# Nicholas Kuipers Assistant Professor of Politics at [[Princeton University]] specializing in the political economy of development, with a specific focus on bureaucratic recruitment and institutional design in Southeast Asia. **Online**: [nicholaskuipers.com](https://www.nicholaskuipers.com/) **Organization**: [[Princeton University]] **Location**: Princeton, New Jersey, USA --- ## Entries **[[2026-02-15]]**: [[Nicholas Kuipers]] published _States against Nations_, arguing that while meritocratic exams build state efficiency, they can inadvertently fuel ethnic and regional tensions by favoring specific groups. He explores how patronage, though often viewed as corrupt, has historically served as a tool for nation-building by ensuring representation and political stability in diverse societies.