About

Richard Snyder is a Professor of Political Science at Brown University. His research and teaching focus on comparative politics, Latin American politics, comparative political economy, and qualitative and mixed methodologies. He has previously served as the Director of the Center for Latin American Studies at Brown University from 2010 to 2016 and as the Director of the Political Economy of Development Program at the Watson Institute for International Affairs. Snyder’s work also sets US politics in a comparative perspective, including research on inequality and democracy in urban America, as well as subnational policy responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil, Mexico, and the United States. His current research involves a cross-national and subnational comparative study of the role played by extractive industries, especially lithium mining in South America, in the global transition to sustainable energy sources. Snyder has authored several books, including 'Politics after Neoliberalism: Reregulation in Mexico,' 'Passion, Craft and Method in Comparative Politics,' which was named one of the best books published in 2007 by Foreign Policy, and 'Inside Countries: Subnational Research in Comparative Politics.' He has published numerous chapters and articles in prominent journals such as the British Journal of Political Science, Comparative Politics, and World Politics. His research has been translated into multiple languages and published in various countries, including Argentina, Chile, China, Colombia, France, Iran, Mexico, Peru, South Korea, and Spain.

Research topics

• Medicine
• Political science
• Internal medicine
• Computer science
• Telecommunications

Selected publications

• Developmental Extraction and the Global Energy Transition: Lessons from South America’s Lithium Triangle

  Journal of Globalization and Development · 2025-11-03 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access

  Abstract Has the global energy transition opened new opportunities for natural resource extraction to foster development? To address this question we propose the concept “developmental extraction” (DE), an intermediate option between neoliberal and anti-extraction. For proponents of DE, mining can be a development-enhancing activity that triggers virtuous economic linkages. Focusing on South America’s Lithium Triangle countries (Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile), we find that the results of DE are mixed, with modest advances in fostering developmental linkages at the local level coupled with uneven outcomes at translocal scales. To explain the contrasting outcomes of DE projects, we offer a multilevel framework that highlights political and territorial challenges of forging developmental linkages. The fortunes of DE depend on the distribution of bargaining power among states, mining companies, and communities and, in turn, on the results of local and translocal negotiations over the terms of extraction.

  PublisherDOI

• Systemic and Seasonal Drivers of Hospital Mortality: Revisiting the Early Learning Period Hypothesis

  Cureus · 2025-02-16

  articleOpen access

  Introduction and background The Early Learning Period (ELP) hypothesis posits that hospital mortality increases during the early academic months, traditionally attributed to transitional challenges such as trainee inexperience and changes in care teams. Understanding the validity of this hypothesis is crucial for guiding healthcare strategies, either toward trainee-focused reforms if validated or systemic interventions if refuted. However, systemic and seasonal factors, such as winter respiratory illness surges and healthcare resource strain, may play a more significant role in hospital mortality trends. Methods This was a retrospective observational study utilizing the 2021 National Inpatient Sample (NIS), a nationally representative database covering approximately 20% of U.S. hospitalizations. The study analyzed 5.6 million adult hospitalizations from 2021, excluding pediatric cases and records with missing mortality data. Hospital mortality trends were compared quarterly (Q1: January-March, Q2: April-June, Q3: July-September, Q4: October-December) to evaluate associations with seasonal and systemic factors. Results Contrary to the ELP hypothesis, hospital mortality was highest in Q1 (4.0%), consistent with seasonal factors like winter illnesses, and lowest in Q2 (2.7%). Mortality in Q3 (3.6%), the period associated with new trainee arrivals, was lower than in Q1. Conclusion This study refutes the ELP hypothesis, demonstrating that systemic and seasonal factors, rather than trainee inexperience, primarily drive hospital mortality trends. Proactive resource allocation targeted at seasonal drivers, particularly during high-demand periods such as Q1, is crucial to improving patient outcomes. These findings emphasize the need for systemic interventions, including enhanced resource allocation and flexible staffing models, rather than trainee-centered reforms. Future research should incorporate monthly mortality trends and teaching hospital-specific data for a more comprehensive understanding.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Community Participation in Large-Scale Extractive Projects: How Communities Influence the Terms of Lithium Mining in the Argentine Puna

  Local and urban governance · 2025-12-17

  book-chapterOpen accessSenior author

  Abstract Argentina is a relevant global lithium producer, a key mineral for the global transition to renewable energies. Three Northwestern provinces concentrate most lithium mining: Catamarca, Jujuy, and Salta. They share a similar geography, cultural backgrounds, economic profiles, and, being subnational units in a federal system, the same political institutions. Nevertheless, there is enormous variation in indigenous communities’ participation and engagement in defining the conditions under which mining companies can extract lithium. In some cases, there was a lack of community involvement, and companies operated without major restrictions. This occurred in Salar de Rincón in Salta and Salar del Hombre Muerto in Catamarca. In others, there was social organization from local communities, but conflict has been averted and companies could continue extracting lithium, such as in Salar de Olaroz in Jujuy. Still in other cases there was strong resistance and conflict escalated, resulting in aborted mining projects. That occurred in Salinas Grandes and Laguna Guayatayoc, also in Jujuy. In spite of the similarities, why is there variation in local participation, mobilization, and conflict? This chapter describes variation in community engagement and proposes explanations to account for strengths and weaknesses of communities in establishing the conditions of lithium extraction.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• La economía política de la investigación en ciencias sociales en América Latina

  Estudios Sociológicos de El Colegio de México · 2023-02-28 · 1 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Este artículo explora la variación entre países en el financiamiento para investigación de ciencias sociales a través de un análisis de nuevos datos bibliométricos y de una encuesta en Argentina, Colombia y Perú. Identificamos tres modelos distintos de investigación que dependen de cuál forma de financiamiento –extranjera, pública-nacional o privada-nacional– sea la dominante. Encontramos que cada modelo – “patrocinado por extranjeros,” “patrocinado por el estado” y “economía mixta” está asociado a distintos patrones de acceso al financiamiento, de tipo de conocimiento producido, y de percepciones de parte de investigadores sobre su grado de autonomía.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Modes of Extraction in Latin America’s Lithium Triangle: Explaining Negotiated, Unnegotiated, and Aborted Mining Projects

  Latin American Politics and Society · 2022-12-23 · 19 citations

  articleSenior author

  ABSTRACT Mitigating climate change requires a global transition from fossil fuels to a “green economy” driven by renewable energies. This shift has fostered massive investments in mining resources, notably lithium in South America, needed to store renewable energies. These mining ventures often produce harmful externalities where lithium is located. In Argentina, a major producer, striking variation has occurred in the fortunes of lithium-mining projects. In some instances, mining companies offered concessions that mitigated environmental damage and improved local socioeconomic conditions. In others, companies made minimal concessions, and in a third set they halted projects in response to local resistance. Why do mining ventures result alternatively in negotiated, unnegotiated, or aborted extraction? The article proposes a new typology of modes of extraction together with a multilevel explanatory framework that centers on the strengths and strategies of transnational mining companies, subnational governments, and local communities in setting the terms for extracting lithium.

  PublisherDOI

• Pandemic Policymaking in Presidential Federations: Explaining Subnational Responses to Covid-19 in Brazil, Mexico, and the United States

  Publius The Journal of Federalism · 2021-06-01 · 44 citations

  articleOpen accessCorresponding

  Abstract Why do COVID-19 social distancing policies vary so widely across states in federal countries? This mixed-methods study of Brazil, Mexico, and the United States finds that state-level variation in the stringency of social distancing policies is driven not by the epidemiological, demographic, or socioeconomic factors commonly emphasized in previous research, but largely by political factors. Introducing a novel framework for explaining pandemic policymaking, the study shows the central importance of political parties, presidential power, and governors’ coalitions in determining state-level policy stringency. In the United States and Mexico, statistical and qualitative evidence indicates that interstate collaboration among governors, combined with top-down pressures from national party elites and presidents, led to greater policy alignment among coordinated states. In Brazil, in contrast, where there is little evidence of either policy coordination or alignment, state-level policies resulted instead from intrastate factors and diffusion. Together, these findings highlight how a multilevel framework attuned to varied combinations of intra-unit, cross-unit, and cross-level causal factors strengthens our understanding of pandemic policymaking.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Renal Phosphate Wasting Due to Tumor-Induced (Oncogenic) Osteomalacia

  Cureus · 2021-06-07

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Osteomalacia is a widely prevalent bone disorder that is caused by an imbalance in body calcium and phosphate. Tumor-induced osteomalacia (TIO) is a rare form of osteomalacia that is associated with mesenchymal tumors. It is caused by overproduction of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF-23), a hormone involved in phosphate regulation. A 59-year-old male with a history of factor V Leiden mutation, pulmonary embolism, and deep vein thrombosis was diagnosed with oncogenic osteomalacia in 2008 following laboratory findings significant for low phosphorus and elevated FGF-23 levels. He underwent a resection of a right suprascapular notch mass with the biopsy confirming a phosphaturic mesenchymal tumor. He was maintained on oral phosphorus and calcitriol replacements with a regular follow-up with oncology and nephrology. Eight years later, the patient's phosphorus levels started declining despite replacement. A repeat test showed FGF-23 levels once again elevated. A whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan showed no significant findings. The patient was continued on oral replacement therapy with a close follow-up. Two years later, urine phosphorus excretion was elevated at 2494 mg per 24 hours with low plasma phosphorus (1.2 mg/dL) and an elevated FGF-23 level of 1005 relative units (RU)/mL. A repeat MRI of the right shoulder revealed a mass in the supraspinatus muscle and another in the spinal glenoid notch. The masses were resected and the biopsy was consistent with a recurrence of the phosphaturic mesenchymal tumor. Follow-up serum phosphate levels remained in the normal range. FGF-23 plays a critical role in bone mineralization through the regulation of phosphate levels. Overproduction, as seen in mesenchymal tumors, results in hyperphosphaturia, hypophosphatemia, and low calcitriol levels. While the definitive treatment of TIO involves the resection of the mesenchymal tumor, localization of the tumor is often challenging given its small size and slow growth. This leads to delayed diagnosis and treatment. For individuals whose tumor cannot be resected or detected, burosumab is the preferred form of therapy. Interestingly, FGF-23 is shown to have a potential cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality through various mechanisms like activation of myocardial FGF-23 receptors, endothelial dysfunction, inflammation, and altered phosphorus and vitamin D metabolisms. While studies have shown possible FGF-23 effects on CV outcomes in patients with chronic kidney disease, this has not been proven in cases of TIO.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• A Rare Thrombophilic Occurrence: Dural Venous Sinus Thrombosis in a Patient with Significant Family History of Protein S Deficiency

  Cureus · 2021-03-13

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Protein S is a potent anticoagulant that downregulates thrombin formation and is a vitamin K-dependent glycoprotein which is primarily synthesized in the liver. A deficiency in this protein or decreased activity, as seen in hereditary protein S deficiency, can lead to life-threatening thrombosis. Hereditary protein S deficiency is a rare disease as listed by the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD). It is known to cause venous as well as arterial thromboembolic events commonly occurring in the deep leg and pelvic veins. Dural venous sinus thrombosis is a rare consequence of protein S deficiency and is associated with a risk of increased morbidity and mortality. We report a case of dural venous sinus thrombosis in a patient with a family history of protein S deficiency in nine family members. A 53-year-old female presented to the ED with a three-day history of persistent left-sided headache, left facial numbness with tingling, and photophobia. She denied any visual disturbances, slurring of speech, and/or unilateral weakness. Some 10 years prior to this episode, she was placed on warfarin therapy for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) of lower extremity, but she discontinued it after three years of treatment without consulting her treating physician. She was taking oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) for two years and discontinued one month ago. She has nine family members with protein S deficiency, but the patient was never screened for a hypercoagulable state. On admission, her vital signs were within normal limits. Pupils were round and reactive to light, neck was supple, there was a sensory deficit for pinprick on the left V2-V3 distribution, and remainder of the cranial nerves and neurologic examination was unremarkable. CT scan of the head demonstrated a hyper-density within the left transverse and sigmoid sinus suspicious for dural venous sinus thrombosis. This was confirmed by CT angiogram showing a filling defect throughout the transverse sinus and sigmoid sinus extending below the jugular bulb into the superior aspect of the jugular vein. Intravenous heparin and warfarin were initiated. As the patient had severe trypanophobia and IV heparin required frequent activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) monitoring, this was later changed to subcutaneous low-molecular-weight heparin and warfarin. Subsequent thrombosis panel showed a reduced protein S activity of 15% and low levels of total and free protein S antigens. She was discharged home with life-long warfarin therapy. In conclusion, cerebral dural venous sinus thrombosis is a rare and potentially life-threatening condition that can be seen in hereditary protein S deficiency. A high degree of suspicion in young females with worsening headache and neurologic signs and symptoms will help with timely diagnosis and management avoiding serious consequences. In a patient with a family history of thrombophilia, as seen in our patient, screening is important in order to confirm an underlying thrombophilic state. Such testing may have helped our patient regarding education on avoiding potential risk factors for thrombophilia and importance of treatment adherence.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• El análisis subnacional: aportes teóricos y metodológicos a la política comparada

  Revista de ciencia política · 2021-01-01 · 11 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  El anlisis subnacional (ASN) juega un rol cada vez ms relevante en el estudio de la poltica comparada. Este artculo analiza las contribuciones tericas y metodolgicas del ASN. En particular, muestra la capacidad que tiene el ASN para el desarrollo de teoras que mitigan el problema del estiramiento terico. Asimismo,

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Abstract 14483: Correlating Blood Type, Infection Risk, and Illness Severity in Patients With COVID-19

  Circulation · 2021-11-16

  article

  Introduction: There have been over 13 million cases of COVID-19 cases with a 2% mortality rate [1]. Over the past year there has been a significant progress in the understanding and management of COVID-19 infections. There are still many factors and complications of COVID-19 that have yet to be elucidated. There have been multiple studies looking at the possible link between ABO group type and increased risk of mortality. Many studies from China, Europe and Canada indicate that blood group “O” had lower risk of susceptibility and severe infection[2-4]. We wanted to identify weather this trend was applicable within our hospital network in Eastern Pennsylvania. We wanted to identify through retrospective analysis if there is an association between ABO type, Race, Gender, and mortality at 30-day or 90 days. Methods: We identified n=568 patients between February 2020 to June 2020 that were admitted to the hospital for treatment of COVID-19 that also had historical data regarding ABO grouping. Demographics, length of stay, intubations, and smoking history. Once data was collected, statistical analysis was conducted with SPSS for means, standard deviations, and Chi-squared test for non-parametric testing. Results: The breakdown of blood groups in our populations was [ A: 35.1%, B: 11.6%, AB: 7.9%, O:45.3% ]. The average age of patients by blood group was [A:70.9±6 , B: 68.6±15, AB:66.3±12, O: 65±17], The percentage of females in each group is [A:45%, B: 35%, AB:67%, O:50%]. The mean BMI for all groups were 31±7 (p>0.05) and there was no significant difference between blood groups with length of stay [A:8±6.1 , B: 10.5±9.6, AB:8.3±6.7, O: 9±8 (p>0.05)] There was no significant difference in mortality rate among the blood groups during admission [ A: 26%, B: 16%, AB: 13%, O:24% (p=0.17)] or the rate of intubation [ A: 10%, B: 15%, AB: 11%, O:12% (p=0.72)]. Conclusion: Our findings indicate there is no significant difference between mortality, inpatient length of stay, or proportion of intubations between different blood groups. Our population of blood groups was distributed close to distribution of blood group in the general population. While there have been studies that indicate there is a protective nature of type O blood group, we did not see this in our cohort.

  PublisherDOI

Frequent coauthors

• C Blair

  Antea Group (France)

  81 shared

• Forrest Past

  Huazhong University of Science and Technology

  81 shared

• Enilton A. Camargo

  81 shared

• Amelie Hagelauer

  Technical University of Munich

  81 shared

• San Diego

  Walter de Gruyter (Germany)

  81 shared

• B. Rejeb

  Cedar Rapids Public Library

  81 shared

• Nash Borges

  Antea Group (France)

  81 shared

• Moussa Region

  Antea Group (France)

  81 shared

Education

• PhD, Political Science

  University of California Berkeley

  1997