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I contribute to public discussions on democratic resilience, polarization, and campaign messaging in multiethnic societies.
The Conversation:
Nigeria’s 2027 elections: why an independent election body matters when campaigns turn ugly.
Good Authority:
Africans support media freedom, but often don’t see it.
Four things to watch in Uganda’s 2026 election.
Five lessons from Africa’s 2025 elections.
Ugly campaigns hurt voter trust. Weak institutions make it worse.
How authoritarians win elections without stealing votes.
Five years after #EndSARS, little has changed in Nigeria?
Do policymakers listen to evidence or their own biases?
10 essential reads on African politics for summer 2025.
Ramaphosa maintains calm amid Trump’s genocide allegations.
Six things you should know about Gabon’s election.
Good Playlist: Hear the songs shaping Africa’s elections.
Despite Africa's digital media boom across huge access gaps persist.
Afrobarometer:
Africa’s shifting media landscapes: Digital media use grows, but so do demographic divides.
Tanzanians express trust in police but cite shortcomings in professional conduct.
Malawians demand greater government efforts for gender equality.
Liberians cite corruption, lack of professionalism among police failings.
Angolans look to government, one another for action on the environment.
Angolans say government must act on climate change, even if it’s expensive.
African citizens’ message to traditional leaders: Stay in development, stay out of politics.
Amid progress on women’s rights, Namibians see gender-based violence as priority issue to address.
Declining performance: Africans demand more government attention to educational needs.
Washington Post / Monkey Cage:
As Africa Climate Week begins, Africans want action, research finds.
The Punch:
Mortgaging Nigeria’s future (1).
Mortgaging Nigeria’s future (2).
The Nation:
Media Career Development Network:
Daily Trust: An editorial gone bad.
How to avoid being denied by a source.
Rural poverty reportage low in Nigeria- Survey.
Policy Briefs:
Expert perspective: Africa's citizens demand for climate action.
Enhancing Multilateralism in the 21st Century.
Research Methods:
3 techniques to build empathy with research participants.
Five things every researcher should know about image manipulation.
5 tips for reviewing a review article.
6 things to consider when transitioning from academia to industry.
4 tips to avoid accidental plagiarism.
Media Mentions:
Why people choose not to share news.
MSU PLS PhD students honored with Spring Graduate Awards.
Political Science PhD grads return to MSU for 2025 Alumni Conference.
CPJ calls on authorities to allow journalists to safely cover US campus protests.
Ugly Campaigns, Fragile Democracies
Campaigns don’t just decide who wins—they shape how people see democracy.
This Ignite talk examines how negative campaign strategies, such as personal attacks, misinformation, and polarizing rhetoric, shape democratic politics. Drawing on experimental evidence, I show that while these messages may not strongly persuade voters, they can erode trust in political actors and institutions, contributing to democratic fragility.
Delivered in a fast-paced, accessible format, the talk (from 31:55) offers a concise introduction to my broader research on political communication, voter behavior, and democratic resilience.
For a general-audience version of this research, see my article at Good Authority.
Ignite Talk, Michigan State University
Google Sites
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