Dr. Dinorah Azpuru

Public opinion in Latin America, political behavior, democracy and democratization, peace processes in Central America, U.S-Latin America relations

Survey research in Latin America, political behavior/voting behavior, political culture, citizens’ support for non-democratic governance, populism.

Courses Taught at WSU

• Democracy and Authoritarianism
• Developing World
• Latin American Politics
• Comparative Politics
• Latin American International Relations
• Comparative Public Opinion
• Political Data Analysis

Books

Explaining Support for Populism in Contemporary Latin America. Routlege, 2024. https://www.routledge.com/Explaining-Support-for-Populism-in-Contemporary-Latin-America/Azpuru/p/book/9781032701677 

Construyendo la democracia en sociedades posconflicto: Guatemala y El Salvador, un enfoque  comparado. (Building Democracy in Post-Conflict Societies). Guatemala and Ottawa: F&G Editores and International Development Research Center, IDRC. 2007.  Principal Investigator: Dinorah Azpuru. With L. Blanco, R. Córdova, N. Loya, C. Ramos, and A. Zapata. https://www.idrc.ca/en/book/construyendo-la-democracia-en-sociedades-posconflicto-un-enfoque-comparado-entre-guatemala-y-el

For updated information on publications see Curriculum Vitae

Journal Articles

““Re-examining Socio-economic Conditions and Democracy” in The Journal of Developing Areas. With Michael A. Hall (corresponding author), D. Lett, and S. Rowell. Vol. 60, Issue 1, Winter 2026

"Avances y déficits en la participación política en Guatemala” (Progress and Deficits in Political Participation in Guatemala) in Revista Espacios Políticos: Guatemala a cuarenta años del proceso democrático, edición conmemorativa. In Spanish. Universidad Rafael Landívar, Facultad de Ciencias Políticas y Sociales.  Editorial Cara Parens, 2025. 115-142. DOI: 10.36631/REP

“Can Latin American Political Culture Help Save Democracy?” in The LASA Magazine, Forum. Pittsburgh. Vol. 54, No. 2, Spring 2023. Invited article for a special edition on democracy in Latin America.

“Wither the State? Public Opinion on the Role of Government and Market in Latin America” (Opinión pública sobre el Estado y el mercado en América Latina) in América Latina Hoy. Salamanca, Spain. Vol. 90. 2022. In Spanish. With Elizabeth Carter and Mary Fran Malone.

“Parenting Attitudes and Public Support for Political Authoritarianism in Latin America,” in International Journal of Public Opinion Research, Volume 31, Issue 3. Autumn 2019. With Mary Fran Malone.

“Democratization in Latin America: Insights for the Arab States,” in International Journal on World Peace, June, Vol. XXXIV No. 2, (2017): 47-76. With Michael Hall.

“Is US Influence Dwindling in Latin America? Citizens’ Perspectives,” in The Latin Americanist, December, Vol. 60, Issue 4 (2016): 447-472.

“Individual-Level Determinants of Anti-Americanism in Contemporary Latin America,” in Latin America Research Review, Vol. 50, No. 3 (2015): 111-134. With Dexter Boniface.

“Migration in Central America: Magnitude, Causes and Proposed Solutions,” in KAS International Reports, February. (2015): 72-95. With Violeta Hernández.

“The Salience of Ideology: Fifteen Years of Presidential Elections in El Salvador,” in Latin American Politics and Society. Vol. 52, Issue 2 (2010): 103-138.

“The United States and the Promotion of Democracy in Latin America: Then, Now and Tomorrow,” in Orbis (A Journal of World Affairs), Vol. 54, No. 2 (2010): 252-267. With Carolyn Shaw.

“Perceptions of Democracy in Guatemala: An Ethnic Divide?” in Canadian Journal of Latin American and Caribbean Studies. Vol. 34, Issue 67 (2009): 105-130.

“Trends in Democracy Assistance. What has the US Been Doing?” in Journal of Democracy, Volume 19, No. 2 (2008): 151-159. With Steve Finkel, Aníbal Pérez-Liñán and Mitchell A. Seligson.

“¿Qué ha estado haciendo Estados Unidos?” in  Journal of Democracy en español, Vol. 1, July (2009): 191-202. 

“2007: Un año de contrastes para la democracia en Guatemala,” in Revista de Ciencia Política, Instituto de Ciencia Política, Universidad Católica de Chile. Vol. 28, No. 1 (2008): 217-244. With Ligia Blanco.

“The 2007 Presidential and Legislative Elections in Guatemala,” in Electoral Studies, Vol. 27, Issue 3 (2008): 562-566.

“Guatemala 2006: El aniversario de la paz y la democracia,” in Revista de Ciencia Política, Instituto de Ciencia Política, Universidad  Católica de Chile, Vol. 27, Esp. (2007): 149-163. With Ligia Blanco.

"La Ciencia Política en Guatemala: el reto de la consolidación como disciplina independiente,” in Revista de Ciencia Política, Instituto de Ciencia Política, Universidad Católica de Chile. Special Issue. Vol. 25, No. 1 (2005): 171-181.

“The General Elections in Guatemala, November-December 2003,” in Electoral Studies, Vol. 24, Issue No. 1 (2005): 143-149.2.

Book Chapters

“Women's Electoral Behavior Under Conditions of Democratic Erosion: Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Guatemala”. In Women’s Electoral Behavior in Latin America: Between Tradition and Emancipation. Palgrave Macmillan 2026. With Mary F. Malone and Christine J. Wade.

“Political Culture and Democracy in Guatemala” in Democratic Institutions in Guatemala: Theory and Practice. Omar Sanchez-Sibony, Editor. Rowman and Littlefield, 2025.

“Political Participation and Interpersonal Trust in the Northern Triangle in Central America” in El desencanto democrático en el Triángulo Norte de Centroamérica (Disenchantment with democracy in the Northern Triangle in Central America). El Salvador: FundaUngo. 2023. In Spanish.

“Political Culture in Central America” in Encrucijadas de la democracia en Honduras y América Central (Crossroads for Democracy in Honduras and Central America). Edited by Julieta Castellanos and Salvador Romero Ballivián. National Democratic Institute and Honduras National University. 2019.

“El Salvador Twenty Years Later: Successful Democratization but Questionable Peace” in Understanding Quality Peace. Peacebuilding After Civil War.  Edited by Peter Wallensteen and Madhav Joshi. Routledge, 2018.

“Does Gender Make a Difference? The Gender Gap in Latin American Politics” in Women, Politics and Democracy in Latin America. Edited by T. Dosek, F. Friedenberg, M. Caminotti and B. Muñoz-Pogossian. Palgrave Macmillan, 2017.

“Political Science: More than Practical Politics” in Political Science for the Curious: Why Study Political Science. Edited by Kishor Vaidya.The Curious Academic Publishing, 2015.

“Democracy and Governance in Conflict and Post-War Latin America: A Quantitative Assessment” in In the Wake of War: Democratization and Internal Armed Conflict in Latin America. Edited by Cynthia Arnson. Stanford University Press/Woodrow Wilson Center Press, 2012.

“The Promotion of Democracy: Actors and Methods” in Achieving Democracy: Democratization in Theory and Practice. Edited by Mary Fran Malone. Continuum International Publishing Group. 2011.

“Carta a los estudiantes de Ciencia Política” in Cartas a los estudiantes de Ciencia Política, Volumen 1. Edited by Jorge Cortés and José Ramón López Rubí. Mexico: Miguel Ángel Porrúa-BUAP. 2010. 

“Democratización en Guatemala y El Salvador: un desarrollo desigual” in Perspectivas para la democracia en América Latina (Prospects for Democracy in Latin America). Edited by Leticia Heras and John Booth. University of North Texas and Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México. 2009.

“From Peace to Democratization: Lessons from Central America” in Contemporary Peacemaking, Conflict, Peace Processes and Post-war Reconstruction. Edited by John Darby and Roger McGinty, Second Edition. Palgrave McMillan. 2008. With Cynthia Arnson.

“From Peace to Democratization: Lessons from Central America” in Contemporary         Peacemaking. Edited by John Darby and Roger McGinty. Palgrave McMillan. 2003.

“Strengthening Human Rights Institutions in Guatemala” in Promoting Democracy in Post-Conflict Societies: Views and Lessons from Africa, Asia and Central America. Edited by Jeroen De Zeeuw and Krishna Kumar. Lynne Rienner Publishers. 2006.

“Los Jóvenes y la Democracia en Guatemala” in Con la herencia de la paz: cultura política de la juventud centroamericana. Edited by Florisabel Rodríguez, Silvia Castro and Johnny Madrigal. Costa Rica: EFUNA. 2003.

“El liderazgo político en Guatemala: Un Proceso de Reconstrucción y Redefinición” in El Liderazgo Político en América Latina. Edited by Wilhelm Hofemeister. Konrad Adenauer Foundation. 2002.

“Las dimensiones y el impacto político de la delincuencia en Guatemala” in Población del Istmo 2000: familia, migración, violencia y medio ambiente. Edited by Luis Rosero. University of Costa Rica. 2000. With Mitchell A. Seligson.

“Peace and Democratization in Guatemala: Two Parallel Processes” in Comparative Peace Processes in Latin America. Edited by Cynthia J. Arnson. Stanford University Press and Wilson Center.

Other Publications (policy papers, reports, encyclopedia entries, working papers, published interviews)

Commentary for Latin American Advisor. "What’s at Stake as Guatemala Selects Judicial Officials?". February 2026.

“Preserving Elections in Guatemala” in Protecting Elections Series. International IDEA, Sweden. November, 2025. With Virginia Pinto.

Democracy Tracker, The Americas. International IDEA. Interview with Dr. Dinorah Azpuru on the state of democracy in Latin America. September 2024. https://www.idea.int/democracytracker/node/1689

Version in Spanish: https://www.idea.int/democracytracker/node/1741

Democracy Notes. International IDEA. Latin America’s “Achilles’ heel”: An interview with expert Dr. Dinorah Azpuru, on the rule of law, democracy, and democratic education in the region. September 2024. https://www.idea.int/blog/latin-americas-achilles-heel-interview-expert-dr-dinorah-azpuru-rule-law-democracy-and

Version in Spanish:  https://www.idea.int/blog/el-talon-de-aquiles-de-america-latina-una-entrevista-con-la-experta-dra-dinorah-azpuru-sobre

“Diagnóstico del estado de la democracia en América Central: Déficits democráticos” (Diagnosis of the State of Democracy in Central America: Democratic Deficits), in Balance de la gobernanza continental en las Américas: Oportunidades y retos. Universidad de los Andes, Colombia, 2025.

Commentary for Latin American Advisor “What Will Arévalo’s Presidency Mean for Guatemala?” August 2023.

“Cultura Política” in Diccionario Electoral (3rd. Ed), CAPEL/InterAmerican Institute of Human Rights, San José, Costa Rica, 2017.

Six Articles in the Encyclopedia of United States-Latin American Relations. Edited by Thomas Leonard (CQ Press, SAGE Publications, 2012): The United States and Democracy in Latin America; The Organization of American States (OAS); The United States Agency for International Development (USAID); United States-Guatemala Relations; Latin American Program, Woodrow Wilson Center; AmericasBarometer.

Cobán, Guatemala: Violence Mitigation Impact Evaluation, Internal Survey Report for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through the Latin American Public Opinion Project (LAPOP) at Vanderbilt University. January 2014. Baseline Report written in 2012.

“¿Cuán democrática es América Latina? Comparando los índices globales y regionales de democracia” in Boletín de Política Comparada, Vol. 3, No. 1, June 2011. Buenos Aires (Argentina). https://www.academia.edu/28095815/Bolet%C3%ADn_de_Pol%C3%ADtica_Comparada_Volumen_3_N%C3%BAmero_1?auto=download

“El impacto de la gobernabilidad: cultura política de la democracia en Guatemala” in Revista ASIES, No. 1/2009.

Effects of U.S. Foreign Assistance on Democracy Building: Results of a Cross-National Quantitative Study, Report of a study commissioned by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). With Steven Finkel, Anibal Pérez-Liñán and Mitchell A. Seligson. Vanderbilt University and University of Pittsburgh, January, 2006. http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/Pnade694.pdf

“Building Democracy in Post-Conflict Societies: Guatemala and El Salvador in Comparative Perspective, Executive Summary,” in Revista ASIES No. 2/2006 (Guatemala City and San Salvador: IDRC, ASIES, FundaUngo, 2006).  Published in English and Spanish.

“La opinión pública y el estado de derecho en Guatemala,” in Revista ASIES, No. 1/2006.

“Guatemala: Ayuda internacional a la democracia en una sociedad posconflicto” Revista ASIES, No. 2/2005.

“Democracy Assistance to Post-Conflict Guatemala: Finding a Balance between Details and Determinants” Working Paper No. 30, Netherlands Institute for International Relations (The Hague, Netherlands, 2004). With L. Blanco, C. Mendoza and E. Blank.

“Paz, Democracia y Cultura Política en Guatemala” Working Paper No. 2004-04, Procesos, Serie Cuadernos de Trabajo. (San José, Costa Rica: 2004).

La cultura democrática de los jóvenes y maestros en Guatemala (Guatemala City: ASIES. Guatemala, 2003).

“Como se percibe la paz en Guatemala” in Revista MOMENTO No. 11/2002.

“El apoyo a la democracia en Guatemala” in Revista ASIES No. 3/2002.

La cultura democrática de los guatemaltecos en los departamentos de Quiché y Quetzaltenango (Guatemala City: ASIES, 2002).

“Evaluando la democratización y la paz en Guatemala” in Revista ASIES No. 1/2001.

“Los Jóvenes y la Democracia en Guatemala” Working Paper No. 2001-06, Procesos. Serie Cuadernos de Trabajo (San José, Costa Rica, 2001).

Diagnóstico de los partidos políticos en Guatemala, with Carmen Ortiz and Marco Barahona (Guatemala City: ASIES, 2000).

“The Consulta Popular: A Vote Divided by Geography in The Popular Referendum and the Future of the Peace Accords in Guatemala,” Working Paper #243, Woodrow Wilson Center for International Scholars (Washington, D.C., October, 1999) Also published in Spanish in December, 1999.

“La cultura democrática de los guatemaltecos” in Revista ASIES No. 1/1995.

“Gobernabilidad y democracia” in Revista Visión Nacional, No. 1/1994.

“Posibilidades de paz: nuevo rumbo para Guatemala” in Procesos de Negociación Comparados en África y América Latina (Guatemala City: FLACSO, 1994).

“Gobernabilidad y democracia: Conceptos básicos” in Revista ASIES No. 3/1992.

“El sistema político guatemalteco” in Revista ASIES No. 5/1991.

“In Search of Peace: The Central American Case” in Third World Dimensions in Conflict Resolution. Advanced International Program on Conflict Resolution. (Uppsala University, 1990). With A. Siliazzy et. al.      

“La cooperación sur-sur: Alternativa o utopía” in Revista Estudios Sociales (Guatemala, University Rafael Landívar, 1987).

Selected Recent Public Scholarship (Research-based articles)

“What Explains Support for Populism in Latin America?” Australian Outlook. Australian Institute of International Affairs. September 5, 2024. https://www.internationalaffairs.org.au/australianoutlook/what-explains-support-for-populism-in-latin-america/

“Why is Bukele on the Path to Reelection in El Salvador?” Canning House, January 30, 2024. With Mary F. Malone and Christine Wade. https://www.canninghouse.org/canning-insights/why-is-bukele-on-the-path-to-reelection-in-el-salvador

“A Watershed Moment for Guatemala’s Democracy?” Part 1 (July 21, 2023) and Part 2 (July 26, 2023). Global Americans. Part 1: https://theglobalamericans.org/2023/07/a-watershed-moment-for-guatemalas-democracy-part-1/   Part 2: https://theglobalamericans.org/2023/07/a-watershed-moment-for-guatemalas-democracy-part-2/   

“As the Summit for Democracy Ends, What is the State of Democracy in Latin America?” Global Americans, March 31, 2023. https://theglobalamericans.org/2023/03/as-the-summit-for-democracy-ends-what-is-the-state-of-democracy-in-latin-america/

“Guatemala’s Authoritarian Slide Under Giammattei Is Putting Biden in a Bind.” World Politics Review, December 12, 2022. https://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/guatemala-corruption-politics-us-relations-northern-triangle-migration/

"How do North and South Americans view the U.S.? The Monkey Cage in The Washington Post, June 3, 2022. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/06/03/americasbarometer-latin-america-opinion-summit-trust/

“Prospects for Democracy in Latin America in 2022.” Agenda Pública in El País, January 2022. https://agendapublica.elpais.com/noticia/17583/prospects-for-democracy-latin-america-2022

Version in Spanish, December 2021: Agenda Pública in El País “América Latina a las puertas de un nuevo año”https://agendapublica.elpais.com/noticia/17603/democracia-am-rica-latina-puertas-nuevo-ano

“Four Years Later Biden Faces a Different Latin America.” Global Americans. Special Contributor. January 2021. https://theglobalamericans.org/2021/01/four-years-later-biden-faces-a-different-latin-america/

“Does the U.S. Really Resemble Latin America?” Mischiefs of Faction (Political Science Blog). With Mary Malone. January 2021. https://www.mischiefsoffaction.com/post/does-the-u-s-really-resemble-latin-america

“The Risk of Democratic Backsliding During the Pandemic in Latin America.” Albert Hirschman Center on Democracy, Switzerland. May 14, 2020.    https://graduateinstitute.ch/communications/news/risk-democratic-backsliding-latin-america-during-pandemic

Also published in Spanish: El riesgo de retroceso democrático durante la pandemia en     América Latina), Agenda Pública de El País (main newspaper in Spain). May 3, 2020.                                                                         http://agendapublica.elpais.com/el-riesgo-de-retroceso-democratico-en-america-latina-durante-la-pandemia/

“Latin American democracy may be in trouble. The protests are a symptom of increasing mistrust.” The Monkey Cage, The Washington Post, December 9, 2019. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/12/09/latin-american-democracy-may-be-trouble-protests-are-symptom-increasing-mistrust/

 “Afronta America Latina un problema de legitimidad?” (Does Latin America Face a Legitimacy Problem?)  Agenda Pública de El País (main newspaper in Spain). October 31, 2019. http://agendapublica.elpais.com/afronta-america-latina-un-problema-de-legitimidad/

“Yes, our ‘flawed’ democracy just got downgraded. Here’s why” in The Monkey Cage, The Washington Post, February 23, 2017. With Michael Hall. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2017/02/23/yes-our-flawed-democracy-just-got-downgraded-heres-why/?utm_term=.16381de624a4

Selected Recent Monographs

Cultura política de la democracia en Guatemala y en las Américas, 2017: Un estudio comparado sobre democracia y gobernabilidad (Vanderbilt University, USAID, ASIES. 2018).

English version (2019): The Political Culture of Democracy in Guatemala and the Americas, 2017: A Comparative Study on Democracy and Governability.   https://www.vanderbilt.edu/lapop/guatemala/AB2016-17_Guatemala_Country_Report_English_V3_02.01.19_W_02.18.19.pdf       

Cultura política de la democracia en Guatemala y en las Américas, 2014: Gobernabilidad democrática a través de 10 años del Barómetro de las Américas (Vanderbilt University, USAID and University Rafael Landívar. 2015).

English version: The Political Culture of Democracy in Guatemala and the Americas, 2014: Democratic    Governance across 10 Years of the AmericasBarometer. http://www.vanderbilt.edu/lapop/guatemala.php

Cultura política de la democracia en Guatemala y en las Américas 2012: Hacia la igualdad de oportunidades. X Estudio de cultura democrática de los guatemaltecos. (Nashville and Guatemala City: Vanderbilt University, USAID and ASIES, December 2012).

English version: The Political Culture of Democracy in Guatemala and the Americas in 2012: Towards          Equality of Opportunity. Tenth Study of Democratic Culture of Guatemalans.        http://www.vanderbilt.edu/lapop/guatemala.php

Consolidación democrática en las Américas en tiempos difíciles: Guatemala 2010. IX Estudio de cultura democrática de los guatemaltecos. (Nashville and Guatemala City: Vanderbilt University, USAID and ASIES, December 2010).

English version: Democratic Consolidation in the Americas in Difficult Times: Guatemala 2010.           http://www.vanderbilt.edu/lapop/guatemala.ph

Cultura política de la democracia en Guatemala, 2008: El impacto de la gobernabilidad. VIII Estudio de cultura democrática de los guatemaltecos. (Nashville: Vanderbilt University, USAID and ASIES, 2008).

English version: The Political Culture of Democracy in Guatemala 2008: The Impact of Governance. http://www.vanderbilt.edu/lapop/guatemala.php

Cultura política de la democracia en Guatemala en 2006. VII Estudio de cultura democrática de los guatemaltecos. (Nashville and Guatemala City: Vanderbilt University, USAID and FLACSO-Guatemala, 2007).

English version: The Political Culture of Democracy in Guatemala in 2006.               http://www.vanderbilt.edu/lapop/guatemala.php 

Cultura política de la democracia en Guatemala en 2004. VI Estudio de cultura democrática de los guatemaltecos. (Nashville and Guatemala City: Vanderbilt University, ASIES, USAID and ARD, 2004).

English version: The Political Culture of Democracy in Guatemala in 2004.               http://www.vanderbilt.edu/lapop/guatemala.php

La cultura política de los guatemaltecos en el nuevo siglo: V Estudio de cultura democrática de los guatemaltecos. (Guatemala City: ASIES, 2002).

English version: The Political Culture of Guatemalans in the New Century http://www.vanderbilt.edu/lapop/guatemala.php

La cultura democrática de los guatemaltecos, Cuarto estudio. (Pittsburgh and Guatemala City: Development Associates, University of Pittsburgh and ASIES, 2000). With M. Seligson, M. Young, C. Hammil, and M. Lucas.

English version: Guatemalan Values and the Prospects for Democratic Development: with Emphasis on Civil Society Participation and Attitudes Regarding Crime, Due Process and Authoritarian Regimes. (Development Associates, Arlington, 2000). http://www.vanderbilt.edu/lapop/guatemala.php

La cultura democrática de los guatemaltecos, Tercer estudio. (Pittsburgh and Guatemala City: Development Associates, University of Pittsburgh and ASIES, 1998).

Guatemalan Values and the Prospects for Democratic Development, Second Report. (Development Associates, Inc., Arlington, June 1996). With M. Seligson, J. Jutkowitz and M. Lucas.

La cultura democrática de los guatemaltecos (Guatemala City and Pittsburgh: Development Associates, University of Pittsburgh and ASIES, 1995). With M. Seligson, J. Jutkowitz and M. Lucas.

La Realidad Política Guatemalteca. Required textbook for several years for all careers at the University Rafael Landívar (Guatemala, University Rafael Landívar, 1994).

Guatemalan Values and the Prospects for Democratic Development, First Report (Development Associates, Inc., Arlington, March, 1994). With M. Seligson, J. Jutkowitz, J. Castillo and M. Lucas.

 

Teaching

Wichita State University, Department of Political Science

Full Professor (2018-present)

Associate Professor (2012-2018)

Assistant Professor (2005- 2011)

Invited/Visiting Professor

• Universidad Rafael Landivar, Guatemala. Short courses on political data analysis (2025)
• Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM). Participation in Curso Especializado sobre Elecciones, Sistemas Electorales y Partidos Políticos (2022)
• Universidad de Salamanca, Spain, course on public opinion, Instituto de Iberoamérica (2014)
• Vanderbilt University, United States. Comparative Politics, Latin American politics, Latin American international relations (2004-2005)
• University of Guelph/University of Saskatchewan, short course on Guatemalan political system, Canada (2001-2003)
• University Rafael Landívar, Guatemala,  as Adjunct Professor (1987-1996)

Other Academic Appointments

• Wichita State University:  Undergraduate Advisor of the Department of Political Science (2018-2019),
• Interim Chair of the Political Science Department (2011), Graduate Faculty Member (2007-present)
• Vanderbilt University: Research Coordinator for the Latin American Public Opinion Project, LAPOP (2004-2005)
• Association for Social Research (Asociación de Investigación y Estudios Sociales - ASIES), Guatemala: Senior Researcher in the Political Research Department (2000-2004), Coordinator of the Political Research Department (1992-1997)
• University Rafael Landívar, Guatemala: Associate Dean of the School of Political and Social Sciences (1989-1991), Chair of the Political Science Department (1990-1991)

Other Professional Employment

• Supreme Electoral Tribunal of Guatemala and Organization of American States (OAS): Executive Secretary of the Commission for Electoral Reform derived from the Peace Accords (1997).
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Guatemala: Deputy Director of the Department for North America (1988-1991).
• Ministry of Urban and Rural Development of Guatemala: Program Officer in the Department for International Cooperation (1986-1987).
• Save the Children Alliance Guatemala (Alliance of European and American Save the Children organizations): Assistant to the Director (1981-1985).
• Consultant in short-term projects with different organizations, including: International IDEA (Sweden), Wilson Center for International Scholars (USA), Development Associates, Inc. (USA), Organization of American States, OAS (Guatemala Mission), Instituto Centroamericano de Estudios Políticos, INCEP (Guatemala), PROCESOS (Costa Rica), Instituto Interamericano de Derechos Humanos, IIDH (Costa Rica).

Academic Awards

• Fulbright/LASPAU Fellowship for graduate study in the United States. To pursue a PhD program in Political Science. Fall 1997-spring 2000.
• Latin American Social and Public Policy Fellowship, Center for Latin American Studies, University of Pittsburgh. To pursue PhD program in Political Science. Fall 1997-spring 2000.
• Scholarship from the Institute for International Education (IIE), Regional Program of Graduate Fellowships in the Social Sciences. To pursue PhD in Political Science in the United States. Fall 1997-spring 1999.
• Fellowship from the Center for Latin American Studies at the University of Pittsburgh. Fall 1997-spring 2000.
• Scholarship from the government of Switzerland, to pursue graduate Certificate in Development Studies at The Graduate Institute, Geneva, Switzerland. Academic year 1985-96.
• Scholarship from the government of Sweden, to participate in the Graduate Program in Conflict Resolution at Uppsala University. Spring-summer 1990.
• Selected for participation in the student exchange program American Field Service (AFS), for a year of High School in the United States, 1977-1978.

See Curriculum Vitae for Grants and Research Projects

Selected Invited Presentations (See CV for updated list)

International

Keynote Speaker, Speaker Series. Center for the Study of Democratic Citizenship (McGill University, University of Montreal, Concordia University). “Why Do Latin American Citizens Support Populist Presidents?” Montreal, Canada. January 16, 2026.

Invited Discussant. Conversatorio Latinoamericano. Paper discussed: “Apoyo a la democracia: desafección partidaria y desigualdad en México y Centroamérica” (Support for Democracy: Party Disaffection and Inequality in Mexico and Central America), by I. Cisneros. Organized by El Colegio de México, Universidad de los Andes (Colombia), IESP-Universidad del Estado de Río de Janeiro (Brazil) and Universidad Torcuato di Tella (Argentina).

Keynote Speaker (Inaugural Conference) at X Central American Congress of Political Science. Panama City, Panama. September 2023.

Invited Panelist. “The Perception of Democracy in Latin America.” Interviewed by TV Program Razón de Estado in NTN24 (TV Program transmitted throughout Latin America).

Invited Panelist. “Political Culture, Democracy and Electoral Behavior.” In Seminar El Estado de la Democracia en Centroamérica y República Dominicana (The State of Democracy in Central America and Dominican Republic). Organized by the Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA). Panama. December 2022.

Keynote Speaker (virtual), Inaugural Conference at Universidad Andres Bello in Venezuela, Graduate Program in Public Management and Democratic Governance: “Democracy and Regime Type in Latin America.” July 2021.

Keynote Speaker. “Guatemala: una democracia limitada”. Annual Alumni Conference. College of Political Science, University Rafael Landivar, Guatemala. July 2021.

Keynote Speaker. “Migration from the Northern Triangle: Push and Pull Factors”. Organized by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS). Transmitted in Germany. June 2021.

Invited Panelist (virtual). “The Future of Politics and Democracy in Latin America.” Organized by Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA). Transmitted through the Digital Platform Aristegui Noticias to Spanish-speaking viewers in Latin America. June 8, 2020

Invited Panelist. Political Culture in Guatemala. Seminar “The Public and Democracy in the Americas”. University of Los Andes and Vanderbilt University. Bogota, Colombia, October 2019.

Invited Panelist. Political Culture in Central America. International Seminar on Democracy in Latin America and Honduras. National Democratic Institute and Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Honduras. Tegucigalpa, Honduras, December 2018.

Invited Speaker. The Causes of Migration from the Northern Triangle. Migration in the Americas, International Conference. Konrad Adenauer Foundation, Mexico City, December 2017.

Invited Panelist. Presentation in panel Participación ciudadana y fortalecimiento democrático (Citizens’ Participation and Democratic Strengthening). VII Foro de la democracia latinoamericana. Educación cívica, cultura política y ética ciudadana: desafíos para el fortalecimiento democrático. Organized by the Mexican Instituto Nacional Electoral and the Organization of American States (OAS). Mexico City, October 2016.

Keynote Speaker. Presentation: La legitimidad de la democracia en América Latina a la luz de su desempeño: Una evaluación de las preferencias ciudadanas, 2004-2015 (The Legitimacy of Democracy in Latin America and Its Performance: An Assessment of Citizens’ Preferences). International Seminar Los dilemas de la democracia en América Latina: a cuatro décadas de la transición (The Dilemmas of Democracy in Latin America: Four Decades After the Transition). Organized by the Universidad Autónoma de México (UNAM) and FLACSO-Mexico. Mexico City, October 2015.

Invited Speaker. Presentation: International Experiences-Lessons from the Peace Process in Guatemala. Seminar Lecciones y desafíos para la transición hacia la paz en Colombia (Lessons and Challenges for the Transition to Peace in Colombia). Organized by Universidad EAFIT. Medellín, Colombia, 2015.

Keynote Speaker. Presentation: Anti-Americanism in Latin America. University of Deusto. College of Social Sciences. Bilbao, Spain, October 2014.

Invited Panelist. Presentation: Channeling Distrust and Contestation. Conference Ethics in Democracy II, organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Canada, the Centre d’Étique de l’Université de Montréal and the Centre for Ethics at the University of Toronto, FUSADES and FUNDE. San Salvador, El Salvador, November 2009.

Invited Panelist. Presentation: The Impact of Crime on Democratization in Central America (in Spanish). Seminar Democracia en America Latina: Repensando sus Desafíos   (Democracy in Latin America, Rethinking the Challenges), organized by the Catholic University of Chile and the United Nations Development Program. Santiago, Chile, August 2008.

United States:

Hudson Institute, Washington D.C. “Latin America’s Democratic Recession.” December 2023 (virtual)

University of Illinois and University of Maryland. Center for Latin American Studies. Roundtable on Guatemala’s 2023 Elections. October, 2023. 

“State on Democracy in the Northern Triangle in Central America.” September 2022. Consultant for the U.S. Department of State. 

Keynote Speaker. Perspectives on the Pandemic, Part II. Organized by the Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Wichita State University. Presentation: “The Impact of the Pandemic on Democracy in the World.” August 26, 2020 (Via Zoom and YouTube).  

Venezuela: A Multifaceted Crisis. Panel Venezuela in Crisis. Organized by the Department of Political Science and the Department of Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures. Wichita State University, May 2019.

Presentation: The Gender Gap in Latin America. Women Studies Showcase. Organized by the Women’s Studies Department, Wichita State University, March 2017.

Invited Speaker. Presentation: Politics in Latin America, Challenges and Opportunities. Arts and Politics in Contemporary Latin America, Latin American Series 2015-2016, Wichita State University, 2015.

Invited Presenter at the Meeting on Regional Integration in a Post-Chávez Era, organized by the Conflict Prevention and Peace Forum at the Social Science Research Council. New York,  2013.

Invited Speaker. Presentation: Citizens’ Attitudes Toward Global Powers: The U.S. and China Compared. Seminar Latin America and China: Public Perceptions and Policy Implications, Wilson Center for Scholars. Latin American Program. Washington, D.C., March 2013.

Invited Panelist. Presentation: El Salvador, Successful Democratization but Questionable Peace. Conference Quality Peace: The Role of Third Parties and the Search for Indicators, organized by the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies, University of Notre Dame. May 2012.

Invited Panelist. Presentation: The Geopolitical Origins and Evolution of Guatemala’s Strategic Culture. Workshop Strategic Culture Study of Guatemala, Florida International University’s Applied Research Center (FIU ARC), in collaboration with the United States Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) and FIU’s Latin American and Caribbean Center (LACC). Florida International University. Miami, May 2010.

Invited Keynote Speaker. Lecture: Financing Democratic Change. Saul O’Sidore Memorial Lecture Series 2007-2008, Exploring Democracy at Home and Abroad, organized by the University of New Hampshire. Durham, February 2008.

Invited Presenter at the Roundtable Meeting UN and Democracy Assistance: A New Strategy? Organized by the United Nations Development Program. New York, September 2007.

Invited Panelist. Presentation: Negotiations and Political Reintegration of Armed Opposition Groups in Guatemala and El Salvador.  Seminar Negotiations with Armed Oppositions to the State, organized by the Naval Postgraduate School. Monterey, California, August 2007.

Invited Panelist. Presentation: Democracy in Guatemala and El Salvador: An Uneven Performance. Symposium Prospects for Democracy in Latin America, organized by the University of North Texas, Denton, April 2007. 

Invited Panelist. Presentation: The State of Democracy in Conflict and Post-Conflict Latin America. Conference Democracy and Peace Processes in Latin America organized by the Wilson Center for Scholars. Latin American Program. Washington, D.C, April 2006.

Invited Speaker. Presentation: Democracy in Guatemala at the Crossroads: Citizens’ Support for Undemocratic Options. American University. Sponsored by the Council on Comparative Studies at AU and the Department of Government. Washington, D.C., August 2003.