American Oligarchy: Family Members of U.S. Political Elites Procuring Business Deals Abroad

Project Summary:

The main aim of Prof. Hoang’s current research project is to study how political elites in the US monetize familial and personal relationships to advance their own interest through offshore structures that facilitate foreign transactions. The team of undergraduate research assistants will work to triangulate different sources of data to find out the role fixers and shell companies play in enabling this structure of illicit financial activities. On the micro-scale, we look at how relationships are formed, money is channeled, and narratives are made about these activities. On the macro scale, we think about how the “political economy” is socially constructed as well as global systems that have been taken advantage of by those with greater access. This research will prepare itself to challenge the dichotomy between corruptive and non-corruptive states, which stereotypically overlap with western democracy versus non-western non-democratic states.

Deliverables:

a literature review or a data analysis report

Preferred discipline(s):

Sociology, Political science, Anthropology, Economic, Public Policy

Project Essential Skills:

Students with an interest in questions around global political economy.

Other Selection Criteria (if any):

N/A

Details of supervision arrangements:

Students are required to meet their project supervisors at least three times for progress update. The progress meetings are expected to conduct in person. For projects that are supervised by University of Chicago, the supervisors are either based in Hong Kong campus of University of Chicago or are planning to visit HK during the period of the research projects.