Nathan J. Brown

Nathan J. Brown is a Full-Time Professor of Political Science and International Affairs at the George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs. He serves as Assistant Dean of Graduate Studies and teaches courses on Middle Eastern politics, comparative politics, and international relations.

• Current Research Focus: Global state religious institutions
• Leadership Roles: President of the Middle East Studies Association (2013–2015)
• Board Involvement: Trustee at the American University in Cairo

Research Interests: Professor Brown specializes in the comparative politics of the Middle East, democratization, authoritarianism, religion and politics, and constitutionalism in the Arab world. His current projects analyze the interplay between religious institutions and state governance globally.

Recent Article Trends: His 2024–2025 publications examine constitutional development in Syria and Palestine, geopolitical tensions in the Gulf (Kuwait), Egyptian political dynamics, campus protests over Gaza, and the ideological evolution of Hamas. Thematic keywords include democratization, authoritarian resilience, religious governance, and conflict resolution.

Scientific Awards:

• Malcolm Kerr Award (Middle East Studies Association, 1987)
• Harry Harding Teaching Award (Elliott School, 2014)
• Oscar and Shoshana Trachtenberg Award (GWU, 2015)
• Carnegie Scholar (2009)
• Guggenheim Fellow (2013)
• Woodrow Wilson Fellow (2009–2010)
• Hamburg Institute for Advanced Study Fellow (2023–24)

Grants: Funded by the United States Institute of Peace and multiple Fulbright fellowships. His research also intersects with advisory roles for the Palestinian constitution drafting committee, USAID, UNDP, and NGOs.