Lotem Bassan-Nygate grew up in Israel, a country that, for almost all its modern history and certainly now, has been the subject of withering international criticism. As Bassan-Nygate began to study international relations, she found herself drawn to how criticism from the outside works—for those pointing fingers, for those being accused, and for those observing. “I have encountered this phenomenon my entire life, so I always had questions about how effective this strategy is,” says Bassan-Nygate, who joins Harvard Kennedy School as an assistant professor of public policy this year. Her research falls at the intersection of international relations and political psychology, and deals with foreign policy, human rights, diplomacy, and public opinion. Bassan-Nygate who previously spent time at HKS as a predoctoral fellow at the Middle East Initiative and a postdoctoral research associate at Princeton University, is currently writing a book based on her doctoral thesis, which won the prestigious 2024 Merze Tate Award for the best international relations, law, and politics dissertation from the American Political Science Association. She spoke to us about her research, her reasons for coming to the Kennedy School, and how her 3-year-old daughter helps her be a better academic.
Q: What does your research focus on?
My research integrates insights from international relations and political psychology to understand diplomacy and its effects. Right now, I am working on a book project that explores the consequences of "naming and shaming"—when governments are criticized for engaging in behaviors that violate international norms and laws. I’ve identified an interesting puzzle in my research: why do states criticize foreign governments, even when doing so is counterproductive and can lead to backlash or strategic costs? One key answer I offer is that shaming is often associated with both domestic and international reputational rewards. But at the same time, I investigate the unintended consequences of foreign criticism, including whether it can generate support for certain abuses at home, foster animosity towards specific groups, or tie leaders’ hands domestically.
Q: How does that work connect to solutions to pressing problems in the world today?
My book project, and broader research agenda, can help us make sense of current developments in world politics like the instrumental use of human rights in the context of great power competition between China and the United States, as well as reactions to criticism in Israel around the war in Gaza. But in my research, I also try to provide practical solutions to practitioners. In a project I collaborated on with Zoltan Buzas, we focused on finding ways for human rights organizations to engage in shaming more responsibly. This involves ensuring that criticism is targeted and specific to avoid unintended reputational damage. For instance, it is crucial to emphasize that criticism is directed towards specific actions taken by a specific government. Thinking of the current conflict, clarifying and emphasizing that criticism of Israel is not directed towards the Israeli people, Israel’s right to exist and defend itself, or the Jewish people at large may be particularly important.
“I want my research to be relevant for policymakers and contribute to ongoing policy debates. Being at the Kennedy School, surrounded by students and faculty who are actively engaged in policy work, is the perfect place for that.”
Q: What are you teaching and what would you like your students to come away with from your classes?
This fall I'm teaching “Global Governance” [IGA-103]. My goal is for students to develop the skills to critically analyze topics related to global governance, understanding when it is effective, and why it sometimes faces backlash, as seen in areas like climate change and human rights. I want them to explore challenging questions like why certain ideas make it to the global stage, but others do not, and what the rise of nationalism and populism means for global governance. More broadly, I hope that the class prepares students to actively engage in global governance. We will cover some of the processes and trends in global governance today and students will have plenty of opportunities to hear about governance practices across a range of issue areas and share their own experience. What I find particularly exciting is the unique profile of HKS students. Many of them have already been involved in global governance in the past or will be in the future. The class is aimed at helping them realize these opportunities and act more effectively if they return to that work.
Q: What research findings have been the most surprising to you?
One of the most surprising findings in my research is the counterintuitive effect that shaming can (perhaps unintentionally) increase support for negative behaviors like human rights violations or domestic abuses. Interestingly, this effect is not only limited to the target state, where one might expect foreign criticism to backfire because of nationalism or identity-based reactions. It can also occur in countries initiating the criticism themselves—the shamers. In essence, shaming can serve as a moral credential, licensing negative behavior. In political psychology researchers have found that, for example, voting for a Black president might later lead to discriminatory behavior in the workplace. Applied to international relations, one may feel like engaging in good behavior abroad justifies and allows negative actions at home. This dynamic is both surprising and intriguing and it warrants future research to test its limits and implications, which I am currently pursuing.
Q: Who or what inspires you to do this work?
I'm constantly inspired by global events and what is happening in the world, and I want my research to be relevant for policymakers and contribute to ongoing policy debates. Being at the Kennedy School, surrounded by students and faculty who are actively engaged in policy work, is the perfect place for that.
On a more personal note, my 3-year-old daughter is a big source of inspiration. I think one of the most important things in academia is staying curious and asking difficult questions about the political world around us. My daughter’s constant stream of "why" questions serve as a reminder of the importance of maintaining that sense of wonder and inquiry.