Matthew Rhodes-Purdy

Matthew Rhodes-Purdy is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Clemson University, affiliated with the College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences. His research bridges democratic theory and political behavior, focusing on threats to contemporary democracies such as populism and extremism. He earned his Ph.D. in Government from the University of Texas at Austin (2016) and a BA in Political Science from Boise State University (2007).

• Ph.D., Government, University of Texas at Austin (2016)
• BA, Political Science, Boise State University (2007)

His research explores how economic and cultural grievances interact to fuel democratic discontent, particularly in Europe and the Americas post-2008 financial crisis. Key themes include conspiracy theories, authoritarianism, democratization, and the role of citizen voice in countering antidemocratic trends. A central focus is the psychological and sociopolitical drivers of populism.

Matthew’s work includes publications on topics such as regime support, emotional dynamics in populist movements, and racial/ethnic dimensions of extremist politics. These studies span interdisciplinary areas like political psychology, comparative politics, and democratic theory.

• Juan Linz Prize (Honorable Mention), Best Dissertation Award
• Harvard Rockefeller Center, Best Dissertation in Latin American Politics