This Career Advancement Award for Women Scientists and Engineers is intended to support an experienced investigator in activities that can expand her research career potential through developing new research skills and conducting exploratory and pilot work to determine the feasibility of a contemplated new line of inquiry. The work is directed at investigating the initiation of particular democratic institutions, particularly during periods of transition to democracy. The study begins with the hypothesis that institutional choice depends primarily on the interests of those charged with writing and voting on new laws and constitutions, and that these interests center on achieving and surviving in office. The research methodology involves, first, locating the constitutions, constitutional amendments, laws, and decrees that initiate institutional change; second, attributing institutional preferences derived from their electoral and other political survival needs to the actors involved; and third, examining the historical record to see if the actors identified acted as predicted or not. Cases to be examined include nine Latin American countries with substantial democratic experience during the twentieth century and four East European countries currently engaged in the transition to democracy. During the period of the award, the investigator will take courses in math and game theory to upgrade her analytic skills as well as reading widely on the history and politics of Eastern Europe. This Career Advancement Award promises to substantially expand the capabilities and potential of the investigator.
