Robert Sterken

Robert Sterken is a Professor of Political Science at the University of Texas at Tyler. He is a Senior Fulbright Scholar who has conducted research and taught in Myanmar (Burma), China, Thailand, and Cambodia. His research focuses on Religion & Politics, International Relations, and Asian Politics, with a current project exploring Religion and Politics in Southeast Asia. Sterken holds a Ph.D. from Texas Tech University and has authored numerous books and articles, including Bill Ratliff: A Profile of Courage and Leadership in American Politics and Teaching Barefoot in Burma. He has also served as a consultant to Myanmar's Parliament and has been recognized for his contributions to political science education and international engagement.

Education: Ph.D. (Political Science) Texas Tech University, 1996; M.A. and B.A. (Political Science) Stephen F. Austin State University, 1991 and 1988.

Research interests include Southeast Asian politics, religion-state dynamics, and U.S. state politics. He teaches courses on Texas Politics, Religion & Politics, and Asian Politics.

Notable works include The Kings of Buddhism: Power, Religion, and Fury in Myanmar (2023), examining Myanmar’s political and religious history, and Religion and the State: The Politics of Social Control in Myanmar and the United States (2019). His Fulbright experiences in Myanmar (2015-2016) and China (2018) greatly influenced his research on comparative governance.