Fieldwork has been central to my research, giving me direct insight into how states distribute public goods, how authority is exercised or withheld, and how citizens respond when basic needs are unmet. I focus on urgent problems that shape daily life—security, inequality, and the consequences of state neglect—using my academic work to show how these dynamics matter both in Latin America and in comparative perspectives.
In my dissertation, I draw on in-depth fieldwork in Guatemala, working with indigenous communities, government officials, police officers, and residents in areas that the state has long neglected despite high levels of crime. This research not only documents how uneven security provision affects communities but has also produced an original dataset on police infrastructure and other essential public goods in post–civil war Guatemala. Built through interviews and government records, the dataset highlights stark subnational inequalities and provides a foundation for analyzing how states fail or choose not to extend protection—patterns with implications well beyond Latin America.
Fieldwork has been a cornerstone of my training, enabling me to build lasting relationships with local scholars, government officials, and citizens. These connections enrich my research and have opened the door to collaborative projects aimed at addressing the challenges communities face when the state withholds core resources.
In my dissertation, I draw on in-depth fieldwork in Guatemala, working with indigenous communities, government officials, police officers, and residents in areas that the state has long neglected despite high levels of crime. This research not only documents how uneven security provision affects communities but has also produced an original dataset on police infrastructure and other essential public goods in post–civil war Guatemala. Built through interviews and government records, the dataset highlights stark subnational inequalities and provides a foundation for analyzing how states fail or choose not to extend protection—patterns with implications well beyond Latin America.
Fieldwork has been a cornerstone of my training, enabling me to build lasting relationships with local scholars, government officials, and citizens. These connections enrich my research and have opened the door to collaborative projects aimed at addressing the challenges communities face when the state withholds core resources.
