Curriculum Vitae

University of North Texas Department of Political Science

1155 Union Circle #305340 Wooten Hall Room 134 Denton, TX 76203

Office: 940-369-8892 Fax: 940-565-4818 Email: diego.esparza@unt.edu

Appointments

University of North Texas Assistant Professor of Political Science 2017-Present

Naval Postgraduate School Assistant Professor of National Security Affairs 2015-2017

The University of California, Riverside Associate-Instructor of Political Science 2015

Education

2015 Ph.D. in Political Science, the University of California at Riverside

2010 M.A. Political Science, the University of California at Riverside

2005 B.A. Political Science, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA

Research & Teaching Interests Latin American Politics, Crime, Public Security, and Civil-Military Relations

Book

Esparza, Diego. 2022. “Policing and Politics in Latin America: When Law Enforcement Breaks the Law ” Lynne Rienner Publishers.

Journal Publications

Diego Esparza, James Meernik and Regina Branton. 2023. “What’s Past is Prologue:  Civil War Violence and  Post-War Criminal Homicides.”Civil Wars

Regina Branton, James Meernik, and Diego Esparza 2023. “What Factors Drive Police Trust After Civil-Wars: The Case of Colombia ” R and R to International Journal Of Comparative And Applied Criminal Justice

James Meernik, Gustavo Duncan, Carolina Torou, Juan Gaviria, and Diego Esparza. 2023. “Trust of Demobilized Combatants: Overcoming Fear or Becoming Familiar?” Social Science Quarterly

Diego Esparza and John Ishiyama. 2021. “Born to Run: Where, When, and Why Rebel Parties Participate in Post-Conflict Elections”  Journal of Elections, Public Opinion, and Parties

Andrea Silva and Diego Esparza. 2021. Explaining the American Crisis of Policing: Media, Malfeasance, and Racial Prejudice” Social Science Quarterly

Andrea Silva, Diego Esparza, Valerie Martinez, and Regina Branton. 2020. “Perceived police performance, racial experiences, and trust in local government.” Politics, Groups, and Identities(2020): 1-24.

Diego Esparza, Valerie Martinez, Regina Branton, Kimi King, and James Meernik. 2020. “Violence, Trust, and Public Support for the Colombian Peace Agreement.” Social Science Quarterly101, no. 4 (2020): 1236-1254.

Diego Esparza, Jessica Lucas, Enrique Martinez, James Meernik, Ignacio Molinero, and Victoria Nevarez. “Movement of the people: Violence and internal displacement.” International Area Studies Review (2020)

Diego Esparza and Antonio Ugues. 2020. “The Impact of Law Enforcement Centralization and Professionalization on Public Opinion of the Mexican Police.” Journal of Politics in Latin America Volume 12 Issue 1, April 2020

Diego Esparza, Santiago Henon, and Hope Dewell Gentry. 2020. “Peacekeeping and Civil-Military Relations in Uruguay.” Defense and Security Analysis. Issue 3 (Vol 37) pp 1-21.

Diego Esparza and Tom Bruneau. 2019. “Closing the Gap Between Law Enforcement and National Security Intelligence: Comparative Approaches.” International Journal of Intelligence and Counterintelligence. 32(2): 1–32.

Antonio Ugues Jr. and Diego Esparza. 2018. “The relationship between crime victimization,corruption, and public attitudes of Mexico’s armed forces.” Democracy and Security, 14(3): 211-237,

David Pion-Berlin, Diego Esparza, and Kevin Grisham. 2014. “Staying Quartered Civilian Uprisings and Military Disobedience in the Twenty-First Century.” Comparative Political Studies, 47(2): 230-259.

David Pion-Berlin, Antonio Ugues, and Diego Esparza. 2010. “Self-Advertised Military Missions in Latin America: What Is Disclosed and Why?” Annual Review of Political and Military Sociology 38: 101-127

Edited Volume Chapters

Diego Esparza. 2021. “Peacekeeping and Civil-Military Relations in Uruguay.” Forthcoming in Routledge Handbook on Civil-Military Relations edited by Thomas Bruneau, Carolyn Halladay, and Cristiana Matei.

Tom Bruneau and Diego Esparza. 2018. “Intelligence Fusion Centers: Bridging State/Local Law Enforcement and National Intelligence Culture?” In Homeland Security Cultures, edited by Alexander Siedschlag and Andrea Jerković. London: Rowman and Littlefield.

Forthcoming Books

Calfano, Brian, Valerie Martinez-Ebers, Diego Esparza, and Francisco Ortega. “Police Reform in America: Empowering Local Communities and Enforcing Change.” (Under Contract) University of Michigan Press

Journal Articles Under Review

John Ishiyama and Diego Esparza. “What are the political consequences of domestic military deployments?” R and R Armed Forces and Society

Andrea Silva and Diego Esparza “No Sanctuary: Malfeasance, Trust, and Perceptions of Police Performance in Immigrant Communities.” Urban Affairs Review

Research in Progress

Diego Esparza and James Meernik. “The Link Between Systemic Trust and Support of Peace Referendums.”

James Meernik, Diego Esparza, Jonathan Luevano. “Echoes of War: Exploring the Slaying of Social Leaders in Colombia.”

Diego Esparza and John Ishiyama “Police Models and Democratic Transitions”

Diego Esparza “Peacekeeping Missions and Trust in Developing Countries’ Armed Forces”

Kimi King, Diego Esparza and James Meernik, “”Cuestión de Confianza: Gendered Skepticism, Violence and the Colombian Peace Agreement.”

Diego Esparza “Police Militarization, Malfeasance on Trust in the Police”

Invited Speeches and Lectures

“Protests and Politics: UNT Political scientists share their insights on the crises in America today.” Panelist presenting on police reform, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, June 19th, 2020.

“National Security and Democracy.” Lecture at the Center for Homeland Defense and Security. Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA, October 15, 2019.

“History, Politics and People of Brazil.” Regional Security Education Program: United States Navy 4th Fleet. ‘UNITAS Mission’ USS Carter Hall LSD 50. ‘Underway’ from Norfolk, VA to Rio de Janeiro Brazil, August 9, 2019.

“Brazilian Security Apparatus” and “Security in Rio de Janeiro.” Regional Security Education Program: United States Navy 4th Fleet. ‘UNITAS Mission’ USS Carter Hall LSD 50. ‘Underway’from Norfolk, VA to Rio de Janeiro Brazil, August 12, 2019.

“Brazilian Global and Regional Power Relations.” Regional Security Education Program: United States Navy 4th Fleet. ‘UNITAS Mission’ USS Carter Hall LSD 50. ‘Underway’ from Norfolk, VA to Rio de Janeiro Brazil, August 13, 2019.

“The Venezuelan Crisis and Coup Proofing.” Regional Security Education Program: United States Navy 4th Fleet. ‘UNITAS Mission’ USS Carter Hall LSD 50. ‘Underway’ from Norfolk, VA to Rio de Janeiro Brazil, August 14, 2019.

“Insecurity in Honduras.” Regional Security Education Program: United States Navy 4th Fleet. ‘UNITAS Mission’ USS Carter Hall LSD 50. ‘Underway’ from Norfolk, VA to Rio de Janeiro Brazil, August 15, 2019.

“Homeland Defense and Democracy.” Lecture at the Center for Homeland Defense and Security. Security and Democracy course. Potomac, MD, July 16, 2019. “The Relationship Between States, Regimes, and Security.” Lecture at the Center for Homeland Defense and Security. Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA, April 21, 2019.

“Intelligence Led Policing.” Lecture at the Center for Civil-Military Relations. Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA, November 27, 2018.

“Roundtable on Regional Peace: Constructing Security From the Border. The case of Altavista and La Sierra.” Keynote speaker. Bolivarian Pontificate University, Medellin, Antioquia, Colombia September 4, 2018

“The Impact of Peacekeeping Missions on Civil Military Relations in Uruguay.” Bolivarian Pontificate University, Medellin, Antioquia, Colombia September 3, 2018

“The Role of Police in Peacebuilding.” Colombian National Police Postgraduate School Bogota, Cundinamarca, Colombia June 2018

“Research Methods and Writing A Master’s Thesis.” Center for Homeland Defense and Security Master’s Degree Program. Monterey, CA October 2017 and March 2018

“Police Malfeasance, Political Reform and Democratization in the Americas.” Center for Homeland Defense and Security Master’s Degree Program. Monterey, CA June 2017.

“Women and the Armed Forces.” Center for Civil-Military Relations Executive Course. Monterey,CA May 2017.

“Women in the Armed Forces.” Co-presenter with Commander Jennifer Jones, U.S. Navy. Amman, Jordan. July 19-21 2017. Peace Operations Training Center. Jordanian Armed Forces.

“Past, present, and future of Hispanic Americans in the U.S.” Distinguished speaker at the Defense Language Institute. Monterey, CA October 2016.

“Women in the Armed Forces.” Co-presenter with Colonel Bruce Sweeney, U.S. Army. Beirut, Lebanon. June 27-29 2016, Lebanese Armed Forces Staff College.

“Explaining Police Abuse of Power in Latin America.” Distinguished Speaker for the Latina/o and Mexican-American Studies Speaker Series at the University of North Texas. Denton, TX March 2016.

Conference Presentations

Jan 2020 “The Electoral Consequences of Wagging the Dog at Home.” Southern Political Science Association, Puerto Rico.

Oct 2019 “Voting Against Peace? The Impact of Violence and Policy Choices on Public Support for Peace Processes.” Latin American Public Opinion Project Conference, Bogota D.C. Colombia

Apr 2019 “Order in the contested state: competing legitimacy, illicit groups, and the rule of law in post-war settings.” Western Political Science Association, San Diego CA

Mar 2019 “Turn out the Lights, the Party is Over: Political Retreat in Lawless Environments.” Midwestern Political Science Association, Chicago IL

Jan 2019 “Turn out the Lights, the Party is Over: Political Retreat in Lawless Environments.” Southern Political Science Association, Austin TX

Mar 2018 “The Co-Evolution of Peacekeeping and Democratization in Uruguay” and Paper presented at the Western Political Science Association Conference, San Francisco, CA.

Apr 2018 “A Bridge Too Far? Integration of Police into the Intelligence Cycle” Paper presented at International Studies Association Conference, San Francisco, CA.

Jan 2018 “The Co-Evolution of Peacekeeping and Democratization in Uruguay.” Paper presented at Southern Political Science Association Conference, New Orleans, LA.

May 2016 “Who do Mexicans Blame for their Insecurity? The Relationship Between Criminal Violence and Public Evaluations of Mexico’s Armed Forces.” Paper presented at Latin American Studies Association Conference, New York, NY.

Mar 2015 “Centralization, Professionalization and Police Malfeasance.” Paper presented at Western Political Science Association, Las Vegas, NV.

May 2014 “The Relationship Between Media, Police and Student Opinion.” Paper presented at the Latin American Studies Association Conference, Chicago, IL.

Sep 2013 “Hybrid Police and Levels of Malfeasance: A Historical Analysis of the Carabineros de Chile.” Paper presented at the American Political Science Association Annual Conference, Chicago, IL.

May 2012 Invited Participant at the Civil-Military Relations Workshop at the Center for Iberian and Latin American Studies, University of California, San Diego, CA.

Feb 2012 “History of Mexican Drug Policy.” Paper presented at Western Political Science Association Conference Portland, OR.

Feb 2012 “Police Centralization in Mexico.” Paper presented at Western Political Science Association Conference Portland, OR.

Apr 2010 “Private Armies Public Costs.” Paper presented at Western Political Science Association Conference San Francisco, CA.

Apr 2010 “Private Armies Public Costs.” Paper presented at Midwest Political Science Association, Conference Chicago, IL.

Fellowships, Grants, and Awards

2020 Scholarly and Creative Activity Award University of North Texas Office of Research and Innovation

2019 Artinian Travel Award Southern Political Science Association

2015 Nominee for Best Paper in Latino Politics, WPSA 2015-2017 Research Initiation Program Grant. Awarded by the Naval Postgraduate School.

2014 Small-Grant for Dissertation Improvement. Awarded by the University of California Riverside Political Science Department.

2013-2014 Herbert K. York Fellowship, Institute for Global Conflict and Cooperation. Awarded by the University of California San Diego.

2013-2014 Graduate Division Fee Fellowship. School fees are waived for a full year. Awarded by the University of California Riverside.

2012 Visiting Scholar-in-Residence, Instituto Nacional de Asuntos Publicos, Universidad de Chile.

2010-2011 Outstanding Teaching Fellow Award. Awarded by the Graduate Division of UC Riverside, campus-wide competition.

2010-2011 Teaching Fellowship to train new teaching assistants campus-wide. The University of California Riverside.

2010 Grant to Attend Inter-Consortium for Political Science Research (ICPSR) at the University of Michigan. Awarded by the University of California Riverside.

2009 Grant to Attend Institute for Qualitative and Multi-Method Research (IQMMR)at Syracuse University. Awarded by the University of California Riverside.

2009 Outstanding Teaching Assistant of the Year. Political Science Department, University of California Riverside.

2007-2008 Graduate Division Fellowship. Awarded by the University of California Riverside.

Graduate Courses Taught Histories and Cultures of Latin America Introduction to Comparative Politics Government and Politics of Latin America Directed Readings: International Relations of Latin America Democracy and Democratization Undergraduate Courses Taught Introduction to American Political Institutions Introduction to Comparative Politics Politics of Latin America Armed Forces and Society/Civil-Military Relations Politics of Mexico Security in Latin America Politics of Central America and the Caribbean

Department Service Executive Committee 2019-2020 Advancement Committee 2018-2020 REU-NSF Mentor 2018, 2019 Election Monitor 2017-2018 Graduate Studies Committee 2017-2018

Professional Service Co-Chair of Section On Defense, Public Security, and Democracy at the Latin American Studies Association 2019-2022 National Science Foundation Grant Proposal Reviewer 2020 Reviewer for American Political Science Review, the Revista Logos Ciencia & Tecnología, Journal ofPolitics in Latin America, Journal of International Affairs, European Political Science Review, Small Wars and Insurgencies Journal, and Journal of Peace Research, International Journal of Police Science and Management Book proposal reviewer for Springer Nature Press. Member of the Editorial Board: Revista Logos Ciencia & Tecnología

Mentorship and Advising

2020 Graduate Advisor, Jack Pippen UNT M.A. program

2020 Minor Thesis Advisor, Bryan Lookabaugh UNT Ph.D. program

2019 Undergraduate Thesis Adviser Enrique Martinez, UNT Honors Thesis.

2019 Project Adviser Daisy Ramirez, NSF-REU program. UNT

2019 Minor Thesis Advisor, Alexander Goodwin UNT Ph.D. program

2018 Capstone Thesis Adviser, Joseph Kane UNT 2018 Project Adviser Katia Hadjeb, NSF-REU program. UNT

2017 Thesis Adviser Brian Curry, Lt. U.S. Navy. NPS

2017 Thesis Adviser David Budny, Lt. U.S. Navy. Outstanding Thesis Award. NPS

2017 Thesis Co-Adviser Sean Harney, Lt. U.S. Navy. NPS

2017 Thesis Co-Adviser Humberto Lopez Arellano, Cmdr. Mexican Navy. NPS

2017 Thesis Adviser Phil Martin, Lt. U.S. Navy. NPS

2016 Thesis Second Reader Jason Green, Cpt. U.S. Army with Andres Evert Mejia Lt. Col. Colombian Army. NPS

2016 Thesis Second Reader Jeff Drewisky, Lt. Cmdr. U.S. Navy NPS

2016 Thesis Adviser Clinton Cabe, Lt. U.S. Navy. NPS

2016 Thesis Adviser Geoff Ellis, Lt. U.S. Navy. Outstanding Thesis Award. NPS

2016 Thesis Adviser Vanessamay Rigoroso, Lt. Cmdr. U.S. Navy. NPS

2016 Thesis Adviser Matt Thompson, Maj., U.S. Army. NPS

2016 Thesis Adviser Jason Park, Lt. U.S. Navy. NPS

2016 Thesis Adviser Ryan King, Maj. U.S. Marines. NPS

2016 Thesis Co-Adviser Chris Euans, Lt. U.S. Navy. NPS

2015 Thesis Co-Adviser Carlos Carballo, Lt. U.S. Navy. NPS

2012 Peer mentor for the Graduate Student Mentorship Program, UCR 2012 Model United Nations Adviser, UCR

Languages

Spanish: Written, Read, and Spoken Fluently

French: Written, Read, and Spoken Intermediate Level

Portuguese: Reading, Writing, Speaking Beginner Level

References

Dr. David Pion-Berlin, Professor Department of Political Science University of California Riverside david.pion@ucr.edu 951.827.4606

Dr. Tom Bruneau, Professor Emeritus National Security Affairs Department Naval Postgraduate School tbruneau@nps.edu 831.238.1454

Dr. Ben Bishin, Professor Department of Political Science University of California Riverside ben.bishin@ucr.edu 951.827.4637

Dr. Maiah Jaskoski, Associate Professor Department of Politics and International Affairs Northern Arizona University Maiah.Jaskoski@nau.edu 928.523.8605

Dr. Arturo Sotomayor, Associate Professor Elliott School of International Affairs George Washington University asotomayor72@gwu.edu 202.994.8521