Ken | Mathis Lohatepanont

Hello! I am a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Political Science at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. I am also a Visiting Fellow in the Thailand Studies Program at the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute. I was previously a researcher at the Thailand Development Research Institute and completed my B.A. in political science at the University of California, Berkeley.

As a political scientist specializing in comparative politics, my research revolves around the politics of how strong institutions are built and branded. In particular, my dissertation project focuses on how political parties institutionalize despite unlikely conditions. I also research the political challenges of economic restructuring facing middle-income countries. Finally, I analyze electoral politics and voter behavior in Thailand. I draw on both qualitative approaches, such as comparative historical analysis and fieldwork, along with quantitative surveys in my research.

I help people make sense of Thai politics with my newsletter The Coffee Parliament, which counts diplomats, journalists, business executives, and academics among its subscribers. I am also a regular contributor to both academic and journalistic publications. My insights on Thai politics have been quoted by several media outlets such as the Financial Times, Foreign Policy, and the New York Times, and my work has been published in newspapers including the Washington Post and the Bangkok Post. In addition, you can find some of my other interests and projects here.