Robert Rotberg

Adjunct Professor of Public Policy
Program Director
Program on Intrastate Conflict, Conflict Prevention and Conflict Resolution,
Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
Office Address
124 Mt. Auburn - Suite 190-143
Mailing Address
John F. Kennedy School of Government
Mailbox 121
79 JFK Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
Contact
Phone: 617-496-2258
Fax: 491-8588
Email: Robert_Rotberg@ksg.harvard.edu
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Profile

Robert I. Rotberg is Director, Program on Intrastate Conflict and Conflict Resolution, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University and President, World Peace Foundation. He was Professor of Political Science and History, MIT; Academic Vice President, Tufts University; and President, Lafayette College. He is the author and editor of numerous books and articles on US foreign policy, Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean, most recently Battling Terrorism in the Horn of Africa (2005), When States Fail: Causes and Consequences (2004), State Failure and State Weakness in a Time of Terror (2003), Ending Autocracy, Enabling Democracy: The Tribulations of Southern Africa 19602000 (2002), Peacekeeping and Peace Enforcement in Africa: Methods of Conflict Prevention (2001), Truth v. Justice: The Morality of Truth Commissions (2000), Creating Peace in Sri Lanka: Civil War and Reconciliation (1999), Burma: Prospects for a Democratic Future (1998), War and Peace in Southern Africa: Crime, Drugs, Armies, and Trade (1998), Haiti Renewed: Political and Economic Prospects (1997), Vigilance and Vengeance: NGOs Preventing Ethnic Conflict in Divided Societies (1996), From Massacres to Genocide: The Media, Public Policy and Humanitarian Crises (1996), and The Founder: Cecil Rhodes and the Pursuit of Power (1988, new ed. 2002).

Courses

Fall

  • IGA-319 Leadership, Democracy and Conflict: The Politics of the Developing World

Spring

  • IGA-318 Leadership and Governance: The Politics of Contemporary Africa

Media Expertise

Robert Rotberg welcomes media inquiries on the following subjects:

Additional experts may be found by clicking on each subject listed. You may contact faculty directly or if you need assistance contact the Communications Office at 617-495-1115.

Research

For a complete list of faculty citations from 2001 - present, please visit the Harvard Kennedy School Research Report Online.

Selected Publication Citations:

  • Academic Journals
    • Rotberg, Robert I. "Governance and Leadership in Africa: Measures, Methods and Results." Journal of International Affairs 62.2 (Spring/Summer 2009): 113-126.
  • Book Chapters
    • Rotberg, Robert I. "China's Quest for Resources, Opportunities, and Influence in Africa." China into Africa: Trade, Aid, and Influence. Ed. Robert I. Rotberg. Brookings Institution Press, 2008, 1-20.
    • Lee, Henry, Dan Shalmon, and Robert I. Rotberg. "Searching for Oil: China's Oil Strategies in Africa." China into Africa: Trade, Aid, and Influence. Ed. Robert I. Rotberg. Brookings Institution Press and World Peace Foundation, 2008, 109-136.
  • Books
    • Rotberg, Robert I., and Rachel Gisselquist. Strengthening African Governance: The Ibrahim Index of African Governance: Results and Rankings. World Peace Foundation, 2008.
  • Edited Volumes
    • Rotberg, Robert I., ed. China into Africa: Trade, Aid, and Influence. Brookings Institution Press, 2008.
  • Op-Eds
    • Rotberg, Robert I. "Bangladesh's Model: It Offers an Alternative for Countries Immersed in Conflict." Chicago Tribune, February 17, 2008.
    • Rotberg, Robert I. "Dark Clouds Over Zimbabwe." International Herald Tribune, March 26, 2008.
    • Rotberg, Robert I. "Who Will Have the Courage to Save Zimbabwe?" Boston Globe, June 25, 2008.
    • Rotberg, Robert I. "Who Will Rid Us of this Tyrant?" International Herald Tribune, June 27, 2008.
    • Rotberg, Robert I. "An African Scorecard." International Herald Tribune, December 5, 2008.
    • Rotberg, Robert I. "In Time Obama Will Be Closer to Africa - If Africa Plays Ball." Southern Africa Report, December 5, 2008.
    • Rotberg, Robert I. "Uniting Against Mugabe's Corrupt Regime." Boston Globe, December 13, 2008.
    • Rotberg, Robert I. "China's Grand Bargain." Boston Globe, March 26, 2009.
    • Rotberg, Robert I. "The False Unity in Zimbabwe." Boston Globe, June 13, 2009.
  • Research Papers/Reports
    • Rotberg, Robert I. "The Meaning of 'Success' in Africa." Paper for Conference on Economic Research on African Development Successes, NBER, Cambridge, February 21, 2008.
    • Rotberg, Robert I. "Genocide, Ethnic Cleansing, and Failed States." Paper for Conference on State Failure, Cornell University Institute for African Development, Ithaca, April 18, 2008.
    • Rotberg, Robert I. "Key Challenges for Africa, 2009 and Beyond." Paper for Council on Foreign Relations National Conference, New York, June 6, 2008.
    • Rotberg, Robert I. "Emerging Issues and Political Shocks." Conference on Africa: The Top Challenges, Christ Church College, Oxford, September 8, 2008.
    • Rotberg, Robert I. "Congo, Rwanda/Burundi, Zimbabwe." Paper for Conference on Post Colonial Wars, Radcliffe Institute for Advance Study, Cambridge, October 30, 2008.
    • Rotberg, Robert I. "Democracy Promotion and State Failure." Heinrich Boll Foundation Roundtable Discussion Series, December 2008.
  • Reviews
    • Rotberg, Robert I. Review of Burma's Mass Lay Meditation Movement: Buddhism and the Cultural Construction of Power, by Ingrid Jordt. Choice, 45.1, September 2008.
    • Rotberg, Robert I. Review of Facing Racial Revolution: Eyewitness Accounts of the Haitian Insurrection, by Jeremy D. Popkin. Choice, 45.2, October 2008.