Kim Yi Dionne

California

Teach/research/write African politics & pandemics. Author, Doomed Interventions. Editor in Chief, @goodauth. Host, @UfahamuAfrica.

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Articles

Meet our 2025-2026 Good Authority fellows!

1 month ago | goodauthority.org | Kim Yi Dionne |John Sides

We are thrilled to announce the second cohort of Good Authority fellows. We look forward to sharing with you their insights across the wide range of their expertise, from political campaigns to corruption and international interventions as well as separation of powers, among other topical areas. Our fellows’ research and expertise offer more coverage and analysis on important events in Africa, Asia, Europe, and of course, the United States.
Do experts make better persuaders than politicians?

2 months ago | medium.com | Kim Yi Dionne

kim yi dionne·FollowPublished in3Streams·3 min read·--A recent study shows technocrats boost policy acceptance, even on polarizing issuesPhoto by Marco Oriolesi on UnsplashThis article was co-authored by Eun-A Park and Kim Yi Dionne. Support for expert rule — in which experts, not elected officials, make key decisions — has gone up significantly in most countries since 2017, according to a survey report the Pew Research Center released last year.
Your Vance-Walz debate bingo card!

Oct 1, 2024 | goodauthority.org | Kim Yi Dionne

Join the Good Authority team in watching the only U.S. vice presidential debate between Senator JD Vance (R-Ohio) and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz on Tuesday, Oct. 1. Riding the popularity of our bingo cards from the presidential debate, we’ve created a new set for this debate.
Good Authority celebrates the one-year mark!

Sep 24, 2024 | goodauthority.org | Kim Yi Dionne |John Sides

We’re excited to celebrate one year as an independent site bringing political science insights to a broader public. In this past year, we’ve published timely and important pieces, including coverage of the devastating Hamas attack in Israel and ongoing war in Gaza, the U.S. Congress’s long battle over sending aid to Ukraine, and the historic nomination of Kamala Harris as a major party’s presidential candidate.
Watch Tuesday's Harris-Trump debate – with this bingo card.

Sep 10, 2024 | goodauthority.org | Kim Yi Dionne

Join the Good Authority team in watching the first U.S. presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. To keep things interesting, I asked our editors and contributors to share a few key words or phrases we might expect to hear during the debate. More than one person mentioned China, but responses ranged from AI to Venezuela.
Malawi at 60 offers lessons in democratic resilience.

Jul 5, 2024 | goodauthority.org | Kim Yi Dionne
Mother's Day, motherhood, and political science

May 10, 2024 | goodauthority.org | Kim Yi Dionne

This Sunday, those of us in the United States will celebrate Mother’s Day, our 110th since it was named a federal holiday to be commemorated annually on the second Sunday of May. Other countries celebrate mothers other days. For example, today – May 10th – is the day that Mexico celebrates Día de la Madre. In Malawi, they honor mothers annually on Oct. 15 – since 2008, that’s the day the United Nations has recognized as the International Day of Rural Women.
Welcome the Good Authority fellows!

Apr 16, 2024 | goodauthority.org | Kim Yi Dionne |John Sides

We are thrilled to announce the first cohort of Good Authority fellows. We look forward to sharing with you their insights across the wide range of their expertise, from Black politics to labor issues to immigration, and offering more coverage and analysis on important events in Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America. Meet our six new fellows:Emmanuel Balogun is associate professor of political science at Skidmore College.
Why Malawi’s Democracy Endures

Apr 1, 2024 | journalofdemocracy.org | Kim Yi Dionne

Select your citation format: MLA (Modern Language Association 8th edition)Chicago Manual of Style 16th edition (full note)APA (American Psychological Association 7th edition) While other African states experienced democratic erosion, Malawi has defied the odds and weathered attacks on its democracy, including those initiated by its powerful presidents.
Namibia’s president died in office. What happens now?

Feb 5, 2024 | goodauthority.org | Kim Yi Dionne

Hage Geingob, the 82-year-old president of Namibia, died Sunday, just months before the end of his second – and constitutionally final – term in office. Nangolo Mbumba, Geingob’s vice president since 2018, has become acting president. This recent succession in Namibia follows procedures laid out in the country’s constitution. That’s now a common form of leadership transition in African countries. African constitutions offer a roadmap for presidential succession.