working in politics, at an NGO, or as a writer. I'd also like to travel and spend time with my family before possibly heading off to graduate school.
What are you summer research plans? I'll be working for the National Endowment for Democracy in Washington, D.C., and plan to take full-advantage of my environment by talking to experts in the fields of democratic theory. I also hope to interview people involved in American politics and the media who might help me hone my question.
A fun fact about yourself: After moving to California before the 5th grade, my wardrobe consisted entirely of 15 or 20 different Boston Red Sox shirts. I refused to wear anything else for two years, somehow without shame.
Katie Welgan
Major: Chemistry; Anthropology (minor)
Hometown: Portland, Oregon
Tentative Thesis Title: Health Insurance for Indigenous Oaxacans: Changes in Obstetric Care Provider Preference After Seguro Popular
Why is this topic important to the field of democracy, development, and the rule of law? Prior to 2013, access to health insurance in Mexico remained largely limited to laborers within the formal economy, leaving low-income families with informal employment to choose between visiting Department of Health clinics of varying quality, paying large fractions of their income for private care, or forgoing formal medical treatment altogether. A specific goal of Seguro Popular was to increase visits to government clinics for pregnancy care services, particularly in low-income indigenous populations. However, in Latin America, government-sponsored public health programming may function differently in indigenous populations due to cultural barriers and the history of government- indigenous conflict. Because of this potential for discrepancy in function, an understanding of the influence of insurance programs on health decision-making specifically in indigenous populations is important for both the evaluation of program success and the development of future, universally effective health policy.
What attracted you to the CDDRL undergraduate honors program? My interest in in the program was primarily motivated by its interdisciplinary nature—I’m interested in the intersection between law, health, and development, and hope through my thesis to apply the quantitative analysis and analytical reasoning skills I’ve learned through work in chemistry to questions in global public health development. I also look forward to interacting with and learning from peers and professors from a variety of fields as I develop my project over the next year.
Future aspirations post-Stanford: I hope to go to medical school and eventually become a pediatric intensive care specialist. I'll be taking a gap year first, and plan to spend the time getting a masters in bioethics or working in community health in Latin America.
What are you summer research plans? I'll be spending a month living in Oaxaca conducting interviews with patients, visiting obstetric care providers, and taking classes in Zapotec, an indigenous language spoken in the state. For the rest of the summer, I'll be working in D.C. with the World Justice Project on an index evaluating rule of law in Mexico.
A fun fact about yourself: I work at a high altitude running camp in the mountains of Oregon when I'm home for the summer.
Stanford University’s Center on Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law (CDDRL) is proud to announce our four incoming fellows who will be joining us in the 2016-2017 academic year to develop their research, engage with faculty and tap into our diverse scholarly community.
The pre- and postdoctoral program will provide fellows the time to focus on research and data analysis as they work to finalize and publish their dissertation research, while connecting with resident faculty and research staff at CDDRL.
Fellows will present their research during our weekly research seminar series and an array of scholarly events and conferences.
Topics of the incoming cohort include electoral fraud in Russia, how the elite class impacts state power in China, the role of emotions in support for democracy in Zimbabwe, and market institutions in Nigeria.
Learn more in the Q&A below.
CDDRL Pre-Doctoral Fellow
Hometown: Tomsk, Russia
Academic Institution: Northwestern University
Discipline and expected date of graduation: Sociology, April 2017
Research Interests: authoritarianism, state capacity, social policy, civil society, trust, Russia and post-communist countries
Dissertation Title: The State that Betrays the Trust: Infrastructural State Power, Public Sector Organizations, and Authoritarian Resilience in Putin's Russia
What attracted you to the CDDRL Pre/post-doctoral program? I study the connection between state capacity and political regimes - the topic that is at the core of many research initiatives at CDDRL. Learning more about this work and receiving feedback for my dissertation will enrich and sharpen my analysis, while helping me to place it into a comparative context. I am looking forward to discussing my work with the faculty who study the post-Soviet region. I also will explore policy implications of my work with the help of policy experts at CDDRL.
What do you hope to accomplish during your nine-month residency at the CDDRL? Besides finishing writing my dissertation, I will workshop three working papers to prepare them for publication. The first one argues that Putin's regime used the school system to administer a large-scale electoral fraud in 2012 presidential elections; the second one shows how the networks of social organizations were used by subnational autocrats to strengthen the regime; and the third one will look at the factors that make the abuse of such organizations more difficult in some regions. In addition to these papers I will continue developing my post-graduation research project exploring the relationship between social trust and distrust, institutions, political competition, and democratization.
Fun fact: I have spent 25 years of my life in Siberia, and I can tell you: Chicago winters are worse!
CDDRL Postdoctoral Fellow
Hometown: Reading, MA
Academic Institution: Harvard University
Discipline & Graduation Date: Government, Summer 2016
Research interests: political economy of development, private governance, market institutions, Sub-Saharan Africa, survey methods
Dissertation Title: The Politics of Order in Informal Markets: Evidence from Lagos
What attracted you to the CDDRL post-doctoral program? I was attracted to CDDRL largely for its community of scholars. Affiliated faculty work on the political economy of development and medieval and modern market institutions, topics that are tied to my own interests.
What do you hope to accomplish during your nine-month residency at the CDDRL? I plan to prepare a book manuscript based on my dissertation, a project that explains variation in the provision of pro-trade institutions in private market organizations through the study of physical marketplaces in Nigeria. In addition, I will continue to remotely manage an on-going project in Nigeria (with Meredith Startz) investigating whether reputation alleviates contracting frictions. I also plan to work on submitting to journals a few working papers, including one on the politics of non-compliance with polio vaccination in Nigeria (with Jonathan Phillips and Leah Rosenzweig).
Fun fact: Contrary to popular belief, not all cheese is vegetarian. I have a website to help people determine if a cheese is vegetarian or not: IsThisCheeseVegetarian.com.
CDDRL Postdoctoral Fellow
Hometown: Oakland, California
Academic Institution: University of California, Berkeley
Discipline & Graduation Date: Political Science, Summer 2016
Research Interests: Governance, rule of law, state building, authoritarian politics, Chinese politics
Dissertation Title: The Social Origins of State Power: Democratic Institutions and Local Elites in China
What attracted you to CDDRL? The Center has a fantastic community of scholars and practitioners who work on the areas that I'm interested in, including governance and the rule of law. I'm excited to learn from the CDDRL community and participate in the Center's events. The fellowship also provides me with valuable time to finish my book manuscript before I start teaching.
What do you hope to accomplish during your nine-month residency at the CDDRL? While at CDDRL, I plan to prepare my book manuscript and to work on some related projects on local elites and state power in China and elsewhere.
Fun fact: I grew up on an organic farm in Vermont.
CDDRL Postdoctoral Fellow
Hometown: Saratoga, CA
Academic Institution: Columbia University
Discipline & Graduation Date: Political Science (Comparative Politics, Methods), May 2016 (defense), Oct 2016 (degree conferral)
Research Interests: political violence, political economy of development, autocratic persistence, democratization, protest, electoral violence
Dissertation Title: The Psychology of Repression and Dissent in Autocracy
What attracted you to the CDDRL post-doctoral program? As a graduate of the CISAC honors program when I was an undergraduate at Stanford, I have seen first-hand how intellectually stimulating, collaborative, and plugged into policy CDDRL is. While at the center I will be revising my dissertation work on the political psychology of participation in pro-democracy movements in Zimbabwe for submission as a book manuscript, and moving forward new projects that similarly seek to understand how different forms of violence by non-state actors affects citizens' preferences and decision-making. Because of its deep bench of experts on autocracy, narco-trafficking, and insurgency, CDDRL will add enormous value to these projects.
What do you hope to accomplish during your nine-month residency at the CDDRL? During my fellowship year, my primary goal is to revise my research on Zimbabwe into a book manuscript. I defended my dissertation as three stand-alone articles, including two experiments showing that emotions influence whether opposition supporters in Zimbabwe express their pro-democracy preferences and a descriptive paper showing that repression has a larger effect on the behavior of the poor. To prepare the book manuscript during my fellowship, I will bring in additional quantitative and qualitative descriptive evidence and tie the three papers together into a cohesive argument about how opposition supporters make decisions about participation in protest, why emotions have such a large effect on these decisions, and how this affects variation across individuals and the strategic choices of autocrats and activists.
Fun fact: During my fieldwork I took an overnight train from Victoria Falls to a southern city in Zimbabwe and hitch-hiked into a national park. It got a little nerve-wracking when night started to fall, but ended with an invitation to a barbecue!
