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Matthew Placek

Assistant Professor of Political Science, University of South Carolina-Upstate
Chapter Member: South Carolina SSN
Areas of Expertise:

About Matthew

James Lockhart's primary research interests include American foreign relations, security and intelligence studies, and Latin American politics and history. It offers historians, policymakers, and the informed public an alternative way to think about the United States and international affairs and the effectiveness of US strategy and foreign policy, particularly with respect to the workings of Washington's power and influence in the developing world. This departs from the U.S.-centered narratives that have tended to shape and condition the production of historical knowledge, public opinion, and policymaking since the 1970s. Besides appreciated American agency, power, and influence, it recognizes Latin American and Global South agency, power, and influence. Lockhart hopes that this will cultivate more dynamic, interactive, and historically sounder interpretations that will in turn promote more mature and productive relationships between the United States and others in the twenty-first century. Lockhart serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Intelligence History, has published in the International History Review, the Marine Corps University Journal (MCU Journal), and War on the Rocks. He has been consulted on background and/or interviewed by investigative journalists in the US, Brazil, and the Emirates. He is currently researching the career of Lt. Gen. Vernon Walters in Latin America, from the Brazilian coup in 1964 to the Falklands War in 1982.

In the News

Opinion: "Poland’s Digital Divide May Have Helped Secure President Duda’s Reelection," Matthew Placek, Democratization , August 4, 2020.

Publications

"Can the Internet Aid Democratic Consolidation? Online News and Legitimacy in Central and Eastern Europe" International Journal of Communication 12 (2018).

Discusses online news consumption leads to more positive evaluations of government and democracy in Central and Eastern Europe.

"Social Media and Regime Support in Russia: Does It Matter Which Website Is Used?" Journal East European Politics (2019).

Elaborates on how Russian social media users have less trust in institutions and political actors, but more satisfaction with the economy and the level of democracy in Russia. Discusses how furtehr Russian Twitter and Facebook users are more critical of key actors and their handling of democracy.

"Learning Democracy Digitally? The Internet and Knowledge of Democracy in Nondemocracies" Democratization (2020).

Discusses how using the internet as an information source leads people in autocratic regimes to understand key characteristics of democracy as essential. Mentions how It also leads people in both hybrid regimes and autocracies to see characteristics of authoritarianism as not aligned with democracy.

"Democracy: Social Media Use and Democratic Legitimacy in Central and Eastern Europe" Democratization 24, no. 4 (2016).

Discusses increased support for democracy in Central and Eastern Europe. Mentions how the general use rather than finding news via social media provides more consistent effects on a person's support for democracy in CEE.