Thank you for visiting my website! I am Mai Truong, an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Marquette University. Before joining Marquette University, I was an Assistant Professor at Mount St. Mary’s University (2022-2023). I received my Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Arizona in 2022.

My research examines the interaction between movements, states, and publics in authoritarian regimes, focusing on how mobilization, coalition-building, and state strategies – ranging from propaganda and repression to foreign policy – shape political outcomes and public attitudes. Within this broad agenda, I pursue projects in three interconnected areas: (1) the conditions under which cross-movement coalitions form and endure, (2) how citizens in authoritarian contexts perceive and respond to activism, and (3) how activists, citizens, and lower-level bureaucrats navigate evolving political environments and crises.

My work draws on fieldwork in Vietnam and Malaysia, complemented by original surveys and field experiments, cross-national datasets, and historical process tracing. Regionally, I focus on East and Southeast Asia, while my theoretical contributions engage broader debates on authoritarian politics, social movements, and political behavior.

My research is published or forthcoming at World Politics, Comparative Political Studies, Comparative Politics, Pacific Affairs, Government and Opposition, Asian Journal of Comparative Politics, and Asian Politics & Policy. I also love opportunities to share my ideas with non-academic audiences and have written about my ideas in the The Diplomat and Asia Times.

My teaching expertise includes authoritarian politics, social movements and protests, East and Southeast Asian politics, political methodology, and comparative politics.

I welcome any opportunities to talk about my work or your work, and to collaborate on research ideas. You can reach me at mai.truong@marquette.edu.

Thank you for stopping by my site!