Pierre Englebert

H. Russell Smith Professor of International Relations and Professor of Politics; On leave for the 2024-2025 academic year
With Pomona Since: 1998
  • Expertise

    Expertise

    Professor Englebert has spent more than 30 years studying African politics and development, with a particular focus on Francophone West and Central Africa.

    He travels to Africa two to three times a year in an effort to understand and address the challenges of postcolonial state formation and development.

    His research has focused on the resilience of weak states, nationalism and separatism, development and foreign aid, fragile states, democratization and security.

    Areas of Expertise

    • Politics
    • Sub-Saharan Africa
    • Fragile States
    • Nationalism
    • Francophone Africa
    • Democratic Republic of Congo
    • Political Economy of Development
  • Work

    Work

    Books

    Opinions and Report

    Featured Work

  • Education

    Education

    Ph.D., University of Southern California
    Los Angeles, California

    M.A., Johns Hopkins University (School of Advanced International Studies)
    Washington, D.C.

    B.A., M.A., Free University of Brussels
    Brussels, Belgium

    Recent Courses Taught

    • Advanced Questions in African Politics
    • Comparative Politics of Africa
    • Intermediate Senior Seminar in International Relations
    • Political Economy of Development
    • Political Economy of African Development (CGU)
    • Senior Seminar in International Relations and Research Methods
    • Statistics for Politics & International Relations
  • Awards & Honors

    Awards & Honors

    Minerva grant, 2018-2021

    Overseas Development Institute Grant, 2016-2018

    Wig Distinguished Professor Award for Excellence in Teaching, 2016 

    Pomona College, Wig Distinguished Teacher Award, 2001, 2006, and 2011.

    2010 Best Book Award, African Politics Conference Group (APCG), for "Africa: Unity, Sovereignty, and Sorrow"

    Fulbright Scholar, Centre d'Etudes d'Afrique Noire, University of Bordeaux, France, 2010-2011

    Earhart Foundation Grant, 2009

    United States Institute of Peace, Research Grant, 2000-2001

    Western Political Science Association, Pi Sigma Alpha Award, 1999

    Smith Richardson Junior Faculty Research Grant, 2001