Daniel Bessner

Associate Professor Daniel Bessner holds the Anne H.H. and Kenneth B. Pyle Chair in American Foreign Policy at the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies, University of Washington. His research focuses on U.S. foreign relations, intellectual history, and liberalism theory. He is a historian with notable works including Democracy in Exile (2018) and co-edited volumes such as Rethinking U.S. World Power (2024). Bessner is also a contributing editor at Jacobin and co-host of the American Prestige podcast. His awards include the Charles Schmitt Prize and recognition for book reviewing. He advises MA students but is not accepting PhD candidates for 2025-2026.

Education: Ph.D. (2013), M.A. (2010) in History from Duke University; B.A. in History (2006, Columbia) and Jewish History (2006, Jewish Theological Seminary).

Recent work includes analyses of Hollywood’s existential crisis (Harper’s Magazine, 2024) and U.S. foreign policy decline. Affiliations include the Quincy Institute and Alameda Institute. Sanctioned by Russia in 2024.