Benjamin Garcia-Holgado

Benjamin Garcia-Holgado is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science & International Relations at the University of Delaware, part of the College of Arts & Sciences. He joined the university in August 2023. His research focuses on political regimes, comparative judicial politics, populism, and qualitative methods, with a regional focus on Latin America. Garcia-Holgado holds a PhD from the University of Notre Dame (2023).

Education:

• PhD in Political Science, University of Notre Dame, 2023.

His research interests include democratization, judicial strategies against democratic erosion, the impact of populism on democratic institutions, and the application of qualitative methodologies. He is particularly interested in analyzing Latin American political systems, focusing on cases such as Argentina, Colombia, and Ecuador to explore autocratization processes, executive encroachment, and judicial resistance mechanisms. His interdisciplinary approach integrates perspectives from political theory, comparative historical sociology, and political history.

In recent work, Garcia-Holgado has examined judicial strategies to counter democratic backsliding, such as in his 2025 article on resisting executive overreach through courts. He has also analyzed polarization's effects on judicial institutions in Argentina and Colombia, and explored legal abuses undermining democracy in South American nations. His research underscores the role of courts as bulwarks against illiberal governance, while also investigating the origins of populist narratives targeting judicial independence.

No scientific awards were mentioned in the provided information.

No student advisees or grant information were provided in the text.

No specific labs or collaborative teams were noted in the profile.