Dr. Edgar Franco Vivanco

Biography

Edgar Franco-Vivanco is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Michigan. His research agenda investigates the influence of colonial era institutions on contemporary criminal violence and economic under-performance, particularly in Latin America. His dissertation-related book project delves into the role Indigenous groups played in the state-building processes within the region during the colonial period. Utilizing extensive archival data from colonial Mexican courts and advanced automated text analysis, he examines the intricate interactions between Indigenous communities and the colonial state. Edgar's current research also addresses contemporary developmental challenges, with a specific focus on criminal violence and policing. He is co-authoring a book that draws on comprehensive fieldwork conducted in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where he studies the differentiated impacts of state interventions in relation to organized criminal groups. His fields of study include Comparative Politics, Latin American Politics, Methodology, and Political Economy.

Research Interests