Zachary ElkinsÂ’ research focuses on issues of national constitutions, democracy, institutional reform, research methods, and national identity, with an emphasis on cases in Latin America. His book, "The Endurance of National Constitutions" (2009), explores the factors that lead to the survival of national constitutions. He is currently completing another book manuscript, "Designed by Diffusion: Constitutional Reform in Developing Democracies," which examines the design and diffusion of democratic institutions. He published numerous articles and book chapters and created online and media projects on topics related to policy-making and constitutional politics. Elkins co-directs both the Comparative Constitutions Project, a NSF-funded initiative to understand the causes and consequences of constitutional choices, and the website constituteproject.org, which provides resources and analysis for constitutional drafters in new democracies.
Ph.D.
in Political Science, University of California, Berkeley, 2003
M.A.
in Government, University of Texas at Austin, 1996
B.A.
in Philosophy, Yale University, 1992
national constitutions, democracy, institutional reform, research methods, and national identity, with an emphasis on cases in Latin America
Member,
Centennial Speakers Committee, University of Texas at Austin (2014 - 2015)
Member,
Human Dimensions of Organizations Advisory Board, University of Texas at Austin (2012 - Present)
Reviewer,
Editorial Board, inter alia, American Journal of Political Science; American Political Science Review; Journal of Politics; Political Psychology; International Organization; Journal of Peace Research; World Politics; Journal of Theoretical Politics; NSF
Lijphart/Przeworski/Verba Prizefor Best Dataset
- American Political Science Association, Comparative Politics Section (2013)
Fellow of H. Malcolm Macdonald Chair in Constitutional and Comparative Law
- University of Texas at Austin (2013 - 2016)
Innovating Justice Award
- Hague Institute for the Internationalization of Law (2012)
Grant (for SES)
- National Science Foundation (2007 - 2009)
