#17 – February 25, 2013. The George Washington University’s Marc Lynch, director of the Project on Middle East Political Science, speaks with Lindsay Benstead, assistant professor of political science at Portland State University’s School of Government. Her working book project, Legislative Connections: Why Diverse Patterns of Parliamentary Clientelism Stabilize Authoritarian Governance in Arab North Africa, examines the relationship between regime type and the structure of patron-client relationships. Benstead also examines gender-related dimensions of electoral politics, public opinion, and survey methodology in the Middle East. Lynch and Benstead discuss elections in Tunisia and Algeria, and a recent public opinion survey she collaborated on in Tunisia.