Jacob Ricks

Jacob Ricks is an Associate Professor of Political Science in the School of Social Sciences at Singapore Management University, specializing in politics and development across Southeast Asia with concentrated expertise in Thailand and Indonesia.

His research investigates the interplay between ethnic dynamics, governance structures, and socioeconomic development in Southeast Asian contexts, emphasizing comparative political analysis and institutional evolution within emerging democracies. This work critically examines how historical legacies shape contemporary political behavior and policy outcomes in the region.

Professor Ricks' scholarly contributions appear in high-impact journals including World Development, World Politics, Political Behavior, Pacific Affairs, and Journal of Contemporary Asia, reflecting interdisciplinary engagement with political science, development studies, and area studies. He further co-authored the book chapter "Ethnicity and Politics in Southeast Asia" for Cambridge University Press' Elements in Politics and Society series.