Robert Barr, assistant professor of political science at the University of Mary Washington, has been chosen to receive a $60,000 grant from the Smith Richardson Foundation for research that addresses populism in Latin America.
Dr. Barr’s project, “Understanding Populism,” will involve in-depth field research in Ecuador, Bolivia and Venezuela, as well as a large study on secondary sources.
“Populism in Latin America is a political phenomenon that many consider detrimental to democracy and to American interests,” according to Dr. Barr. “It is, however, poorly understood, with unsettled debates based on a very limited number of thorough comparative studies. This project will improve our understanding of populism and the appropriate policy responses.”
His project will conclude with a book that explores an improved definition of populism, the conditions under which it emerges, its domestic and international implications and American policies.
An expert in Latin-American politics, Dr. Barr has published articles in several journals including the American Journal of Political Science and Third World Quarterly. He also has presented numerous papers at conferences held by the American Political Science Association, the International Political Science Association and the Latin American Studies Association, among others.
In addition to field research in Bolivia and Peru, Dr. Barr has completed development work in El Salvador, Guatemala, the Phillipines, Senegal and Uganda. This semester, he is teaching an introduction to international relations and Latin American politics. Dr. Barr received bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Virginia and a doctorate from the University of Texas at Austin.
Established in 1935, the Smith Richardson Foundation’s mission is “to contribute to important public debates and to help address serious public policy challenges facing the United States.” The Foundation offers both international and domestic grant programs.