Thiago Matheus

Thiago Matheus is conducting a comparative study that explores the distinct political effects of OLPR models implemented worldwide.

 profile-picture photograph

PhD Candidate in Political Science
School of History, Philosophy, Political Science and International Relations

Qualifications

Masters in Political Science, Studies Center of the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies (CEFOR), 2022

Bachelors in Law, University of Brasília, 2017

Bachelors in Statistics, University of Brasília, 2008

Masters in Physics, University of Brasília, 2008

Bachelors in Physics, University of Brasília, 2008

Profile

Thesis working title: EXPLORING THE NATURE OF OPEN LIST PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION SYSTEMS: Insights Beyond Established Democracies

I am Brazilian and have lived in Brasilia since childhood. My educational background includes degrees in Physics, Statistics, and Law. Professionally, I have worked as a Legislative Analyst for the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies since 2013, where I advise deputies in parliamentary committees and prepare reports to assist them in the analysis of new laws. Working in Congress sparked my interest in Electoral Law and Political Science, leading to my main research focus: the analysis of how electoral laws affect various aspects of the political system. My master's thesis in Political Science, completed in 2021, examined how the Brazilian federative pattern and the influence of subnational (municipalities) executive elections contribute to the inflationary pressure on the number of effective parties in the Chamber of Deputies.

Currently, my PhD research is a comparative study that explores the different models of Open List Proportional Representation systems (OLPR) adopted worldwide. It investigates whether the adoption of OLPR can be singled out as a sufficient cause for phenomena such as unstable party systems and elevated corruption levels. According to this study, a range of factors, including the political context before the adoption of the electoral system and the socio-economic conditions of the country, should also be considered in this analysis. Furthermore, the scope of the comparative studies on OLPR models needs to be extended from established democracies to new democracies outside Western Europe. Delving into the complexities within OLPR models implemented by these countries is essential. The study aims to present both theoretical and empirical contributions to the understanding of the consequences of electoral systems by conducting comparative analyses that incorporate data from young democracies and employing statistical models across the diverse set of OLPR-adopting countries. It outlines the Open-List Proportional Representation systems adopted worldwide and investigates their associations with the behavior of institutional variables, such as party fragmentation, electoral proportionality, turnout, and women's representation.

As a person of color, I am also deeply interested in research related to underrepresented groups in politics. I am currently a member of the National Observatory for Women in Politics, an initiative led by the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies. Our work delves into electoral and demographic data to comprehend the factors contributing the low representation of women in political positions in Brazil.

Other research projects

Member of the National Observatory for Women in Politics (Observatório Nacional da Mulher na Política) | Chamber of Deputies (Câmara dos Deputados), 2021 – PRESENT

Participant of the Research Group on Strategies, behaviors and results - quantitative approaches to the Legislative Power (Estratégias, comportamentos e resultados – abordagens quantitativas ao Poder Legislativo) | CEFOR (Studies Center of the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies), 2016 – 2017

Participant of the Research Group on Funding for Electoral Campaigns in Brazil - Analysis of the accountability of candidates for the 2010 and 2014 elections (Financiamento de Campanhas Eleitorais no Brasil - Análise das prestações de conta dos candidatos às eleições de 2010 e 2014) | CEFOR (Studies Center of the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies), 2014 – 2016

Supervisors

Professor of Comparative Politics

School of History, Philosophy, Political Science and International Relations

Professor
School of History, Philosophy, Political Science and International Relations

Publications

Articles Published in Scientific Journals

1) Alves, Marcus Chevitaresi, Teresa Sacchet, and Thiago Alexandre Melo Matheus. "O Efeito do Financiamento Público de Campanha na Eleição de Mulheres no Brasil." Revista Feminismos 11, no. 2 (2023). https://periodicos.ufba.br/index.php/feminismos/article/view/57749

2) Matheus, Thiago Alexandre Melo. 2021. "Exploratory Study on the Effect of Coalition Extinction in the 2020 Brazilian Municipal Elections". E-Legis − Revista Eletrônica Do Programa De Pós-Graduação Da Câmara Dos Deputados 14 (36). Brasília, DF, Brasil:358-84. https://e-legis.camara.leg.br/cefor/index.php/e-legis/article/view/673/991

3) Kiametis, Alessandra Sofia, Thiago Alexandre Melo Matheus, Ricardo Gargano, Geraldo Magela e Silva, and Antonio L. A. Fonseca. "H2+ Dynamical Properties in the Electronic States 7jσ, 8jσ, 8kσ, 7iπ, and 8jp." International Journal of Quantum Chemistry 111 (2011): 1316-32. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/qua.22528

4) Sousa, Célia Maria Soares Gomes de, Marco Antonio Moreira, e Thiago Alexandre Melo Matheus. 2011. “A resolução De situações-Problema Experimentais No Campo Conceitual Do Eletromagnetismo: Uma Tentativa De identificação De Conhecimentos-Em-ação”. Revista Brasileira De Pesquisa Em Educação Em Ciências 5 (3). https://periodicos.ufmg.br/index.php/rbpec/article/view/4058

Articles published in annals of events

1) Matheus, Thiago Alexandre Melo. 2022. "O Efeito Coattail Reverso das Eleições para Prefeito e sua Influência na Fragmentação Partidária da Câmara dos Deputados." In 13° Encontro da ABCP. Universidade Federal de Goiás, 2022.

2) Matheus, Thiago Alexandre Melo. 2021. "Consequências (e Distorções) Provocadas pelo Fim das Coligações nas Eleições de 2020: O Que Esperar para 2022?" In 45º Encontro Anual da ANPOCS, 2021. Anais do 45º Encontro Anual da ANPOCS.

3) Matheus, Thiago Alexandre Melo, A. L. Backes, and J. C. A. Costa. 2021. "Impacts on the Women's Representation of Brazilian Chamber of Deputies and Legislative Assemblies with the Implementation of SNTV." In Anais do Simpósio Interdisciplinar sobre o Sistema Político Brasileiro e XI Jornada de Pesquisa e Extensão da Câmara dos Deputados. Rio de Janeiro, 2021.

4) Matheus, Thiago Alexandre Melo. 2021. "Consequences of the End of Coalitions in 2020 Municipal Elections and Perspectives for 2022." In Anais do Simpósio Interdisciplinar sobre o Sistema Político Brasileiro e XI Jornada de Pesquisa e Extensão da Câmara dos Deputados. Rio de Janeiro, 2021.

5) Sousa, Celia Maria Soares Gomes de, Marco Antonio Moreira, and Thiago Alexandre Melo Matheus. 2004. "A Resolução de Situações Problemáticas Experimentais em Campos Conceituais da Física Geral." In Encontro Nacional de Pesquisa em Ensino de Física (9. : 2004 : Jaboticatubas, MG). Anais. Jaboticatubas: [s.n.], 2004.