Alexander A. Cooley

Alexander A. Cooley is the Claire Tow Professor of Political Science at Barnard College and Vice Provost for Research, Libraries, and Academic Centers. He is also an Adjunct Faculty member at Chatham House. Currently on leave during the Spring 2026 semester, Cooley focuses on the impact of external actors on the governance, sovereignty, and development of former Soviet states.

• Barnard College, Claire Tow Professor of Political Science
• Vice Provost for Research, Libraries, and Academic Centers
• Adjunct Faculty, Chatham House

Cooley’s research spans themes such as kleptocracy, international rankings, military base politics, and the influence of emerging powers on global governance. His work critically examines Western enablers of grand corruption and the geopolitical shifts following the decline of American hegemony.

He has received significant recognition, including being named among the top 2% of cited authors globally and the Columbia Provost Faculty Award. His research is supported by prestigious fellowships from the Open Society Foundations, Carnegie Corporation, and the German Marshall Fund of the United States.

• Testified before the United States Congress and Helsinki Commission
• Former Director (2015–2021) of Columbia University's Harriman Institute for the Study of Russia, Eurasia, and Eastern Europe

Cooley contributes extensively to public discourse, with opinion pieces in the New York Times, Foreign Policy, and Foreign Affairs. His recent projects include anti-corruption research, Russian studies policy analysis, and the historical study of Cold Wars within academia.