laitin

David Laitin, PhD

  • James T. Watkins IV and Elise V. Watkins Professor of Political Science
  • Affiliated faculty at the Center for International Security and Cooperation
  • Affiliated faculty at The Europe Center

Department of Political Science
Stanford University
Encina Hall, W423
Stanford, CA 94305-6044

(650) 725-9556 (voice)
(650) 723-1808 (fax)

Biography

David Laitin is the James T. Watkins IV and Elise V. Watkins Professor of Political Science and a co-director of the Immigration Policy Lab at Stanford. He has conducted field research in Somalia, Nigeria, Spain, Estonia and France. His principal research interest is on how culture – specifically, language and religion – guides political behavior. He is the author of “Why Muslim Integration Fails in Christian-heritage Societies” and a series of articles on immigrant integration, civil war and terrorism. Laitin received his BA from Swarthmore College and his PhD from the University of California, Berkeley.

publications

Journal Articles
September 2019

The Legacy of Colonial Language Policies and Their Impact on Student Learning: Evidence from an Experimental Program in Cameroon

Author(s)
cover link The Legacy of Colonial Language Policies and Their Impact on Student Learning: Evidence from an Experimental Program in Cameroon
Journal Articles
August 2019

Standardizing the fee-waiver application increased naturalization rates of low-income immigrants

Author(s)
cover link Standardizing the fee-waiver application increased naturalization rates of low-income immigrants
Books
May 2019

African States Since Independence: Order, Development, and Democracy (Castle Lecture Series)

Author(s)
cover link African States Since Independence: Order, Development, and Democracy (Castle Lecture Series)

In The News

Image of David Laitin, Professor of Political Science, Stanford University
News

The Europe Center Featured Faculty Research

cover link The Europe Center Featured Faculty Research
Commentary

"Misunderestimating" terrorism

cover link "Misunderestimating" terrorism
News

State Department doubles calculation of terrorism deaths, after flaws found by Laitin

cover link State Department doubles calculation of terrorism deaths, after flaws found by Laitin