Richard Olson

Richard Olson is a Distinguished University Professor and Director of Extreme Events Research at Florida International University (FIU). With a career spanning decades, his work bridges political science and disaster studies, focusing on the intersection of politics, crises, and societal resilience.

• Education:
  • BA in Political Philosophy (University of California, 1967)
  • MA in Political Science (University of California, 1968)
  • PhD in Political Science (University of Oregon, 1974)
• Research Interests:
  • Politics of Disaster
  • Politics of Disaster Risk Reduction
  • Critical Juncture Theory
  • Genocide
  • Latin American Politics

  Olson pioneered the analysis of disasters as inherently political phenomena, advocating for multidisciplinary approaches to crisis management. His early work on economic sanctions in World Politics and The Journal of Developing Areas evolved into foundational contributions to disaster research, funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and USAID/OFDA.