Dr Sarah Brierley

Dr Sarah Brierley

Assistant Professor of Comparative Politics

Department of Government

Room No
CBG 4.28
Office Hours
On leave 2022
Connect with me

Languages
English
Key Expertise
African Politics, Political Parties, Elections, Corruption, Public Sector

About me

Sarah Brierley is an Assistant Professor of Comparative Politics. Her research focuses on the state, corruption, and electoral politics in sub-Saharan Africa. She is working on a book manuscript that explains why the public sector remains politicised in spite of the meritocratic recruitment of top bureaucrats in Ghana. In her research, she uses a range of methods, including original surveys, field experiments, and in-depth interviews.

Dr Brierley’s research has been published or is forthcoming in the American Journal of Political Science, Journal of Politics, British Journal of Political Science, Electoral Studies and the Journal of Contemporary African Studies.

Before working at the LSE, she was an Assistant Professor at Washington University in St Louis. She received her Ph.D. in political science from the University of California, Los Angeles.

More details on her research and publications can be found on her personal website.

Research interests

  • African Politics
  • Political Parties and Elections
  • Corruption
  • Clientelism
  • Public Sector

Teaching responsibilities

  • GV467: Comparative Politics
  • GV335: African Political Economy

Selected publications

  • 'The moderating effect of debates on political attitudes', forthcoming, American Journal of Political Science, Sarah Brierley, Eric Kramon, Eric Kramon.
  • 'Unprincipled Principals: Co-opted Bureaucrats and Corruption in Ghana', forthcoming, American Journal of Political Science, Sarah Brierley.
  • 'Combining Patronage and Merit in Public Sector Recruitment', forthcoming, Journal of Politics, Sarah Brierley
  • 'Electoral fraud or violence: The effect of observers on party manipulation strategies', British Journal of Political Science, J Asunka, S Brierley, M Golden, E Kramon, G Ofosu.