Ron Hassner

Ron Hassner is the Chancellor’s Professor of Political Science and Helen Diller Family Chair in Israel Studies at the University of California, Berkeley. His research focuses on the intersection of religion, conflict, and security, with notable works including War on Sacred Grounds (2009) and Anatomy of Torture (2022). He serves as editor-in-chief of Security Studies and editor of the Cornell University Press series Religion and Conflict.

Education: Ph.D. in Political Science (Stanford University), M.A. in Religious Studies (Stanford), M.I.A. in International Affairs (Columbia University).

Research interests include religious violence, interrogational torture, territorial disputes, and the role of religion in military contexts. His work analyzes conflicts over sacred sites (e.g., Temple Mount, Ayodhya) and explores how religious ideas shape military decisions.

Awards: Multiple distinguished teaching awards from Berkeley and APSA’s Outstanding Teaching in Political Science Award. Recognized with the ISA’s Religion and International Relations Distinguished Scholar Award and APSA’s Susanne Hoeber Rudolph Award.

Leadership: Faculty director of Berkeley’s Helen Diller Institute for Jewish Law and Israel Studies. His work bridges academia and policy, addressing contemporary challenges like religious freedom and counterinsurgency tactics in conflict zones.