Alison Brysk

Alison Brysk is a distinguished professor and department chair in Political Science and Global Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara. She holds a Ph.D. from Stanford University (1990) and specializes in international human rights, comparative politics, and gender and politics. Her research focuses on transnational advocacy, democracy struggles, and the intersection of globalization with reproductive rights and gender-based violence.

Brysk has authored eight books, including Abortion Rights Backlash: The Struggle for Democracy in Europe and the Americas (Oxford UP, 2025) and edited volumes such as Populism and Human Rights (2023). Her work compares abortion policy across Ireland, Poland, Argentina, Brazil, and the U.S., analyzing how declining democracy and globalization drive rights rollbacks. She has held visiting scholar positions in 14 countries, including Argentina, Sweden, and Taiwan, and is a Council on Foreign Relations member.

Her research highlights global patterns in human rights struggles, from pandemic-era gender violence to refugee regime challenges. Brysk’s scholarship bridges legal frameworks and grassroots activism, emphasizing transnational networks’ role in advancing rights. Awards include Woodrow Wilson Fellowship and Fulbright Professorships in Canada, India, and Oxford.

• Education: Ph.D. Political Science, Stanford University (1990)
• Awards: Woodrow Wilson Fellow, Fulbright Professorships, CFR membership
• Key Themes: Reproductive rights, democratic erosion, feminist advocacy, transnational governance