Nicholas Hoover Wilson

Nicholas Hoover Wilson is an Associate Professor of Sociology at Stony Brook University, with affiliated appointments in the Departments of History and Asian & Asian-American Studies, and an affiliation with the Institute for Advanced Computational Science. His research focuses on the historical sociology of empires and colonialism, particularly through the lens of the English East India Trading Company's activities in South Asia. He also studies interdisciplinary research methodologies, transformations in the concept of corruption, and the sociology of knowledge and morality.

Wilson's notable works include the book Modernity’s Corruption: Empire and Morality in the Making of British India (2023), which examines the intersection of empire, morality, and modernity. He has co-edited After Positivism: New Approaches to Comparison in Historical Sociology (2024), advancing methodological debates in the field. His research bridges historical analysis with contemporary sociological theory, emphasizing the role of colonialism in shaping modern social structures.

His research interests encompass historical sociology, political economy, and computational social science. He explores how moral frameworks and legal systems evolved within imperial contexts, as seen in works like Words That Bind (2023). His interdisciplinary approach integrates archival studies, textual analysis, and comparative methods to understand complex historical phenomena.

Wilson’s affiliations reflect his commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration, combining sociological inquiry with computational methods and historical scholarship. His work contributes to broader dialogues on empire, morality, and the foundations of modern social thought.