Welcome

I am a PhD candidate at the Department of Political Science and the School of Global Policy and Strategy, University of California San Diego. 

I study the dynamics of contemporary state building and state-minority relations. Through the lens of internal migration and ethnic minority language/education policy, I explore the extent to which these policy tools can help (or hurt) the state in pursuing two fundamental goals: (1) to establish physical footprint across territory, and (2) to bolster legitimacy and compliance. I use a variety of empirical methods leveraging geospatial, text, and archival data, focusing on Vietnam and Southeast Asia. My research has been supported by the Yankelovich Center, the International Institute, and Southeast Asia Research Group Pre-Dissertation Fellowship.

Email: klle@ucsd.edu