Curriculum Vitae, January 2024

Assistant Professor
Carnegie Mellon Institute for Strategy and Technology
Carnegie Mellon University
5000 Forbes Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15213

Phone: 412-482-8636
Email: iarana@andrew.cmu.edu
Website: www.ignacioarana.org

Education

Ph.D., Political Science, University of Pittsburgh
Latin American Studies Certificate, University of Pittsburgh
ICPSR quantitative methods summer program, University of Michigan
M.A., Political Science, University of Chile
B.A., Journalism and Mass Communication, Pontifical Catholic University of Chile

2015
2013
2011
2007
2002

Research

Interests

Heads of Government, Political Psychology, Comparative Political Institutions, Latin America.

Books

Presidential Personalities and Constitutional Power Grabs in Latin America, 1945-2021. Completed.

Articles in Peer-Reviewed Journals

[16] 2023. “Dominant Personality and Politically Inexperienced Presidents Challenge Term  Limits” Journal of Politics 85 (4), p.1401-1415.  

[15] 2023. “The Inner Circle of Presidents” Estudios Internacionales 55 (206).  

[14] 2022. “When Do First Ladies Run for Office? Lessons from Latin America” (with Carolina  Guerrero) Latin American Politics and Society 64(3), 93-116. 

[13] 2022. “The ‘Big Five’ Personality Traits of Presidents and the Relaxation of Term Limits in  Latin America” Democratization 29(1), 113-132. 

[12] 2022. “The Quest for Uncontested Power: Presidents’ Personalities and Democratic Erosion  in Latin America, 1945-2012” Political Psychology 43(3), 511-528. 

[11] 2021. “Judicial Reshuffles and Women Justices in Latin America” (with Aníbal Pérez-Liñán  and Melanie Hughes). American Journal of Political Science, 65(2), 373-388. It won the Óscar Godoy Prize for the best article published between 2020 and 2023 by a  Chilean Political Science Association member. 

[10] 2021. “The Personalities of Presidents as Independent Variables” Political Psychology, 42(4),  695-712. 

[9] 2019. “First Ladies as Members of the Political Elite” [In Spanish] (with Carolina Guerrero). América Latina Hoy 81: 31-49. 

[8] 2017. “Strategic Retirement in Comparative Perspective: Supreme Court Justices in  Presidential Regimes” (with Aníbal Pérez-Liñán). Journal of Law and Courts 5(2): 173-197.  

[7] 2017. “Chile 2016: The Nadir of Democratic Legitimacy?” [In Spanish] Revista de Ciencia  Política, 37(2): 305-334. 

[6] 2016. “What Drives Evo’s Attempts to Remain in Power? A Psychological Explanation” Bolivian Studies Journal, 22: 191-219.  

[5] 2016. “How to Assess the Members of the Political Elite? A Proposal Based on Presidents of  the Americas” [In Spanish] Politica, 54(1): 219-254.  

[4] 2016. “Aftershocks of Pinochet’s Constitution: the Chilean Post-Earthquake Reconstruction” Latin American Perspectives, 44(4): 62-80. 

[3] 2015. “Budgetary Negotiations: How the Chilean Congress Overcomes its Constitutional  Limits” Journal of Legislative Studies, 21(2): 213-231.  

[2] 2013. “Informal Institutions and Horizontal Accountability: Protocols in the Chilean Budgetary  Process” Latin American Politics and Society, 55(4): 74-94.  

[1] 2012. “Who whispers to the president? Advisors versus ministers in Latin America” [In  Spanish] Politica 50(2): 29-57. 

Book Chapters

[4] 2023. “Chavismo in Venezuela.” Forthcoming in Luca Anceschi, Alexander Baturo, and  Francesco Cavatorta, eds., Personalism and Personalist Regimes. Oxford University Press. 

[3] 2020. “Executive-Legislative Relations: When do Legislators trust the President?” (with  Carolina Guerrero). In Manuel Alcántara, Mercedes García Montero, and Cristina Rivas Pérez,  eds., Politics and Political Elites in Latin America. Springer.  

[2] 2018. “Comparative Political Elites” In Ali Farazmand and Mauricio Olavarría-Gambi, eds.,  The Global Encyclopedia of Public Administration, Public Policy, and Governance. Switzerland: Springer International Publishing. 

[1] 2018. “The Electoral Emergence of Latin American First Ladies” [In Spanish] (with Carolina  Guerrero). In L. M. Leibe and J. Suárez-Cao, eds., La Política Siempre ha sido Cosa de Mujeres:  Elecciones y Protagonistas en Chile y la Región. FLACSO-Chile.

Other Journal Articles

[4] 2022. “The Latinized Dragon: China and Latin America in the Twenty-First Century” (with  Hengyi Yang). Latin American Research Review 57(4), 972-982. 

[3] 2019. “To Impeach or Not to Impeach: Lessons from Latin America” Georgetown Journal of  International Affairs.  

[2] 2018. “Elecciones en Chile 2017: Congreso Remozado, Presidente Repetido” Iberoamericana  18(69): 231-238.  

[1] November 2016. “Democracia y matrimonios presidenciales: poca competencia y rotación en  la élite política.” Nueva Sociedad 266.  

Work Under Review and in Progress

Leaders and Political Change Across Regimes. Book with Alexander Baturo.  “Presidential Personalities and Presidential Approval in the Americas.” Article with Ryan Carlin.  “The Facial Structure of World Leaders and Autocratization.” With Alexander Baturo.  “Why Former Latin American Presidents Never Let Go: Personality, Institutions, and Context” “Women Leaders and Covid-19.”  

“The Effect Size of Compulsory Voting.” With Amor Chambers. 

[1] November 2016. “Democracia y matrimonios presidenciales: poca competencia y rotación en  la élite política.” Nueva Sociedad 266.  

Book

Reviews

From Enron to Evo, by Derrick Hindery. In Bolivian Studies Journal 20: 229-232.  

2012. Indelible Inequalities in Latin America: Insights from History, Politics, and Culture, by Paul  Gootenberg and Luis Reygadas, eds. The Latin Americanist, 56(2): 191-192.

Media Publications

September 29, 2023. “Aumentan las ex primeras damas al Poder Ejecutivo en América Latina” International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA). With Carolina Guerrero.  

August 21, 2023. “Las elecciones de Guatemala podrían dar la presidencia a otra ex primera  dama” Latinoamerica21.com. 

September 18, 2022. “Bukele, reelección y caudillismo” Latinoamerica21.com. Republished in  Folha de Sao Paulo (Brazilian newspaper), El Universal (Mexico), Clarín (main Argentinian 

newspaper), El Espectador (Colombian Newspaper), El Faro (Salvadoran online newspaper), and  Confidencial (Nicaraguan newspaper).  

January 12, 2022. “El proceso presupuestario en la nueva Constitución” La Tercera (Chilean  newspaper). With Christopher Martínez. 

December 10, 2021. “President of Honduras is a former first lady. Expect to see more former first  ladies running for office” The Washington Post.  

November 25, 2021. “¿Por qué Kast ganó a Boric en las 20 comunas más pobres?” Latinoamerica21.com. Republished in Clarín (main Argentinian newspaper), Folha de Sao Paulo (Brazilian newspaper), Tal Cual (Venezuelan newspaper), and Revista Dat0s (Bolivian magazine). 

November 4, 2021. “El presidencialismo no muere” El Mercurio Online (Chilean newspaper).  

September 12, 2021. “Bukele por siempre y el humo del bitcoinLatinoamerica21.com. Republished in El Universo (Ecuadorean newspaper) and El Espectador (Colombian Newspaper). 

July 14, 2021. “Chile, presidencialismo sin fin” Agenda Pública (El País, Spanish newspaper). 

June 15, 2021. “Bukele y su próximo asalto constitucional” Latinoamerica21.com. Republished in  El Mostrador (online Chilean news outlet) and Folha de Sao Paulo (Brazilian Newspaper). 

March 6, 2020. “La erosión de la democracia chilena y su potencial reversión” El Mercurio Online (Chilean newspaper). 

March 28, 2018. “The ‘personal’ versus the ‘institutional’ presidency: An artificial divide” Presidential Power blog (British blog).  

May 5, 2017. “5 lessons from former presidents on making good decisions” The Washington Post

February 26, 2016. “Does it matter who the president is? If so, how does it matter?” Presidential  Power blog (British blog).  

May 28, 2013. “La discusión constitucional en perspectiva comparada” La Tercera (Chilean  newspaper).  

Professional Experience

Carnegie Mellon Institute for Strategy and Technology, Carnegie Mellon University  Assistant Professor 2019- Postdoctoral Fellow 2017-2019 

Instituto de Ciencia Política, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile 2015-2017 Postdoctoral Researcher 

Center for Latin American Studies, University of Pittsburgh 2014-2017 Editor of Panoramas Scholarly Platform 

ABC newspaper, Spain. Feature Writer, International News 2008 

El Mercurio newspaper, Chile. 2002-2008 Feature Writer, International News (2002, 2004-2008), Business and Economic News (2003-2004) 

Original Databases

Presidential Database of the Americas: Biographical and psychometric database about the 342 presidents of the Western Hemisphere who governed from 1945-2021. Psychometric data is taken  from an online survey completed by hundreds of experts. Biographical and other data comes from  the expert survey and other sources.  

World Leaders Database Project: Completed in 2021, the first part of the WLDP has unique  biographical information about the more than 1,800 heads of government that have governed a  country around the world from 1970-2020. The second will contain psychometric data. 

Field Research

Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama July-August 2011 Chile July 2009, January 2012

Other Affiliations, Consultancy, and Media Visibility

Faculty at CMU’s Center for Informed Democracy & Social-Cybersecurity (IDeaS) 2021- Member of the Democratic Erosion Consortium 2021- Columnist for latinoamerica21.com 2021- Chile country expert for the Freedom House’s Freedom in the World report 2016- Electoral Observer, Egypt’s Presidential Election. Democracy International, Egypt 2014

Grants, Scholarships, and Awards

Óscar Godoy Prize for best article published in 2020-2023 2023  Chilean Political Science Association. Santiago, Chile.  

Provost’s Inclusive Teaching Fellowship Award. Carnegie Mellon University 2021-2022 LASA Annual Conference Travel Grant. Latin American Studies Association 2019  APSA Annual Meeting Travel Grant. American Political Science Association 2018  Best Graduate from Master in Political Science. University of Chile 2018  Multidisciplinary Research Project Award. Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María 2018 FONDECYT (Chilean government agency). Postdoctoral Award 2015-2017  Latin American Social and Public Policy Fellowship. CLAS, University of Pittsburgh 2013-2014 International Studies Fund. UCIS, University of Pittsburgh 2013 Richard Cottam Memorial Prize Fund. University of Pittsburgh 2012

Social Science Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship. University of Pittsburgh 2011-2012 Teaching Fellowship, University of Pittsburgh 2011, 2012-2013 David B. Houston Human Rights and Social Justice in Latin America Award 2010-2011 CLAS, University of Pittsburgh  

Graduate Student Researcher, University of Pittsburgh 2009-2010 Summer Research Fellowship, University of Pittsburgh Summer 2009 Arts & Sciences Fellowship, University of Pittsburgh 2008-2009 Balboa Program Scholarship. Fundación Diálogos (Madrid, Spain) February-August 2008  

Visitors Program, European Union (Brussels, Belgium) June 2007 Teaching

Experience

Carnegie Mellon University (CMU). 

Comparative Political Institutions (graduate) Fall 2016- Comparative Politics (undergraduate) Spring 2017- Latin American Politics (graduate and undergraduate) Spring 2020- Comparative Presidential Behavior (graduate and undergraduate) Fall 2019  

Qualitative Methods in Social Science Research (graduate mini) Fall 2020-2021 Thesis Proposal Tutorial (graduate mini) Fall 2020-2021 Geopolitical Challenges of a Changing Middle East (Qatar, undergraduate mini) Fall 2020 

Personalized mentorship/advising courses 

Ph.D. Dissertation Committee Member: 2 students Spring 2021- Master Thesis Advisor: 5 students Spring 2019- Undergraduate Research: 67 students Spring 2017- Humanities & Social Science Senior Honors Thesis I&II: 1 student Fall 2017-Spring 2018  Undergraduate Internship: 1 student Summer 2019 Graduate Internship: 1 student Summer 2021 

University of Pittsburgh  

Latin American Political Development Summer 2014 Teaching Assistant in Research Methods in Political Science Fall 2012  Latin American Politics Summer 2011 Teaching Assistant in Comparative Politics and International Organizations Fall 2010 

Professional Service

Neustadt Award Committee member, Presidents & Executive Politics APSA Section 2019 Grant Reviewer, Chile’s National Fund for Scientific and Technological Development (3)  

Article Reviewer: Democratization (1), Government and Opposition (1) Comparative Political  Studies (1), Studies in Comparative International Development (1), The Journal of Politics (2), Political Research Quarterly (5), Journal of Comparative Politics (6), Journal of Politics in Latin  America (3), Latin American Research Review (3), Latin American Politics and Society (8), Estudios Públicos (1), Bolivian Studies Journal (1), Revista de Ciencia Política (3), International 

Journal of Social Welfare (1), European Political Science (2), International Political Science  Review (2), Revista Pilquen (1), Política y Gobierno (1).  

Book reviewer: Oxford University Press (1), Routledge (1), Rowman & Littlefield (2)  Conference Chair: APSA (2018), LASA (2015), MPSA (2014, 2018), LASPP (2014) 

Conference Discussant: GIGA (2020), IPSA (2009), MPSA (2013, 2014, 2018, 2019), LASPP  (2019).  

Carnegie Mellon University  

Search Committee for Assistant Teaching Professor, Assistant Professor, 2021- and Postdoctoral Fellows 

Dietrich College Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee 2021-2022 Academic Review Board and University Disciplinary Committee member 2019-2023 Master of Science in International Relations and Politics redesign committee 2019 Dietrich College Council Member 2019-2021

Conference and Workshop Participation

Spanish (native), English (fluent), Portuguese (intermediate) 

Professional Organizations

GIGA German Institute of Global and Area Studies. Hamburg, Germany June 2020  Latin American Studies Association (LASA) 2015, 2016, 2019 Latin American Social and Public Policy (LASPP) 2013, 2014, 2019 Chilean Society of Public Policy 2012 American Political Science Association (APSA) 2011, 2012, 2018 Political Psychology APSA pre-conference 2018 Midwest Political Science Association (MPSA) 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2018, 2019 Chilean Political Science Association (ACCP) 2010, 2023 International Political Science Association (IPSA) 2009 Euro-Latin American Network of Governability for Development (REDGOB) 2009 

Invited Talks

Universidad de Concepción. Concepción, Chile October 2023  Universidad de Santiago de Chile (remote). Santiago, Chile June 2023  University College Dublin. Dublin, Ireland April 2022 Carnegie Mellon University—Qatar (remote). Doha, Qatar October 2020 Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales (remote). Quito, Ecuador April & August, 2020 Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Santiago, Chile December 2019 University of Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh, United States October 2017, January 2020, January 2024 Universidad Diego Portales. Santiago, Chile May 2016  The European University at Saint Petersburg. Saint Petersburgh, Russia April 2015 Center for Research and Teaching Economics. Mexico City, Mexico December 2013 Universidad de Santiago de Chile. Santiago, Chile July 2010

Research Assistance

Research Assistant to Dr. Aníbal Pérez-Liñán, University of Pittsburgh 2009-2011 National Science Foundation project “Supreme Court Stability in Latin America” 

Research Assistant to Dr. Scott Morgenstern, University of Pittsburgh 2009-2011 US Agency for International Development project “Political Party Development”

Languages

American Political Science Association, International Political Science Association, Latin  American Studies Association, Chilean Political Science Association 

References

  • Aníbal Pérez-Liñán  Professor of Political Science  University of Notre Dame
  • David Barker  Professor of Government  American University
  • John Carey  John Wentworth Professor in the Social Sciences Dartmouth College
  • Scott Morgenstern Professor of Political Science  University of Pittsburgh