Edgar’s research examines how colonial institutions and contemporary criminal violence contribute to economic underperformance and inequality in Latin America. His book project, Contesting the Empire: The Politics of Indigenous Resistance under Colonial Rule, analyzes the diverse strategies Indigenous populations employed to confront colonial powers, including migration, alliances, rebellion, and legal activism. This work demonstrates the central role Indigenous groups played in state-building processes since colonial times. Drawing on extensive archival data from colonial Mexican courts and employing automated text analysis, he explores the complex dynamics between Indigenous communities and the colonial state. His research on contemporary development challenges centers on criminal violence and policing, with ongoing projects examining these issues in Mexico and Brazil.