Pablo A. Piccato

Pablo A. Piccato is a Professor of History at Columbia University, specializing in Mexican history with a focus on political and cultural dynamics, particularly the history of crime. He holds affiliations with the editorial board of the Law and History Review and the American Historical Association. His research explores the intersection of crime, public discourse, and state authority in twentieth-century Mexico.

Education:

• Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin (1997)
• M.A., University of Texas at Austin (1993)
• B.A., Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (1990)

Research interests include the construction of Mexico’s public sphere, crime narratives, and the role of violence in political and social contexts. His work bridges cultural, political, and legal history, emphasizing how crime has shaped national identity and public discourse.

Awards and grants include the Lenfest/Columbia Distinguished Faculty Award (2008), Cátedra Patrimonial de Excelencia (2000), and fellowships at the Université Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne and the Center for U.S.-Mexican Studies. His research has been supported by grants from the Fondo Nacional para la Cultura y las Artes and Columbia University’s Institute for Social and Economic Research and Policy.

His publications include A History of Infamy: Crime, Truth, and Justice in Mexico (2017) and City of Suspects: Crime in Mexico City, 1900-1931 (2001), which examines crime’s role in shaping Mexico’s modern identity. Current projects include a comprehensive study of twentieth-century Mexican crime history.