Emeritus Spotlight
Raymond Taras has dedicated 40 years to Tulane University as a distinguished scholar of political science, with particular expertise in nationalism, xenophobia, ethnic conflict, and European and Russian politics. His intellectual contributions span continents and disciplines, earning him prestigious appointments including the Fulbright Distinguished Chair positions in Australia and Europe, and the Willy Brandt Professorship at Malmö University.
A true polyglot with proficiency in six languages and reading ability in three more, Professor Taras has brought exceptional global perspective to his teaching and research. His multilingual abilities have enriched his scholarship on cultural boundaries, nationalism, and transnational politics.
Professor Taras has taught over 25 different courses at Tulane, ranging from introductory politics to specialized graduate seminars on migration and global politics. His teaching has been recognized with the Mortar Board Award for Teaching Excellence. Beyond Tulane, he has shared his expertise at institutions worldwide, including the University of Warsaw, University of Sussex, University of Michigan, and Harvard University.
As the author or editor of 20 books and over 100 scholarly articles, Professor Taras has made lasting contributions to our understanding of post-communist transitions, nationalism, xenophobia, and international relations. His analytical framework on ethnic conflict, developed in multiple editions of Understanding Ethnic Conflict, has influenced a generation of scholars.
Recent & Forthcoming Publications and Awards
Dr. Ian Bremmer, founder of Eurasia Group and distinguished Tulane alumnus (A&S '89), delivered the keynote address at the School of Liberal Arts 2025 undergraduate commencement ceremony on May 16th. The renowned political scientist and author, who brought the concept of political risk to financial markets and recently served as rapporteur for the UN's AI advisory body, also received the school's 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award. Bremmer, who holds advanced degrees from Stanford and currently teaches at Columbia while serving as foreign affairs columnist for Time magazine, expressed confidence that Tulane's Class of 2025 is prepared to tackle the global challenges ahead.
Nancy Maveety has been awarded the Tulane Graduate Studies Student Association (GSSA) award for 2025. This is the second year in a row that a Political Science faculty member has been honored with this award.
Brandon Davis, an assistant professor in the Department of Political Science and the Murphy Institute, has received a $50,000 Institute for Human Studies Faculty Fellowship. Davis’ research focuses on American and Race politics and normative and empirical approaches to institutions, representation, and criminal justice. This sabbatical funding goes towards his project, Audemus Jura Nostra Defendere: We Dare Defend Our Rights Strategic Legal Mobilization and the Alabama Democratic Conference.