Michael Thies

Michael Thies is an Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). His research focuses on Japanese politics, with an emphasis on legislative institutions, electoral systems, and party competition. He is co-author of the influential book Japan Transformed: Political Change and Economic Restructuring (Princeton University Press) and has published extensively in top journals such as the American Journal of Political Science and Comparative Political Studies. His work explores topics like coalition formation, bicameralism, and the institutional foundations of policy-making. Thies teaches courses on political institutions and comparative politics, and has held a fellowship at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. His research on Japanese electoral politics and legislative dynamics has shaped understanding of post-war political transitions in Japan.

Education: Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of California, San Diego (1994).

Research Interests: Japanese political institutions, electoral systems, coalition governance, parliamentary systems, and the intersection of political economy and policy-making. Thies’ recent work analyzes the logic of delegation in coalition politics and the impact of electoral reforms on legislative behavior.