About me

Adam Hobbs is a PhD candidate in the department of political science at the University of California, Riverside (UCR). He received his master’s degree from the University of Montana in 2019 and expects to complete his PhD in 2026. Adam’s research is rooted in a central concern of political science: how do social and material conditions interact to influence political behavior? His dissertation examines how housing markets shape political attitudes in the United States, with a focus on attitudes towards immigration and foreign real estate investment (FREI). Housing has been central to much of the economic and social upheaval of the 21st century, from the 2008 financial crisis to the post-COVID affordability crisis. In the US, the family home is both the largest asset in the portfolio of most households and a crucial buffer against economic insecurity (including retirement). Rising economic inequality is not only reflected in, but also driven by, unequal access to homeownership. Furthermore, housing is not merely an economic asset – it is where people build their lives, raise families, host friends, and create a sense of security, identity, and belonging. Because of this dual significance, he argues that housing markets are deeply intertwined with individual well-being, and thus, with political behavior.

Beyond his dissertation, Adam’s research focuses on how individuals make sense of and respond to economic insecurity and social dislocation in a globalized and unequal world. His ongoing projects examine how macroeconomic conditions influence mobilization among the unemployed, how housing affordability impacts protest behavior in Spain, how gender biases shape economic voting, how framing of elite tax evasion influences tax morale, and how foreign property ownership affects support for redistribution. Adam recently published an article in the peer-reviewed journal Terrorism and Political Violence entitled “The Dynamics of Protest Radicalization.” The paper develops a general theory of protest radicalization using cross-national data and a case study to contextualize the results. His other peer-reviewed article “Violence, what is it good for? Waves of riotous-violent protest and democracy,” was published in the peer-reviewed journal Democratization in 2024. The paper explored the conditions under which violent protests become more effective. He and his co-authors argued that waves of riotous-violent protest increase the likelihood of protest success, particularly under democratic regimes. He has presented research at the American Political Science Association (APSA) conference, Midwest Political Science Association (MPSA) conference, Western Political Science Association (WPSA) conference, and Political Institutions and Political Economy (PIPE) conference.

Outside of the classroom, Adam enjoys spending time with his wife, daughter, and dog. He also enjoys cooking and baking, especially French, Italian, and southern BBQ dishes. Lastly, he is a big fan of America’s favorite football team…the Seattle Seahawks.