The MPSA conference was great. I enjoyed most of the panels that I attended, including the two I presented on. Even if I was the only presenter w/o regression tables (which is usually a must at MPSA conference). But my paper on Bolivian presidentialism was especially well received—which actually sparked the perfect idea for how to frame my “book” (as I move from dissertation to book manuscript in the next few months).
Otherwise, it was a nice visit in Chicago. I must say that Wicked is fantastic. More than substantially different from the novel by Gregory Maguire—which is actually a rather interesting essay on the nature & causes of “wickedness”—but certainly worth seeing.
But now I’m back to work at Dickinson w/ a too-full plate in front of me. I’m behind in grading. Plus I need to read a paper for the Works in Progress Seminar (which meets Wednesday). So all my projects are on the back burner until all of that gets settled.
I’m also excited that I got to bring a speaker to campus: Julio Carrión (U of Delaware). We read his edited volume, The Fujimori Legacy: The Rise of Electoral Authoritarianism in Peru, in my populism in Latin America course (officially POSC 290: Heroes & Villains). It’s perfect timing, because we’re starting to read about Venezuela (via Ellner & Hellinger’s Venezuelan Politics in the Chávez Era: Class, Polarization, & Conflict). He’s giving a private talk to my class; then in the evening he’s giving a college-wide lecture.
Unfortunately, that means I’ll miss my team’s first (and probably final) intramural league playoff soccer game. Which might not be a bad idea, since I might have a sprained ankle. Also, I think I have pink eye.
