Ronald Ahnen

Ronald Ahnen is a Professor in the Politics Department at Saint Mary’s College of California’s School of Liberal Arts. His research and teaching focus on Latin American politics (particularly Brazilian politics), human rights, microcredit policy, and prison reform. He has conducted fieldwork in Brazil, Argentina, and Costa Rica, emphasizing the intersection of political ideology, state capacity, and policy outcomes.

• PhD in Political Science (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1999)
• MS in Political Science (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 1992)
• BS in German and Education (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 1986)

His research on democratization and human rights includes studies on police violence against minors in Brazil and prisoners’ rights advocacy through California Prison Focus, where he served as president for seven years. Recent work examines microcredit policies in Latin America, challenging assumptions about their efficacy in addressing poverty.

Ronald’s scholarly output spans comparative politics, international relations, and critical development studies. Key themes include partisan influences on policy, contradictions in neoliberal approaches to poverty, and systemic issues in incarceration. His work with California Prison Focus contributed to reforming solitary confinement policies in California.

• CILSA Community Engagement Award (2013)