Faculty Profile

Diego Esparza

Diego Esparza

Title
Assistant Professor
Department
Political Science
College
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences

    

Education

PhD, University of California at Riverside, 2015.
Major: Political Science
Degree Specialization: Comparative Politics and International Relations
Dissertation Title: Policing as a Vocation: Centralization, Professionalism, and Police Malfeasance in Latin America
MA, University of California at Riverside, 2010.
Major: Political Science
Degree Specialization: International Relations and Comparative Politics
BA, California Polytechnic State University, 2005.
Major: Political Science
Degree Specialization: International Affairs
Dissertation Title: Patriot Act: The Relationship of the Patriot Act with Society as Studied on the Cal Poly Populace

Current Scheduled Teaching*

PSCI 4662.001, Civil Military Relations, Spring 2024 Syllabus
PSCI 2306.004, US and Texas Constitutions and Institutions, Spring 2024 Syllabus

* Texas Education Code 51.974 (HB 2504) requires each institution of higher education to make available to the public, a syllabus for undergraduate lecture courses offered for credit by the institution.

Previous Scheduled Teaching*

PSCI 6625.001, Democracy and Democratization, Fall 2023 Syllabus SPOT
PSCI 3600.001, Governments and Politics Around the World, Fall 2023 Syllabus SPOT
PSCI 2306.901, US and Texas Constitutions and Institutions, Summer 3W1 2023 Syllabus SPOT
PSCI 3701.001, Politics of Mexico, Spring 2023 Syllabus SPOT
PSCI 3611.001, Politics of Central America and the Caribbean, Fall 2022 Syllabus SPOT
PSCI 2306.801, US and Texas Constitutions and Institutions, Summer 3W1 2022 Syllabus SPOT
PSCI 4662.001, Civil Military Relations, Spring 2022 Syllabus SPOT
PSCI 2306.008, US and Texas Constitutions and Institutions, Spring 2022 Syllabus SPOT
PSCI 3600.002, Governments and Politics Around the World, Fall 2021 Syllabus SPOT
PSCI 3611.001, Politics of Central America and the Caribbean, Fall 2021 Syllabus SPOT
PSCI 2306.001, US and Texas Constitutions and Institutions, Summer 3W1 2021 Syllabus SPOT
PSCI 3600.002, Governments and Politics Around the World, Spring 2021 Syllabus SPOT
PSCI 3600.003, Governments and Politics Around the World, Spring 2021 Syllabus SPOT
PSCI 3701.001, Politics of Mexico, Spring 2021 Syllabus SPOT
PSCI 3701.002, Politics of Mexico, Spring 2021 Syllabus SPOT
PSCI 6625.001, Democracy and Democratization, Fall 2020 Syllabus SPOT
PSCI 2306.001, US and Texas Constitutions and Institutions, Summer 3W1 2020 Syllabus SPOT
PSCI 3700.001, Area Politics, Spring 2020 Syllabus
PSCI 2306.008, US and Texas Constitutions and Institutions, Spring 2020 Syllabus
PSCI 3600.001, Governments and Politics Around the World, Fall 2019 Syllabus SPOT
PSCI 4951.009, Honors College Capstone Thesis, Fall 2019
PSCI 4700.001, Topics in Comparative Politics, Fall 2019 Syllabus SPOT
PSCI 2306.001, US and Texas Constitutions and Institutions, Summer 3W1 2019 Syllabus SPOT
PSCI 3700.001, Area Politics, Spring 2019 Syllabus SPOT
PSCI 2306.008, US and Texas Constitutions and Institutions, Spring 2019 Syllabus SPOT
PSCI 3600.001, Governments and Politics Around the World, Fall 2018 Syllabus SPOT
PSCI 4700.001, Topics in Comparative Politics, Fall 2018 Syllabus SPOT
PSCI 3600.002, Governments and Politics Around the World, Spring 2018 Syllabus SPOT
PSCI 2306.008, US and Texas Constitutions and Institutions, Spring 2018 Syllabus SPOT
PSCI 2306.007, US and Texas Constitutions and Institutions, Fall 2017 Syllabus SPOT

* Texas Education Code 51.974 (HB 2504) requires each institution of higher education to make available to the public, a syllabus for undergraduate lecture courses offered for credit by the institution.

Published Publications

Published Intellectual Contributions

Book
Esparza, D. (2022). Policing and Politics in Latin America: When Law Enforcement Breaks the Law. 173. Boulder, Colorado: Lynne Rienner Publishers. https://www.rienner.com/title/Policing_and_Politics_in_Latin_America_When_Law_Enforcement_Breaks_the_Law
Book Chapter
Esparza, D. (2021). Peacekeeping and Civil-Military Relations in Uruguay. Routledge Handbook of Civil-Military Relations 2nd Edition. Routledge.
Esparza, D., Bruneau, T. (2018). "Intelligence Fusion Centers: Bridging State/Local Law Enforcement and National Intelligence Culture?". Homeland Security Cultures, edited by Alexander Siedschlag and Andrea Jerković. London: Rowman and Littlefield..
Journal Article
Esparza, D., Meernik, J., Branton, R. What’s Past is Prologue: Civil War Violence and Post-War Criminal Homicides. Civil Wars.
Esparza, D., Branton, R. P., Meernik, J. D. What Factors Drive Police Trust After Civil Wars: The Case of Colombia. International Journal of Comparative and Applied Criminal Justice.
Meernik, J. D., Duncan, G., Torou, C., Gaviria, J., Esparza, D. Trust of Demobilized Combatants: Overcoming Fear or Becoming Familiar?. Social Science Quarterly.
Silva, A., Esparza, D. (2021). Race and Trust in the Police. Social Science Quarterly.
Esparza, D., Ishiyama, J. T. (2021). "Born to Run: Where Rebel Parties Participate in Post-Conflict Local Elections" (first listing). Journal of Elections, Public Opinion and Parties.
Silva, A., Esparza, D., Martinez-Ebers, V. J., Branton, R. P. (2020). Perceived police performance, racial experiences, and trust in local government. Politics, Groups and Identities.
Esparza, D., Gentry, H., Arca Henon, S. (2020). Peacekeeping and Civil-Military Relations in Uruguay. Defense & Security Analysis. Taylor and Francis.
Esparza, D., Martinez-Ebers, V. J., Branton, R. P., King, K. L., Meernik, J. D. (2020). Violence, Trust and Public Support for the Colombian Peace Agreement. Social Science Quarterly. 101(4), 1236-1254.
Meernik, J. D., Esparza, D. (2020). Movement of the People: Violence and Internal Displacement. International Area Studies Review.
Esparza, D., Ugues, A. (2020). The Impact of Law Enforcement Centralization and Professionalization on Public Opinion of the Mexican Police. Journal of Politics in Latin America.
Esparza, D., Bruneau, T. (2019). Closing the Gap Between Law Enforcement and National Security Intelligence: Comparative Approaches. International Journal of Intelligence and Counterintelligence. 31(4), .
Ugues, A., Esparza, D. (2018). The relationship between crime victimization, corruption, and public attitudes of Mexico’s armed forces. Democracy and Security. 14(3), 211-237. Informa UK Limited. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17419166.2018.1466114
Pion-Berlin, D., Esparza, D., Grisham, K. (2014). Staying Quartered: Civilian Uprisings and Military Disobedience in the Twenty-First Century. Comparative Political Studies. 47(2), 230-259.
Esparza, D. (2010). Self-Advertised Military Missions in Latin America: What Is Disclosed and Why?. Journal of Political and Military Sociology. 38(2010), 101-127.

Awarded Grants

Contracts, Grants and Sponsored Research

Grant - Research
Esparza, D., "Summer Research Grant," Sponsored by University of North Texas Office of Provost for Faculty Success, University of North Texas, $2000 Funded. (2021 – Present).
Esparza, D. (Principal), "Scholarly and Creative Activity Award," Sponsored by University of North Texas Office of Research and Innovation, University of North Texas, $5000 Funded. (20202021).
Grant - Service
Ishiyama, J. T. (Co-Principal), Breuning, M. (Co-Principal), Esparza, D. (Co-Principal), Hlatky, R. (Co-Principal), "Team Mentoring Grant," Sponsored by Faculty Success Office of the Provost & Academic Affairs, University of North Texas, $4987.5 Funded. (September 2023February 2024).
,
Overall
Summative Rating
Challenge and
Engagement Index
Response Rate

out of 5

out of 7
%
of
students responded
  • Overall Summative Rating (median):
    This rating represents the combined responses of students to the four global summative items and is presented to provide an overall index of the class’s quality. Overall summative statements include the following (response options include a Likert scale ranging from 5 = Excellent, 3 = Good, and 1= Very poor):
    • The course as a whole was
    • The course content was
    • The instructor’s contribution to the course was
    • The instructor’s effectiveness in teaching the subject matter was
  • Challenge and Engagement Index:
    This rating combines student responses to several SPOT items relating to how academically challenging students found the course to be and how engaged they were. Challenge and Engagement Index items include the following (response options include a Likert scale ranging from 7 = Much higher, 4 = Average, and 1 = Much lower):
    • Do you expect your grade in this course to be
    • The intellectual challenge presented was
    • The amount of effort you put into this course was
    • The amount of effort to succeed in this course was
    • Your involvement in course (doing assignments, attending classes, etc.) was
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