Netina Tan

Netina Tan is University Scholar and Associate Professor of Political Science at McMaster University, where she conducts research on authoritarian resilience, digital technology, and political representation of women and ethnic minorities, with a focus on East and Southeast Asia. Her scholarly work has gained international recognition, with publications referenced in 24 Wikipedia pages and covered by 32 news outlets.

Dr. Tan earned her PhD in Comparative Politics from the University of British Columbia, a Master's in Political Science from the University of Regina, a Master's in Southeast Asian Studies from the National University of Singapore, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Sociology from the National University of Singapore. She was also a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Toronto.

Her research interests center on authoritarianism, democratization, and representation in Asian contexts, with particular attention to how digital technology affects political systems. She investigates how women and ethnic minorities gain political representation in authoritarian and semi-authoritarian regimes across Southeast Asia, examining electoral systems, quota mechanisms, and party strategies that either facilitate or hinder inclusion.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals consistent focus on democratic backsliding in Southeast Asia, especially Singapore; the relationship between digital technology and authoritarian resilience; electoral manipulation tactics in Asian contexts; and gender representation through quotas and electoral systems. Her work bridges comparative politics, gender studies, and technology studies with regional expertise in Southeast Asia.

• University Scholar at McMaster University

Dr. Tan has advised graduate students including Cassandra Preece, with whom she has co-authored publications. Her research has attracted significant scholarly attention with hundreds of readers on academic platforms like Mendeley. She regularly contributes expert commentary to media outlets on Southeast Asian politics, particularly regarding elections in Cambodia, Malaysia, and Singapore.

Her scholarly activities include directing research projects on electoral malpractice in Asia and gender equality in Myanmar politics, with recent books including 'Putting Women Up Gender Equality and Politics in Myanmar' (2024) and 'Electoral Malpractice in Asia Bending the Rules' (2023).