Braun, Michael J.
Dissertation:
Opposition parties and populist mobilization in contemporary South Africa
Biography
Michael is pursuing a PhD in Political Science at the University of Toronto in the fields of comparative political and development. His research explores the rise of opposition parties and populist politics at the local level in contemporary South Africa. Through in-depth interviews and ethnographic research with party organizers and voter surveys, his work analyzes the strategies, tactics, and resources that facilitated opposition party growth at the local level. This study of the micro-foundations of political mobilization aims to further our understanding of the generational and local contextual factors that lead to social and political change in democratizing countries.
Research Interests
South Africa; opposition politics; social movements; populism; inequality; participatory democracy
Previous Degrees
BA Honours in Political Science, Concordia University
MSc in Political Sociology, London School of Economics and Political Science
Teaching Experience
TA for Politics of Development