Erica Frantz
Associate Professor of Political Science, Michigan State University
Chapter Member: Michigan SSN
Areas of Expertise:
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About Erica
Frantz studies authoritarian politics; with a focus on democratization; conflict; and development. She is also interested in the security and policy implications of autocratic rule. Frantz has published four books on dictatorships and development; as well as a number of journal articles and op-ed pieces. Prior to joining academia; she worked as a political analyst for a government contractor in the DC area.
Contributions
How Today's Populism Dismantles Democracy Worldwide
Basic Facts Brief,
In the News
Opinion: "Firing Civil Servants and Dismantling Government Departments is How Aspiring Strongmen Consolidate Personal Power – Lessons from Around the Globe," Erica Frantz (with ), The Conversation, February 19, 2025.
Opinion: "Trump is Already Hurting Democracy. Now the GOP is Making it Worse.," Erica Frantz, The Washington Post, November 16, 2018.
Research discussed by , in "Turkey’s Crisis Exposes the Perils of Strongman Rule," The New York Times, August 14, 2018.
Opinion: "Did Xi Jinping Just Become China’s Strongman? Not Quite," Erica Frantz (with ), The Washington Post, March 13, 2018.
Quoted by Doug Saunders in "Why Xi Jinping’s Cult of Personality is More Dangerous than it Looks," The Globe and Mail, March 2, 2018.
Quoted by Max Fisher in "Xi Sets China on a Collision Course with History," New York Times, February 28, 2018.
Quoted by in "How Xi Jinping's 'Lifetime Presidency' Could Change China - For Better or Worse," MENAFN, February 27, 2018.
Opinion: "What Went Wrong for Mugabe? Most Aging Dictators Don’t Get Toppled by Coups.," Erica Frantz (with ), The Washington Post, November 22, 2017.
Opinion: "What Happens When a Strongman Dictator Creates His Own Political Party?," Erica Frantz, Democratic Audit, October 24, 2017.
Opinion: "How Democracies Fall Apart: Why Populism is a Pathway to Autocracy," Erica Frantz (with ), Foreign Affairs, December 5, 2016.
Opinion: "When Ailing Dictators Die in Office, What Happens Next?," Erica Frantz (with ), The Washington Post, December 1, 2016.
Opinion: "The New Dictators: Why Personalism Rules," Erica Frantz (with ), Foreign Affairs, September 26, 2016.
Opinion: "Are Coups Good for Democracy?," Erica Frantz (with ), The Washington Post, February 22, 2016.
Opinion: "How Democratic Institutions are Making Dictatorships More Durable," Erica Frantz (with ), The Washington Post, March 19, 2015.
Opinion: "Burkina Faso and the Growing Vulnerability of Autocrats to Revolt," Erica Frantz, The Washington Post, November 12, 2014.
Opinion: "How Oil Helps Dictatorships Survive," Erica Frantz (with ), The Washington Post, June 17, 2014.
Opinion: "Autocrats Now More Vulnerable to Being Ousted by Revolt," Erica Frantz (with ), The Washington Post, April 4, 2014.