Thomas Ambrosio

Thomas Ambrosio is a professor of political science in the Criminal Justice and Political Science Department at North Dakota State University. He was director of NDSU's International Studies Major from 2009-2014.

He teaches courses in international studies, international relations, and international law.

In 2011, he was awarded the NDSU College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences 'Outstanding Educator' award; 2007, he was awarded the NDSU College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences 'Outstanding Research Award' as well as the 'Distinguished Educator's Award' from the NDSU chapter of the Blue Key National Honor Society.

Ambrosio received his Ph.D. in foreign affairs in 2000 from the University of Virginia.

He has published extensively on the relationship between ethnic groups and nation states, examining such topics as: attempts by states to annex the territory of other states where their co-nationals reside (Irredentism); the status of nations in international law; the role played by organized ethnic interest groups in the formulation of governmental foreign policy; the role that political opportunity structures limit nationalist expression; and, how Russia's conception of itself affects its relationship with the United States and its perceived role in the unipolar international system.

He has most recently completed a book project entitled Authoritarian Backlash: Russian Resistance to Democratization in the Former Soviet Union which examines five strategies that an increasingly authoritarian Russia has adopted to preserve the Kremlin's political power: insulate, bolster, subvert, redefine and coordinate. Each strategy seeks to counter or undermine regional democratic trends both at home and throughout the former Soviet Union. Policies such as these are of great concern to the growing literature on how autocratic regimes are becoming more active in their resistance to democracy. Through detailed case studies of each strategy, this book makes significant contributions to our understandings of Russian domestic and foreign policies, democratization theory, and the policy challenges associated with democracy promotion.

He intends to extend his research into the issues surrounding authoritarian persistence.

Selected bibliography

Books

Articles

Book Chapters

Media interviews

Thomas Ambrosio has provided interviews with the following media outlets:

Internationally in the United Kingdom (BBC Azeri), Kurdistan (Hewler, Kurdish Globe, Gulan, Rudaw Weekly Paper), Azerbaijan (Azerbaijani News Agency, news.az, Regionalplus), Armenia (news.am), Georgia (Georgia Today), and Russia (Gazeta), China (Sanlian Life Weekly).

National interviews with Southeast European Times and the Karabakh Foundation’s Azerbaijan Radio Hour.

Local interviews with Prairie Public Radio (radio), KFGO (radio), KVLY (television), KDSU-FM (radio), KVRR (television), WDAY (television), Y94 (radio), SU TV News (internet), NDSU's Thunder Radio (radio), and The Forum (newspaper).

He has also guest hosted on the Mike McFeeley Show on KGFO -- the Mighty 790.

See also

External links

Thomas Ambrosio's Curriculum Vitae in Word or PDF formats.