Natasha Lindstaedt is Professor of Government at the University of Essex, UK and the Deputy Dean of Education in Social Sciences. Her research focuses 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 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 (2019), and Democratic Decay (2021).