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Thad Dunning is the Robson Professor of Political Science at the University of California, Berkeley, where he also directs the Center for Politics and Development. He teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in comparative politics, political economy, and methodology. His substantive research focuses on Latin America, Africa, and India, particularly in the areas of ethnic voting and the political representation of minority groups. Dunning's work has explored the role of intermediaries in distributing benefits within clientelist systems and the consequences of natural resource wealth on democracy. His methodological writings emphasize causal inference, statistical analysis, and the integration of quantitative and qualitative methods. Dunning is the author of several award-winning books, including 'Crude Democracy: Natural Resource Wealth and Political Regimes' and 'Natural Experiments in the Social Sciences: A Design-Based Approach.' His articles have been published in leading journals such as the American Political Science Review and Comparative Political Studies.
University of California, Berkeley • Berkeley, CA
Teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in comparative politics, political economy, and methodology.
The Mathematics Subject GRE is required for the Fall 2026 admissions cycle. General GRE is optional.