Yanni Kotsonis

Yanni Kotsonis is a Professor of History & Russian & Slavic Studies at New York University's College of Arts & Science. He received his PhD from Columbia University in 1994 and has established himself as a leading scholar in Russian and Soviet history, with particular expertise in political economy, taxation, and the Greek Revolution.

His educational background spans multiple international institutions, having been raised in Athens and educated in Montreal, Copenhagen, London, New York, and Moscow. He is the founding director of the Jordan Center for the Advanced Study of Russia at NYU and is father to three children.

Kotsonis's research focuses on Russian, Soviet and global political economy; history of taxation in Russia and the world; contemporary economic theory, liberalism, and neoliberalism; and the Greek Revolution in global context. His work bridges historical analysis with contemporary political and economic theory, examining how historical processes shape modern governance and citizenship. He teaches courses on Russia, the global political economy, and dystopianism.

His publication record shows consistent scholarly productivity with works spanning from the late 1990s through 2025. His recent publications demonstrate a deepening engagement with the Greek Revolution while maintaining his foundational expertise in Russian political economy and taxation systems.

• 2021 Berlin Prize, American Academy in Berlin
• 2015 Winner, Wallace K. Ferguson Prize, Canadian Historical Association
• 2015 Winner, Ed A. Hewett Book Prize for outstanding work on Russian political economy
• 2015 Honorable Mention, Davis Center Book Prize from Harvard University

Professor Kotsonis has authored significant monographs including 'States of Obligation: Taxes and Citizenship in the Russian Empire and the Early Soviet Republic' (2014) and 'The Greek Revolution and the Violent Birth of Nationalism' (2025). His co-edited volume 'Russian Modernity: Politics, Knowledge and Practices, 1800-1950' (2000) places Imperial and Soviet Russia within a broader European context of modern state formation. As founding director of the Jordan Center, he provides institutional leadership for Russian studies at NYU.

His scholarly contributions extend beyond publications through editorial work and participation in academic discourse. His recent research trajectory shows a sophisticated integration of historical analysis with theoretical frameworks examining state formation, citizenship, and revolutionary movements across different historical contexts.