I am a PhD student in Political Science at the University of California, Merced. I study the Political Economy of Development in Democratizing States, with a regional focus on Africa.  My research focuses on how political institutions shape distributive politics. I am also interested in how the public interact with political institutions and organizations. 

My dissertation focuses on how  bureaucratic embeddedness (bureaucrat ties and connections to groups in society) affects distributive politics. My theory suggests that when bureaucracies have a low level of embeddeness to a group, they are unlikely to be held accountable by politicians representing the group or the members of the groups themselves. This I argue leads to inequality in the provision of public goods.  I study this in the context of the Nigerian Federal Civil Service, using historical and contemporary data on bureaucrat composition. 

Previously, I earned  an M.A and a B.A in Economics both from the University of Akron. I am Nigerian, and a proud supporter of the Super Eagles and Falcons!


Contact:
ajohnson-kanu@ucmerced.edu

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