Erica Frantz

Erica Frantz is an Associate Professor of Political Science at Michigan State University and a Distinguished Visiting Professor at the Institute of Political Science, Tübingen University. She earned her PhD in Political Science from UCLA in 2008. Her research focuses on authoritarian politics, including democratization, conflict, development, and the security implications of autocratic rule. She previously served as an Assistant Professor at Bridgewater State University (2011–2015).

Research interests include comparative politics, authoritarian regimes, and policy analysis. Her work bridges theoretical frameworks with real-world applications, addressing topics such as regime stability, political violence, and governance challenges in non-democratic contexts.

In 2020, she received the MSU College of Social Science Outstanding Teacher Award. She is affiliated with the Schlumberger Team at Tübingen University and contributes to the CMEPS Joint Master's Program. Her publications include influential books like Authoritarianism: What Everyone Needs to Know (Oxford UP, 2018).