Paul B. Kreitman

Paul B. Kreitman is an Associate Professor at Columbia University's Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures. He specializes in 20th Century Japanese History, Environmental History, and the History of Science and Technology.

• 20th Century Japanese History
• Environmental History
• Commodity History
• Global Sovereignty Studies

His research explores intersections between nature and sovereignty, with a focus on Japan's borderlands and trans-Pacific interactions. His 2018 article on Tokyo's wartime sanitation politics won the Leopold-Hidy Prize, and his 2023 monograph Japan's Ocean Borderlands redefines environmental sovereignty narratives.

He teaches courses on Asian Mobilities, Indo-Pacific Geopolitics, and graduate seminars about Borderland Japan. Previously held positions include Junior Research Fellow at University of London's Institute of Historical Research and Senior Teaching Fellow at SOAS.

• Publications: Environmental History (2018), Cambridge University Press monograph (2023)
• Media Appearances: The Financial Times, The Japan Times, The New Statesman

Current projects examine trans-Pacific border controls with emphasis on Japan-Hawaii connections. His work integrates environmental, technological, and geopolitical perspectives to reshape historical understanding of sovereignty dynamics.