Peter Thiery

Dr. Peter Thiery is a Research Fellow at the Institute of Political Science at Heidelberg University, specializing in democracy studies, political institutions, and Latin American politics. He holds a Master of Arts (1988) and a PhD (1998) from Mainz University. His career includes roles at multiple political science institutes (Mainz, Heidelberg, Munich, Würzburg) and fellowships like the 2012-2013 position at the Centre for Global Cooperation Research in Duisburg. Since 2014, he has contributed to the Bertelsmann Transformation Index (BTI) project with the Bertelsmann Foundation, analyzing democratic and market economy transitions globally.

• Education: Political Science, Journalism, German Studies, Philosophy (Mainz)
• Key Positions: Research Associate at CAP Munich (2002–2011), Fellow at University of Würzburg (2008–2012)

Research focuses on democracy/democratization, rule of law, and Latin America (Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Peru). His work frequently addresses institutional reforms, defective democracies, and regional political dynamics. Notable contributions include co-editing the Defective Democracy series and authoring studies on Chilean political transformation.

Recent BTI Regional Reports highlight Latin America's political challenges, emphasizing crises in institutional resilience and democratic backsliding. His analyses bridge theoretical political science with empirical regional studies, emphasizing comparative institutional frameworks and global cooperation mechanisms.