Most of my research focuses on voting behavior, public opinion, elections, and representation throughout the developing world. Here are some of my big current projects.
Work in Progress: Democracy on the Ballot
In this project, Mollie Cohen, Matthew Layton, Mason Moseley, and I aim to understand the nature and consequences of elections in which potentially authoritarian candidates are on the ballot. Our work is based on a five-wave panel study of Brazil’s 2018 election, running from July 2018 to January 2019, as well as a two-wave study of the 2020 US presidential election.
- Here is the project Dataverse.
- Our first publication is out!
- Layton, Matthew L., Amy Erica Smith, Mason W. Moseley, and Mollie J. Cohen. 2021. “Demographic Polarization and the Rise of the Far Right: Brazil’s 2018 Presidential Election.” Research & Politics 8 (1): 2053168021990204.
- Here are three working papers — comments are welcome!
- Cohen, Mollie J., Amy Erica Smith, Mason W. Moseley, and Matthew L. Layton. “Winners’ Consent? Citizen Commitment to Democracy when Illiberal Candidates Win Elections.”
- Smith, Amy Erica, Mason W. Moseley, Matthew L. Layton, and Mollie J. Cohen. “Rejecting Authoritarianism: When Values are Endogenous to Politics.“
- Mason W. Moseley, Matthew L. Layton, Mollie J. Cohen, and Amy Erica Smith. “Finding Voice through Political Action? Perceptions of Participatory Efficacy in Brazil’s 2018 Presidential Election.”
Work in Progress: The Grassroots Right in Latin America
Lindsay Mayka and I are editing a special issue of a journal that seeks to understand the growing power of right-leaning issues, ideologies, and identities among citizens in Latin America.
- Breaking news! The issue will be released in August 2021 as volume 63, number 3.
- Read our introduction to the special issue.
Prior Publications
Research Related to Informal Social Networks and Political Discussion
- Smith, Amy Erica. 2018. Talking it Out: Political Conversation and Learning in Unequal Contexts. British Journal of Political Science. Online Appendix. Replication files.
- Ames, Barry, Andy Baker, and Amy Erica Smith. 2017. Social Networks in the Brazilian Electorate. Oxford Handbook of Political Networks, eds. Jennifer Nicoll Victor, Mark Lubell, and Alexander H. Montgomery.
- Smith, Amy Erica. 2015. The Diverse Impacts of Politically Diverse Networks: Party Systems, Political Disagreement, and the Timing of Vote Decisions. International Journal of Public Opinion Research. Online appendix.
- Smith, Amy Erica. 2014. Political Connections in the Americas. AmericasBarometer Insights 98.
- Barry Ames, Miguel García, and Amy Erica Smith. 2012. Keeping Up with the Souzas: Social Influence and Electoral Change in a Weak Party System, Brazil 2002-2006. Latin American Politics and Society. 54(2): 51-78.
- Steven E. Finkel and Amy Erica Smith. 2011. Civic Education, Political Discussion, and the Social Transmission of Democratic Knowledge and Values in a New Democracy: Kenya 2002. American Journal of Political Science. 55(2): 417-435. Supporting Information. Replication code.
Research on the Public Opinion Underpinnings of Democracy
- Cohen, Mollie, and Amy Erica Smith. 2016. Do Authoritarians Vote for Authoritarians? Evidence from Latin America. Research and Politics. *Supplementary Information. *Replication code. *Data can be obtained from the AmericasBarometer.
- Lucio Rennó, Amy Erica Smith, Matthew L. Layton, & Frederico Batista Pereira. 2011. Legitimidade e Qualidade da Democracia no Brasil: Uma Visão da Cidadania. São Paulo: Editora Intermeios.
- Barry Ames and Amy Erica Smith. 2010. Knowing Left from Right: Ideological Thinking in the 2002 and 2006 Brazilian Presidential Elections. Journal of Politics in Latin America 2(3): 3-38.
- Smith, Amy Erica. 2009. Legitimate Grievances: Preferences for Democracy, System Support, and Political Participation in Bolivia. Latin American Research Review 44(3): 102-126.
Research Related to Gender and Race
- Boas, Taylor, and Amy Erica Smith. 2019. Looks Like Me, Thinks Like Me? Descriptive Representation and Opinion Congruence in Brazil. Latin American Research Review. *Appendix
- Al Subhi, Ahlam Khalfan, and Amy Erica Smith. 2019. Electing Women to New Arab Assemblies: The Roles of Gender Ideology, Islam, and Tribalism in Oman. International Political Science Review.
- Layton, Matthew L., and Amy Erica Smith. 2017. Is It Race, Class, or Gender? The Sources of Perceived Discrimination in Brazil. Latin American Politics and Society. *Online Appendix *Replication code. *Data can be obtained from the AmericasBarometer.
- Smith, Amy Erica, Katherine Warming, and Valerie M. Hennings. 2016. Refusing to Know a Woman’s Place: The Causes and Consequences of Rejecting Stereotypes of Women Politicians in Latin America. Politics, Groups, and Identities. *Replication code. Data can be obtained from the AmericasBarometer.
Research Related to Inequality and Social Policy
- Smith, Amy Erica. 2018. Talking it Out: Political Conversation and Learning in Unequal Contexts. British Journal of Political Science. Online Appendix. Replication files.
- Smith, Amy Erica. 2017. Democratic Talk in Church: Religion and Political Socialization in the Context of Urban Inequality. World Development.
- Layton, Matthew L. and Amy Erica Smith. 2015. Incorporating Marginal Citizens and Voters: The Conditional Electoral Effects of Targeted Social Assistance in Latin America. Comparative Political Studies 48(7): 854-81. *Replication files. *Data can be obtained from the AmericasBarometer. *Online appendix
- Layton, Matthew L. and Amy Erica Smith. 2011. Social Assistance Policies and the Presidential Vote in Latin America. AmericasBarometer Insights.
Studies of Elections
- Duque, Debora, and Amy Erica Smith. 2019. The Establishment Upside Down: A Year of Change in Brazil. Revista de Ciencia Politica. (A review of 2018, for the journal’s Political Yearbook)
- Ames, Barry, Alyssa Huberts, Fabiana Machado, Lucio Rennó, David Samuels, Amy Erica Smith, and Cesar Zucco. 2016. The Brazilian Electoral Panel Study: 2014 Results. Technical Note IDB-TN-915. Washington, D.C.: Inter-American Development Bank.
- Ames, Barry, Fabiana Machado, Lucio Rennó, David Samuels, Amy Erica Smith, and Cesar Zucco. 2013. The Brazilian Electoral Panel Study. Washington, D.C.: Inter-American Development Bank. Technical Note IDB-TN-508.
- Barry Ames, Miguel García, and Amy Erica Smith. 2012. Keeping Up with the Souzas: Social Influence and Electoral Change in a Weak Party System, Brazil 2002-2006. Latin American Politics and Society. 54(2): 51-78.
Image: Rio de Janeiro, 2008