Gershon Shafir

Gershon Shafir is a Professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of California, San Diego, within the Division of Social Sciences. He serves as the founding director of the UCSD Human Rights Minor and maintains an active research profile in comparative sociology.

His research focuses on comparative and historical sociology, with specialized expertise in nationalism, ethnicity, citizenship frameworks, and human rights theory. Shafir critically examines the intersection of state formation, ethnic conflict, and international law, particularly through the lens of Israeli-Palestinian relations and global counterterrorism policies.

Shafir's scholarly contributions include multiple monographs and edited volumes addressing citizenship dynamics, occupation policies, and human rights frameworks. His award-winning work demonstrates consistent engagement with both theoretical debates and empirical case studies across international contexts.

• Albert Hourani Award for best book on the Middle East (2002)

As founding director of the Human Rights Minor, Shafir has shaped interdisciplinary curriculum development while maintaining active research collaborations. His current work examines Israel's settlement policy and international humanitarian law from 1967 to the present, continuing his decades-long analysis of ethnonational conflicts.