Hello! My name is Bear Brown, and I am a Political Science PhD candidate at Ohio State. My main focus areas are American Politics and Democratic Theory, especially in applying contemporary democratic theory to campaign rhetoric, populism, and political psychology.
My work centers around the concept of anti-elitism as a component of populism, especially as it functions independently. In particular, I am interested in the various ways in which American political candidates use anti-elitism as a rhetorical tool during campaigns. I also study the various ways in which anti-pluralism manifests in the U.S. context, both implicitly and explicitly.
On the other side of the coin, I also examine the ways in which voters respond to anti-elite rhetoric, such as its effects on persuasion and eventual political behavior in terms of voting outcomes.
Beyond this, I have further research interests in legislative behavior. Specifically, I theorize ways in which members of Congress may behave in ways that signal anti-elitism to their constituents.