Hicken analyzes the formation of nationally oriented political parties in democracies and its variation across countries using a theory of aggregation incentives.

Allen Hicken is an Assistant Professor of Political Science, Faculty Associate at the Center for Southeast Asian Studies, and Faculty Associate at the Center for Political Studies at the University of Michigan. He studies elections, parties, and party systems in developing democracies, with a particular focus on Southeast Asia. He has carried out research and held research positions in Thailand, the Philippines, Singapore, and Cambodia. He is the recipient of a Fulbright Award and, along with Ken Kollman, an NSF grant. His publications include articles in the American Journal of Political Science, the Journal of Politics, Electoral Studies, the Journal of East Asian Studies, and the Taiwan Journal of Democracy.

1. Introduction; 2. A theory of aggregation incentives; 3. Testing the theory; 4. Aggregation, nationalization, and the number of parties in Thailand; 5. Explaining aggregation in Thailand; 6. Term limits, aggregation incentives, and the number of parties in the Philippines; 7. Conclusion.