Michael Albertus
@mikealbertus.bsky.social
Professor @UChicago Political Science | Democracy, dictatorship, conflict, property, the Americas | Author of Land Power
Pinned
Very excited to announce the release of my new book today, Land Power! Based on 15 years of work, it tells the story of how land shapes societies, from racial hierarchy to inequality, development, gender & the environment.
In hardcover/eBook/audiobook. More in 🧵
In hardcover/eBook/audiobook. More in 🧵
The US capture of Nicolás Maduro is a historic turn that repositions the US as openly interventionist in Latin America. But rebuilding Venezuela will be a far harder task. My piece at @theatlantic.com
www.theatlantic.com/internationa...
www.theatlantic.com/internationa...
What Democracy in Venezuela Would Require
Toppling a dictatorship is easier than building a functional state to take its place.
www.theatlantic.com
January 3, 2026 at 2:49 PM
The US capture of Nicolás Maduro is a historic turn that repositions the US as openly interventionist in Latin America. But rebuilding Venezuela will be a far harder task. My piece at @theatlantic.com
www.theatlantic.com/internationa...
www.theatlantic.com/internationa...
As 2025 clocks out, my biggest professional thrill this year was my new book Land Power! 🥳🎉 It tells how land became power, how it shapes power, and how who holds that power determines the fundamental social problems that societies grapple with. 🧵 @basicbooksgroup.bsky.social
December 30, 2025 at 10:09 PM
As 2025 clocks out, my biggest professional thrill this year was my new book Land Power! 🥳🎉 It tells how land became power, how it shapes power, and how who holds that power determines the fundamental social problems that societies grapple with. 🧵 @basicbooksgroup.bsky.social
Reposted by Michael Albertus
#3: Land Displacement & the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians with @mikealbertus.bsky.social
Land Displacement & the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians
Land Displacement & the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians page for UNSUNG HISTORY
www.unsunghistorypodcast.com
December 26, 2025 at 2:06 PM
#3: Land Displacement & the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians with @mikealbertus.bsky.social
The Arctic is ground zero for the colliding threats of climate change and geopolitical competition between the US, Russia, China, and EU countries. My interview with @klausdodds.bsky.social on his new book Unfrozen
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/unfrozen-t...
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/unfrozen-t...
Unfrozen: The Fight for the Future of the Arctic
An interview with RAND Europe geopolitical analyst Klaus Dodds on his new book on the thawing Arctic and what that means for global politics
michaelalbertus.substack.com
December 18, 2025 at 2:31 PM
The Arctic is ground zero for the colliding threats of climate change and geopolitical competition between the US, Russia, China, and EU countries. My interview with @klausdodds.bsky.social on his new book Unfrozen
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/unfrozen-t...
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/unfrozen-t...
My conversation with Princeton Professor Rory Truex on the American confrontation with Venezuela: where it's coming from and where it could be headed
Will Maduro hold onto power? Why is Trump so interested in Venezeula? What are the best paths forward for the Venezuelan people? @mikealbertus.bsky.social came on The Civic Forum this week to break down all things Venezuela. Available wherever you get your pods: youtu.be/iHTnb2wO2SA
Trump, Maduro, and the Crisis in Venezuela | Michael Albertus, UChicago
YouTube video by The Civic Forum
youtu.be
December 18, 2025 at 2:30 PM
My conversation with Princeton Professor Rory Truex on the American confrontation with Venezuela: where it's coming from and where it could be headed
Chile's blowout election of Kast gives momentum to right-wing political movements that focus on hard-line immigration and security policy and will further build a growing club of countries turning away from mainstream politics. My op-ed @foreignpolicy.com
foreignpolicy.com/2025/12/15/c...
foreignpolicy.com/2025/12/15/c...
What Chile’s New President Means for the World
José Kast’s right-wing agenda has implications far beyond Chile’s borders.
foreignpolicy.com
December 15, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Chile's blowout election of Kast gives momentum to right-wing political movements that focus on hard-line immigration and security policy and will further build a growing club of countries turning away from mainstream politics. My op-ed @foreignpolicy.com
foreignpolicy.com/2025/12/15/c...
foreignpolicy.com/2025/12/15/c...
If the executive wins authority to intervene in independent agencies like the #FTC simply for partisan reasons, why won't the same logic apply to other government entities and to the civil service more broadly? My post on this power grab & why it matters
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/the-ftc-ca...
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/the-ftc-ca...
The FTC Case Is an Executive Power Grab
A likely Trump administration win in the case will steal power from Congress and have big implications for civil servants throughout government
michaelalbertus.substack.com
December 11, 2025 at 7:22 PM
If the executive wins authority to intervene in independent agencies like the #FTC simply for partisan reasons, why won't the same logic apply to other government entities and to the civil service more broadly? My post on this power grab & why it matters
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/the-ftc-ca...
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/the-ftc-ca...
The recent but growing rural-urban divide in the US is a threat to democracy. My interview with
@cornelluniversity.bsky.social Professor Suzanne Mettler and
Johns Hopkins postdoc Trevor Brown on how it arose and what can be done
@smettler.bsky.social
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/rural-vers...
@cornelluniversity.bsky.social Professor Suzanne Mettler and
Johns Hopkins postdoc Trevor Brown on how it arose and what can be done
@smettler.bsky.social
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/rural-vers...
Rural Versus Urban: The Growing Divide That Threatens Democracy
My interview with Cornell Professor Suzanne Mettler and Johns Hopkins Fellow Trevor Brown on their new book on America's growing rural-urban split
michaelalbertus.substack.com
December 4, 2025 at 2:58 PM
The recent but growing rural-urban divide in the US is a threat to democracy. My interview with
@cornelluniversity.bsky.social Professor Suzanne Mettler and
Johns Hopkins postdoc Trevor Brown on how it arose and what can be done
@smettler.bsky.social
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/rural-vers...
@cornelluniversity.bsky.social Professor Suzanne Mettler and
Johns Hopkins postdoc Trevor Brown on how it arose and what can be done
@smettler.bsky.social
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/rural-vers...
With the American military buildup in #Venezuela, what is the endgame? Plotting out the most likely scenarios in my latest post.
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/plotting-o...
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/plotting-o...
Plotting out the Endgame in Venezuela
Gauging likely scenarios amid the building American threats to Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro
michaelalbertus.substack.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:12 PM
With the American military buildup in #Venezuela, what is the endgame? Plotting out the most likely scenarios in my latest post.
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/plotting-o...
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/plotting-o...
Wealthy democracies with a history of fair elections never fail–or do they? My interview w/ @newyorkuniversity.bsky.social Professor Adam Przeworski on a career's worth of insight on what makes democracy thrive, and why he's so puzzled now about the US
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/wealthy-de...
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/wealthy-de...
Wealthy Democracies With a History of Fair Elections Never Fail – Or Do They?
My interview with NYU Politics Professor and leading scholar Adam Przeworski on a career's worth of insight on what makes democracy thrive or fail
michaelalbertus.substack.com
November 20, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Wealthy democracies with a history of fair elections never fail–or do they? My interview w/ @newyorkuniversity.bsky.social Professor Adam Przeworski on a career's worth of insight on what makes democracy thrive, and why he's so puzzled now about the US
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/wealthy-de...
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/wealthy-de...
The Maduro regime is not in a position to design, or even participate in, an institutional framework that could guide Venezuela back to democracy. With no golden parachute in sight, he's digging in. My piece @foreignpolicy.com on off-ramps from dictatorship
foreignpolicy.com/2025/11/19/m...
foreignpolicy.com/2025/11/19/m...
Maduro Needs a Golden Parachute
The only way to avoid war in Venezuela may be if its leader doesn’t fear leaving office.
foreignpolicy.com
November 19, 2025 at 10:12 PM
The Maduro regime is not in a position to design, or even participate in, an institutional framework that could guide Venezuela back to democracy. With no golden parachute in sight, he's digging in. My piece @foreignpolicy.com on off-ramps from dictatorship
foreignpolicy.com/2025/11/19/m...
foreignpolicy.com/2025/11/19/m...
With the government shutdown over, what has shifted politically? Not much. Although it probably emboldened Republicans in playing hardball with Democrats. My latest post 👇
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/the-govern...
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/the-govern...
The Government Shutdown Ends With a Whimper
Little came of it, except to embolden Republicans in playing hardball with Democrats
michaelalbertus.substack.com
November 13, 2025 at 11:10 PM
With the government shutdown over, what has shifted politically? Not much. Although it probably emboldened Republicans in playing hardball with Democrats. My latest post 👇
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/the-govern...
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/the-govern...
The far right is poised to come out on top in #Chile's watershed election this weekend. Here's why, and what it means for the region. My piece in @foreignpolicy.com
foreignpolicy.com/2025/11/12/c...
foreignpolicy.com/2025/11/12/c...
Chile Is Making an Unprecedented Right Turn
It’s Latin America’s traditional beacon of stability—and its next country to vote for the far right.
foreignpolicy.com
November 13, 2025 at 2:05 PM
The far right is poised to come out on top in #Chile's watershed election this weekend. Here's why, and what it means for the region. My piece in @foreignpolicy.com
foreignpolicy.com/2025/11/12/c...
foreignpolicy.com/2025/11/12/c...
As the US builds military forces on Venezuela's coast to pressure Maduro, it should heed this lesson: toppling a dictatorship is easier than building a functional democracy to take its place. My piece in today's @theatlantic.com
www.theatlantic.com/internationa...
www.theatlantic.com/internationa...
What Democracy in Venezuela Would Require
Toppling a dictatorship is easier than building a functional state to take its place.
www.theatlantic.com
November 12, 2025 at 1:53 PM
As the US builds military forces on Venezuela's coast to pressure Maduro, it should heed this lesson: toppling a dictatorship is easier than building a functional democracy to take its place. My piece in today's @theatlantic.com
www.theatlantic.com/internationa...
www.theatlantic.com/internationa...
Immigration and crime are roiling the upcoming presidential election in #Chile much as they did in the US. It's poised to join the rightward shift in Latin America.
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/immigratio...
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/immigratio...
Immigration, Crime, and the Lurch Right
A dispatch from Chile prior to elections, with eerie parallels to the US
michaelalbertus.substack.com
November 6, 2025 at 11:36 PM
Immigration and crime are roiling the upcoming presidential election in #Chile much as they did in the US. It's poised to join the rightward shift in Latin America.
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/immigratio...
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/immigratio...
My interview with @utaustin.bsky.social professor Raul Madrid on how democracy arose in South America, and what that tells us about democracy today.
@raullorcamadrid.bsky.social @universitypress.cambridge.org
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/the-birth-...
@raullorcamadrid.bsky.social @universitypress.cambridge.org
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/the-birth-...
The Birth of Democracy in South America
My interview with University of Texas Professor Raúl Madrid on his new book on the origins of democracy
michaelalbertus.substack.com
October 30, 2025 at 6:47 PM
My interview with @utaustin.bsky.social professor Raul Madrid on how democracy arose in South America, and what that tells us about democracy today.
@raullorcamadrid.bsky.social @universitypress.cambridge.org
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/the-birth-...
@raullorcamadrid.bsky.social @universitypress.cambridge.org
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/the-birth-...
My interview with @umich.edu professor Dan Slater on the current landscape of democracy and authoritarianism in the US & abroad. "Short-term extremely pessimistic and long-term at least somewhat optimistic"; watch out for weak authoritarians; fire up the non-cooperation & more
@dnsltr.bsky.social
@dnsltr.bsky.social
Amid a Global Democratic Recession, There Are Reasons for Hope
My interview with University of Michigan Professor Dan Slater on the current landscape of democracy and authoritarianism
michaelalbertus.substack.com
October 23, 2025 at 7:49 PM
My interview with @umich.edu professor Dan Slater on the current landscape of democracy and authoritarianism in the US & abroad. "Short-term extremely pessimistic and long-term at least somewhat optimistic"; watch out for weak authoritarians; fire up the non-cooperation & more
@dnsltr.bsky.social
@dnsltr.bsky.social
Happy to have shared my thoughts in this piece in @chicagotribune.com on Trump's escalating attacks on democracy, and his targeting of Chicago
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/19/t...
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/19/t...
‘Devil’s ideology’: President Donald Trump’s darkening rhetoric escalates attacks and often targets Illinois
President Donald Trump’s language to discredit opponents has included Illinois and the Chicago area where protesters have been compared to domestic terrorists and the president has called for…
www.chicagotribune.com
October 20, 2025 at 10:33 PM
Happy to have shared my thoughts in this piece in @chicagotribune.com on Trump's escalating attacks on democracy, and his targeting of Chicago
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/19/t...
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/19/t...
My interview with Democratic Erosion Consortium Directors @robertblair.bsky.social, Laura Paler, Jessica Gottlieb, and Julie Anne Weaver on their *new global dataset* on democracy! And on how to measure and understand democracy today, in the US & abroad
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/q-and-a-wi...
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/q-and-a-wi...
Q&A with Directors of the Democratic Erosion Consortium
How their work helps us understand democracy & democratic erosion in the US and globally
michaelalbertus.substack.com
October 16, 2025 at 2:02 PM
My interview with Democratic Erosion Consortium Directors @robertblair.bsky.social, Laura Paler, Jessica Gottlieb, and Julie Anne Weaver on their *new global dataset* on democracy! And on how to measure and understand democracy today, in the US & abroad
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/q-and-a-wi...
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/q-and-a-wi...
A federal judge is currently hearing whether #Trump can turn #Chicago into the latest military "training ground". On the back of last week's ICE raid in South Shore, it's a combustible (and unnecessary) situation. And it hits close to home
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/chicago-is...
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/chicago-is...
Chicago is Now a Military "Training Ground"
National Guard troops are deploying to the city to support ICE agents, creating a combustible situation
michaelalbertus.substack.com
October 9, 2025 at 9:32 PM
A federal judge is currently hearing whether #Trump can turn #Chicago into the latest military "training ground". On the back of last week's ICE raid in South Shore, it's a combustible (and unnecessary) situation. And it hits close to home
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/chicago-is...
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/chicago-is...
The Trump administration is using the government shutdown as an opportunity to double down on its attacks on political enemies. That raises risks for American democracy. More here on where this could go 👇
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/dangers-of...
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/dangers-of...
The Government Shutdown Raises Risks for American Democracy
The Trump administration is poised to use the shutdown as an opportunity to double down on its attacks on political enemies
michaelalbertus.substack.com
October 2, 2025 at 11:28 PM
The Trump administration is using the government shutdown as an opportunity to double down on its attacks on political enemies. That raises risks for American democracy. More here on where this could go 👇
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/dangers-of...
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/dangers-of...
My interview with @johnshopkinssph.bsky.social Dean Will Howell and @stanforduniversity.bsky.social Prof. Terry Moe, leading experts on the American presidency, on their important new book The Rise of the Strongman Presidency @princetonupress.bsky.social
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/the-rise-o...
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/the-rise-o...
The Rise of the Strongman Presidency
My interview with Johns Hopkins Professor William Howell and Stanford Professor Terry Moe on their new book on the transformation of presidential power
michaelalbertus.substack.com
September 25, 2025 at 9:31 PM
My interview with @johnshopkinssph.bsky.social Dean Will Howell and @stanforduniversity.bsky.social Prof. Terry Moe, leading experts on the American presidency, on their important new book The Rise of the Strongman Presidency @princetonupress.bsky.social
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/the-rise-o...
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/the-rise-o...
The temperature is rising in American politics. Charlie Kirk's assassination is part of a growing wave of political violence that threatens the stability of our democracy and is very unusual among advanced democracies.
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/the-rising...
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/the-rising...
The Rising Tide of Political Violence
Charlie Kirk's assassination is part of a disturbing decade-old trend in the US that sets it apart from other advanced democracies
michaelalbertus.substack.com
September 19, 2025 at 6:31 PM
The temperature is rising in American politics. Charlie Kirk's assassination is part of a growing wave of political violence that threatens the stability of our democracy and is very unusual among advanced democracies.
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/the-rising...
michaelalbertus.substack.com/p/the-rising...
My interview with social change experts and philosophy professors @michaelbrownstein.bsky.social, Dan Kelly, and Alex Madva on their fantastic new book Somebody Should Do Something. A must read if you’re thinking about big social problems, how they change, and what you can do @mitpress.bsky.social
September 11, 2025 at 1:57 PM
My interview with social change experts and philosophy professors @michaelbrownstein.bsky.social, Dan Kelly, and Alex Madva on their fantastic new book Somebody Should Do Something. A must read if you’re thinking about big social problems, how they change, and what you can do @mitpress.bsky.social