Skip to main content

James A. Robinson

James A. Robinson

8 commentaries

James A. Robinson, Institute Director of the Pearson Institute for the Study and Resolution of Global Conflicts, is University Professor at the University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy. He is the co-author (with Daron Acemoglu) of The Narrow Corridor: States, Societies, and the Fate of Liberty, and Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty.

Sort by: Show:
  1. Why Taiwan Matters
    acemoglu51_ Central News AgencyHandoutGetty Images_pelositaiwan Central News Agency/Handout/Getty Images

    Why Taiwan Matters

    Aug 9, 2022 Daron Acemoglu & James A. Robinson see the island as evidence against culturally deterministic explanations of authoritarianism and democracy.

  2. Why Trumpian Populism Failed
    jarobinson7_Joe RaedleGetty Images_trump cpac rally Joe Raedle/Getty Images

    Why Trumpian Populism Failed

    Mar 9, 2021 James A. Robinson shows how US democratic institutions prevailed, and why they remain vulnerable to wannabe autocrats.

  3. How to Stem Ukraine’s Corruption
    acemoglu11_Spencer PlattGetty Images_ukrainegirlflowerstape Spencer Platt/Getty Images

    How to Stem Ukraine’s Corruption

    Oct 14, 2019 Daron Acemoglu & James A. Robinson show that it takes a society-wide effort for countries to escape the grip of kleptocratic institutions.

  4. The Constitution Won’t Save American Democracy
    acemoglu10_Brendan SmialowskiGetty Images_constitution Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images

    The Constitution Won’t Save American Democracy

    Sep 24, 2019 Daron Acemoglu & James A. Robinson argue that only social mobilization can remove the threat President Donald Trump poses to US institutions.

  5. Istanbul Shows How Democracy Is Won
    acemoglu8_ Burak KaraGetty Images_imamoglu istanbul Burak Kara/Getty Images

    Istanbul Shows How Democracy Is Won

    Jun 25, 2019 Daron Acemoglu & James A. Robinson draw lessons from the opposition's victory over Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s authoritarian party.

  1. sierakowski103_WOJTEK RADWANSKIAFP via Getty Images_pis WOJTEK RADWANSKI/AFP via Getty Images

    Poland’s Democratic Rebirth Pains

    Sławomir Sierakowski describes the rapid marginalization of the recently defeated Law and Justice party and its autocratic leader.
  2. mateen1_Robert CianfloneGetty Images_facebook news Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

    What Google and Facebook Owe News Publishers

    Haaris Mateen, et al. support laws requiring Big Tech to pay media companies for the content featured on their digital platforms.
  3. haass162_BettmannContributorGetty Images kissinger Bettmann / Contributor Getty Images

    The Legacy of Henry Kissinger

    Richard Haass

    The passing of America’s preeminent foreign-policy thinker and practitioner marks the end of an era. Throughout his long and extraordinarily influential career, Henry Kissinger built a legacy that Americans would be wise to heed in this new era of great-power politics and global disarray.

    reviews the life and career of America’s preeminent foreign-policy scholar-practitioner.
  4. yu74_JOHANNES EISELEAFP via Getty Images_ china real estate JOHANNES EISELE/AFP via Getty Images)

    Fixing China’s Real-Estate Sector

    Yu Yongding suggests three measures the government can take to address property developers’ deteriorating finances.
  5. zizek25_MAHMUD HAMSAFP via Getty Images_israel palestine MAHMUD HAMS/AFP via Getty Images

    The New Roots of Anti-Semitism

    Slavoj Žižek worries that Zionist fundamentalism is exacerbating the problem it purports to solve.
  6. ghosh71_Seth Sidney BerrySOPA ImagesLightRocket via Getty Images_honduras Seth Sidney Berry/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

    When Investors Subvert States

    Jayati Ghosh urges policymakers to end the undemocratic practice of allowing multinationals to sue sovereign countries.
  7. espinosa5_Joe RaedleGetty Images_solar panels Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

    Accelerating Latin America’s Clean-Energy Revolution

    Patricia Espinosa & Lourdes Melgar tout the huge opportunities and identify the main challenges of the transition to renewables in the region.
  8. acemoglu66_Michael M. SantiagoGetty Images_trump protest Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

    What Anti-Trumpism Is Missing

    Daron Acemoglu urges Democrats to support working-class interests and priorities after many years of neglect.
  9. elerian161_Getty Images_global economy Getty Images

    Beware the New Consensus on the Global Economy

    Mohamed A. El-Erian worries that domestic political divisions and market volatility could exacerbate financial vulnerabilities.

Edit Newsletter Preferences

Set up Notification

To receive email updates regarding this {entity_type}, please enter your email below.

If you are not already registered, this will create a PS account for you. You should receive an activation email shortly.