Manuel Cabal is an Assistant Professor at the Institute of Political Science.

More information about Manuel Cabal Lopez

Manuel Cabal is Assistant Professor in the Institute of Political Science. He is a Secorplan UD since 2023 within the Resilience in Youth theme. His research and teaching interests center on comparative politics and institutions with a regional focus on Latin America. He is particularly interested in how states have historically governed their peripheries, and how young democracies reform their public sectors, strengthen primary education, and promote citizenship.

His research follows two main strands. The first explores the politics of primary education reform in Latin America, particularly the role of activists and non-governmental organizations in transforming education systems. The second investigates the subnational variations in education institutions after the Mexican Revolution and how provinces reshaped national policies. Using comparative and historical methods, his research illuminates the long-term political conditions that foster—or constrain—inclusive education systems.

Dr. Cabal teaches courses on comparative politics, research methods, and international relations. Before joining Leiden University, he was a teaching fellow at the Committee of International Relations of the University of Chicago, where he obtained his Ph.D. in Political Science. He also worked for the Mexican federal government as a policy analyst and speechwriter.