Author archives

Erica Frantz (Ph.D., UCLA, 2008) is an associate professor in Political Science at Michigan State University. From 2011 to 2015, she was an assistant professor in Political Science at Bridgewater State University, and from 2008 to 2011 she worked as an analyst at the Institute for Physical Sciences. Her research and teaching interests include authoritarian politics, democratization, conflict, and development. She is particularly interested in the security and policy implications of autocratic rule. She has published four books on dictatorships and development, as well as articles in journals such as Perspectives on Politics, British Journal of Political Science, Journal of Peace Research, and Annual Review of Political Science.

Cultivating obedience: Using the Justice Department to attack former officials consolidates power and deters dissent

Political science scholars who study the origins of elected strongmen, Professors Joe Wright and Erica Franz discuss how President Donald Trump’s first three months in office has been distinguished by how his administration has targeted dozens of former officials who criticized him or opposed his agenda. They believe Trump’s use of the Justice Department to attack former officials who stood up to him isn’t just about revenge. It also deters current officials from defying Trump.

Subjects: Civil Liberties, Criminal Law, Ethics, Legal Research