Colin Moore

Colin Moore is an Associate Professor at the University of Hawaii and Director of the Matsunaga Institute for Peace and the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization (UHERO). His work bridges political science and applied policy, focusing on institutional development in marginalized regions. He holds a PhD in Government from Harvard University and has held postdoctoral fellowships at Yale and UC Berkeley. His research examines how governments operate in peripheral areas, with a focus on American imperialism, veterans’ health policy, and Hawaii’s unique political dynamics.

Education: BA in Political Science (High Honors) from Swarthmore College (2002), MA (2006) and PhD (2009) in Government from Harvard University. Postdoctoral fellowships at Yale (undated) and UC Berkeley (undated).

Research interests include: American political development, bureaucratic politics, Hawaii’s policy challenges, veterans’ healthcare systems, and climate adaptation strategies. His book American Imperialism and the State, 1893–1921 (Cambridge, 2017) reinterpreted U.S. imperial governance as fragmented and contested. Current projects include a book on veterans’ healthcare reforms driven by scandal.

Public engagement: Regular contributor to Hawaii’s policy discussions on elections, state budgets, and institutional reform. Collaborates with state agencies and nonprofits to improve local governance, including initiatives on civics education and disaster recovery planning.

Labs/Teams: Oversees UHERO’s economic forecasting and policy analysis teams, and directs the Matsunaga Institute’s peacebuilding programs.