Xiao Ding

University of Arizona, School of Government and Public Policy

315 Social Sciences Building, Tucson, AZ 85721

xiaoding@arizona.edu

xiaoding.com

RESEARCH INTERESTS

• Substantive: Authoritarian Politics, Major Power Relationships, Contentious Politics, Gender Politics
• Methodological: Experimental Research, Survey, Causal Inference, Qualitative Interview, Network Analysis, Text-as-Data

EDUCATION

University of Arizona, U.S.

Ph.D. in Comparative Politics, Expected 2026

(Minor: Research Methodology)

Peking University, China

M.A. in Comparative Politics, 2020

Jilin University, China

B.A.  in Political Science, 2018

DISSERTATION

• “Strengthening Autocracy: How External Actors Enhance Regime Resilience in China”
• Committee: Schuler, Paul (Chair), Daniel Arnon, and Kissa Ryckman

RESEARCH

Peer-Reviewed Publications

•  Informal Taxation, Co-Production, and Political Gender Bias: A Theory of Voter Bias Against Women Village Leaders. Governance, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1111/gove.70023. (with Paul Schuler).

Under Review

• Navigating Cognitive Dissonance in Autocratic Protest Movements: A Multi-Source Analysis with a Focus on China (Lead author, with Daniel Arnon).  

Selected Working Papers

• Weaponizing Foreign Threats: Foreign Intervention Claims and Regime Legitimacy in Authoritarian China (Solo-authored). ·          Preparation for Submission.

• Propaganda on Gender Hierarchy and Domestic Control in Autocracies (Solo-authored). Pre-analysis Plan
•  Sino–Russian Alliance and Public Opinion in China (Solo-authored). Pre-analysis Plan

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Instructor of Record

POL 204: Introduction to Comparative Politics - Spring 2024, Fall 2024, Spring and Summer 2025.

Teaching Assistant

POL 204: Comparative Politics in the Age of Globalization - Spring and Fall 2022, Fall 2023

POL 203: Political Ideas - Spring 2023

POL 206: Public Policy and Administration - Fall 2021

CONFERENCES and WORKSHOPS

Four Corners Conflict Networks, 04/2025

West Political Science Association Conference, 04/2025

Mid-West Political Science Association Conference, 04/2025

Comparative politics online workshop at Waseda University 09/2022

Gender and Politics panel, MPSA 04/2023

GRANTS and FELLOWSHIPS

• Graduate Student Travel Grant from 4CCN, 2025, Northern Arizona University (one recipient; $500)
• GPSC Travel Grant S2025, University of Arizona ($1000)
• SBSRI Dissertation Research Grant S2025, University of Arizona ($3000)
• Social and Behavioral Science Research Institute (SBSRI) Pre-Doctoral Grant 2021, University of Arizona ($500)
• University of Arizona Summer Fellowships*2, 2021,2022 ($3000)
• SGPP Travel Funding, University of Arizona ($300)
• Academic Excellence Scholarship, Peking University, China, 2018-2019, 2019-2020
• Outstanding College-Level Class Leader, Jilin University, China, 2016-2017
• College-Level Merit Student, Jilin University, China, 2016-2017
• Academic Excellence Scholarship, Jilin University, China, 2015-2016

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

• Reviewer for conference panels and workshop discussions.
• Serving as a graduate grants reviewer at the University of Arizona.
• Mentoring undergraduate students at the University of Arizona.

LANGUAGES

• Chinese (Native)
• English (Fluent)