Welcome! I teach comparative and international politics at the University of Rhode Island, where I am a professor of political science. My professional focus is on the role that religious, historical, and cultural narratives play in democratic development. My regional areas of expertise are Russia and Ukraine.
I am on sabbatical leave for the academic year 2020-2021, dividing my time between Odessa (Ukraine) in the fall and the Institute for Advanced Studies of the University of Bologna (Italy) in the spring.

Even as my writings have become more varied, a common thread remains -- the choice of cultural framework, or narrative, often determines a policy’s success or failure.