Dr. Matthew Rhodes-Purdy
Associate Professor, Clemson University
Fulbright Distinguished Scholar, Faculty of Liberal Arts, University of Manchester
I am an Associate Professor at Clemson University. I received my PhD in Government (comparative politics and methodology) from the University of Texas at Austin in 2016.
My research uses democratic theory and social psychology to suggest solutions to difficult puzzles in political behavior. My research topics include political system attitudes (especially regime support), populism, and the interaction of political economy and culture. I use both qualitative and cutting-edge quantitative methods to test these solutions.
My regional focus is on Latin America, though I also study the United States and Europe.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Democratic theory and democratization
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Examining empirical assumptions made by competing branches of democratic theory.
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Explaining democratic deepening and decay
Political Behavior/Public Opinion
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Analyzing how political institutions, economic factors, and cultural change interact to shape individual attitudes and political choices.
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Using political psychological concepts (e.g. anxiety, efficacy)
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Specific topics of interest include regime support, populism, and prejudice.
Political psychology
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My work focuses on the role of efficacy and anxiety in play in shaping political ideas and behavior.
Political economy and culture
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Analyzing how growing economic insecurity has intensified the cultural backlash that animates populist movements in the developed world.
Research methods
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Employing mixed-methods approaches, utilizing qualitative methods and advanced quantitative techniques.
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​Methodological specialties:
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Experiments
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Structural Equation Modeling (SEM)
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Multilevel models
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Conceptualization and measurement
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