Aaron Watanabe

I am interested in how democracy emerges, persists, and sometimes breaks down. My dissertation examines the rise of populist leaders in Latin American and Europe with a particular focus on how elites facilitate or inhibit the electoral success of such politicians. I have conducted fieldwork in Brazil, Italy, and Peru. My teaching experience includes introductory comparative politics, Latin American politics, and qualitative research methods, in addition to advising undergraduate concentrators and thesis writers.