Emily R. Clough

Emily R. Clough is an Assistant Professor of Political Science and International Affairs at Northeastern University’s College of Social Sciences and Humanities. Her research focuses on comparative politics and the political economy of development, with a regional emphasis on India. She examines public service delivery, state capacity, civil society, democracy, and the ethics of global philanthropy. Clough holds a PhD in Government from Harvard University (2017) and a BA in Political Science from Swarthmore College (2003).

Education:

• PhD, Government, Harvard University, 2017
• BA, Political Science, Swarthmore College, 2003

Research Interests: Clough’s work analyzes how NGOs influence state service provision, particularly in education, and critiques philanthropy’s role in bypassing state accountability. She explores bureaucratic behavior, corruption, and distributive politics, with notable projects on India’s governance challenges and global ethical certification systems.

Professional Highlights:

• Postdoctoral Fellow at Stanford Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society (2017–18)
• Visiting Assistant Instructor at Bowdoin College (2016)
• Recipient of multiple fellowships, including Harvard’s Ash Center and Weatherhead Center awards

Awards & Honors:

• Learning Innovator Prize (Harvard, 2014)
• Sheldon Traveling Fellowship (Harvard, 2013)
• Phi Beta Kappa membership (2003–present)

Labs/Teams: Clough collaborates on projects linking NGOs, state accountability, and democratic governance in India. Her book project examines NGOs’ role in India’s education sector, analyzing unintended political consequences of NGO-state interactions.