Jack A. Goldstone

Jack A. Goldstone is the Virginia E. and John T. Hazel, Jr. Chair Professor of Public Policy at George Mason University’s Schar School of Policy and Government. He is also Director of the Center for the Study of Social Change, Institutions, and Policy (SCIP) and a Senior Fellow at the Mercatus Center. With prior faculty positions at Northwestern University and the University of California, and visiting roles at Cambridge, Stanford, and Caltech, Goldstone is a leading scholar in revolutions, political demography, and democratization.

Education:

• Bachelor of Arts (BA), Harvard University
• Master of Arts (MA), Harvard University
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Harvard University

Goldstone’s research centers on the dynamics of revolutions, the impact of demographic change on global stability, and the conditions for democratic development in fragile states. His work integrates historical sociology with contemporary policy analysis, exploring how youth bulges, aging populations, and urbanization shape political unrest and international security. He is widely cited for his theory of state breakdown and demographic pressures.

His recent publications, including Revolutions: A Very Short Introduction and The New Population Bomb, reflect a strong focus on 21st-century global challenges—demographic shifts, digital revolutions, and the fragility of modern states. Articles span political demography, comparative revolutions, and democratization, often analyzing case studies from the Middle East, East Asia, and developing nations.

Scientific Awards:

• Distinguished Contribution to Scholarship, American Sociological Association
• Arnoldo Momigliano Prize
• Barrington Moore Jr. Award
• Myron Weiner Award
• Guggenheim Fellowship
• MacArthur Fellowship
• Mellon Foundation Fellowship
• U.S. Institute of Peace Fellowship

Goldstone has advised the National Intelligence Council, USAID, the World Bank, and the U.S. State and Defense Departments. He led a National Academy of Sciences study on democracy assistance and serves on the State Department’s Advisory Council on Stabilization Operations. As a life member of the Council on Foreign Relations and advisor to multiple international policy forums, his influence extends into high-level global governance. He maintains an active public presence through his blog, www.newpopulationbomb.com, and Twitter @jgoldsto.

He leads the Center for the Study of Social Change, Institutions, and Policy (SCIP), fostering interdisciplinary research on long-term social change and policy innovation. His work connects academic scholarship with real-world policy challenges, particularly in conflict prevention and democratic resilience.