Gregg Johnson

Biography

Professor Johnson was born and raised in the Wolverine State and graduated from the Residential College at the University of Michigan. He then taught bilingual fifth grade in Houston, Texas as part of the Teach for America program. After teaching in Houston, he began graduate studies in comparative politics at the University of Arizona, where he completed his M.A. and his Ph.D. in political science. He taught at the University at Buffalo, SUNY from 2003-2010 and joined the department at Valpo in fall 2010. His research examines how political institutions (the rules of the game) affect elite and mass behaviors in Latin America and the United States, and his work has appeared in the American Journal of Political Science, Latin American Politics and Society, American Politics Research, the Journal of Legislative Studies, and the Journal of Politics in Latin America. He teaches courses in comparative politics, political economy, and research methods.

Recognitions

• Lisa Hertel Outstanding Professor Award. 2010. Awarded by the Undergraduate Political Science Association for Excellence in Teaching. University at Buffalo, SUNY.
• Baldy Center Small Research Grant. 2008. Baldy Center for Law and Social Policy. University at Buffalo, SUNY.
• Graduate College Dean’s Dissertation Fellowship. 2001. Graduate College. University of Arizona.
• Fulbright Fellowship (declined). 2001. Institute of International Education. New York, NY.
• Graduate Summer Research Grant. 2001. Social and Behavioral Sciences Research Institute. University of Arizona.
• Finalist, Excellence in Teaching Award. 2000. University of Arizona.
• Tinker Foundation Grant. 1998. Latin American Area Center. University of Arizona.

Memberships

American Political Science Association, Midwest Political Science Association, Southern Political Science Association

Courses Taught

Comparative Politics, Research Methods in Political Science (Statistics), Model United Nations, Politics of Latin America, International Political Economy, American Foreign Policy, War and Conflict, Comparative Public Policy, Senior Seminar in Political Science

Interests

Democratic Institutions (rules of the game), Latin America, Elections and Public Opinion, Latino Politics, Democratic Accountability, Sino-Latin American Relations

Contributions

Journal Articles (Peer Reviewed)

• “Sino-Latin American Relations: A Comparison of Expert and Educated Youth Views of Latin America.” 2015. Journal of China and International Relations. 3(1): 26-52.
• “Policy Change in Presidential Democracies: The Differential Determinants of Market-Oriented Reforms in Latin America.” 2014. Journal of Self-Governance and Management Economics. 2(1): 19-43. (Republication)
• “Policy Change in Presidential Democracies: The Differential Determinants of Market-Oriented Reforms in Latin America.” 2012. Economics, Management, and Financial Markets. 7(2): 11-35.
• “A Blue Tide in the Golden State: Ballot Propositions, Population Change, and Party Identification in California.” 2012. American Politics Research. 40(3): 450-475. (With Joshua J. Dyck and Jesse T. Wasson).
• “Repudiating or Rewarding Neoliberalism? How Broken Campaign Promises Condition Economc Voting in Latin America.” 2010. Latin American Politics and Society. 52(4): 1-24. (With Sooh-Rhee Ryu).
• “The Political Economies of Economic Liberalization: Veto Players, Economics, and Diffusion in the Shift to Free Market Economies.” 2010. Economics, Management, and Financial Markets. 5(2): 105-124. (With Jesse T. Wasson).
• “Committees and Policy in Latin America: Property Rights, Executive Dominance, Political Parties, and Universalism in Colombia, Costa Rica, and Venezuela.” 2010. Journal of Legislative Studies. 16(2): 151-175. (With Charles J. Finocchiaro).
• “Divisive Primaries and Incumbent General Election Performance: Prospects and Costs in U.S. House Races.” 2010. American Politics Research. 38(5): 931-950. (with Meredith-Joy Petersheim and Jesse T. Wasson).
• “Economic Accountability and Political Context: Explaining Presidential Approval in Central America.” 2009. Journal of Politics in Latin America. 1(3): 33-56. (with Leslie A. Schwindt-Bayer).
• “Mandates, Powers, and Policies.” 2003. American Journal of Political Science. 47(1): 128-142. (with Brian F. Crisp).

Other Publications

• “China, Latin America, and the United States: The Political Economy of Energy Policy in the Americas.” 2011. In China’s Energy Relations with the Global South, Currier, Carrie Liu and Manochehr Dorraj. NY: Continuum Books. (with Jesse T. Wasson).
• “Public Opinion and Politics in Mexico.” 2004. In The Encyclopedia of Public Opinion, ed. John Geer. ABC-CLIO.
• “Book Review: Political Economy of Energy in the Southern Cone. By Anil Hira. Westport, CT: Praeger Publishers. Perspectives on Politics 2(3): 612-613.
• “Book Review: Presidents without Parties: the Politics of Economic Reform in Argentina and Venezuela in the 1990s.” 2004. By Javier Corrales. University Park, PA: The Pennsylvania State University Press. Journal of Latin American Studies. 36(2): 385-387.

• “Book Review: Legislative Institutions and Ideology in Chile. 2001. By John B. Londregan. New York: Cambridge University Press.” Latin American Politics and Society 43(3): 170-175. (with Brian F. Crisp)
• “De instituciones que restringen a instituciones ausentes.” 2001. In Venezuela en transicion: elecciones y democracia 1998-2000, eds. Jose Vicente Carrasquero, Thais Maingon, Federico Welsch, 267-276. Caracas, Venezuela: CDB Publicaciones.

Continuing Projects

• “The China Factor and U.S.-Cuban Relations.” (With Zhimin Lin)
• “Latin American Attitudes Toward China: The role of economics, politics, and class.” (With Jesse T. Wasson)
• “When’s the Party? Parties, Coalitions, and their role in fragmented, decentralized legislatures.” (With Mónica Páchon)
• “Latino Macropartisanship in the United States.” (With Joshua Dyck)
• “Campaign Promises and Electoral Accountability in South Korea.” (With Sooh-Rhee Ryu)

Education

• Ph.D. in Political Science, 2003
  University of Arizona
• M.A. in Political Science, 1999
  University of Arizona
• A.B. in Political Science and Spanish, 1993
  University of Michigan