Zachary Elkins

Professor Zachary Elkins is an academic specializing in democracy, institutional reform, research methods, and national identity with a focus on Latin America. His work examines constitutional design, diffusion, and survival in developing democracies. He collaborates with Tom Ginsburg (University of Chicago) on the Comparative Constitutions Project, an NSF-funded initiative, and co-leads its associated website for constitutional drafters.

• Education:
• B.A. Yale University
• M.A. University of Texas at Austin
• PhD University of California, Berkeley

His research bridges political science and legal studies, emphasizing practical implications of constitutional choices on democratic stability. Recent publications include Designed by Diffusion (in progress) and The Endurance of National Constitutions.

Grants and collaborations include NSF funding for the Comparative Constitutions Project, which analyzes factors shaping constitutional design and outcomes.