Abdala María Belén

Dr. María Belén Abdala is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Salzburg affiliated with the Salzburg Center for European Union Studies (SCEUS). Her work focuses on the DEUDEM Project, analyzing EU responses to democratic backsliding and citizen attitudes toward democratic erosion. Previously, she was a predoctoral researcher in the DeVOTE Project (April 2021–May 2025) and led applied research on electoral reform at CIPPEC in Argentina.

Education:

• PhD in Political Science (with honors), University of Vienna (2025)
• MA in Political Science, Universidad Torcuato Di Tella
• BA in Political Science, Universidad de San Andrés

Research Interests: Grounded in comparative politics and public opinion, her research explores drivers of political participation, political behavior, electoral administration, party competition, and quantitative analysis of voting motivations. Her projects bridge theoretical frameworks with practical policy implementation.

Professional Experience: Includes visiting researcher roles at the University of Zurich, consultancy for national/subnational governments, and leadership in applied research programs. She currently focuses on EU institutional dynamics and democratic resilience.

Public Engagement: Maintains an active research profile at belenabdala.com, detailing publications and academic contributions.