I am a Doctoral Candidate (ABD) at the Department of Political Science, Georgia State University. My research interests concentrate on comparative politics and international relations.

My research in comparative politics focuses on the critical role bureaucracy plays in democratization. Within the domain of International Relations, I concentrate on international organizations, specifically regional organizations in East and South Asia like South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).

My dissertation puts forth a framework that predicts the potential within a nascent democracy for either backsliding or consolidation, conditional upon the quality of the bureaucracy and its links to the ruling coalition. My current research fits into the broader literature on democratization and institutions. I support my argument with evidence from Taiwan, Turkey, and Pakistan. I utilize a mixed methods approach with a focus on detailed network analysis based on key personnel interviews in each of these countries.

My other research interests include survival of populist authoritarian regimes through bureaucracy and judiciary, understanding the relationship of bureaucracy with different players during the democratic transition process, regional organizations’ limits to integration and foreign policy strategies of small states.