At a time when democracy is under strain and authoritarian movements are resurgent across the globe, Dr Brian Klaas has emerged as one of the most outspoken analysts of how power really works-and how it goes wrong. A political scientist and Associate Professor in Global Politics at University College London‘s Faculty of Social & Historical Sciences, Klaas bridges the worlds of rigorous academic research and public debate, examining the forces that destabilise democratic institutions, enable corruption and fuel political extremism.
From global election interference and the mechanics of dictatorship to the psychology of conspiracy theorists and the fragility of democratic norms, Klaas’s work tackles the darker corners of modern politics with a clear, accessible style more often associated with investigative journalism than with the seminar room. Through his books, commentary and public engagement, he has become a prominent voice in explaining why political systems fail-and what might be done to reform them.
Academic journey and research focus of Dr Brian Klaas at UCL
Educated at leading institutions on both sides of the Atlantic, Dr Brian Klaas has built an academic career at UCL shaped by an insistence on connecting rigorous political science to urgent real‑world questions. Trained first in history and politics before specialising in comparative politics and democratic theory,he has focused his scholarly work on why some societies descend into authoritarianism,corruption and political violence while others manage to sustain pluralism and the rule of law. His teaching in the Faculty of Social & Historical Sciences blends archival research, fieldwork and data‑driven analysis, encouraging students to test grand theories of power against the lived experience of citizens, activists and political elites.
Within UCL, his research program examines the mechanics of modern autocracies, the fragility of democratic institutions and the psychology of political behavior. He frequently draws on interviews with policymakers and dissidents, cross‑national datasets and case studies from emerging and established democracies. Key strands of his work include:
- Democratic backsliding – mapping how norms erode before formal institutions collapse.
- Authoritarian innovation – tracking new tools of surveillance, disinformation and repression.
- Elite decision‑making – analysing how small groups shape disruptive national and global outcomes.
- Public trust and conspiracy thinking – exploring how misinformation reshapes political engagement.
| Theme | Typical Focus |
|---|---|
| Democratic resilience | Safeguards that prevent institutional breakdown |
| Authoritarianism | Patterns of control in hybrid and full autocracies |
| Political elites | How leaders and insiders make high‑stakes choices |
| Global risk | Political drivers of instability and crisis |
How Dr Brian Klaas investigates democracy authoritarianism and political violence
From the corridors of power in Washington and Brussels to fragile states emerging from conflict, Dr Brian Klaas dissects how institutions either resist or slide towards authoritarian control. Drawing on fieldwork, elite interviews and comparative case studies, he tracks how leaders manipulate elections, courts and security forces to entrench their rule, while citizens and civil society push back. His research maps the subtle tipping points where democratic norms erode-often long before a coup or constitutional crisis-highlighting the warning signs that policymakers, journalists and voters frequently miss.
His work also exposes the practical mechanics of coercion and political bloodshed, exploring who orders violence, who carries it out and why some regimes succeed in normalising repression. To do this, he combines multiple lenses, including:
- Elite interviewing with coup plotters, autocrats and opposition leaders
- Comparative analysis of democratic backsliding across regions
- Data-driven examination into patterns of unrest and state violence
- Institutional scrutiny of constitutions, security sectors and electoral systems
| Focus Area | Key Question |
|---|---|
| Democratic resilience | Why do some democracies survive crises? |
| Authoritarian playbooks | How do leaders quietly consolidate power? |
| Political violence | When and why does repression escalate? |
Teaching philosophy and student engagement within the Faculty of Social and Historical Sciences
Rooted in a journalist’s instinct for clarity and evidence, Dr Brian Klaas designs his teaching around live global cases rather than static theory. Seminars move from archival sources to breaking news, encouraging students to interrogate how power operates in real time. Instead of relying solely on lectures, he uses a mix of data-driven storytelling, comparative case studies, and scenario-based debates that mirror the uncertainty of political life. This approach situates students as emerging analysts rather than passive note-takers, asking them to test arguments, question assumptions, and translate complex research into language that policymakers and the public can understand.
Student engagement is structured, not incidental. Sessions often begin with short, student-led briefings that spark discussion and inform group work such as policy memos or op-ed style reflections. Interactive activities include:
- Mock advisory councils where students craft recommendations for fictional governments.
- Ethics labs that dissect dilemmas around democracy, disinformation, and authoritarianism.
- Research sprints turning raw datasets into concise,media-ready insights.
| Activity | Skill Focus |
|---|---|
| Global case brief | Analytical writing |
| Democracy simulation | Decision-making under pressure |
| Media critique lab | Source evaluation |
Policy impact collaborations and practical recommendations emerging from Dr Klaas’s work
Drawing on fieldwork that spans fragile democracies and entrenched autocracies, Dr Brian Klaas works closely with diplomats, civil servants and NGOs to translate his findings into actionable reforms rather than abstract theory. His collaborations have informed internal guidance at international organisations on how to identify early-warning signs of democratic backsliding, as well as how to design sanctions and election-observation missions that actually change behaviour on the ground. These partnerships frequently enough emerge from his dual role as a public scholar and academic, where insights from interviews with power-brokers, dissidents and election officials feed directly into confidential policy roundtables and advisory groups. Through this, his research becomes a practical toolkit for those tasked with defending institutions under pressure.
From these collaborations, a series of clear, practice-oriented recommendations has taken shape for governments, civil society and media actors seeking to strengthen democratic resilience:
- Prioritise institutional safeguards over personal trust in leaders, focusing on independent courts, electoral commissions and audit bodies.
- Invest in local knowledge by partnering with journalists, activists and academics who can map informal power networks.
- Disrupt the “authoritarian playbook” through targeted, coordinated responses to disinformation, legal harassment and weaponised bureaucracy.
- Redesign aid and support programmes so they reward accountability, not merely formal elections or surface-level reforms.
| Policy Partner | Focus Area | Key Output |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign ministries | Election integrity | Risk-mapping frameworks |
| International NGOs | Authoritarian resilience | Scenario-planning guides |
| Think tanks | Sanctions design | Evidence-based criteria |
Wrapping Up
As debates over democracy, authoritarianism and global instability intensify, the questions Dr Brian Klaas is asking – and the answers his research suggests – are only becoming more urgent. From the lecture hall to the podcast studio, his work at UCL exemplifies a commitment to evidence-based analysis that reaches far beyond academia.
For the Faculty of Social & Historical Sciences, Klaas represents a growing strand of scholarship that refuses to see the world in silos: politics is linked to economics, psychology, history and technology, and any serious attempt to understand it must cross those boundaries. In doing so,he is helping to shape not just how students and colleagues analyze power,but how policymakers,journalists and the wider public think about the fragile systems that govern their lives.
At a time when the future of liberal democracy is far from guaranteed, figures like Dr Klaas underscore the role universities can play as both observers and participants in public life – generating the research, conversations and critical scrutiny that may yet help steer societies away from their most dangerous impulses.
