About Me

Ph.D Candidate

University of Pittsburgh

muh15[at]pitt[dot]edu

Welcome! I am Muyao Hang (杭慕尧), a Ph.D. candidate in Political Science at the University of Pittsburgh. My research lies at the intersection of comparative authoritarianism, international relations, political behavior, and public opinion.

My research examines the sources of authoritarian regime durability, with a particular focus on the role of ordinary citizens. I ask: what makes people resist, comply, or even actively support authoritarian rule?

My dissertation investigates how various factors—nationalism, exposure to democratic environments, and perceptions of autocratic economic competence—shape citizens’ support for and compliance with authoritarian regimes. This work has been supported by the Deborah Jeanne Gillotti Fellowship and the APSA Centennial Research Grant.

My other ongoing projects examine how citizens respond to various authoritarian practices, including electoral manipulation, misinformation campaigns, and transnational repression.