Michael Albertus

Michael Albertus is a Professor of Political Science at the University of Chicago. He holds a PhD from Stanford University (2011). His research focuses on democracy and dictatorship dynamics, inequality, property rights, and civil conflict, with a strong emphasis on Latin America and historical land policies. He has authored influential books like Property Without Rights (2021) and Land Power (2025), which explore how land ownership shapes political and economic power structures.

His academic career includes affiliations with The Committee on International Relations at the University of Chicago. Research interests span redistributive politics under authoritarian regimes, the consequences of land reform, and the social origins of democratic transitions. His work has been recognized with prestigious awards, including the APSA Democracy and Autocracy Best Book Award (honorable mention) and the Riker Book Award in Political Economy.

Recent scholarship examines land inequality’s impact on societal outcomes, the persistence of rural underdevelopment, and the legacies of fascist mobilization in post-authoritarian societies. His articles analyze historical case studies (e.g., France, Spain) and contemporary issues in Latin America, blending comparative politics with historical sociology.

• Education:
  • PhD in Political Science, Stanford University, 2011
• Awards:
  • APSA Democracy and Autocracy Best Book Award (2021)
  • Riker Book Award in Political Economy (2021)
• Key Themes: Land inequality, authoritarian redistribution, democratization, civil conflict, and Latin American political economy.