Paul Atwell

Paul Atwell is an Assistant Professor at Ohio State University, joining the faculty in 2025. His research centers on the Global South, examining the interplay of identity and social psychology to understand electoral politics, public opinion, and social change.

His educational background includes:

• Ph.D. in Public Policy and Political Science from the University of Michigan (2023)
• Bachelor of Science in Political Science from the University of Wisconsin

Atwell employs experimental and observational methodologies to investigate how political parties, cultural contexts, and psychological factors shape voter behavior, with primary focus on African electoral systems. His interdisciplinary research bridges political science, economics, and sociology, emphasizing identity formation, information processing, and social dynamics in developing democracies. Key methodological approaches include survey experiments and network analysis.

His scholarly contributions have been published in top-tier journals including the American Economic Review and American Journal of Political Science, demonstrating significant impact in comparative politics and political behavior.

Prior to Ohio State, Atwell was a post-doctoral researcher at the Juan March Institute, University of Carlos III in Madrid. His work intersects with development policy and collective action theory, contributing to understanding democratic accountability in resource-constrained environments.