Ivan Ermakoff

Ivan Ermakoff is a Professor of Sociology at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, with affiliations in the History Department and the Center for Jewish Studies. His work bridges historical sociology and political sociology, focusing on collective decision-making under crises, democratic governance, and authoritarianism.

• Research interests: Historical contingency, rational choice theory, social movements, and institutional analysis.
• Key themes in his publications include legal revolutions, authoritarian consolidation, patrimonialism, and epistemological challenges in historical sociology.

His awards include the Lewis A. Coser Prize, European Academy of Sociology Best Book Award, and Charles Tilly Award. He teaches courses on sociological theory, political sociology, and the sociology of persecution.