Nick Cullather

Nick Cullather is a Professor in the Department of International Studies at the Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies, Indiana University Bloomington. His research focuses on U.S. foreign relations, particularly the historical use of intelligence, development aid, and technology as instruments of American power during the Cold War.

Educational Background:

• B.A., Indiana University, 1981
• Ph.D., University of Virginia, 1993

His research interests include diplomatic history, modernization theory, U.S.-Asian relations, and the history of intelligence. He examines how the United States has used food, statistics, covert operations, and technological interventions to reshape societies abroad, often under the guise of development and democracy promotion. His work critically engages with the ideological and structural mechanisms behind U.S. foreign policy.

The recent publications reflect a strong thematic focus on Cold War-era development projects, food politics, and intelligence operations. His writings explore the intersection of ideology, technology, and statecraft, particularly in Asia and Latin America. Key trends include the use of modernization as a geopolitical tool, the weaponization of nutrition, and the moral contradictions of democratic nations employing covert regime change.

Scientific Awards:

• No scientific awards listed in the provided text.

Nick Cullather has contributed significantly to the historiography of U.S. foreign policy through archival research and critical analysis. He has advised numerous students and secured research grants for projects on intelligence and development, though specific names and grant details are not provided. His current project, First Line of Defense, investigates the historical evolution of the CIA and the democratic tensions inherent in centralized intelligence.

He is affiliated with the Hamilton Lugar School, a leading center for international studies, where he contributes to academic programs and public discourse on global affairs.