Assistant Professor — Political Science & International Relations

Benjamín García-Holgado

Ph.D. University of Notre Dame, 2023 · University of Delaware

Political scientist specializing in comparative judicial politics, democratic erosion, and populism in Latin America. My research examines how courts resist — or succumb to — the strategies populist leaders use to dismantle democratic institutions, and what conditions enable democratic resilience.

Democracy & AuthoritarianismPopulismJudicial PoliticsQualitative Methods
Ver publicaciones
Dept. of Political Science & Int'l Relations University of Delaware
Faculty Affiliate Kellogg Institute — Notre Dame
2025 Edward S. Corwin Award APSA Best Dissertation
Benjamín García-Holgado
Investigación

Papers & capítulos de libro

Google Scholar ↗
Proyectos

Ongoing & completed research

Completado

Autoritarismo e Inestabilidad Presidencial: Argentina y Chile (1973–1983)

Historical-comparative research on the institutional design logics of Southern Cone military regimes. Combined primary archival analysis in Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay with interviews with key actors.

Financiador
CONICET / Torcuato Di Tella
Período
2013–2019
Equipo
3 investigadores
En curso

The Judicial Bulwark: Courts and the Populist Erosion of Democracy

Agenda de investigación surgida de la tesis doctoral galardonada con el Premio Edward S. Corwin 2025 (APSA). Examina los mecanismos mediante los cuales los tribunales latinoamericanos resisten —o capitular ante— los embates de líderes populistas que buscan concentrar poder.

Financiador
University of Delaware
Período
2023–presente
Equipo
Principal investigator
En curso

Courts against Democratic Backsliding in Latin America

Comparative project analyzing the institutional conditions under which courts act as an effective brake on democratic backsliding. In collaboration with Lucía Gamboa (Oxford) and Ezequiel González-Ocantos (Oxford).

Financiador
Kellogg Institute — Notre Dame
Período
2022–presente
Equipo
3 investigadores (internacional)
En curso

Process Tracing and Qualitative Research Design

Proyecto metodológico orientado al desarrollo de guías prácticas para la aplicación del process tracing en el estudio de la erosión democrática y la política judicial comparada en contextos latinoamericanos.

Financiador
University of Delaware — CAS
Período
2024–presente
Equipo
Principal investigator
Docencia

Teaching & conferences

Cursos impartidos

  • POSC 372: Latin American Politics
    University of Delaware ·
    Grado
  • POSC 450: Democracy and Authoritarianism
    University of Delaware ·
    Grado
  • POSC 620: Qualitative Methods in Political Science
    University of Delaware ·
    Posgrado
  • POSC 830: Comparative Judicial Politics
    University of Delaware ·
    Doctorado
  • POSC 105: Introduction to Comparative Politics
    University of Delaware ·
    Grado

Conferencias y charlas

  • Judicial Resistance to Democratic Erosion: Comparative Perspectives
    American Political Science Association, Annual Meeting
    2025
  • Courts against Backsliding: Evidence from Latin America
    Comparative Constitutionalism Workshop, Oxford University
    2024
  • The Dark Side of Legalism: Law as a Tool of Autocratization
    Latin American Studies Association (LASA), Bogotá
    2024
  • Populism, Courts, and Democratic Erosion in Latin America
    Midwest Political Science Association, Chicago
    2023
  • Why Courts Matter for Democracy: Lessons from the Southern Cone
    Kellogg Institute for International Studies, Notre Dame
    2023
Blog

Reflexiones menos formales

feb 2025

What the Corwin Award means — and doesn't mean — for comparative judicial politics

A reflection on receiving the APSA Edward S. Corwin Award and what it reveals about the state of public law scholarship and the study of courts in comparative perspective.

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nov 2024

Can courts really stop populism? A frank assessment

After years studying judicial resistance to democratic erosion, I want to offer an honest evaluation of what courts can and cannot accomplish when facing determined populist leaders.

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jun 2024

Process tracing for beginners: three common mistakes and how to avoid them

A practical guide to the most misunderstood method in qualitative political science, with examples drawn from research on Latin American courts and democratic backsliding.

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mar 2024

Argentina's democracy at 40: fragile but resilient

Forty years after the return of democracy, Argentina remains a fascinating puzzle for comparative politics. Why has it survived so many crises that seemed fatal?

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Let's connect

Abierto a colaboraciones, invitaciones académicas y consultas sobre la investigación.

20+Publications
163+Citations
2Teaching
3Active projects
Oficina
Department of Political Science & International Relations
465 Smith Hall, University of Delaware
Newark, DE 19716