John T. Sidel

John T. Sidel Summary

Professor John T. Sidel is the Sir Patrick Gillam Chair in International and Comparative Politics at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), holding joint appointments in the Government and International Relations Departments. He is also Director of the Saw Swee Hock Southeast Asia Centre. His career spans over three decades of research on Southeast Asia, with a focus on the Philippines, Indonesia, and Vietnam.

Education

• B.A. and M.A. in Political Science from Yale University
• Ph.D. in Government from Cornell University

Research Interests

Sidel specializes in Southeast Asian politics, including local power dynamics, comparative historical sociology, Islam in politics, reform advocacy campaigns, and infrastructure politics. Key themes include:

• Local Politics: Analysis of political bossism, dynasties, and subnational governance in the Philippines and beyond.
• Comparative History: Long-term patterns of state-building, nationalism, and colonial legacies in Southeast Asia.
• Islam & Politics: Study of religious violence, political mobilization, and transnational Islam in Indonesia.
• Reform Advocacy: Advising development initiatives like the Philippines' Coalitions for Change program.
• Infrastructure Politics: Urban transport reforms and their socio-political implications in Metro Manila.

Key Publications

Major works include Republicanism, Communism, Islam: Cosmopolitan Origins of Revolution in Southeast Asia (2021), Riots, Pogroms, Jihad (2006), and Capital, Coercion, and Crime (1999). His recent research explores transport policy reforms and the political economy of development in the Philippines.

Teaching

Sidel teaches courses on Southeast Asian politics, comparative historical sociology, and Islam in world politics at LSE. Notable courses include GV4D3 (Local Power in Globalization) and IR461 (Islam in International Relations).

Public Engagement

He advises international organizations such as The Asia Foundation and UNHCR, contributing reports on Indonesia's refugee policies and Philippine development initiatives. Active in public lectures and podcasts, he promotes Southeast Asian studies through platforms like the LSE's 'Dialogues on Southeast Asia' series.