Dr. Rollin Tusalem

Dr. Rollin F. Tusalem is a Professor of Political Science at Arkansas State University and an internationally published scholar of comparative politics and political economy. His research examines a fundamental question in political development: Why do some nation-states build effective, accountable institutions while others struggle with weak governance, political violence, and state fragility? His scholarship investigates how institutions, historical legacies, social structures, and political actors shape democratic development and the capacity of states to govern effectively.

Tusalem’s research spans comparative democratization, state capacity, political development, political dynasties, gender and representation, political and social violence, and international development. His regional expertise centers on Southeast Asia—particularly the Philippines—and Africa, while his work addresses broader theoretical questions in comparative politics. Methodologically, he combines quantitative research, econometric and panel-data analysis, and comparative-historical approaches to uncover the long-term institutional foundations of contemporary political outcomes.

His scholarship has appeared in prominent journals in his field, including Comparative Political Studies, International Political Science Review, Polity, Government and Opposition, Journal of East Asian Studies, Asian Survey, Politics & Policy, and Human Rights Review. His research has also appeared in edited volumes published by Oxford University Press and Columbia University Press.

Tusalem’s scholarship has received recognition from the political science discipline. He received the Polity Prize for his research on the colonial foundations of state fragility, as well as the Richard J. Terrill Award for outstanding research on political and social violence. He was also a finalist for the Meisel–LaPonce Best Article Award of the International Political Science Association and has received Arkansas State University awards for excellence in research and teaching.

Beyond academic publications, Tusalem’s research has reached policy debates internationally. His research on political dynasties and democratic governance in the Philippines has been cited in proposed anti-political-dynasty legislation introduced in both the Philippine House of Representatives and Senate. His scholarship has also attracted international media and policy attention on issues including Philippine governance, political violence, migration, and democratic development.

Tusalem earned his Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Missouri. His current research continues to explore the historical and institutional foundations of effective governance, democratic development, political violence, and state capacity across the developing world.