Lindsay Benstead

Email: benstead@pdx.edu
Phone: 503.725.8278
Office: 650G URBN

Lindsay J. Benstead (Ph.D. 2008, Public Policy and Political Science, University of Michigan--Ann Arbor) is Assistant Professor of Political Science in the School of Government where she teaches courses on Middle East and North African politics and research methods. Her working book project, entitled Legislative Connections: Why Diverse Patterns of Parliamentary Clientelism Stabilize Authoritarian Governance in Arab North Africa, examines the relationship between regime type and the structure of patron-client relationships, bringing these insights to bear on understanding how legislatures strengthen authoritarian regimes and how political transition affects the durability and breakdown of patronage networks. Professor Benstead also examines gender-related dimensions of electoral politics, public opinion, and survey methodology in the Middle East. One of her projects seeks to understand why popular perceptions of women as good political leaders vary across Middle Eastern societies and assesses whether gender quotas affect popular support for gender equality.  Professor Benstead is also working on several papers assessing the impact of interviewer gender and religious dress on attitudes in Moroccan social surveys.

Graduate Courses:

• PS 507/607, "Politics and Policy of the Middle East"
• PS 495/595, "Research Methods for Political Science"
• PS 407U/507U, "Government and Politics of Arab North Africa"

Undergraduate Courses:

•  PS 316U, "Introduction to Middle East Politics"
•  PS 362U, "Israeli-Palestine Conflict and Peace Process"
•  UNST 233/INTL 247, "Sophomore Inquiry: Global Perspectives Middle East"