Tylir Fowler

I am a PhD Candidate at Yale University. My research agenda encompasses comparative political economy and international organizations, with a focus on electoral competition and democratic accountability. I use applied formal theory, experimental data, and meta-analyses to examine how populist and nationalist politicians compete in elections, why voters support them, and whether the resurgence of populist politics contributes to democratic backsliding.

Publications

[1.] A Meta-Analysis of the Experimental Evidence on Populism and Vote Choice (with Paul Lendway) [PDF]

Conditionally accepted, American Journal of Political Science

Job Market Paper

Policy Commitments and Benefit Delivery: Electoral Competition Under International (Dis)Engagement

Abstract: This paper examines how international engagement shapes electoral competition by affecting politicians’ ability to make policy commitments. It develops a model in which incumbents choose whether to engage with an international actor before elections. Engagement guarantees international benefits but introduces the risk of externally imposed policies, weakens campaign commitments, and heightens polarization. Disengagement reduces expected access to benefits but strengthens policy commitments, reducing polarization. The model also highlights that parties differ in their ability to secure benefits, which incentivizes incumbents disadvantaged on this dimension to reduce a country’s access to benefits. The model generates a new perspective on the core trade-off between international benefits and policy autonomy, helping explain why nationalist politicians are more likely to disengage.

Work In Progress

[1.] Anti-elite Position Taking & Candidate Resolve

[2.] The Politics of Exploitation and Resistance: State-Civil Society Bargaining (with Paul Lendway)

[3.] Party Accommodation and Issue Salience

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