Gail Kligman

Gail Kligman is a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Her research focuses on political sociology, gender studies, and Eastern European history, with a particular emphasis on socialist and post-socialist contexts. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley.

Her work examines themes such as state power, gender dynamics, and social transformation, particularly in Romania and other post-Soviet societies. Notable publications include Peasants Under Siege (2011) and The Politics of Duplicity (1998), which have received multiple awards including the Barbara Jelavich Best Book Prize and the Heldt Prize. Her collaborative works on gender after socialism, such as The Politics of Gender After Socialism (2000), further solidify her contributions to feminist and historical sociology.

• Education: Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley

Kligman’s research bridges macro-level political structures with micro-level societal impacts, analyzing topics like collectivization, reproductive control under authoritarian regimes, and gendered power dynamics. Her awards reflect recognition for both scholarly rigor and interdisciplinary innovation.

• Awards: 2012 Barbara Jelavich Prize, 2012 Heldt Prize, 1998 Heldt Prize, among others.

Her advisory and collaborative work has shaped sociological discourse on post-socialist transitions, though specific grant details are not listed here. She is affiliated with UCLA’s sociology department and has contributed to comparative-historical studies of Eastern Europe.