Natasha Lindstaedt a Professor of Government at the University of Essex and the Deputy Dean of Education in Social Sciences. She has extensive experience teaching in a number of areas including International Relations, Political Development, Violent Non-State Actors, State Building, Conflict and Middle East Politics. Her research interests focus on issues that intersect in global and comparative politics such as authoritarianism, democratic backsliding, human security and new forms of violence. She has consulted for various organizations including the European Union, the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) and the United Nations. Her recent books include Democracies and Authoritarian Regimes, and Democratic Decay.