Research Assistant – Exploring Right-Wing Economic Ideas in The World

November 2024 – Present

Although it was too late for me to switch one of my majors to politics or legal studies, my curiosity for the field has always driven me to explore it through other avenues. I’ve long been fascinated by how political parties operate, the strategies they employ, and the trends that shape political climates—not just in the U.S., but across the globe. For me, politics isn’t just about governance, it’s about understanding the intricate dynamics between ideology, power, and society. Research became the perfect channel to dive deeper into these complexities, allowing me to turn my curiosity into meaningful contributions to the field.

As a Research Assistant under Professor Roger Schoenman in UC Santa Cruz’s Politics Department, I’m exploring how right-wing economic rhetoric has evolved among populist parties across Europe and the U.S., including in Poland, Hungary, Italy, France, and Germany. Using R/RStudio, I pull and analyze manifesto data from the Manifesto Project and categorize speeches and public statements by leaders like Viktor Orbán and Marine Le Pen. This work examines how economic nationalism is shaped by transnational influences and domestic priorities, aiming to offer insights into whether these ideas are truly innovative or simply rebranded. Through this project, I’m trying to hone my skills in data analysis and political discourse while contributing to a deeper understanding of the economic narratives shaping European politics.

More of Prof. Shoenman’s work: https://politics.ucsc.edu/faculty/index.php?uid=rschoenm

Manifesto Project Database: https://manifesto-project.wzb.eu/