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Victor Menaldo

Biography: 

Department of Political Science, University of Washington
Research: Advancing the Study of the Politics of Redistribution
Fellowship period: Academic year, 2009–10

Victor Menaldo was a National Fellow at the Hoover Institution. He is also an assistant professor in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Washington, Seattle, in the Political Science Department.

In addition, Menaldo is affiliated with Stanford’s Social Science History Program, within the Institute for Research in the Social Sciences.

His research focuses on three interrelated topics: (1) identifying the initial conditions under which countries’ economic and political institutions emerge, (2) assessing when and how these “fundamental” institutions change in the face of crises, and (3) explaining why these institutions condition countries’ long-run development: their tax systems, regime types, and public policies. Although most of his research focuses on Latin America, particularly Chile and Colombia, it also encompasses the Middle East and Africa.

Recent publications under review include Do Natural Resources Fuel Authoritarianism? and The Determinants of Property Rights in Latin America.

Menaldo has a BA in both philosophy and sociology from Colorado College, an MA in political science and policy from Claremont Graduate University, and a PhD in political science from Stanford.

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Recent Commentary

Merowe Dam in Sudan

Lands of Little Rain

by Stephen Haber, Victor Menaldovia Hoover Digest
Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Drought may not be destiny, but a critical ingredient for democratic societies does seem literally to fall from the skies. By Stephen H. Haber and Victor Menaldo.

In the News

A Democratic Middle East?

by Stephen Haber, Victor Menaldovia Defining Ideas (Hoover Institution)
Thursday, March 31, 2011

Look to the region’s economic—and even geographic—history for a hint of its political future...

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A Democratic Middle East?

by Stephen Haber, Victor Menaldovia Defining Ideas
Thursday, March 31, 2011

Look to the region’s economic—and even geographic—history for a hint of its political future.

Lifting the “Resource Curse”

by Stephen Haber, Victor Menaldovia Hoover Digest
Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Mineral wealth can build a nation or subvert it. Afghanistan might
become a success story yet.

Analysis and Commentary

Afghanistan and the 'Resource Curse'

by Stephen Haber, Victor Menaldovia Wall Street Journal
Friday, July 2, 2010

With its newly discovered mineral wealth, it could end up like Nigeria. Or like Mexico...