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Hi! I received a Ph.D. In Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley. Currently I am Research Fellow at the Institute for Advanced Study in Toulouse, France.

​I study political representation in the developing world. Past and current work includes the analysis of parties and party systems, electoral accountability, the role of brokers in mobilization, the subversion of public policies towards clientelistic exchanges, and the gender gap in politics. My research is largely data driven, employing transparent, yet rigorous empirical methods. 

My dissertation conceptualizes a new type of clientelistic party, which despite being widespread has not been properly theorized. I refer to it as modular.  Modular parties do not own, but “hire’’ or outsource the networks of clients they use. Well before the advent of elections, community chiefs, community organization leaders, ethnic leaders, landowners, local politicians, and other types of local notables already have established considerable political capital through their private and relatively small clienteles. Instead of ignoring or dismantling these networks, politicians created modular parties to connect them. 

​Before joining the program, I received an MS in Economics from the School of Economics of São Paulo - Fundação Getúlio Vargas, and before that a BA in Economics from the University of São Paulo. I also hold an MA in Political Science from UC Berkeley.

Thanks for visiting!

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lucas.novaes[at]iast.fr
departamental website