Harvard Portrait: Dustin Tingley

Political scientist Dustin Tingley studies the politics of everyday life.

Dustin Tingley Photograph by Jim Harrison

Dustin Tingley is less interested in political personalities than in the mechanisms that animate politics. His new book, Sailing the Water’s Edge, is a deep, quantitative dive into how the structure of American government influences U.S. relationships with other countries. That isn’t to say he’s uninterested in the here-and-now impact of his work: “There are presidential candidates who imply they’re willing to carpet-bomb vast portions of the world,” he says gravely. He sees engaging with the public as a mandate of his role. Tingley has studied everything from climate change to olfactory cues in mating to negotiations between young children, his disparate interests unified by his “obsession” with data, statistics, and disentangling cause and effect. “There are politics on the playground,” he says, “and there are politics in the forums of the United Nations.” Named a professor of government last fall, he contributes his empirical instincts elsewhere, too, leading the University’s outcomes-based research for HarvardX on the science of learning. Between college at the University of Rochester and a Ph.D. from Princeton, Tingley taught high-school math and history, unsure if he would become a career academic. There were times when he wanted to be an environmental advocate, he remembers, or a music producer. But did he have any doubts about his path while in graduate school? “Very few,” he answers. These days, between his work and family (he has a two-year-old son), Tingley has less time for the guitar, an old passion. He’s played in a mix of bands—rock, jazz, experimental—but has never taken to formal lessons. “They always wanted me to read music,” he jokes, “and I didn’t really want to.”

Read more articles by Marina N. Bolotnikova
Related topics

You might also like

The Origins of Europe’s Most Mysterious Languages

A small group of Siberian hunter-gatherers changed the way millions of Europeans speak today.

At Harvard, Mike Pence Discusses Democracy and Conservatism

The former vice president denounces political violence, expresses hope for a deal between Trump and the University.

Is the Constitution Broken?

Harvard legal scholars debate the state of our founding national document.

Most popular

What Trump Means for John Roberts's Legacy

Executive power is on the docket at the Supreme Court.

Three Harvardians win MacArthur Fellowships

A mathematician, a political scientist, and an astrophysicist are honored with “genius” grants for their work.

Harvard’s Endowment, Donations Rise—but the University Runs a Deficit

The annual financial report signals severe challenges to come.

Explore More From Current Issue

A vibrant bar scene with tropical decor, featuring patrons sitting on high stools.

Best Bars for Seasonal Drinks and Snacks in Greater Boston

Gathering spots that warm and delight us  

A diverse group of adults and children holding hands, standing on varying levels against a light blue background.

Why America’s Strategy For Reducing Racial Inequality Failed

Harvard professor Christina Cross debunks the myth of the two-parent Black family.

A person walks across a street lined with historic buildings and a clock tower in the background.

Harvard In the News

A legal victory against Trump, hazing in the Harvard-Radcliffe Orchestra, and kicking off a Crimson football season with style