Isabella Picón Ball

Areas of Expertise

Resistance to authoritarianism, democratic transitions, social movements and political parties in democratic backsliding and authoritarian contexts

Background

Major Field - Comparative Politics

Minor Field - International Relations

Isabella Picón is a PhD student at George Washington University focusing on comparative politics and international relations. Specifically, she is interested in comparing and understanding domestic and international forms of resistance to authoritarianism and democratic backsliding in the 21st century. 
Her interest stems from over a decade of on-the-ground pro-democracy campaigns, civic mobilization, and electoral organizing initiatives in Venezuela. 
In 2025, she completed fellowships at Harvard's Ash Center and Stanford's Center for Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law (CDDRL). She has also conducted policy research and consulting for organizations such as NORC at the University of Chicago, the Berghof Foundation, and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.