I am a professor in the Department of Politics at Princeton University, where I conduct research and teach in the field of comparative politics.

My work is generally concerned with describing and explaining varied patterns of governance and human development, and with the causes and consequences of identity (racial, ethnic, nationalist) politics. While I have focused on the politics and development of Southern Africa, I routinely employ comparative analyses with developing countries in other parts of Africa, Latin America and Asia, and my current research is leading me to East Africa. I also write and teach on political methodology, including concept analysis and measurement, and strategies for multi-method causal inference.

THIS BLOG is not a venue for serious scholarship.  (Information about my teaching and research are available on my home page.) Rather, this is my attempt to offer periodic musings on topics of interest, largely generated by contemporary developments in Africa.