Dr. Michael Wahman

Biography

Michael Wahman is an Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science at Michigan State University (MSU). He holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from Lund University, Sweden. Throughout his academic career, he has held teaching and research positions at several prestigious institutions, including the University of Missouri, the London School of Economics, the University of Texas at Austin, and the German Institute for Global Area Studies. Professor Wahman's research specializes in elections, democracy, and representation, with a primary empirical focus on Africa. His work investigates the challenges faced by newly democratized countries in organizing free, fair, and credible elections. His interests also include understanding how electoral democracy translates into equitable and meaningful representation for citizens. He has published significant works, including the book 'Controlling Territory, Controlling Voters: Electoral Geography of African Campaign Violence' (Oxford University Press, 2023), alongside numerous articles in journals such as the American Political Science Review and Comparative Politics. Furthermore, Professor Wahman has considerable experience working with international development partners on projects aimed at strengthening African democracies. He combines practical and theoretical knowledge as a teacher and mentor at both undergraduate and graduate levels.

Research Interests