Leonardo Carella

My research interests fall broadly in the remit of comparative democratic politics. My current main project looks at the relationship between the expansion of tertiary education over the past decades and changing political value divides. In my doctoral thesis, I investigated how electoral systems, the "rules of the game" of democracy, affect strategic interactions between parties, politicians and voters. The thesis encompasses three papers, each examining how a different aspect of electoral institutions affects elite selection, legislator behaviour and intra-party competition.

Prior to starting as a post-doctoral researcher at Nuffield College, I completed a DPhil in Politics from Mansfield College, Oxford; graduated with distinction from St Antony's College, Oxford (MPhil Politics, European Politics and Society) and obtained a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Manchester (BSocSc in Politics and International Relations).

Teaching

• In Hilary term 2022, I will be teaching components in British Politics and Government (PG) and Comparative Government (UG).

• I have been a Teaching Assistant for the Introduction to Statistics (PG) and for the Introductory Quantitative Methods component of Political Analysis paper (UG).

• I have delivered tutorials to undergraduates at various Oxford colleges in Political Sociology, Comparative Government and Introduction to the Practice of Politics (‘Prelims’)

Research

My research interests include:

• Electoral system studies

• Electoral behaviour and public opinion

• The politics of education and educational expansion

• The politics of social and occupational status

• Political geography

Areas of Expertise

Research Skills

I employ quantitative methods in my work, with particular focus on statistical techniques for measurement (latent trait analysis, classification).

Languages

• Italian (native)

• English (fluent)

• Spanish (proficient)

• French (intermediate)

• Polish (intermediate)

Previous Posts

In addition to my teaching responsibilities, through my doctorate I have been a Research Assistant for various projects at the DPIR and at Nuffield College.

Awards and Scholarships

• ESRC ‘Grand Union’ DTP Studentship (2017-2021)

• Bank of Italy ‘Admeto Pettinari e Paolo Andreini’ Bursary (2021)

• University of Manchester Outstanding Academic Achievement Award (2017)