Professional Affiliation

Director, South Asia Center, Atlantic Council and Hamad bin Khalifa Professor of Indian Politics, Georgetown University

Expert Bio

Irfan Nooruddin is an Associate Professor of Political Science at The Ohio State University. His current research centers on questions at the intersection of comparative and international political economy. Just as with institutions and economic development, the principal problem of violent domestic conflict is understanding how to design state institutions that will constrain political elites while allowing them to create good public policy. Irfan believes that the legitimacy bestowed on state institutions when designed to generate positive outcomes for citizens is an important prophylactic against violent protests and movements aimed at overthrowing the government.



Irfan is currently working on a book manuscript with Thomas E. Flores which explores the effects of holding elections in post-conflict societies in which he seeks to identify how international actors might improve the prospects for peace after post-conflict elections. In addition, he is involved in a long-term project to understand the nature of democratic governance in India (co-authored with Pradeep Chhibber).

Education

B.A. (1996) Economics & International Studies, Ohio Wesleyan University; Ph.D. (2003) Political Science, University of Michigan – Ann Arbor

Wilson Center Project

“War by Other Means: The Politics of Post-Conflict Reconstruction”

Project Summary

This project examines how practitioners can improve international interventions to support post-conflict democracies as they hold their first peace-time elections in order to maximize the probability of successful post-conflict reconstruction. In doing so, it seeks to contribute theoretically to the international relations and political science literatures on post-conflict peacebuilding and democratization.

Major Publications

• Coalition Politics and Economic Development: Credibility and the Strength of Weak Governments (Cambridge University Press, 2011).
• “Democracy Under the Gun: Understanding Post-Conflict Economic Recovery,” Journal of Conflict Resolution (w/ Thomas Edward Flores).
• Financing the Peace: Evaluating World Bank Post-Conflict Assistance Programs,” Review of International Organizations (w/ Thomas Edward Flores).