Erin York

Erin York is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science at Vanderbilt University's College of Arts and Science. Her research investigates how autocratic institutions shape political outcomes and influence citizen attitudes and interactions with the state. She is supported by major grants from the National Science Foundation, the Project on Middle East Political Science, and the U.S. Department of Education.

Education:

• PhD in Political Science – Columbia University
• BS – Yale University

Her research lies at the intersection of comparative politics and political behavior, with a regional focus on the Middle East. She examines how institutional structures in authoritarian regimes affect governance, legitimacy, and political stability. Her work combines theoretical rigor with empirical analysis, often drawing on cross-national and case-specific data to understand the dynamics of non-democratic rule and citizen responses to state authority.

Her recent publications span top journals including the American Journal of Political Science, Journal of Politics, World Politics, Comparative Political Studies, and British Journal of Political Science. Collectively, these works emphasize institutional design in autocracies, regime resilience, public opinion under repression, and the mechanisms of state control. The research demonstrates methodological diversity and a strong thematic coherence around power, legitimacy, and institutional effects in non-democratic contexts.

Scientific Awards and Fellowships:

• National Science Foundation Funding
• Project on Middle East Political Science Funding
• U.S. Department of Education Funding
• Fulbright Fellowship (Syria)
• Postdoctoral Fellowship – Niehaus Center for Globalization and Governance, Princeton University
• Postdoctoral Fellowship – Belfer Center, Harvard Kennedy School

Erin York has been awarded competitive grants and fellowships that support her research agenda. She was a research associate at the RAND Corporation prior to entering academia, and her training includes elite institutional affiliations such as Columbia, Yale, Princeton, and Harvard. She advises on research projects and contributes to academic training in political science, though current advisees are not listed. Her work is embedded in collaborative academic networks focused on Middle East politics and authoritarianism.

Though not explicitly mentioned, her affiliations with centers like the Niehaus Center and Belfer Center suggest engagement with research teams focused on global governance, security, and political institutions. She likely contributes to interdisciplinary projects examining state behavior, political development, and international policy implications of autocratic governance.