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.”
Dustin Tingley
You might also like
The Enterprise Research Campus, Part Two
Tishman Speyer signals readiness to pursue approval for second phase of commercial development.
Sean Kelly Named Dean of Arts and Humanities
Will begin new role July 1
Slow and Steady
A Harvard Law School graduate completes marathons in all 50 states.
Most popular
More to explore
Exploring Political Tribalism and American Politics
Mina Cikara explores how political tribalism feeds the American bipartisan divide.
Private Equity in Medicine and the Quality of Care
Hundreds of U.S. hospitals are owned by private equity firms—does monetizing medicine affect the quality of care?
Construction on Commercial Enterprise Research Campus in Allston
Construction on Harvard’s commercial enterprise research campus and new theater in Allston