Susan E Colbourn

Susan E Colbourn is an Associate Research Professor at Duke University's Sanford School of Public Policy and Associate Director of the Program in American Grand Strategy, specializing in diplomatic and international history with emphasis on European security, nuclear weapons politics, and NATO history.

Her educational background includes:

• Ph.D. in History, University of Toronto (2018)

Dr. Colbourn's research examines Cold War dynamics, transatlantic relations, and alliance politics through historical analysis of NATO crises, nuclear deterrence, and Canadian foreign policy. Her work bridges archival research with contemporary security challenges, particularly focusing on how historical events shape modern diplomatic frameworks and security policies in Europe and North America.

Her 15 publications from 2014-2024 reveal consistent focus on NATO's institutional evolution, nuclear arms control debates, and transatlantic security cooperation. Key trends include analysis of alliance management during crises (Siberian pipeline, Euromissiles), Canadian diplomatic initiatives, and the interplay between domestic activism and international security architecture, culminating in her 2022 book on NATO's nuclear turning point.

No major scientific awards are documented in available sources.

Dr. Colbourn advises students through Duke courses including PUBPOL 501S and HISTORY 567S on American Grand Strategy, and has secured significant research funding including the TISS: New Faces Project (2020-2025) and International Crisis Behavior project (2022-2023) examining alliance formation and policy choices.

As Associate Director of the Program in American Grand Strategy, she leads an interdisciplinary initiative connecting historians, political scientists, and policymakers to analyze U.S. foreign policy through historical case studies and contemporary strategic challenges.