Adam B. Lerner
Associate Professor · International Relations
University of Massachusetts LowellAbout
Adam B. Lerner is an Associate Professor of Political Science with tenure at the University of Massachusetts Lowell within the College of Fine Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences. His work bridges International Relations and Political Theory with a focus on historical injustices and global reconciliation mechanisms.
Education:
- Ph.D. in Politics and International Studies (2020), University of Cambridge
- M.Phil. in Modern South Asian Studies (2016), University of Cambridge
- B.A. in English (2009), Cornell University (Phi Beta Kappa, summa cum laude)
Lerner's research centers on collective trauma and its political manifestations, examining how historical injustices shape international relations through frameworks of repair and redress. His interdisciplinary approach integrates political theory, ethics, and historical analysis to address contemporary challenges like climate justice and post-conflict reconciliation. Key contributions include reconceptualizing ontological insecurity in global politics and analyzing the paradoxes of international reparations.
His publication portfolio demonstrates remarkable thematic coherence across 19 refereed articles and a monograph, with recent work increasingly focusing on climate justice frameworks and critical actuarial science. The articles reveal a methodological evolution from historical case studies toward innovative theoretical constructs like "strategic ontologies" and "cognitive entanglement."
Key Awards:
- British Academy Knowledge Frontiers Grant (co-PI, $315,000), 2024-2026
- Edgar S. Furniss Book Award (2023) and Peter Katzenstein Prize (2023) for From the Ashes of History
- Heinz I. Eulau Award (2024) and ISA Theory Section Award (2024)
- Fellow of the Royal Historical Society (2023-present)
- Multiple early-career prizes including Northedge Prize (2018) and Emanuel Miller Prize (2018)
Lerner previously served as Editor-in-Chief of the Cambridge Review of International Affairs and as a journalist at Politico and The Caravan. His current British Academy grant on climate justice represents significant interdisciplinary collaboration. Beyond academia, he actively engages public discourse through outlets like the New York Times and participates in professional development through APSA Public Scholar programs.
