James Mittelman Distinguished Research Professor In Residence Global Inquiry
- Languages Spoken
- Kiswahili (good working knowledge), French (reading proficiency)
- Bio
- James Mittelman is Distinguished Research Professor and University Professor Emeritus. His work focuses on globalization, development, and political economy, with emphasis on sub-Saharan Africa and Eastern Asia. Previously, he was Professor and Dean at Queens College of the City University of New York, Professor and Dean of the Graduate School of International Studies (today the Korbel School) at the University of Denver, Director of the Social Science Foundation, and the Pok Rafeah Chair at the National University of Malaysia. Mittelman has been on the faculty at Cornell and Columbia universities, and was named a Member at the Princeton Institute for Advanced Study. He also held teaching and research appointments in Japan, Uganda, Mozambique, and South Africa. The recipient of the International Studies Association's 2010 Distinguished Scholar award in International Political Economy, he is an Honorary Fellow at the Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies. Mittelman’s books include The Globalization Syndrome: Transformation and Resistance (Princeton University Press) and Hyperconflict: Globalization and Insecurity (Stanford University Press). His op-eds and letters to the editor appear in The New York Times, Washington Post, Financial Times, and elsewhere. Mittelman has worked at the United Nations and with civil society organizations. His newest book is Implausible Dream: The World-Class University and Repurposing Higher Education (Princeton University Press).
- For the Media
- To request an interview for a news story, call Â鶹ÊÓƵ Communications at 202-885-5950 or submit a request.
Scholarly, Creative & Professional Activities
Research Interests
Professor Mittelman specializes in global political economy (with emphasis on sub-Saharan Africa and Eastern Asia), globalization, global governance, international relations theory, and development.
Selected Publications
- Implausible Dream: The World-Class University and Repurposing Higher Education, Princeton University Press, 2018.
- Political Critiques and Social Theories of the Global, coeditor, Sage, 2014.
- Contesting Global Order: Development, Globalization, and Global Governance,ÌýRoutledge, 2011.
- Hyperconflict: Globalization and Insecurity, Stanford University Press, 2010 (winner of the 2010 Outstanding Academic Title Award, sponsored by Choice).
- Whither Globalization? The Vortex of Knowledge and Ideology, Routledge, 2004. Japanese translation.
- Capturing Globalization, coeditor, Routledge, 2001 (awarded the Gold Medal as the best book in the social sciences at the National University of Malaysia).
- The Globalization Syndrome: Transformation and Resistance, Princeton University Press, 2000. Chinese, Japanese, and Spanish translations.
- Out from Underdevelopment Revisited: Changing Global Structures and the Remaking of the Third World, coauthor, Macmillan and St. Martin's, 1997.
- Innovation and Transformation in International Studies, coeditor, Cambridge University Press, 1997.
- Globalization: Critical Reflections, editor, Lynne Rienner Publishers, 1996.
- Out from Underdevelopment: Prospects for the Third World, Macmillan and St. Martin's, 1988; 2nd edition.
- Underdevelopment and the Transition to Socialism: Mozambique and Tanzania, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich/Academic Press, 1981.
- Ideology and Politics in Uganda: FromÌý Obote to Amin, Cornell University Press, 1975.
Professional Presentations
- China Foreign Affairs University (Beijing)
- The Claremont Colleges Harvey Botwin Lecture in Political Economy
- Economic and Social Research Foundation Annual Globalization Lecture (Dar es Salaam, Tanzania)
- Fudan University (Shanghai)Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý
- National University of Malaysia Pok Rafeah Chair Inaugural LectureÌý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý
- Nordic Africa Institute (Uppsala, Sweden)Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý
- Pontifica Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)
- Finnish Political Science Assocation, keynote address, annual convention
- University of the Witwatersrand Richard Feetham Memorial Lecture on Academic Freedom (Johannesburg, South Africa)
Executive Experience
- Vice President, International Studies Association, 2006-2007Ìý Ìý
- Founding Chair of Comparative and Regional Studies, Â鶹ÊÓƵ, 1992-1994 Ìý
- Dean, Division of Social Sciences, Queens College of the City University of New York, 1987-1991Ìý Ìý
- Dean, Graduate School of International Studies, University of Denver, 1983-1987Ìý Ìý
- Director, Social Science Foundation, University of Denver, 1983-1987Ìý Ìý
- Founding Director, International Studies Program, The City College of the City University of New York, 1981-1983Ìý Ìý
- Associate Director, Liberal Arts, Pre-Professional Programs and Public Policy (an interdisciplinary program in ethics and public policy), The City College of the City University of New York, 1980-81
Ìý
Honors, Awards, and Fellowships
- Honorary Fellow, Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies, since 2011
- Distinguished Scholar, award in International Political Economy, International Studies Association, 2010
- University Professor of International Affairs, Â鶹ÊÓƵ, 2007-2015
- Â鶹ÊÓƵ Faculty Award, Outstanding Scholarship, Research, and Other Professional Contributions, 2005
- Â鶹ÊÓƵ School of International Service Award for Outstanding Scholarship, Research, and Other Professional Contributions, 2004-2005, 1999-2000, and 1996-1997
- Member, Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, 1998-1999
- Pok Rafeah Chair in International Studies and Distinguished Visiting Professor, National University of Malaysia, 1997-1998
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Grants and Sponsored Research
- American Political Science Association, 2004 Ìý Ìý
- United Nations University, 1996-1997, 1994, 1993, 1992Ìý Ìý
- International Studies Association, 1994, 1993Ìý Ìý
- World Policy Institute, 1982-1983 and 1981-1982Ìý Ìý
- Social Science Research Council, 1998Ìý Ìý
- Columbia University Center for Research in the Social Sciences, 1979Ìý Ìý
- John Parker Compton Foundation, 1977-1978Ìý Ìý
- Institute for the Study of World Politics, 1975-1976Ìý Ìý
- National Science Foundation, 1973Ìý Ìý
- American Council for Learned Societies, 1973
Media Appearances
- CBS Television and Radio
- New York TimesÌý
- Washington Post
- Helsingin Sanomat (Helsinki, Finland)Ìý
- Denver Post
- San Francisco ChronicleÌý
- Detroit News
- The Nation
- National Public Radio
- Canadian Broadcasting CorporationÌýÌý
- United Nations Radio
Â鶹ÊÓƵ Experts
Area of Expertise
Globalization, international development, international organization, African politics , Nelson Mandela
Additional Information
James Mittelman is the author or editor of several volumes on African politics, development, and globalization, including The Globalization Syndrome: Transformation and Resistance (Princeton University Press, 2000). His newest book is Implausible Dream: The World-Class University and Repurposing Higher Education (Princeton University Press, 2018). His writings are in nine languages. After studying in Uganda, he lived and worked in Tanzania, Mozambique, and South Africa. Later, Mittelman held the Pok Rafeah Chair at the National University of Malaysia, where he served as distinguished visiting professor, and taught in Japan. Mittelman has had resident fellowships at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton and the Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies, where he is now an honorary fellow. He has also worked for United Nations agencies and has been interviewed on many radio and TV programs, including CBS News, National Public Radio, BBC, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, and United Nations Radio. His articles have appeared in the New York Times, Financial Times, and Washington Post as well as in other newspapers and magazines.
For the Media
To request an interview for a news story, call Â鶹ÊÓƵ Communications at 202-885-5950 or submit a request.