Mai Truong
@maitruong0526.bsky.social
37 followers 34 following 13 posts
Assistant Professor of Political Science at Marquette University
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Reposted by Mai Truong
cpsjournal.bsky.social
(2) "The “Ironic Impact” of Pro-Democracy Activists: How Pro-Democratic Frames Undermine Support for Local Policy-Based Protests in Authoritarian Regimes" by Mai Truong @maitruong0526.bsky.social

journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
maitruong0526.bsky.social
I have many people to thank for their support along the way, especially my PhD Advisor @paulschuler.bsky.social
maitruong0526.bsky.social
Even when propaganda fails to discredit protesters, it can still effectively serve as a warning by credibly signaling the regime’s strength and willingness to act.
maitruong0526.bsky.social
In this piece, we argue — and provide evidence — that in authoritarian regimes, anti-protest propaganda deters support for protests primarily by shaping citizens' beliefs about the government's intention and capacity to punish, rather than by undermining perceptions of protesters’ legitimacy.
maitruong0526.bsky.social
muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/articl...

We started this project nearly five years ago, when we were both graduate students — I had just begun my third year of the PhD program at the University of Arizona. It's incredibly rewarding to see how far this work has come!
Project MUSE - A Warning from Above: How Authoritarian Anti-Protest Propaganda Works
muse.jhu.edu
Reposted by Mai Truong
pspolisci.bsky.social
Now on FirstView!

" …digital pilot testing helps researchers acclimate to their roles as data collectors—whether as interviewers, focus group facilitators, or experimenters—and build confidence, maximizing the effectiveness of their limited field time."

doi.org/10.1017/S104...
maitruong0526.bsky.social
✅ Prepare more effectively before on-site research,
✅ Adapt the data collection process flexibly during fieldwork
✅ Sustain data collection and local networks after leaving.

I hope this article sparks discussion on normalizing this integration and leveraging the strengths of both methodologies.
maitruong0526.bsky.social
This piece is especially close to my heart, as it stems from my own experiences navigating research constraints while balancing academic and personal responsibilities.
maitruong0526.bsky.social
The prevailing view sees it as a last resort when in-person access is restricted. Drawing from my recent fieldwork in Vietnam and Malaysia, I argue instead for an integrative approach—one that treats digital and on-site fieldwork as complementary rather than competing methods.
maitruong0526.bsky.social
I am excited to share a new op-ed in The Diplomat about Vietnam's bureaucratic reform. In this article, my co-author, Duong Pham, and I discuss the rationales behind the reforms and the implementation challenges.

Enjoy reading!

thediplomat.com/2025/01/viet...
Vietnam’s Bureaucratic ‘Revolution’: Rationales and Challenges
Communist Party chief To Lam’s unprecedented institutional streamlining is designed to bolster Vietnam’s competitiveness – but it could come at a cost.
thediplomat.com
Reposted by Mai Truong
paulschuler.bsky.social
If you are a Ph.D student studying SE Asia developing your prospectus, please consider this pre dissertation grant for fieldwork. The grant is up to $5000 and sponsored by the Southeast Asia Research Group (SEAREG). Feel free to contact me with any questions.

dcid.sanford.duke.edu/seareg-pre-d...
SEAREG Pre-Dissertation Fellowship | Duke Center for International Development
The Fellowship assists social science Ph.D. students engaged in exploratory research who must travel to Southeast Asia in order to obtain the advanced contextual knowledg
dcid.sanford.duke.edu
Reposted by Mai Truong
iamjenmcg.bsky.social
Highly recommend

I’m doing a big rethink of my relationship w social media

We shall see where that lands
maitruong0526.bsky.social
Addressing reviewers' comments for an R&R can be time-consuming and, let’s be honest, a bit intimidating. But seeing how much better my paper has become makes it all worth it. Such a satisfying feeling!!
maitruong0526.bsky.social
This article highlights a dilemma for pro-democracy groups: joining policy-based movements may boost support, but sustaining democratic aims after the protest becomes challenging.
maitruong0526.bsky.social
I then analyze public support for coalitions between these two groups. Using a survey experiment in Vietnam, I find that public support for such alliances typically defaults to the baseline level of support for the policy protest, as people often perceive the policy component as dominant.
maitruong0526.bsky.social
I am excited to share my new article in Government and Opposition!

In this article, I first categorize protests under authoritarianism as either policy- or democracy-focused, based on (1) their primary goals or demands and (2) the specific solutions protesters seek to achieve these goals.
Who Dominates the Coalition? Frame Salience and Public Support for Policy–Democracy Protest Coalitions under Authoritarian Rule | Government and Opposition | Cambridge Core
Who Dominates the Coalition? Frame Salience and Public Support for Policy–Democracy Protest Coalitions under Authoritarian Rule
www.cambridge.org
Reposted by Mai Truong
paulschuler.bsky.social
Tune in virtually or in-person on Thursday (Oct. 24 6pm PST) for our University of Arizona expert forecast for the 2024 Election results in Arizona. We have three great experts Drs. Samara Klar, Chris Weber, and Lisa Sanchez reviewing fresh polling data from AZ.

See below for registration details.