How democracies erode — and how peace is engineered

In this work, Méndez Viera applies behavioral economics, social psychology, and sociological theory to examine how mass communication, power structures, and institutional incentives shape behavior, radicalization, and democratic stability. Her research is designed to help policymakers, institutions, and the public understand how democracies erode — and how durable peace can be engineered through informed governance and systemic reform.

She introduces the theory of psychosocial racism and sexism, synthesizing traditionally siloed frameworks through her radicalization pipeline model — demonstrating how psychological conditioning, social structures, and economic incentives interact to influence behavior at both the individual and societal levels.

As part of her self-funded research, Méndez Viera relocated to the Dominican Republic for one year to study the anthropological and human rights impacts of psychosocial racism and sexism on marginalized communities — documenting modern forms of Haitian enslavement and examining the geopolitical and economic forces contributing to regional instability.