Brendan O'Leary

Brendan O'Leary is Lauder Professor of Political Science and Director of the Penn Program in Ethnic Conflict at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Arts & Sciences. Previously, he served on the faculty of the London School of Economics and Political Science from 1983 to 2003, where he held positions including Professor of Political Science and Chair of the Government Department. His academic career spans over three decades with significant contributions to the study of ethnic conflict, nationalism, and power-sharing arrangements in deeply divided societies.

O'Leary's research focuses on theories of the liberal democratic state, nationalism, national and ethnic conflict regulation, political violence, and power-sharing in deeply divided places. His work combines rigorous theoretical development with practical applications in conflict zones worldwide. He has developed influential frameworks for understanding how states manage national, ethnic, and religious differences through consociational arrangements and federal structures.

His publications reveal consistent engagement with major conflict cases including Northern Ireland, Iraq, South Africa, and Somalia. The articles demonstrate expertise in constitutional design, electoral systems, and security arrangements in divided societies. His work often bridges theoretical political science with practical policy recommendations for conflict resolution.

• Robert McKenzie Memorial Prize (PhD)
• Joint Association of Classical Teachers Prize for First Place in Ancient History

O'Leary has extensive experience advising governments and international organizations on constitutional matters. He served as political advisor to the British Labour Shadow Cabinet on Northern Ireland, contributed to the Patten Commission on police reform, and advised the Kurdistan Regional Government during Iraq's constitutional process. His public engagement includes regular contributions to major media outlets and op-eds in publications like The Financial Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Guardian.

He leads the Penn Program in Ethnic Conflict and previously directed the Solomon Asch Center for the Study of Ethnopolitical Conflict. His current research continues to focus on power-sharing systems, especially in consociations and pluralist federations, with particular attention to Iraq's constitutional process and the Irish peace process.