I am the Acting Director of the Institute for the Study of International Development and Associate Professor of Political Science and International Development at McGill University. I hold a PhD in Government from the University of Texas at Austin, where I was also affiliated to the Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies.

I am a member of the Institute for the Study of International Development (ISID) at McGill University, a founding member of the Réseau d’études latino-américaines de Montréal (RELAM), and a member of ERIGAL, the Research Team on Inclusion and Governance in Latin America.

My research is on comparative politics with a regional focus in Latin America. I am particularly interested in issues of corruption and development, corruption scandals, political competition, media and politics, transparency and anti-corruption policies, and democracy and the rule of law.

I am the recipient of the McGill Principal’s Prize for Excellence in Teaching (2019) and the recipient of 5 PSSA Teaching Awards.

Before moving to North America, I received a Law Degree in Argentina, where I worked on Transparency Policies at the National Anti-Corruption Office.

Contact: manuel.balan@mcgill.ca