Raúl Aldaz Peña
@raulaldaz.bsky.social
Political Economy. Policymaking. State Capacity. Econ & PoliSci Assis. Prof. USFQ. AKD. Beer enthusiast. ex-Chevening. PhD @KingsIntDev
Pinned
Latin American Policy just published the review that I made of @llschenoni.bsky.social's outstanding book Brinking War Back In: Victory, Defeat, and the State in Nineteenth‐Century Latin America.
Here is a thread of the review.
The book tests the war-state capacity link in the region. (1/7)
Here is a thread of the review.
The book tests the war-state capacity link in the region. (1/7)
Reposted by Raúl Aldaz Peña
Thank you for this great review @raulaldaz.bsky.social ! If after reading this great review anyone is interested in the book (for yourselves or your libraries) feel free to use this discount voucher valid until Friday
October 28, 2025 at 10:23 AM
Thank you for this great review @raulaldaz.bsky.social ! If after reading this great review anyone is interested in the book (for yourselves or your libraries) feel free to use this discount voucher valid until Friday
Latin American Policy just published the review that I made of @llschenoni.bsky.social's outstanding book Brinking War Back In: Victory, Defeat, and the State in Nineteenth‐Century Latin America.
Here is a thread of the review.
The book tests the war-state capacity link in the region. (1/7)
Here is a thread of the review.
The book tests the war-state capacity link in the region. (1/7)
October 27, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Latin American Policy just published the review that I made of @llschenoni.bsky.social's outstanding book Brinking War Back In: Victory, Defeat, and the State in Nineteenth‐Century Latin America.
Here is a thread of the review.
The book tests the war-state capacity link in the region. (1/7)
Here is a thread of the review.
The book tests the war-state capacity link in the region. (1/7)
Reposted by Raúl Aldaz Peña
Mokyr's work could not have been done today in most economics departments, but the irony is that his work would not fit in history departments today, either. Methodologically he seems more 'history' than 'economics' to economists, but the content and reasoning are too 'economics' for most historians
October 13, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Mokyr's work could not have been done today in most economics departments, but the irony is that his work would not fit in history departments today, either. Methodologically he seems more 'history' than 'economics' to economists, but the content and reasoning are too 'economics' for most historians
Reposted by Raúl Aldaz Peña
IR, Comparative, Methodology.
University general counsel, university trustee, university president
October 7, 2025 at 2:22 PM
IR, Comparative, Methodology.
Reposted by Raúl Aldaz Peña
If we set aside ad-hoc explanations, two forces stand out in shaping global development: colonial institutions and war—even if the former fails to explain Europe itself. Latin America has long tilted the debate away from the latter, but what if the real driver was war here as well?👇
Beyond Colonialism: The Long Shadow of War in Latin America’s Development
Capable states that enforce the rule of law, secure property rights, and provide public goods are prerequisites for development, but where do they originate?
cambridgeblog.org
September 29, 2025 at 2:29 PM
If we set aside ad-hoc explanations, two forces stand out in shaping global development: colonial institutions and war—even if the former fails to explain Europe itself. Latin America has long tilted the debate away from the latter, but what if the real driver was war here as well?👇
Reposted by Raúl Aldaz Peña
How can you summarise your research for a wider audience?
I think it's a no-brainer to present your work in a way that's accessible to those outside academia.
Having edited over 500 @voxdev.bsky.social articles, I've put what I've learned into this blog: voxdev.org/topic/commun...
I think it's a no-brainer to present your work in a way that's accessible to those outside academia.
Having edited over 500 @voxdev.bsky.social articles, I've put what I've learned into this blog: voxdev.org/topic/commun...
Communicating economic research: How to summarise academic papers for a policy audience
How can researchers write accessible summaries of academic research? In this blog, I reflect on some key takeaways from editing over 500 VoxDev articles that summarise policy-relevant research in deve...
voxdev.org
September 22, 2025 at 10:02 AM
How can you summarise your research for a wider audience?
I think it's a no-brainer to present your work in a way that's accessible to those outside academia.
Having edited over 500 @voxdev.bsky.social articles, I've put what I've learned into this blog: voxdev.org/topic/commun...
I think it's a no-brainer to present your work in a way that's accessible to those outside academia.
Having edited over 500 @voxdev.bsky.social articles, I've put what I've learned into this blog: voxdev.org/topic/commun...
Reposted by Raúl Aldaz Peña
Daniel Baquero has organized a neat panel on “Reform and Development from Historical Perspectives”
⏰ 8 am tomorrow (Saturday)
📍 East 3
Projects by Daniel, Steve Monroe, me, Yajie Wang, @charasz.bsky.social + @kkrakows.bsky.social. Discussion by @lisablaydes.bsky.social + @ricarthuguet.bsky.social
⏰ 8 am tomorrow (Saturday)
📍 East 3
Projects by Daniel, Steve Monroe, me, Yajie Wang, @charasz.bsky.social + @kkrakows.bsky.social. Discussion by @lisablaydes.bsky.social + @ricarthuguet.bsky.social
September 12, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Daniel Baquero has organized a neat panel on “Reform and Development from Historical Perspectives”
⏰ 8 am tomorrow (Saturday)
📍 East 3
Projects by Daniel, Steve Monroe, me, Yajie Wang, @charasz.bsky.social + @kkrakows.bsky.social. Discussion by @lisablaydes.bsky.social + @ricarthuguet.bsky.social
⏰ 8 am tomorrow (Saturday)
📍 East 3
Projects by Daniel, Steve Monroe, me, Yajie Wang, @charasz.bsky.social + @kkrakows.bsky.social. Discussion by @lisablaydes.bsky.social + @ricarthuguet.bsky.social
Reposted by Raúl Aldaz Peña
New political science grad students, a piece of unsolicited advice:
Take the full formal theory sequence; if your program doesn't offer it, go to the econ department (that's what I did). Formal logic is also a great option!
Why? You never know what will happen during grad school. 1/8
Take the full formal theory sequence; if your program doesn't offer it, go to the econ department (that's what I did). Formal logic is also a great option!
Why? You never know what will happen during grad school. 1/8
August 19, 2025 at 11:57 AM
New political science grad students, a piece of unsolicited advice:
Take the full formal theory sequence; if your program doesn't offer it, go to the econ department (that's what I did). Formal logic is also a great option!
Why? You never know what will happen during grad school. 1/8
Take the full formal theory sequence; if your program doesn't offer it, go to the econ department (that's what I did). Formal logic is also a great option!
Why? You never know what will happen during grad school. 1/8
Pure gold!
Voice is one of the most talked-about, and least explained, aspects of academic writing.
We’re told to “find it,” but rarely taught how to build it.
I wrote up some reflections here:
👉 open.substack.com/pub/catherin...
A 🧵 about why so much academic writing feels voiceless & what to do about it.
We’re told to “find it,” but rarely taught how to build it.
I wrote up some reflections here:
👉 open.substack.com/pub/catherin...
A 🧵 about why so much academic writing feels voiceless & what to do about it.
You’ve Got the Ideas. What If It’s Your Voice That’s Not Landing?
The Hidden Curriculum of Academic Writing
open.substack.com
July 15, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Pure gold!
Reposted by Raúl Aldaz Peña
Using time series graphs to make causal claims be like
July 14, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Using time series graphs to make causal claims be like
Ok, so I finally finished reading this book by
@llschenoni.bsky.social. If your are into states and development (in and beyond Latin America), you have to read it!
The book is theoretically ambitious and has a clever and brilliant research design. (1/4)
@llschenoni.bsky.social. If your are into states and development (in and beyond Latin America), you have to read it!
The book is theoretically ambitious and has a clever and brilliant research design. (1/4)
July 4, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Ok, so I finally finished reading this book by
@llschenoni.bsky.social. If your are into states and development (in and beyond Latin America), you have to read it!
The book is theoretically ambitious and has a clever and brilliant research design. (1/4)
@llschenoni.bsky.social. If your are into states and development (in and beyond Latin America), you have to read it!
The book is theoretically ambitious and has a clever and brilliant research design. (1/4)
Reposted by Raúl Aldaz Peña
📢 ¡Convocatoria abierta!
Dossier: "Estudios de política subnacional comparada en América Latina: el aporte del territorio a la construcción de teoría"
🗓️ Cierre: 16/06/2025
🔗 Info completa: revista.saap.org.ar/index.php/re...
#RevistaSAAP #REPSA #CienciaPolítica #DossierAcadémico
Dossier: "Estudios de política subnacional comparada en América Latina: el aporte del territorio a la construcción de teoría"
🗓️ Cierre: 16/06/2025
🔗 Info completa: revista.saap.org.ar/index.php/re...
#RevistaSAAP #REPSA #CienciaPolítica #DossierAcadémico
April 11, 2025 at 2:22 PM
📢 ¡Convocatoria abierta!
Dossier: "Estudios de política subnacional comparada en América Latina: el aporte del territorio a la construcción de teoría"
🗓️ Cierre: 16/06/2025
🔗 Info completa: revista.saap.org.ar/index.php/re...
#RevistaSAAP #REPSA #CienciaPolítica #DossierAcadémico
Dossier: "Estudios de política subnacional comparada en América Latina: el aporte del territorio a la construcción de teoría"
🗓️ Cierre: 16/06/2025
🔗 Info completa: revista.saap.org.ar/index.php/re...
#RevistaSAAP #REPSA #CienciaPolítica #DossierAcadémico
Reposted by Raúl Aldaz Peña
Are you doing research in contexts of conflict, insecurity and development? Are you using participatory and creative research methods?
Apply now for our one-day workshop on 26 September, where we will discuss the benefits, practical and ethical challenges in using participatory methodologies.
Apply now for our one-day workshop on 26 September, where we will discuss the benefits, practical and ethical challenges in using participatory methodologies.
May 27, 2025 at 12:51 PM
Are you doing research in contexts of conflict, insecurity and development? Are you using participatory and creative research methods?
Apply now for our one-day workshop on 26 September, where we will discuss the benefits, practical and ethical challenges in using participatory methodologies.
Apply now for our one-day workshop on 26 September, where we will discuss the benefits, practical and ethical challenges in using participatory methodologies.
Reposted by Raúl Aldaz Peña
New Broadstreet post by @pavisuri.bsky.social, who continues her series on state capacity. Today's post is on what we can learn about the origins and reversal of bureaucratic capacity in China & why state-building in China confounds scholars of Europe: www.broadstreet.blog/p/the-rise-a...
The rise and reversal of bureaucratic capacity: lessons from Chinese history
In a previous post, I discussed ways in which recent historical political economy research has advanced the study of state capacity.
www.broadstreet.blog
May 19, 2025 at 11:30 AM
New Broadstreet post by @pavisuri.bsky.social, who continues her series on state capacity. Today's post is on what we can learn about the origins and reversal of bureaucratic capacity in China & why state-building in China confounds scholars of Europe: www.broadstreet.blog/p/the-rise-a...
Reposted by Raúl Aldaz Peña
What does it take to advance this frontier and to more firmly establish HPE as a research field in Europe?
open.substack.com/pub/alexandr...
open.substack.com/pub/alexandr...
The Future of Historical Political Economy in Europe
By Bastian Becker (Humboldt-University of Berlin), Lukas Haffert (University of Geneva), Cathrin Mohr (University of Bonn)
open.substack.com
May 12, 2025 at 1:11 PM
What does it take to advance this frontier and to more firmly establish HPE as a research field in Europe?
open.substack.com/pub/alexandr...
open.substack.com/pub/alexandr...
Reposted by Raúl Aldaz Peña
🎓 New working paper: "Communism in the Classroom: Long-Run Effects of an Experiment" (with Matti Mitrunen)
![This paper investigates the individual-level economic impacts of Marxist-Leninist indoctrination. We examine the long-run effects of a rogue educational experiment that, between 1973 and 1975, exposed two cohorts of fifth graders in one Finnish municipality to a history and social studies curriculum influenced by Soviet ideas. The experiment aimed to study the formation of a ``functioning [socialist] worldview.'' Students in other cohorts and municipalities followed the standard curriculum. Using comprehensive register data and a difference-in-differences approach, we show that exposed students earned significantly less in adulthood than their non-exposed peers. This gap is partly explained by reduced labor supply and a shift toward more left-leaning, lower-paying occupations. We find no substantial effects on educational attainment, cognitive ability, or personality traits related to achievement striving. These findings highlight the long-lasting economic consequences of early exposure to ideological content in the classroom.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:iw4zik7u5zligtxo5zkry7ie/bafkreia3fludtx33qqjgyvqy4o72637jqj5xuqlpuds23fr2irlggcxrvi@jpeg)
April 30, 2025 at 2:22 PM
🎓 New working paper: "Communism in the Classroom: Long-Run Effects of an Experiment" (with Matti Mitrunen)
Reposted by Raúl Aldaz Peña
We're hiring an LSE Fellow in Advanced Quantitative Methods❗
The successful candidate will contribute to the Department’s teaching activities through seminar teaching, methods surgeries, and dissertation/capstone supervision.
For more info and to apply➡️ jobs.lse.ac.uk/Vacancies/W/...
The successful candidate will contribute to the Department’s teaching activities through seminar teaching, methods surgeries, and dissertation/capstone supervision.
For more info and to apply➡️ jobs.lse.ac.uk/Vacancies/W/...
April 1, 2025 at 10:00 AM
We're hiring an LSE Fellow in Advanced Quantitative Methods❗
The successful candidate will contribute to the Department’s teaching activities through seminar teaching, methods surgeries, and dissertation/capstone supervision.
For more info and to apply➡️ jobs.lse.ac.uk/Vacancies/W/...
The successful candidate will contribute to the Department’s teaching activities through seminar teaching, methods surgeries, and dissertation/capstone supervision.
For more info and to apply➡️ jobs.lse.ac.uk/Vacancies/W/...
Reposted by Raúl Aldaz Peña
🚨Call for papers!
We will be hosting this great workshop next autumn, organized by @clpennec.bsky.social, @nicolasajz.bsky.social and our own Cevat Aksoy.
Submit your best political economy work!
We will be hosting this great workshop next autumn, organized by @clpennec.bsky.social, @nicolasajz.bsky.social and our own Cevat Aksoy.
Submit your best political economy work!
🚨 Call for papers! The second edition of the Transatlantic Political Economy Conference (T-PEC) will be in November in London. Organized by @clpennec.bsky.social Cevat Aksoy and me.
The submission deadline is July 4, 2025. Apply here (and RT!):
sites.google.com/view/tpec-mo...
The submission deadline is July 4, 2025. Apply here (and RT!):
sites.google.com/view/tpec-mo...
April 16, 2025 at 6:42 PM
🚨Call for papers!
We will be hosting this great workshop next autumn, organized by @clpennec.bsky.social, @nicolasajz.bsky.social and our own Cevat Aksoy.
Submit your best political economy work!
We will be hosting this great workshop next autumn, organized by @clpennec.bsky.social, @nicolasajz.bsky.social and our own Cevat Aksoy.
Submit your best political economy work!
Reposted by Raúl Aldaz Peña
We cannot take democracy for granted. The turn towards more democracy is a huge human achievement.
It is more recent than we often realize. Only 9 countries have had an electoral democracy for over 91 years - and even fewer for liberal democracy. Let's take care of these important institutions.
It is more recent than we often realize. Only 9 countries have had an electoral democracy for over 91 years - and even fewer for liberal democracy. Let's take care of these important institutions.
April 21, 2025 at 2:38 PM
We cannot take democracy for granted. The turn towards more democracy is a huge human achievement.
It is more recent than we often realize. Only 9 countries have had an electoral democracy for over 91 years - and even fewer for liberal democracy. Let's take care of these important institutions.
It is more recent than we often realize. Only 9 countries have had an electoral democracy for over 91 years - and even fewer for liberal democracy. Let's take care of these important institutions.
Reposted by Raúl Aldaz Peña
🚨 Call for papers! The second edition of the Transatlantic Political Economy Conference (T-PEC) will be in November in London. Organized by @clpennec.bsky.social Cevat Aksoy and me.
The submission deadline is July 4, 2025. Apply here (and RT!):
sites.google.com/view/tpec-mo...
The submission deadline is July 4, 2025. Apply here (and RT!):
sites.google.com/view/tpec-mo...
April 16, 2025 at 5:15 PM
🚨 Call for papers! The second edition of the Transatlantic Political Economy Conference (T-PEC) will be in November in London. Organized by @clpennec.bsky.social Cevat Aksoy and me.
The submission deadline is July 4, 2025. Apply here (and RT!):
sites.google.com/view/tpec-mo...
The submission deadline is July 4, 2025. Apply here (and RT!):
sites.google.com/view/tpec-mo...
Reposted by Raúl Aldaz Peña
New post on @broadstreetblog.bsky.social by yours truly and co-author José Antonio Espín-Sánchez. Check it out! #econhistory #colonialism #migration
www.broadstreet.blog/p/the-making...
www.broadstreet.blog/p/the-making...
The Making of America: migration in colonial times
By Leticia Arroyo-Abad (CUNY) and Jose-Antonio Espin-Sanchez (Yale)
www.broadstreet.blog
April 15, 2025 at 12:47 PM
New post on @broadstreetblog.bsky.social by yours truly and co-author José Antonio Espín-Sánchez. Check it out! #econhistory #colonialism #migration
www.broadstreet.blog/p/the-making...
www.broadstreet.blog/p/the-making...
Reposted by Raúl Aldaz Peña
Reposted by Raúl Aldaz Peña
Los economistas tenemos mucho que aprender de otras ciencias sociales.
Hoy escribí sobre una de estas cosas en particular, una que los politólogos entienden muy bien: El valor del conocimiento sustancial
Léanlo aquí: forbes.co/2025/04/08/r...
Hoy escribí sobre una de estas cosas en particular, una que los politólogos entienden muy bien: El valor del conocimiento sustancial
Léanlo aquí: forbes.co/2025/04/08/r...
April 9, 2025 at 1:33 PM
Los economistas tenemos mucho que aprender de otras ciencias sociales.
Hoy escribí sobre una de estas cosas en particular, una que los politólogos entienden muy bien: El valor del conocimiento sustancial
Léanlo aquí: forbes.co/2025/04/08/r...
Hoy escribí sobre una de estas cosas en particular, una que los politólogos entienden muy bien: El valor del conocimiento sustancial
Léanlo aquí: forbes.co/2025/04/08/r...
My new books just arrived! And I am eager to dive into them.
Expect comments in the next few weeks (or decade, given the amount of commitments that I have for the coming months).
Expect comments in the next few weeks (or decade, given the amount of commitments that I have for the coming months).
April 8, 2025 at 10:18 PM
My new books just arrived! And I am eager to dive into them.
Expect comments in the next few weeks (or decade, given the amount of commitments that I have for the coming months).
Expect comments in the next few weeks (or decade, given the amount of commitments that I have for the coming months).
Reposted by Raúl Aldaz Peña
New Broadstreet post by Peng Peng: Narratives of Imperial China as a meritocracy need a corrective. Using data from Qing dynasty she shows exams didn’t just determine who governed—they created a bureaucracy that was culturally & ideologically unified, raising questions about how we study meritocracy
The Myth of Meritocracy: How Exams Helped Build an Empire
By Peng Peng (Washington University in St. Louis)
www.broadstreet.blog
March 31, 2025 at 1:32 PM
New Broadstreet post by Peng Peng: Narratives of Imperial China as a meritocracy need a corrective. Using data from Qing dynasty she shows exams didn’t just determine who governed—they created a bureaucracy that was culturally & ideologically unified, raising questions about how we study meritocracy