Hello! I am a postdoctoral research associate in the College of Applied Science & Technology at the University of Arizona. I completed my PhD in Political Science from the University of Arizona in 2023. 

 

I study political violence and democratic institutions with a regional interest in Sub-Saharan Africa. My current book project examines the roles of African chiefs and chieftaincy institutions in the local dynamics of pre-election violence.

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Through my postdoctoral position, I am also developing expertise in international security in Asia, focusing on the foreign policies of aspiring powers like China and Russia, as well as the multilateral organizations they dominate, such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

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My work has been published at International Interactions and Africa Spectrum. My research has been supported by various institutions, including American Political Science Association.

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You can reach me via email at: chenxiran [at] arizona [dot] edu.