John Hicks

John Hicks is a Master’s student in political science at McGill University. Prior to graduate study, he completed a B.A. at McGill in 2022, majoring in political science (Honours). His research interests include populism and political transformation throughout the Global South, with a particular region focus on the Maghreb. In his work, he hopes to disentangle the relationship between authoritarian legacies and the emergent populist movements that fill widening political spaces. 

Outside of academia, he has worked for the Department of Economic Development of Stamford, Connecticut, collaborating on post-pandemic equitable economic recover initiatives prioritizing the city’s marginalized communities, and volunteered with the New Haven-based refugee resettlement organization IRIS (Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services). He is fluent in English and French, with a working proficiency in Russian. 

Research interests: Populism, Global South politics, authoritarianism, political mobilization