Michael Albertus
@mikealbertus.bsky.social
Professor @UChicago Political Science | Democracy, dictatorship, conflict, property, the Americas | Author of Land Power
Pinned
Very excited to announce the release of my new book today, Land Power! Based on 15 years of work, it tells the story of how land shapes societies, from racial hierarchy to inequality, development, gender & the environment.
In hardcover/eBook/audiobook. More in 🧵
In hardcover/eBook/audiobook. More in 🧵
With the American military buildup in #Venezuela, what is the endgame? Plotting out the most likely scenarios in my latest post.
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/plotting-o...
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/plotting-o...
Plotting out the Endgame in Venezuela
Gauging likely scenarios amid the building American threats to Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro
michaelalbertus.substack.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:12 PM
With the American military buildup in #Venezuela, what is the endgame? Plotting out the most likely scenarios in my latest post.
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/plotting-o...
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/plotting-o...
Wealthy democracies with a history of fair elections never fail–or do they? My interview w/ @newyorkuniversity.bsky.social Professor Adam Przeworski on a career's worth of insight on what makes democracy thrive, and why he's so puzzled now about the US
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/wealthy-de...
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/wealthy-de...
Wealthy Democracies With a History of Fair Elections Never Fail – Or Do They?
My interview with NYU Politics Professor and leading scholar Adam Przeworski on a career's worth of insight on what makes democracy thrive or fail
michaelalbertus.substack.com
November 20, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Wealthy democracies with a history of fair elections never fail–or do they? My interview w/ @newyorkuniversity.bsky.social Professor Adam Przeworski on a career's worth of insight on what makes democracy thrive, and why he's so puzzled now about the US
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/wealthy-de...
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/wealthy-de...
The Maduro regime is not in a position to design, or even participate in, an institutional framework that could guide Venezuela back to democracy. With no golden parachute in sight, he's digging in. My piece @foreignpolicy.com on off-ramps from dictatorship
foreignpolicy.com/2025/11/19/m...
foreignpolicy.com/2025/11/19/m...
Maduro Needs a Golden Parachute
The only way to avoid war in Venezuela may be if its leader doesn’t fear leaving office.
foreignpolicy.com
November 19, 2025 at 10:12 PM
The Maduro regime is not in a position to design, or even participate in, an institutional framework that could guide Venezuela back to democracy. With no golden parachute in sight, he's digging in. My piece @foreignpolicy.com on off-ramps from dictatorship
foreignpolicy.com/2025/11/19/m...
foreignpolicy.com/2025/11/19/m...
With the government shutdown over, what has shifted politically? Not much. Although it probably emboldened Republicans in playing hardball with Democrats. My latest post 👇
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/the-govern...
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/the-govern...
The Government Shutdown Ends With a Whimper
Little came of it, except to embolden Republicans in playing hardball with Democrats
michaelalbertus.substack.com
November 13, 2025 at 11:10 PM
With the government shutdown over, what has shifted politically? Not much. Although it probably emboldened Republicans in playing hardball with Democrats. My latest post 👇
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/the-govern...
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/the-govern...
The far right is poised to come out on top in #Chile's watershed election this weekend. Here's why, and what it means for the region. My piece in @foreignpolicy.com
foreignpolicy.com/2025/11/12/c...
foreignpolicy.com/2025/11/12/c...
Chile Is Making an Unprecedented Right Turn
It’s Latin America’s traditional beacon of stability—and its next country to vote for the far right.
foreignpolicy.com
November 13, 2025 at 2:05 PM
The far right is poised to come out on top in #Chile's watershed election this weekend. Here's why, and what it means for the region. My piece in @foreignpolicy.com
foreignpolicy.com/2025/11/12/c...
foreignpolicy.com/2025/11/12/c...
As the US builds military forces on Venezuela's coast to pressure Maduro, it should heed this lesson: toppling a dictatorship is easier than building a functional democracy to take its place. My piece in today's @theatlantic.com
www.theatlantic.com/internationa...
www.theatlantic.com/internationa...
What Democracy in Venezuela Would Require
Toppling a dictatorship is easier than building a functional state to take its place.
www.theatlantic.com
November 12, 2025 at 1:53 PM
As the US builds military forces on Venezuela's coast to pressure Maduro, it should heed this lesson: toppling a dictatorship is easier than building a functional democracy to take its place. My piece in today's @theatlantic.com
www.theatlantic.com/internationa...
www.theatlantic.com/internationa...
Immigration and crime are roiling the upcoming presidential election in #Chile much as they did in the US. It's poised to join the rightward shift in Latin America.
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/immigratio...
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/immigratio...
Immigration, Crime, and the Lurch Right
A dispatch from Chile prior to elections, with eerie parallels to the US
michaelalbertus.substack.com
November 6, 2025 at 11:36 PM
Immigration and crime are roiling the upcoming presidential election in #Chile much as they did in the US. It's poised to join the rightward shift in Latin America.
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/immigratio...
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/immigratio...
My interview with @utaustin.bsky.social professor Raul Madrid on how democracy arose in South America, and what that tells us about democracy today.
@raullorcamadrid.bsky.social @universitypress.cambridge.org
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/the-birth-...
@raullorcamadrid.bsky.social @universitypress.cambridge.org
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/the-birth-...
The Birth of Democracy in South America
My interview with University of Texas Professor Raúl Madrid on his new book on the origins of democracy
michaelalbertus.substack.com
October 30, 2025 at 6:47 PM
My interview with @utaustin.bsky.social professor Raul Madrid on how democracy arose in South America, and what that tells us about democracy today.
@raullorcamadrid.bsky.social @universitypress.cambridge.org
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/the-birth-...
@raullorcamadrid.bsky.social @universitypress.cambridge.org
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/the-birth-...
My interview with @umich.edu professor Dan Slater on the current landscape of democracy and authoritarianism in the US & abroad. "Short-term extremely pessimistic and long-term at least somewhat optimistic"; watch out for weak authoritarians; fire up the non-cooperation & more
@dnsltr.bsky.social
@dnsltr.bsky.social
Amid a Global Democratic Recession, There Are Reasons for Hope
My interview with University of Michigan Professor Dan Slater on the current landscape of democracy and authoritarianism
michaelalbertus.substack.com
October 23, 2025 at 7:49 PM
My interview with @umich.edu professor Dan Slater on the current landscape of democracy and authoritarianism in the US & abroad. "Short-term extremely pessimistic and long-term at least somewhat optimistic"; watch out for weak authoritarians; fire up the non-cooperation & more
@dnsltr.bsky.social
@dnsltr.bsky.social
Happy to have shared my thoughts in this piece in @chicagotribune.com on Trump's escalating attacks on democracy, and his targeting of Chicago
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/19/t...
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/19/t...
‘Devil’s ideology’: President Donald Trump’s darkening rhetoric escalates attacks and often targets Illinois
President Donald Trump’s language to discredit opponents has included Illinois and the Chicago area where protesters have been compared to domestic terrorists and the president has called for…
www.chicagotribune.com
October 20, 2025 at 10:33 PM
Happy to have shared my thoughts in this piece in @chicagotribune.com on Trump's escalating attacks on democracy, and his targeting of Chicago
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/19/t...
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/19/t...
My interview with Democratic Erosion Consortium Directors @robertblair.bsky.social, Laura Paler, Jessica Gottlieb, and Julie Anne Weaver on their *new global dataset* on democracy! And on how to measure and understand democracy today, in the US & abroad
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/q-and-a-wi...
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/q-and-a-wi...
Q&A with Directors of the Democratic Erosion Consortium
How their work helps us understand democracy & democratic erosion in the US and globally
michaelalbertus.substack.com
October 16, 2025 at 2:02 PM
My interview with Democratic Erosion Consortium Directors @robertblair.bsky.social, Laura Paler, Jessica Gottlieb, and Julie Anne Weaver on their *new global dataset* on democracy! And on how to measure and understand democracy today, in the US & abroad
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/q-and-a-wi...
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/q-and-a-wi...
A federal judge is currently hearing whether #Trump can turn #Chicago into the latest military "training ground". On the back of last week's ICE raid in South Shore, it's a combustible (and unnecessary) situation. And it hits close to home
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/chicago-is...
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/chicago-is...
Chicago is Now a Military "Training Ground"
National Guard troops are deploying to the city to support ICE agents, creating a combustible situation
michaelalbertus.substack.com
October 9, 2025 at 9:32 PM
A federal judge is currently hearing whether #Trump can turn #Chicago into the latest military "training ground". On the back of last week's ICE raid in South Shore, it's a combustible (and unnecessary) situation. And it hits close to home
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/chicago-is...
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/chicago-is...
The Trump administration is using the government shutdown as an opportunity to double down on its attacks on political enemies. That raises risks for American democracy. More here on where this could go 👇
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/dangers-of...
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/dangers-of...
The Government Shutdown Raises Risks for American Democracy
The Trump administration is poised to use the shutdown as an opportunity to double down on its attacks on political enemies
michaelalbertus.substack.com
October 2, 2025 at 11:28 PM
The Trump administration is using the government shutdown as an opportunity to double down on its attacks on political enemies. That raises risks for American democracy. More here on where this could go 👇
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/dangers-of...
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/dangers-of...
My interview with @johnshopkinssph.bsky.social Dean Will Howell and @stanforduniversity.bsky.social Prof. Terry Moe, leading experts on the American presidency, on their important new book The Rise of the Strongman Presidency @princetonupress.bsky.social
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/the-rise-o...
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/the-rise-o...
The Rise of the Strongman Presidency
My interview with Johns Hopkins Professor William Howell and Stanford Professor Terry Moe on their new book on the transformation of presidential power
michaelalbertus.substack.com
September 25, 2025 at 9:31 PM
My interview with @johnshopkinssph.bsky.social Dean Will Howell and @stanforduniversity.bsky.social Prof. Terry Moe, leading experts on the American presidency, on their important new book The Rise of the Strongman Presidency @princetonupress.bsky.social
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/the-rise-o...
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/the-rise-o...
The temperature is rising in American politics. Charlie Kirk's assassination is part of a growing wave of political violence that threatens the stability of our democracy and is very unusual among advanced democracies.
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/the-rising...
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/the-rising...
The Rising Tide of Political Violence
Charlie Kirk's assassination is part of a disturbing decade-old trend in the US that sets it apart from other advanced democracies
michaelalbertus.substack.com
September 19, 2025 at 6:31 PM
The temperature is rising in American politics. Charlie Kirk's assassination is part of a growing wave of political violence that threatens the stability of our democracy and is very unusual among advanced democracies.
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/the-rising...
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/the-rising...
My interview with social change experts and philosophy professors @michaelbrownstein.bsky.social, Dan Kelly, and Alex Madva on their fantastic new book Somebody Should Do Something. A must read if you’re thinking about big social problems, how they change, and what you can do @mitpress.bsky.social
September 11, 2025 at 1:57 PM
My interview with social change experts and philosophy professors @michaelbrownstein.bsky.social, Dan Kelly, and Alex Madva on their fantastic new book Somebody Should Do Something. A must read if you’re thinking about big social problems, how they change, and what you can do @mitpress.bsky.social
The renaming of the Department of Defense as the Department of War signals a deeper geopolitical shift that departs from the postwar global order
www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...
www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...
The Coming Age of Territorial Expansion
Climate change will fuel contests—and maybe wars—for land and resources.
www.foreignaffairs.com
September 5, 2025 at 10:53 PM
The renaming of the Department of Defense as the Department of War signals a deeper geopolitical shift that departs from the postwar global order
www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...
www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...
#Trump's airstrike on a boat from #Venezuela signals an increasingly reliance on "tough on crime" political branding and advances in the international arena the same sense of unilateral authority that he has been pursuing domestically 👇
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/the-drug-w...
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/the-drug-w...
The Drug War Moves to…Venezuela?
The Trump administration’s brazen airstrike on a suspected drug-smuggling boat from Venezuela signals an increasing reliance on "tough on crime" political branding
michaelalbertus.substack.com
September 5, 2025 at 10:47 PM
#Trump's airstrike on a boat from #Venezuela signals an increasingly reliance on "tough on crime" political branding and advances in the international arena the same sense of unilateral authority that he has been pursuing domestically 👇
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/the-drug-w...
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/the-drug-w...
Just published! 🎉 My paper "Indigenous Community Recognition and Identity: Evidence from Peru" @cpsjournal.bsky.social. It shows how & why indigenous recognition impacts self-identification for those who experience it – and for later generations that don't.
journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1...
journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1...
Indigenous Community Recognition and Identity: Evidence from Peru - Michael Albertus, 2025
Collective recognition of indigenous claims to land and traditional authority has advanced rapidly in recent decades in many countries. How do these processes i...
journals.sagepub.com
August 29, 2025 at 6:25 PM
Just published! 🎉 My paper "Indigenous Community Recognition and Identity: Evidence from Peru" @cpsjournal.bsky.social. It shows how & why indigenous recognition impacts self-identification for those who experience it – and for later generations that don't.
journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1...
journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1...
#Trump's politicized firing of Federal Reserve Gov. Lisa Cook threatens its independence and could destabilize the American economy. It also marks a major departure among advanced democracies of central bank independence, which has tamed inflation and unemployment 👇
August 29, 2025 at 3:17 PM
#Trump's politicized firing of Federal Reserve Gov. Lisa Cook threatens its independence and could destabilize the American economy. It also marks a major departure among advanced democracies of central bank independence, which has tamed inflation and unemployment 👇
Democracy is under assault in the US & abroad by elected leaders entrusted to preserve it. My interview with UChicago Professor Susan Stokes, a leading expert on democracy, tells why, based on her new book The Backsliders (@princetonupress.bsky.social)
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/the-backsl...
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/the-backsl...
The Backsliders
My interview with University of Chicago Professor Susan Stokes on her new book on democratic erosion around the globe
michaelalbertus.substack.com
August 22, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Democracy is under assault in the US & abroad by elected leaders entrusted to preserve it. My interview with UChicago Professor Susan Stokes, a leading expert on democracy, tells why, based on her new book The Backsliders (@princetonupress.bsky.social)
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/the-backsl...
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/the-backsl...
My interview with Harvard legal scholar and elections expert @profnickstephan.bsky.social on Texas's redistricting. We cover the legal landscape of gerrymandering, how Texas's move impacts other state plans to redistrict, and what it means for democracy
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/q-and-a-wi...
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/q-and-a-wi...
Q&A With Election Law Expert Nick Stephanopoulos on Texas Republicans' Extreme Partisan Gerrymander
Why the rare move threatens local representation and the partisan balance in the US House – and could spark widespread partisan redistricting
michaelalbertus.substack.com
August 21, 2025 at 4:47 PM
My interview with Harvard legal scholar and elections expert @profnickstephan.bsky.social on Texas's redistricting. We cover the legal landscape of gerrymandering, how Texas's move impacts other state plans to redistrict, and what it means for democracy
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/q-and-a-wi...
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/q-and-a-wi...
Trump's proposal to redefine "persons" in the #census – by excluding immigrants without legal status – aims at giving Republicans a durable political advantage. A deep dive on it, with a key map that helps understand the dynamics, here 👇
August 13, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Trump's proposal to redefine "persons" in the #census – by excluding immigrants without legal status – aims at giving Republicans a durable political advantage. A deep dive on it, with a key map that helps understand the dynamics, here 👇
What does it mean to look at power through the lens of land stewardship and ownership? My interview on Green Dreamer with @greendreamerkamea.bsky.social. We talk capitalism, culture, ecology, politics, and more. Based on my new book, Land Power
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/m...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/m...
Mike Albertus: Reshuffling land, reconfiguring power
Podcast Episode · Green Dreamer: Seeding change towards collective healing, sustainability, regeneration · 08/08/2025 · 54m
podcasts.apple.com
August 12, 2025 at 3:20 PM
What does it mean to look at power through the lens of land stewardship and ownership? My interview on Green Dreamer with @greendreamerkamea.bsky.social. We talk capitalism, culture, ecology, politics, and more. Based on my new book, Land Power
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/m...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/m...
My interview with election law expert
@profnickstephan.bsky.social on #Texas Republicans' extreme partisan #Gerrymandering. Why the rare move threatens representation and the balance in the US House – and could spark widespread partisan redistricting. 👇
@profnickstephan.bsky.social on #Texas Republicans' extreme partisan #Gerrymandering. Why the rare move threatens representation and the balance in the US House – and could spark widespread partisan redistricting. 👇
August 6, 2025 at 6:07 PM
My interview with election law expert
@profnickstephan.bsky.social on #Texas Republicans' extreme partisan #Gerrymandering. Why the rare move threatens representation and the balance in the US House – and could spark widespread partisan redistricting. 👇
@profnickstephan.bsky.social on #Texas Republicans' extreme partisan #Gerrymandering. Why the rare move threatens representation and the balance in the US House – and could spark widespread partisan redistricting. 👇