Jeffrey W. Rubin

Jeffrey W. Rubin is an Associate Professor of History and Research Associate at the BU Institute on Culture, Religion, and World Affairs (CURA) at Boston University. His research focuses on Latin American history, particularly the historical and cultural origins of grassroots activism and its role in strengthening democracy. He earned an A.B. from Harvard College and a Ph.D. from Harvard University.

Rubin’s scholarly work combines ethnographic and interdisciplinary methods to explore democratic possibilities in Latin America. He co-authored Decentering the Regime (1997) and Sustaining Activism (2013), and co-edited volumes such as Enduring Reform (2015) and Beyond Civil Society (2016). His current project, Seeing and Not Seeing, examines the interplay of democracy and violence in Latin America through fragmented, evolving frameworks.

Rubin has held fellowships from prestigious institutions including the MacArthur Foundation, Ford Foundation, and the Institute for Advanced Study. His collaborative projects involve international scholars studying social movements, religion, and participatory democracy. He has also contributed to special issues like Lived Religion and Lived Citizenship (2014).