Evan Lieberman

Evan Lieberman is a Professor of Political Science and Contemporary Africa at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), holding the Total Chair on the study of Contemporary Africa. He directs the MIT Center for International Studies, MIT Global Diversity Lab, and MIT International Science and Technology Initiatives (MISTI). His research focuses on democratic governance in ethnically and racially diverse societies, climate adaptation, public health, and human rights. Lieberman is the author of the book Until We Have Won Our Liberty: South Africa after Apartheid (2023), examining South Africa’s post-apartheid democracy. His work combines comparative-historical analysis, fieldwork, and experiments to address challenges in governance and policy.

Key roles include leadership in MIT initiatives fostering global education and research partnerships. His research spans South Africa’s political resilience, AIDS policy comparisons between Brazil and South Africa, and the impact of ethnic politics on public health and governance. Lieberman’s contributions highlight the potential of inclusive democracy amid historical divisions, emphasizing case studies like the Ethembalethu housing community as models of civic engagement. His recent work addresses climate policy, accountability mechanisms, and global health equity.

Publications span journals like the Journal of Democracy and include experimental studies on citizen accountability and policy preferences. He advocates for bridging methodological divides in political science through nested analysis. Current projects explore climate justice and the role of information in shaping public support for environmental policies.