Jared Abbott is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at California State University, Los Angeles. His research explores the causes and consequences of efforts to improve the representation of everyday citizens in public affairs, from large-scale experiments in participatory democracy to increasing the share of elected officials with working-class backgrounds. His work has appeared or is forthcoming in the American Journal of Political Science, Comparative Political Studies, Comparative Politics, Governance, The Journal of Latin American Studies, World Development, and Electoral Studies.
Stephanie L. McNulty is the Honorable John C. and Katherine Kunkel Professor of Government at Franklin and Marshall College. She has written extensively about the expansion of participatory democracy around the world. Her work primarily focuses on Latin America and explores national laws that mandate participatory institutions in local and state governments. Her research has been funded by the National Science Foundation, the Hewlett Foundation, the American Association for University Women, and Fulbright.