Karen J. Alter

Karen J. Alter is the Norman Dwight Harris Professor of International Relations and Professor of Political Science and Law (by courtesy) at Northwestern University. She co-directs the Global Capitalism and Law Research Group at the Buffett Institute and serves as a permanent visiting professor at the iCourts Center for Excellence, University of Copenhagen Faculty of Law. Her expertise spans the politics of international law, international courts, and global regime complexity.

• Education: BA from Cornell University, PhD from MIT
• Research: Focuses on international legal transplants, backlash politics, and global economic governance
• Teaching: Courses include International Law, Global Capitalism and Law, and Ethics in International Affairs

Her scholarly contributions have been recognized with prestigious awards such as the American Society of International Law Certificate of Merit, Guggenheim Fellowship, and Berlin Prize. She has served on editorial boards for American Journal of International Law, International Organization, and Journal of International Dispute Settlement.

Scientific Awards:

• Provost Award for Exemplary Faculty Service (2023)
• CFR International Affairs Fellowship for Tenured IR Faculty (2023)
• Certificate of Merit, ASIL (2015)
• Guggenheim Fellowship (2011)

Her research on international courts and legal systems has been supported by grants from the Guggenheim Foundation, American Academy in Berlin, Council on Foreign Relations, and German Marshall Fund. She co-directed comparative empirical studies of the Andean Tribunal of Justice and African courts with Laurence R. Helfer.