Anne Meng

Anne Meng is an Associate Professor in the Department of Politics at the University of Virginia, within the College of Arts and Sciences. Her scholarly work focuses on authoritarian politics, institutions, and mechanisms of elite power sharing. She has published in leading political science journals and authored an acclaimed book on the institutionalization of authoritarian regimes.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Political Science, University of California, Berkeley
• M.A. in Economics, University of California, Berkeley

Her research investigates the dynamics of authoritarian rule, including how dictators manage power through institutions, the strategies behind term limit evasion, leadership succession, and the phenomenon of democratic backsliding. She also explores how ruling parties and coopted oppositions function under authoritarian systems, contributing to theoretical and empirical understanding of non-democratic governance.

Her recent publications, spanning from 2022 to 2024, reflect a strong focus on measuring and explaining democratic erosion and authoritarian stability. These works appear in top-tier journals such as the American Political Science Review and Annual Review of Political Science, demonstrating sustained scholarly impact in comparative politics and regime studies.

Scientific Awards:

• Riker Book Prize
• Foreign Affairs Best Book 2021

She serves as the Chair of the APSA Democracy & Autocracy Section, indicating active leadership in the political science community. While no formal advising or grant information is provided in the text, her editorial and organizational roles suggest engagement in mentoring and collaborative research. There is no mention of a specific research lab or team, but her section leadership implies coordination with a broad network of scholars in the field.