Bio
I am an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Stanford University and the faculty director of the Inclusive Democracy and Development Lab. I received a Ph.D. in Government at Harvard University in 2017 and a B.A. in Political Science and Economics from Texas A&M University in 2011.
My research lies at the intersections of comparative political economy, development, and gender, with a focus in South Asia. How and when are democracies inclusive of the citizens they serve? I endeavor to answer this question by building a body of research that reveals the multiplicity of challenges – and opportunities – to create inclusive democratic institutions. My work also reveals the stakes of this endeavor by demonstrating how and when inclusive politics breeds inclusive development. The primary focus of my research is on understanding how and when women gain access to politics, both as citizens and representatives, in South Asia. I combine rigorous quantitative methodologies – experimental methods, causal inference, and survey research – with in-depth qualitative fieldwork and theoretical development to identify empirical relationships as well as underlying causal mechanisms.
Contact
Stanford University
Encina Hall West, Room 311
soledadp@stanford.edu